Dyfodol i’r Iaith has welcomed the the Welsh Government’s decision to extend the remit of the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol to include further education.

The organization has long argued the importance of this sector in relation to promoting Welsh as a community language. Heini Gruffydd,  Dyfodol’s Chair said:

“ We believe that this is an important decision, particularly as Welsh-language provision and promotion within this sector has been very disappointing in the past. We look forward to seeing new develpments under the Coleg’s lead, and that the sector can now contribute to the necessary promotion of the Welsh language in the workplace and beyond.”

Dyfodol i’r Iaith has welcomed the Welsh Language Commissioner’s recent briefing note on Welsh Medium Childcare and Early Years Education as a revealing  document, which raises challenging questions.

The document outlines the challenges and opportunities for the provision of childcare and pre-school education in the context of the Welsh Government’s aim to create a million Welsh speakers by 2050. Heini Gruffudd, Dyfodol’s Chair said:

“The Government needs to face the workforce training needs to establish a strong foundation for Welsh medium pre-school care and education, and this document clearly shows how much needs to be done. It paints a perilous picture for some areas, and we would hope that this will raise discussion on a local and national level.”

Dyfodol i’r Iaith have called for the Welsh language to be an essential requirement for Additional Learning Needs Leader posts in Wales. These posts, within the four Education Consortia, have been advertised in the Guardian, with the ability to speak Welsh noted as being only ‘desirable’.

Dyfodol stated, “It is extremely disappointing that the Regional Education Consortia in Wales cannot see the need for Additional Learning Needs Leaders to be able to speak Welsh.

Over the past few years, the language has had insufficient attention within the field of additional learning needs. It is time to change this, so that children who attend Welsh language schools are treated equally in terms of language skills and educational development.

Although two of the consortia note that that the ability to speak Welsh is ‘highly desirable’, for these posts, this is not good enough. Those who are appointed need to have a thorough knowledge of the language situation in Wales. Being able to discuss this area through the medium of Welsh is an essential part of this, as is a thorough knowledge of the needs of Welsh-speaking and bilingual pupils.”