Agenda item

[NOTE:  Mr A. Enoch and Rev D. Richards, having earlier declared a prejudicial interest in this item, left the meeting prior to the consideration and determination thereof.]

The Committee considered a report detailing a proposal to change the nature of provision at Model V.A. Primary School.

In accordance with Welsh Government Strategic Plans, the Authority launched Carmarthenshire’s Welsh in Education Strategic Plan and its vision for a bilingual Carmarthenshire. To achieve this, the Authority will deliver significant growth in Welsh medium education and training to increase the number of children and young people who become fluent in both Welsh and English and have the ability to use these languages confidently with their families, in their communities and in the workplace.

With this in mind, the Local Authority has a responsibility to provide its communities with the best education and opportunities possible and believes that this can be achieved through set objectives. Carmarthenshire County Council is fully supportive of the aim that all pupils are able to speak, read and write in both Welsh and English fluently by the end of Key Stage 2 and will provide services that will ensure high quality learning opportunities for all Carmarthenshire’s children, young people and adults, thereby enabling them to achieve their full potential as lifetime learners in the context of the unique bilingual nature of the County.

In order to support Carmarthenshire’s Welsh in Education Strategic Plan and national policies in moving the county’s schools along the Welsh language continuum, it was proposed to change the nature of provision at Model VA Primary School.  It was proposed that from 1^st September, 2022 the nature of Foundation Phase provision will change to Welsh medium education. This will only affect pupils starting in the Foundation Phase at the school from September 2022 onwards.  Current pupils attending the school will be unaffected.

With learners accessing Welsh medium education in the Foundation Phase this would, in time, necessitate setting up a Welsh Stream at Key Stage 2 to ensure continuity of provision. This would be reviewed in line with Carmarthenshire’s Welsh in Education Strategic Plan.

The following questions/observations were raised on the report:-

·       The importance was stressed of taking people with us if we want the language continuum to work and officers were asked if it was possible to extend the consultation period in view of the concerns expressed.  The Head of Access to Education explained that it was not possible to go out to consultation without Executive Board approval and this report sought the Committee’s approval to recommend to the Executive Board that a formal consultation process be initiated;

·       Reference was made to the need to consult with parents and get them on board early on in the process;

·       In terms of those parents who will be the first to be affected by any changes in provision, officers were asked if contact could be made with the parents of children who attend nurseries where children progress to the school in question. 

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED

6.1      that the proposal to change the nature of provision at Model V.A.         Primary School, as detailed in the report, be endorsed;

6.2       that it be recommended to the Executive Board that a formal     consultation process be initiated.

[NOTE: At 12.55 p.m., prior to consideration of the next item, the Committee’s      attention was drawn to Council Procedure Rule 9 – Duration of Meeting and,         as the meeting had been underway for nearly three hours, it was   UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED to suspend standing orders to enable the             Committee to conclude the remaining business on the agenda.]