Effective practice | 20 May 2021

Turning learners into users of the Welsh language

Share this page

Provider

Y Ganolfan Dysgu Cymraeg Genedlaethol/The National Centre for Learning Welsh

Number of pupils

13260

Age range

16+

Date of Inspection

January 2021

Identify how the excellent area of practice/sector-leading practice that was identified during the inspection relates to a key question, quality indicator and/or a specific aspect:

Context and background to the excellent/sector-leading practice:

Description of the nature of the strategy or activity that has been identified as excellent/sector-leading practice:

What effect has this work had on provision and learners’ standards:

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’s current strategic aims include the following:

Develop an innovative programme of attractive and suitable courses for learners by making full use of technology
Develop innovative schemes to ensure opportunities and contexts in which learners can use their Welsh with confidence
Raise the profile of the sector and increase the numbers who start courses and continue to learn Welsh

The Centre restructured Welsh for Adults provision across Wales by establishing 11 Learn Welsh providers from 2016 onwards. It provides funding to these Learn Welsh providers to offer Welsh for Adults provision within their communities.

It has succeeded in creating a wide range of strategic partnerships with national organisations to extend the formal and informal learning offer. The Centre has taken advantage of these robust partnerships to provide a varied and exciting range of opportunities for learners to use their linguistic skills, whether socially, culturally or professionally.

Identify how the excellent area of practice/sector-leading practice that was identified during the inspection relates to a key question, quality indicator and/or a specific aspect:

Establishing a national body has provided a focus for the sector to expand its formal and informal provision by forging and maintaining strategic partnerships with a variety of bodies. The opportunities that have been developed by forging these partnerships provide a variety of opportunities for people to use the Welsh language in meaningful contexts, turning learners into users of the Welsh language.

Learners are encouraged to take advantage of the new offer by their tutors and providers. The Centre is able to communicate directly and effectively with tutors to ensure that all tutors have knowledge of opportunities that are available to learners. As external bodies come to see that their services for learners are valued, this leads to continuing to plan and develop these services for the future.

Context and background to the excellent/sector-leading practice:

The Centre proceeded purposefully to forge strategic partnerships with various bodies (public, voluntary and cultural) in order to create opportunities for learners to use the Welsh language outside their lessons, and promote the opportunities and advantages that can arise from including learners in partners’ schemes of work. By explaining more to partners about the profile, ability and desire of learners to be involved in experiences through the medium of Welsh, beneficial and constructive discussions were held. The Centre was able to share information about learner numbers, age profiles and explain the different levels of learning. The existence of a national body for the first time (the Centre) to hold discussions with other national bodies, including the Books Council of Wales, National Museum Wales, the National Eisteddfod of Wales, BBC Radio Cymru/Wales, S4C, Mudiad Meithrin, Mentrau Iaith Cymru (Welsh Language Initiatives), Merched y Wawr and others, has led to creative action. By agreeing on plans, the Centre has been able to support partnerships practically, for example by offering training or support with marketing. As a result of partnership work, learners have been able to practise their Welsh and gain confidence in enjoying using the language. The infrastructure of the Welsh language has also been supported and strengthened, for example by increasing the sales of shops that sell Welsh language products.

Effective strategic partnerships have also been forged with national bodies in order to realise the objectives of ‘Work Welsh’, which teaches Welsh to employees. By working with partnerships, for example Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol and Cwlwm, tailored courses have been developed. One thousand three hundred and twenty nine (1,329) individual employers have taken advantage of the ‘Work Welsh’ scheme since its inception in 2017.

Description of the nature of the strategy or activity that has been identified as excellent/sector-leading practice:

The Centre and its partners wish to welcome learners to the ‘Welsh language world’ and have provided encouragement in an inclusive environment. For example, a week of celebrating learning Welsh by BBC Radio Cymru introduces learners to the station’s programmes and music, as well as giving s a voice to Welsh learners and raising the profile of learners among Welsh speakers.

Another example of a productive partnership is the co-operation with the Books Council of Wales, which has led to publishing a series of more than twenty books for learners, which are graded by the different levels of learning. The Centre has provided practical support by providing training for editors and by sharing vocabulary that is suitable for learners. Learners have benefited by being able to access reading materials that are suitable for their level, with the series of books opening the door to a world of Welsh language books of all kinds.

The partnership with the National Eisteddfod of Wales has led to activities throughout the year, not only during the Eisteddfod. For example, a successful reading festival has been held for learners with partners which include Golwg 360, the National Eisteddfod of Wales and the Books Council of Wales, which provides an opportunity for learners to listen to, and read brand new stories by experienced authors. This leads to improving learners’ skills and introducing them to the cultural world of the Welsh language.

The Centre has forged a good working relationship with its partners, and members of the Centre’s senior team meet with organisations regularly. In some cases, a Memorandum of Understanding has been established. Meetings include an opportunity to review activity and re-plan for the future.

The Centre also holds a termly meeting with all community partners in order to share good practice and plan jointly.

What effect has this work had on provision and learners’ standards:

The Centre’s providers make every effort to ensure beneficial opportunities for learners to use their Welsh outside formal lessons. As a result, a vast majority of learners are given an opportunity to practise and enjoy the language in an informal environment, and also get to learn more about Welsh culture. The ‘Siarad’ scheme, in which Welsh speakers are asked to ‘pair’ with a learner for 10 hours in order to chat, is a successful example of co-operation with volunteers across Wales. All of this work is central to the sector’s vision of creating speakers who use the Welsh language, rather than passive learners. As a result, the Centre contributes effectively to the Welsh Government’s aim of achieving a million Welsh speakers by 2050.

Identify how the excellent area of practice/sector-leading practice that was identified during the inspection relates to a key question, quality indicator and/or a specific aspect:

Context and background to the excellent/sector-leading practice:

Description of the nature of the strategy or activity that has been identified as excellent/sector-leading practice:

What effect has this work had on provision and learners’ standards: