Expanding participation and ensuring that everyone in Wales has an opportunity to learn the language, whatever their background
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- Information about the provider
- How the area and excellent practice/sector-leading practice identified during an inspection relates to a key question, quality indicator and/or a specific aspect
- Context and background to best practice/sector-leading practice
- Description of the nature of the strategy or activity identified as excellent practice/sector‑leading practice
- What impact has this work had on provision and learners’ standards?
Information about the provider
On 1st August 2016, full responsibility for the Welsh for Adults sector was transferred to the National Centre for Learning Welsh (the Centre). The Centre is an arm’s length body funded by the Welsh Government and housed at the University of Wales Trinity St David.
The Centre restructured Welsh for Adults provision across Wales, establishing 11 Learn Welsh providers. The Centre funds these Learn Welsh providers to provide a Welsh for Adults offer within their communities. Over time, the number of unique learners has increased, with 33% more learners in 2022-2023 in comparison with the first national figures in 2017-2018. By 2022-2023, there were 16,905 unique learners. The number of learning activities has also increased significantly during the same period.
How the area and excellent practice/sector-leading practice identified during an inspection relates to a key question, quality indicator and/or a specific aspect
The Centre has endeavoured to ensure that the Learn Welsh offer is inclusive. Local targets are set and provision is monitored regularly to ensure that there is an appropriate variety of courses at all levels in all parts of Wales. As a result, learners are able to follow a course that is suitable for them and are able to have progression in their learning through the range of levels. As a result, in 2022‑2023, 54% of the Centre’s learners have continued to learn at a higher level, which is an increase of 14% since 2019-20.
Context and background to best practice/sector-leading practice
One of Estyn’s recommendations to the Centre following the inspection in 2021 was to continue to work with Learn Welsh providers to develop models of provision based on learner availability. The Centre has introduced various models of provision across the sector, including plans to attract specific audiences and develop more learning approaches to continue to extend the choice for learners.
Description of the nature of the strategy or activity identified as excellent practice/sector‑leading practice
The greatest change over recent years is the learning methods that are now offered within the learning programmes of Learn Welsh providers. There is a wide variety of options in terms of learning methods and this has made a positive contribution to the recent increase in data numbers (an 11% increase in the number of unique learners).
Through the Centre’s Onwards with Welsh scheme, free Welsh lessons have been provided to learners between 16-25 and young people from all backgrounds have benefitted from opportunities to learn Welsh and learn more about contemporary Welsh culture. Following marketing campaigns tailored specifically to attract younger learners and creating new partnerships, including with the Duke of Edinburgh, the Urdd, further education colleges and apprenticeship providers, in 2022-2023, there was a 9% increase in the number of learners in this age range.
The vast majority of learners continue to be here in Wales, but virtual learning has opened the door to a wider audience, with 14% learning outside Wales and many of those learning Welsh for family reasons or to prepare them to return to Wales.
The Centre has given a specific priority to engaging with different groups of learners, for example learners who are recognised as asylum seekers and refugees through the Croeso i Bawb scheme. The Centre has also worked with Adult Learning Wales, introducing WSOL (Welsh for Speakers of Other Languages) courses for ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) learners. Learn Welsh units are also available in Cantonese, Syrian Arabic, Pashto, Farsi and Ukrainian.
A variety of interventions and schemes aim to ensure that there is no financial challenge for anyone who wishes to learn the language. There is a variety of financial support and free provision for those who need it and, as a result, 44% or learners receive their courses free of charge and another 48% receive a significant concession for their lessons. Very few learners now pay the full fee. In 2022-2023, 36% of learners lived in the 50% most deprived areas in Wales and this reflects the aim of ensuring that there are no obstacles for any member of society to learn Welsh. The Centre also provides, through a special fund, money to purchase technical equipment, course books, travel costs and help to fund childcare, in addition to contributing to the costs of staying on summer courses.
A range of programmes such as Clwb Cwtsh and the Welsh at Home programme ensure that parents and carers are able to learn Welsh at no cost. These programmes are held throughout Wales and target specific areas suitably to ensure that the offer is available to all.
The Work Welsh scheme offers diverse Welsh learning provision for employers and specific sectors, which supports learners to have easy access to lessons, for example as a key part of their day-to-day work. The Work Welsh scheme has evolved rapidly and meets the needs of learners and employers very beneficially. Over 1,000 employers have now engaged with the scheme and sector-specific plans have been developed for the sector. For example, in response to the Welsh Governing policy in the health sector, such as More Than Words, a tutor has been appointed in all health boards in Wales to support the health and care workforce to provide a service to patients in Welsh.
The Centre has also developed new provision for the education workforce to take advantage of a range of free courses and the intention is to continue to add to the programme in the future.
What impact has this work had on provision and learners’ standards?
As a result of the above initiatives, the Learn Welsh sector, led by the National Centre for Learning Welsh, has succeeded in increasing the number of learners, including learners from specific groups, while working purposefully to eliminate practical or financial barriers to individuals to learning Welsh.