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In order to increase education provision that develops confident speakers in Welsh in both the
primary and secondary sectors, several approaches will be required. Since the population is not
expected
to increase substantially over time, it is unlikely that we will need substantial numbers of new
schools. Therefore, the challenge for local authorities will be to reconfigure provision in order to
create more Welsh-medium places and, over time, ensure that more bilingual schools introduce
a higher proportion of the curriculum in Welsh to give learners strong linguistic foundations.
When local authorities have opportunities to open new schools as part of local development
plans or large-scale economic development, we will expect them to respond with strong plans
clearly demonstrating how their proposals align with our aim of creating more speakers.
Every local authority also has the opportunity to develop access points for Welsh-medium
provision, whether in the primary or secondary sector, through specific provision for those
accessing Welsh-medium education at a later stage. A number of models are already in operation
throughout Wales. We need to improve our understanding of what models provide the most
effective provision, and take steps to increase this provision over time.
The English-medium sector has an important contribution to make to our aim of developing
Welsh speakers. To reach a million speakers, we need to transform how we teach Welsh to
learners in all other schools, in order that at least half of those learners report by 2050 that they
can speak Welsh by the time they leave school. We intend to develop a single continuum for the
teaching of Welsh as a language, with an emphasis on learning Welsh predominantly as a
means of communication, particularly oral communication.
All schools in Wales will be required to introduce the language continuum to all learners over
time, and embed the acquisition of Welsh language skills across the curriculum. Through this
we aim to ensure that by 2050 at least 70 per cent of all learners develop their Welsh language
skills and are able to use the language with confidence in all aspects of their lives by the time they
leave school. The introduction of the continuum will take time. Its success is dependent on
developing the skills of the workforce and also on the availability
of opportunities for learners to use the language in a wide range of contexts outside the
classroom.
Ambition, support and strong leadership will be required from local authorities, governors and
school headteachers to achieve our national target of increasing each school year group receiving
Welsh-medium
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