£4.2 million investment into Welsh learning in Wales

The Welsh government is investing an extra £4.2 million to support the teaching and learning of Welsh and subjects through the medium of Welsh.

A new one-year pilot sabbatical scheme for primary teachers to develop their Welsh-language skills will be delivered.

This new pilot will be added to the range of courses currently delivered across Wales.

Additional money will also be provided to Regional Education consortia to undertake a programme of work which will include mapping the Welsh language skills of the workforce; mentoring and school-to-school support, and providing a programme of Welsh language professional learning for practitioners.

The money will be split across five areas: £1,200,000 will go towards supporting the provision and expansion of the national sabbatical scheme; £600,000 to improve Welsh language skills of learners through informal opportunities; £50,000 to attract Welsh-medium graduates; £2,055,000 for education consortia to support professional learning for Welsh language and Welsh-medium practitioners; and £200,000 will be allocated to undertake research.

Education secretary Kirsty Williams said: “Developing a teaching workforce to teach Welsh and deliver education through the medium of Welsh is essential in creating more Welsh speakers and will be a priority over the next five years.

“This means planning to support the development of teachers and assistants and expanding the sabbatical scheme and other professional learning opportunities for the present workforce. Well crafted and delivered professional development is important because it delivers benefits to the individual, their profession and the public.”