Over £7m to support the next generation of Welsh speakers
Dros £7m i gefnogi'r genhedlaeth nesaf o siaradwyr Cymraeg
The Minister for Education and Welsh Language has announced over £7m will be invested in 11 Welsh medium education and childcare projects across Wales.
This funding will increase opportunities for Welsh medium education, which is key to the Welsh Government’s goal of reaching one million Welsh speakers by 2050.
The projects announced today will help bring opportunities to more pupils, from early years through to secondary schools to develop their Welsh language skills. Ysgol Llanfawr in Anglesey will receive funding for a new childcare unit, with 50 Welsh Medium childcare places to nurture a new generation of Welsh speakers.
Some projects can also support local communities to use more Welsh. Ysgol Gymraeg Gwynllyw in Torfaen has secured funding for a floodlit 3G pitch suitable for sports and activities to take place within the school day, which would also bring initiatives to grow the use of the Welsh language to the local community in the evenings, weekends and during school holidays.
The Minister, Jeremy Miles, said:
“I’m pleased to see the plans for new projects which will support children and young people of all ages right across Wales. If we’re going to achieve our ambitious goal of a million Welsh speakers by 2050, it is crucial we put the next generation at the heart of our plans.
“My message is clear, I want Welsh-medium education to be an option for everyone and I want everyone to have the opportunity to be bilingual citizens of Wales.”
Notes to editors
The 11 projects are:
- Powys: Ysgol Pennant and Cylch Meithrin Penybontfawr
The new early years facility will accommodate 16 early years places, with an extension to Ysgol Pennant that will accommodate the existing number of pupils at the school.
- Neath Port Talbot: Mynachlog Nedd refurbishment new seedling school
This scheme would see the current Abbey Primary School junior site refurbished, re-modelled and adapted to establish a new Welsh Medium starter school and a 12-place childcare provision (equating to 24 places)
- Neath Port Talbot: Remodelling of Additional Learning Needs Provision at Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Trebannws and establishment of a childcare setting.
This scheme involves remodelling and improvement works to the school
to facilitate the development of a new Welsh medium learning support centre. Additionally, it seeks to
create a new 12 place Welsh medium childcare provision (equating to 24 places
throughout the day) and improved foundation phase facilities.
- Anglesey: Ysgol Llanfawr childcare unit
This project is to obtain funding to purchase a new modular building to place on the Ysgol Llanfawr school site at Holyhead. The modular building would consist of 2 classroom spaces, reception, office, kitchen, toilets and storerooms. The site would provide 50 Welsh medium childcare places for children from the age of 2 until the September following their 4th birthday (when they start full time school). The unit could also be used to provide after school childcare and holiday clubs for pupils of statutory primary school age.
- Anglesey: Ysgol y Graig childcare unit
This project is a new build childcare unit within new Foundation Phase unit building for Ysgol y Graig. This will include 2 classroom spaces, reception, office, kitchen, tolites and store room. The project will increase Welsh-medium early years capacity and provide continuous wrap around care at the Ysgol y Graig site.
- Conwy: Cylch Meithrin Bro Aled, Ysgol Bro Aled, Llansannan
New extension on school premises to provide space for Cylch Meithrin Llansannan. It will allow for expansion of childcare places by 15-19 per session.
- Torfaen: Ysgol Gymraeg Gwynllyw 3G pitch
This project is to provide a floodlit 3G pitch suitable for football, contact rugby union and other sports and activities to take place within the school day. The facility would also be open to the local community in the evenings, weekends and during school holidays, with initiatives to grow the use of the Welsh language. The aim is to provide a pitch which has constant use throughout the year to maximising language development and health benefits.
- Newport: Sports Hall for Ysgol Gyfun Gwent Is Coed
This project is to provide a new modular construction four-court sports hall building with changing facilities for Newport’s Welsh-medium secondary school. This would complement the teaching, dining and assembly facilities and complete the suite of facilities to enable the school to offer excellent teaching and learning facilities.
- Cardiff: Ysgol Glantaf additional learning needs support – specialist resource base Unit
This project is to support additional SRB pupils. This provides the pupils with extra support they need within a mainstream school including Disability Discrimination Act adaptations at Ysgol Glantaf.
- Cardiff: Ysgol Bro Edern refurbishment
This project will provide the refurbishment of classrooms as new food tech classes for additional pupils at the school.
- Cardiff: Ysgol Plasmawr demountable unit and refurbishment
This project is for a demountable unit to replace existing provision and will provide further provision. Also, the refurbishment of existing toilets to cater for increased number at the school.