Education

Teacher shortage ‘threatens Welsh speaker target’

Published

2 months ago

July 22, 2024

SENEDD members warned a shortage of teachers could undermine a target to reach a million Welsh speakers and double daily use of the language by 2050.

Eluned Morgan, standing in for Jeremy Miles, who resigned as economy and Welsh language secretary that day, gave a statement on the Welsh education bill on July 16.

She said the bill, which was introduced in the Senedd this week, will give every child in Wales a fair chance of becoming Welsh speakers.

Baroness Morgan told the debating chamber or Siambr that the bill would put the vision of a million Welsh speakers on a statutory footing.

But opposition parties warned the success of the bill will hinge on the teaching workforce.

Tom Giffard raised concerns about the recruitment and retention of Welsh-language teachers, questioning if the workforce is adequately prepared to meet the challenge.

The Conservatives’ shadow Welsh language secretary said teachers who teach through the medium of Welsh are, on average, older than their counterparts in classrooms.

Mr Giffard warned the bill will add to the workload of teachers who are already grappling with a new curriculum and additional learning needs reforms.

He supported moving away from the “blunt instrument” of “fluent” or “non-fluent” to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).

But he cautioned against “lowering the bar” to count people towards the target of a million Welsh speakers set out in the Cymraeg 2050 strategy.

Plaid Cymru’s Heledd Fychan agreed the workforce will be pivotal to the success of the bill.

“If we don’t have the numbers in schools, then we won’t be able to achieve that ambition,” she said. “We do need to see definite targets in terms of increasing the number able to teach through the medium of Welsh because we aren’t hitting the targets as they currently stand.”

Ms Fychan, who represents South Wales Central, also raised concerns about dual-stream schools being seen as the solution.

She said: “Only a small number of schools operate according to this model and I’m not aware of comprehensive research that demonstrates this model works in Wales.”

Arguing the best way for a child to learn is to be immersed in Welsh-medium education, she said most children continue to be denied the chance to become confident Welsh speakers

Mike Hedges, whose daughter teaches in a Welsh-medium school on Ynys Mon, hailed a “huge improvement” in the teaching of Welsh in English-medium primary schools.

“I think there really has been a huge change,” said the Labour backbencher. “When I visit English-medium schools in Swansea, like I did on Monday, I hear Welsh spoken, see it on classroom walls and see Welsh on notice boards.”

Mr Hedges, who represents Swansea East, said this has been made possible by a one-year Welsh-language sabbatical course for primary school teachers.

Rhys ab Owen, who sits as an independent, called for a secondary school in south Cardiff to ensure Welsh-medium education is available in one of Wales’ most deprived communities.

The South Wales Central MS also raised concerns about unequal access to Welsh-medium education for disabled children and young people.

Cefin Campbell was involved in development of the bill as part of Plaid Cymru’s now-collapsed cooperation agreement with the Welsh Government.

Mr Campbell, who established the first of Wales’ 22 Menter Iaith, which provide community support for learning the language, said: “What concerns me a great deal … is the deficiencies in terms of a bilingual workforce.”

The Plaid Cymru MS for Mid and West Wales raised concerns about low numbers of students studying A-level Welsh.

Baroness Morgan recognised the workforce challenges, saying the Welsh Government is seeking to attract more people to train to become teachers.

The health secretary, who was previously responsible for the language, said incentives are offered to get more teachers to train through the medium of Welsh.

She stressed the census will determine progress against the target of a million Welsh speakers, raising concerns that people “tick that they don’t speak Welsh when they do”.

Baroness Morgan, who attended the first Welsh-medium school in Cardiff, pointed to “huge” progress and “transformational” change over the past 50 years.

She told the chamber: “When I was going to school, people would throw stones at our bus because they didn’t want a Welsh school in their area. That’s the reality of the situation.”

Education

Back to school reminder of free primary school meals

Published

2 days ago

September 5, 2024

Tom Sinclair

AS the new school year is with us anyone with children in full time Primary are reminded that hot and cold lunches are available every day for free.

Pembrokeshire County Council extended the Universal Free School Meals initiative last September after free meals for all those in Year Two and below was introduced by Welsh Government earlier that year.

There is a two week rolling hot food menu offering tasty, nutritious, balanced food inclusive of all dietary needs. Popular choices include pasta bolognaise, meatballs, and chicken wrap.

There is always a sandwich or jacket potato option for children each day if they do not fancy a hot meal.

All your child has to do is to pick their meal option each morning at registration.

Concerned about allergies – our dedicated team of nutrition specialists can cater for any child that suffers from a food allergy or intolerance too.

If your child has a specific dietary requirement or restrictions please contact our School Liaison Officer via email [email protected] or telephone 01437 776168.

Cabinet Member for Education and the Welsh Language, Cllr Guy Woodham said: “Last year 925,531 learners enjoyed universal free school meals and we hope to see many more taking advantage this new school year. The catering team at Pembrokeshire County Council do a fantastic job in providing nutritious and tasty meals for your young people.”

The scheme does not replace Free School Meals for those learners whose parents or guardians are receiving qualifying benefits, which allows them to access other financial support for school costs.

This includes claiming up to £200 of additional support for School Essentials if your child is eligible for Free School Meals.

Take a look at the menus on offer on the Pembrokeshire County Council website and why not give free lunches a go!

Education

Four Ceredigion schools could be at risk of closure

Published

1 week ago

August 31, 2024

Bruce Sinclair - Local Democracy Reporter

FOUR Ceredigion schools could be at threat of closure if recommendations before the county council’s Cabinet meeting of September 3 are backed.

Cabinet members are recommended to back the start of statutory consultations for proposals to discontinue north county schools Ysgol Craig yr Wylfa, Borth, Ysgol Llanfihangel y Creuddyn, Ysgol Llangwyryfon, near Aberystwyth, and Ponterwyd’s Ysgol Syr John Rhys.

All four have similar recommendations, to approve a proposal to commence the statutory consultation process to cease to maintain the provision at [the relevant school] with effect from August 31 of next year.

The changes in the fortunes of the four schools are detailed in individual reports for Cabinet members.

Ysgol Craig yr Wylfa has seen numbers decline from 42 in 2020, to 29 in 2024, with a forecast 22 pupils in 2019; the school having 44 surplus places (59 percent surplus), and the cost per pupil amounting to £7,640 against a Ceredigion average of £4,635.

It also lists are predicted school budget deficit for 2025 of £3,368.

Ysgol Llanfihangel y Creuddyn numbers in the report are: 30 (2020), 19 (2024), 19 (2029), with a 46 per cent surplus of 17, and a per pupil cost of £6,978, with a deficit of £27,488.

Ysgol Llangwyryfon: 46 (2020), 30 (2024), 22 (2029), with a 45 per cent surplus of 25, and a per pupil cost of £6,321, with a deficit of £23,916.

Ysgol Syr John Rhys: 25 (2020), 22 (2024), 19 (2029), with a 46 per cent surplus of 18, and a per pupil cost of £7,949.

The report says that Ysgol Syr John Rhys also has maintenance backlog costs of £77,500.

In the individual reports it is suggested Craig Yr Wylfa pupils could be moved to nearby Ysgol Talybont or the schools acting as one school on two sites; Ysgol Llanfihangel y Creuddyn and Ysgol Llangwyryfon either forming a partnership with Ysgol Llanilar, or all pupils could transfering to Llanilar; pupils from Ysgol John Rhys pupils transferring to another nearby school, or a federation formed.

Ahead of the discussion on the future of the schools, a report for Cabinet on each school says: “Subject to Cabinet approval, it is therefore intended to proceed to statutory consultation.”

It adds: “If no alternative is suggested, the proposal paper will be presented to the Learning Communities Overview and Scrutiny Community for information before undertaking a Statutory Consultation. Cabinet should be satisfied that implementation would be the most appropriate response to address the key challenges identified as the reason for proposing discontinuance of the school.”

Following consultations, the final decision to close any school would be undertaken by full council.

Welsh language campaign group Cymdeithas yr Iaith has said that if the Cabinet votes for such a consultation, they would immediately submit a complaint to the Minister for Education, saying that the council is not fulfilling its educational duties and is going against the School Organisation Code.

On behalf of the Cymdeithas yr Iaith Education Group, Ffred Ffransis said: “Not only are Ceredigion Council intent on undermining a number of Welsh-speaking communities and emptying them of younger families, but the whole process is also completely contrary to the presumption in favour of maintaining rural schools which is an essential part of the 2018 edition of the Schools Organisation Code. Ceredigion have looked at these schools in the context of trying to make immediate savings to their budget, and have therefore adopted a practical presumption against maintaining the schools, which are being asked to justify their existence despite their academic success.

“Furthermore, the Government Code insists that all other options must be considered while proposals are still at a formative stage – that is before a proposal is made. Yet the officials are proposing going to a statutory consultation on their established option and invite comments on other options during statutory consultation. If the Minister allowed Ceredigion to get away with this blatant disregard of the principle of presumption in favour of rural schools, then the whole government policy would be discredited.”

Community

Fun days support families over summer holidays

Published

1 week ago

August 28, 2024

Tom Sinclair

THE Pembrokeshire County Council Early Years Integration Team has been working in the Tenby and Fishguard areas to support families with children 0-7yrs for a summer of fun.

The Team works closely with Midwives and Health Visitors to run groups and parenting sessions for families from pregnancy onwards.

For summer the team ran some Family Fun Sessions as the school holidays can be very long, especially with the inconsistent Pembrokeshire weather.

They teamed up with local schools to ensure a ‘Plan B’ indoor space was available for all six sessions.

Three sessions took place in each area and luckily all but the last had sunny weather so the families were able to make use of the great outdoors.

The Play Works Grant was accessed to provide fruit pots and healthy wraps that families were able to create. The Healthy Preschool Practitioner from Hywel Dda University Health Board gave her time at each event to ensure this ran smoothly.

Local charities and organisations were invited to support the events, including Family Information Service, ASD Family Help who provided circus skill activities and general outdoor equipment and Citizens Advice Bureau who provided some fun colouring and badge making that incorporated messages around budgeting.

Small Woods brought a new dimension to the sessions with fantastic nature activities that saw children and adults creating brilliant bunting and willow wands.

Volunteering Matters rounded up some of their local volunteers who supported each event to provide a range of interesting activities including making crowns, light catchers and lanterns, as well as a drumming session and board games.

The families provided some great feedback as well as all the providers enjoying the atmosphere.

Pembrokeshire County Council Cabinet Member for Education and Welsh Language, Cllr Guy Woodham, said: “These series of events have been so much fun and brilliant support for the families involved across the summer. My thanks go to everyone who has been involved.”

A total of 84 adults and 165 children attended the Tenby sessions with 60 adults and 106 children attending the sessions in Fishguard.

With the Early Years Team providing other activities for families to enjoy together, it created lots to do for all ages, a particular favourite was children face painting their parents!

Plant Dewi Project Worker Carys came along to provide some interesting ‘messy and sensory’ play and promote a new group (see below).

The Early Years Team are joining Plant Dewi to provide a new Families Together Group starting in St Teilo’s Church Hall, Tenby on Wednesday 4th September and running every week 9.30-11.30am.

To find out more information about what is going on in your area please contact Helen on 07774900140 email [email protected] and follow on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/EYITeam/