PLANS to develop Welsh language education in the Neath Port Talbot area have taken a step forward.

The council’s Welsh in education strategic plan (WESP) 2022-2032 sets out the vision to support and develop Welsh language education in schools and the wider communities across the county.

On November 23, the council provided an update on the plan, telling the council’s education, skills and wellbeing cabinet board that the plan had been developed by working closely with a range of partners including local schools, Menter Iaith, RhAG, Mudiad Meithrin, Neath Port Talbot College, Academi Hywel Dda Swansea University, the Urdd and with the Welsh Government.

Cllr Nia Jenkins, cabinet member for education and early years, said: “The council’s WESP 2022-32 will be the cornerstone for the council’s vision for increasing and improving the planning of the provision of Welsh medium education across Neath Port Talbot.

“It will enable all learners to develop their Welsh language skills and to use the language confidently in everyday life. It both complements and assists in facilitating the Welsh Government’s national vision for the Welsh language – to have a million Welsh speakers by 2050.

“This council recognises that language and culture are critical parts of an individual’s identity and is committed to promoting and celebrating Welsh language learning across all phases and sectors.”

The council highlighted some of the achievements with the plan in the last year which include:

  • More nursery children/three-year-olds, reception class children/five-year-olds receiving education through the medium of Welsh and more children continuing to improve their Welsh language skills when transferring from one stage of their statutory education to another.
  • More learners studying for assessed qualifications in Welsh (as a subject) and subjects through the medium of Welsh, more opportunities for learners to use Welsh in different contexts in school and an increase in Welsh-medium education provision for learners with additional learning needs.
  • Increasing the number of teaching staff able to teach Welsh (as a subject) and through the medium of Welsh.
  • Welsh-medium/bilingual childcare – new Welsh-medium childcare facilities have opened/expanded in YGG Tregeles, YGG Tyle’r Ynn, YGG Pontardawe and YGG Cwmllynfell and a further two settings will open imminently in YGG Trebannws and Neath Central.
  • Work on a new-build Welsh-medium/bilingual childcare facility in Blaendulais and Cwmafan is expected to be completed in 2024 along with the opening of a new childcare provision in Neath Central.
  • A new Welsh-medium 3-11 primary school which opened earlier this year for nursery and reception pupils.
  • A new school – Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Rhosafan – will be built in the next three years.
  • Y Cwm immersion unit at YGG Pontardawe is providing Welsh language immersion and Welsh language ‘catch up’ intervention for 49 pupils, 12 late-comers and 37 language intervention/catch up pupils.
  • The council has also created a steering group for the development of inclusive Welsh medium education in relation to Welsh-medium additional learning needs provision.