Newport City Council Welsh in Education Strategic Plan 2014 – 2017 Annual Review December 2015 1 v.27.11.15 Newport City Council Welsh in Education Strategic Plan 2014-2017 Introduction This Welsh in Education Strategic Plan is presented by Newport City Council in conjunction with the local authorities of Blaenau Gwent, Caerphilly, Monmouthshire and Torfaen and the Education Achievement for South East Wales. These five local authorities and the EAS will work together in partnership to plan and deliver Welsh-medium education across the area. This plan details how Newport City Council and the South East Wales consortium will aim to achieve the Welsh Government’s outcomes and targets outlined in the National Welsh Medium Education Strategy at a local and regional level. Section 1: Vision and aim for Welsh in education South East Wales will lead the development of Welsh standards in education to equip a bilingual Wales with a skilled bilingual workforce, supporting the Welsh Government’s vision for Welsh in Education. We will work together as a region to equip schools and education providers across age ranges and linguistic sectors with the capacity and sustainability to increase standards in Welsh and promote the use of the Welsh language within families, communities and workplaces. We will aim to stimulate and provide local, accessible, sustainable, community-focused provision to meet the growing demand for Welsh- medium education. By 2017, Newport will: Develop a Welsh-medium early years and childcare strategy and action plan to stimulate demand for Welsh-medium education in Newport. Welsh-medium education parental demand surveys will be conducted annually through a postal questionnaire to parents of children under the age of 2 with an action plan developed and published to address the findings of each survey. Increase the number of pupils assessed in Welsh first language at the end of the Foundation Phase from 5.2% to 5.6% by 2017. Increase the number of pupils assessed in Welsh first language at the end of Key Stage 3 from 2.6% to 3.2% by 2017. Work with South East Wales Local Authorities to ensure sufficient Welsh-medium secondary provision in 2016 when Ysgol Gyfun Gwynllyw reaches its full capacity. 2 v.27.11.15 Section 2: The Action Plan This action plan sets out how the South East Wales consortium will work together to contribute to the objectives set out in the Welsh Government’s Welsh-medium Education Strategy. Outcome 1: More seven-year-old children being taught through the medium of Welsh D. Progress December A. Objective B. Current performance C. Targets 2015 1.1 Increase the South East Wales South East Wales number of seven- The number of pupils in Welsh-medium Continue to work collaboratively to explore options year-old children education is increasing as more places are for cross-boundary provision where appropriate. taught through the provided in response to demand. medium of Welsh Across the region, 10.45% of year 2 learners are currently in Welsh-medium education. This proportion has increased in four out of the five authorities over the last 3 years, and projections indicate that numbers will continue to increase to 10.65% by 2017. All parents receive information on Welsh-medium education through each local authority’s Parents’ Handbook which is distributed with school application forms. Parents are able to access information on Welsh- medium childcare and early year’s education provision through Family Information Services. Every local authority within the region complies with the requirements of the Learner Travel Measure (Wales) 2008 through providing transport to Welsh-medium schools for pupils of statutory school age in accordance with each 3 v.27.11.15 D. Progress December A. Objective B. Current performance C. Targets 2015 local authority’s individual transport policy. Newport Newport Newport City Council maintains three Welsh- Mudiad Meithrin Officers to attend termly planning Supported by Mudiad medium primary schools all of which have meetings with Education and Early Years Business Meithrin a new Cylch nursery units: Managers (NCC) and EYDCP Support officer to Meithrin Cennin Pedr discuss plans for additional Welsh medium (Duffryn) was established. 1. Ysgol Gymraeg Casnewydd (366 pupils childcare and Early Years settings as well as to CM Cennin Pedr Committee on roll age 3-11) discuss new areas for development. were approached by 2. Ysgol Gymraeg Ifor Hael (opened in Mudiad Meithrin to establish To stimulate demand for Welsh-medium education, 2008, a Cylch Ti & Fi at the setting Mudiad Meithrin will consider the viability of 191 pupils on roll N-Y6) with staff willing to run the developing new Clychoedd Ti a Fi and Cylchoedd Ti & Fi as a way of drawing 3. Ysgol Gymraeg Bro Teyrnon (opened in Meithrin provisions in Newport through the children to the cylch 2011 on a temporary site and from utilisation of the Childcare Sufficiency Assessment meithrin for later transition. September 2013 in a permanent location, (CSA), other Welsh-medium demand statements, 80 children N-Y2). and the undertaking of feasibility study. Nov 15 update (Mudiad All parents receive information on Welsh-medium Conduct a parental demand survey across all Meithrin): Cylch Ti a Fi education through the parent/ carer school eligible areas in Newport for Welsh medium Flying Cennin Pedr closed during information handbook which is distributed with Start childcare places for eligible children during the summer term 2015 due phased admission application forms. The the term after their second birthday by July 2014. to staffing. MM Ti a Fi handbook, application forms and posters are Officer & Support Officer Develop an action plan for the provision of Welsh- produced bilingually. working to re-open Ti a Fi medium Flying Start places by September 2014. Cennin Pedr by end of the Free transport is provided to pupils of The School Information Handbook will be reviewed Autumn 15 term, with the compulsory school age who live more than 2 and updated annually to include up to date aim of developing a Cylch miles from their catchment school or nearest information on Welsh medium education and early Meithrin (following the available school (including Welsh medium and year’s provision. closure of SM Cennin Pedr faith schools). 2014), and which is vital to Continue to provide free transport to pupils of The Authority provides financial assistance generate parental interest compulsory school age who live more than 2 miles towards travel costs for pupils and students over and promote Welsh- from their nearest available Welsh-medium school, compulsory school age but aged under 19 4 v.27.11.15 D. Progress December A. Objective B. Current performance C. Targets 2015 (unless continuing without a break a course of in accordance with the Learner Travel Measure. medium education. This will study, which started before reaching 19 years of coincide with the age). development of the new Increase number of pupils assessed in Welsh first Welsh-medium Secondary language at the end of the Foundation Phase from school in the area. 5.2% to 5.6% by 2017. Establish catchment areas for the three Welsh- Mudiad Meithrin has been medium primary schools by September 2015. in discussions with Flying Families First will work to ensure that identified and Start to create a new Cylch referred Welsh speaking families of Foundation Ti & Fi at the new Central Phase age children attending Welsh medium FS Welsh Medium Setting. primary schools are supported by the Team Around Both parties are supportive the Family (TAF) approach through the medium of of this project being Welsh. This will help to ensure that they remain established with it to run in engaged in Welsh-medium education and extra early/mid 2015. curricular activities. Nov 15 update - Cylch Ti a Fi Ty Blosom will open in November 2015 to promote the benefits of WM education to parents and encourage the uptake of Welsh Medium places within the Flying Start Cylch Meithrin. Mudiad Meithrin employ a Ti a Fi Peripatetic Officer to manage and lead the following: Cylch Ti a Fi Beaufort , Cylch Ti a Fi Ifor Hael, Cylch Ti a Fi Bro Teyrnon and Cylch Ti a Fi Somerton. MM have met 5 v.27.11.15 D. Progress December A. Objective B. Current performance C. Targets 2015 with Ysgol Gymraeg Casnewydd to discuss opening a Cylch Ti a Fi to feed the school’s catchment area. Cylch Ti a Fi Ringland opened November 15 A Flying Start parental demand consultation was completed by July 14 and has been supported by a Demand Survey of intake into both Nursery and Reception classes of the 3 WM Primary Schools in Newport (analysing geographical areas of families taking up Welsh- medium education hi- lighting those which are FS eligible). Both surveys have informed the proposal for 2 Flying Start WM provisions: FS Blossom House (Civic) established at Central location running a 2 ½ hr afternoon provision Mon-Fri. 16 additional childcare places have been established during 2015 for eligible families living in 6 v.27.11.15 D. Progress December A. Objective B. Current performance C. Targets 2015 Flying Start areas. A second location was proposed within the Alway ward with location to be determined. A Flying Start report update on outcome of the consultation & plans for delivery was given at the Newport WEF meeting May 15. Nov 15 update (Flying Start): 2nd location determined as Ringland. To meet demand and ensure future sustainability a second WM childcare provision within Flying Start has been determined in the east of the city (Ringland). The capital investment in Ringland community centre has been approved by Cabinet to house the FS provision delivered through the medium of Welsh. Operational delivery is planned for September 2016.