Welsh language acquisition – How Welsh-medium and bilingual settings and primary schools develop learners’ listening, speaking, reading and writing skills

Recommendations

Non-maintained settings, nursery and primary schools should:

• R1 plan carefully for continuity and progression in the skill development of learners from all linguistic backgrounds as they acquire the Welsh language
• R2 provide regular listening and speaking activities to develop learners’ vocabulary and syntactic patterns, and encourage them to apply these new skills in formal and less formal activities
• R3 track rigorously the progress, vocabulary development and language acquisition of specific groups of learners, including the more able

Primary schools should:

• R4 provide opportunities for learners to listen to, read and appreciate Welsh literature and poetry by Welsh authors, particularly in key stage 2
• R5 ensure regular opportunities for learners to write freely and independently

Local authorities and regional consortia should: 

• R6 provide training to deepen practitioners’ understanding of how learners acquire the Welsh language, and in effective language immersion methodology

The Welsh Government should:

• R7 develop national guidelines on language immersion in order to support teaching and learning in Welsh language acquisition