Decision details

Inquiry into Welsh in Education Strategic Plans (WESPs) - consideration of draft report

Decision Maker: Plenary - Fourth Assembly, Children, Young People and Education Committee - Fourth Assembly

Is Key decision?: Yes

Purpose:

The National Assembly for Wales’ Children, Young People and Education Committee undertook an inquiry into Welsh in Education Strategic Plans (WESPs). The report (PDF, 1MB) on the Committee’s inquiry was published on 9 December 2015. The Welsh Government’s response (PDF, 293KB) to the Committee’s report was published on 17 February 2016.

 

The School Standards and Organisation (Wales) Act 2013 aimed to build upon the previous non-statutory Welsh in Education Strategic Plans by placing them on a statutory footing.  The Act placed a duty upon local authorities to consult on, produce and publish a WESP to be submitted for approval of, and monitoring by, Welsh Ministers.  The Act provided for Welsh Ministers to make regulations about WESPs including provisions relating to consultation.

 

The terms of reference for this inquiry were to consider:

 

  • Whether Welsh in Education Strategic Plans are contributing to the outcomes and targets set out in the Welsh Government’s overarching Welsh Medium Education Strategic Plan;
  • Whether WESPs are (or have the potential) to deliver the required change at a local authority level (for example delivering provision to meet any increased demand for Welsh medium education);
  • Arrangements for target setting; monitoring; reviewing; reporting; approving; and ensuring compliance with delivering the requirements for WESPs (and the role of the local authority and the Welsh Government in this regard);
  • Whether WESPs evidence the effective interaction between the Welsh Government’s Welsh-medium education strategy and other relevant policies and legislation (for example school transport policy; 21st Century Schools programme; A living language: a language for living – Moving forward policy statement; Flying Start; planning policy);
  • Whether the outcomes of WESPs deliver equal outcomes for all pupils (for example primary/secondary pupils; children from low income households).

 

Evidence from the Public

The Committee has published the consultation responses for this inquiry.

 

Decisions:

The Committee agreed the draft report.

Publication date: 17/11/2015

Date of decision: 12/11/2015

Decided at meeting: 12/11/2015 - Children, Young People and Education Committee - Fourth Assembly

Accompanying Documents: