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Guidance on responding to City of Edinburgh Counci l ’s draft Gael ic Language Plan ThisdocumenthasbeenproducedbyComannnamPàrantDùnÈideannandParentCouncil
Bun-sgoilTaobhnaPàircetoassistparentsinrespondingtoEdinburghCouncil’sdraftGaelic
LangaugePlan2018-22(theGLP).
When is the deadline for responding to the GLP consultation? Friday15
thDecember.
Important L inks:
ThedraftGaelicLanguagePlan-
https://consultationhub.edinburgh.gov.uk/ce/gaelic_language_plan/user_uploads/city-of-edinburgh-council---gaelic-language-plan-2018-to-2022---v22---final-draft-for-public-consultation.pdf
Theonlineresponseportal-
https://consultationhub.edinburgh.gov.uk/ce/gaelic_language_plan/
ComannnamPàrant’sblogwithhelpandadvice
https://cnpduneideannblog.wordpress.com
Why should I respond? TheGLPsetsoutEdinburghCouncil’splansforthedevelopmentofGaelicinEdinburghover
thenextfiveyearsandcoverskeyareasincludingvisibilityofthelanguage,education,and
cultureandthearts.
Wereallyneedyoutorespondtotheconsultationtoshowthatyousupportthepositive
developmentofGaelicinEdinburgh.Theco-productiongroupwillusethedatatofinalise
theGaelicLanguagePlanindicatingwhichoftheoptionstheCouncilwillcommittoforthe
nextfiveyears.Thenumberofresponsestotheconsultation(positiveandnegative)could
alsobeusedasevidenceofwhetherEdinburghresidentssupportfutureinvestmentin
Gaelic.Numbersreallycount,soeveryresponsematters!
Gaelic-mediumeducationisatacrucialstageofdevelopmentandthisconsultationpresents
agreatopportunitytoshapeitsfuturedirection.Thisplanwillformthebasisofwhat
happenstoGaelicinEdinburghoverthenextfiveyears,sothisisourchancetohaveour
say.
About this guidance Theguidancebelowprovidesscreenshotsoftheonlineresponsesurveytoaidparentsand
membersoftheGaeliccommunityinrespondingtotheGLPconsultation.
Exampletexthasbeenprovidedwhichreflectssomeoftheviewsthathavebeenput
forwardbyparentsinmeetingstodiscusstheGLP.Thismayproveusefulinaidingyouin
thinkingaboutyourownresponse.
Rememberthatyoudon’thavetoanswereveryquestion,andyoudon’thavetoprovide
rankingsfortheactionsifyoudonotwishto.Youcansimplyskipanyquestionsthatyou
don’tfeelyoucananswer.
Lett ing us know Wewouldbegratefulifyoucouldletusknowifyouhaveresponded.Ifyoucanletusknow
whoyouareandwhatclassesyouchild/childrenis/arebyemailing
Page 1: Introduction
Page 2: Vis ion and principles
4.Pleaseusethespacebelowforanycommentsorsuggestionsaboutthevisionsand
principles.
Vision-ThevisionisverypositiveaboutsupportforGaelic.
Principles-TheprinciplesreflectwellthattheGaeliccommunityisdiverseandthriving.The
communityisalsogrowingwithnewyoungspeakers.
Theprinciplesrightlyreflecttheequalstatusinlawofthelanguage.Thespecialstatusof
Edinburghasourcapitalcityshouldbereflected,withacommitmenttoworkwithnational
institutionstoimprovevisibilityandpromotionofthelanguage.
Page 3: Strategic themes and commitments
5.Doyouhaveanycommentsorsuggestionsinrelationtothesitestrategicthemesand
commitments?
Overallthestrategicthemesandcommitmentsarepositive.
Education–thereshouldbeacommitmenttoprovidingcertaintyofpathwayforchildren
withinGME,i.e.inensuringthatchildrencantransitionwithcertaintyfromonestagetothe
next.
ThereshouldbeacommitmenttothecontinuinggrowthanddevelopmentofGaelic
educationandtheGaeliclanguageinEdinburgh.Alongsidethis,familieswanttoseeafocus
onthequalityoftheGaeliceducationbeingdelivered,andarecognitionoftheentitlement
ofchildreninGMEtoanimmersioneducation.
Supportingco-productionapproachesinthedeliveryofcommunitycommitmentsisagood
strategicideaasithasbeenshowntoworkeffectivelywitheducation.
EdinburghCouncil’sGLPshouldalsoincludeacommitmenttoincreasethevisibilityofGaelic
inthecity.
CultureandArtsandHeritage-thereshouldbemuchmoreambitionanddetailinrelation
tothiscommitment.ItwillbeverydifficulttoachievethevisionoftheGLPwithoutan
ambitiousartsstrategy.TheGLPcurrentlyfocussesonchildrengoingthroughGME.Those
childrencannotbecomeconfidentadultspeakersofthelanguageifitisconfinedtoa
languageoftheclassroom.
Page 4: Service Standard Commitments
6.Doyouhaveanycommentsorsuggestionsinrelationtotheservicestandard
commitments?
Theservicestandardcommitmentsarepositiveinthattheyaimtoincreasethevisibilityof
Gaelicinthecity,andaresensitivetothechildrenwhoarebeingraisedasGaelicspeakers.
Page 5: Current State, Engagement Outcomes and Future State Actions for Pre-0 to 6 month
8.Pleaseusethespacebelowforanycommentsorsuggestionsabouttheactionsfor
Pre-0to6months.
Itisdifficulttoratetheactionsinorderofimportance,asitwillbenecessaryfora
numberofdifferentactionstotakeplacesimultaneouslytoachievetheaimsoftheGLP.
Themostimportantaspectofeducationatthisveryearlystageistoensurethatfamilies
haveanawarenessthatGaelicispartoftheeducationsystem,andthattheyareableto
accessopportunitiestolearnthelanguageandparticipateinGaeliccommunityevents.
9.Arethereanyspecificactionsthatyouthinkarenecessarywhichhavenotbeen
includedforPre-0to6months?Pleaseprovidedetailsinthespaceprovidedbelow.
ConsiderbestpracticeinthedeliveryofotherminoritylanguageselsewhereinEurope.
Page 6: Current State, Engagement Outcomes and Future State Actions for 0 to 3 years
11.Pleaseusethespacebelowforanycommentsorsuggestionsabouttheactionsfor
0to3years.
Itisdifficulttoratetheactionsinorderofimportance,asitwillbenecessaryfora
numberofdifferentactionstotakeplacesimultaneouslytoachievetheaimsoftheGLP.
Forexample,itmaynotbepossibletoexpandCròileaganserviceswithoutdoingmore
todevelopandencouragestaff.
EngagementwithCròileaganfamiliesshowsthattheyvalueaccessibilityofplaygroups,
certaintyofprogressiontoSgoil-àraich,andresourcestosupporttheirfamilylearning.
Theactionsshouldfocusonthesethemes.
12.Arethereanyspecificactionsthatyouthinkarenecessarywhichhavenotbeen
includedfor0to3years?Pleaseprovidedetailsinthespaceprovidedbelow.
FurtheractionscouldbetakentosupportfamilieswhoarenotabletoaccessCròileagan
withtheirchildrenduetoworkinghours,butmaywishtostartlearningGaelicasa
familywhentheirchildrenareveryyoung.
Page 7: Current State, Engagement Outcomes and Future State Actions for 3 to 5 years
14.Pleaseusethespacebelowforanycommentsorsuggestionsabouttheactionsfor
3to5years.
Itisdifficulttoratetheactionsinorderofimportance,asitwillbenecessaryfora
numberofdifferentactionstotakeplacesimultaneouslytoachievetheaimsoftheGLP.
ItisalsoimportanttonotethatanexpansionofSgoil-àraichprovisionisimportantto
meettheaimofcontinuingtoprovideaccesstoGME–itisnotnecessarilyhelpfulatthis
stagetorateonetypeofexpansionoveranother.Allpracticaloptionsshouldbe
considered.
Thekeypointofconcerntoparentswithchildreninthisagegroupisthelack
ofcapacity.Thisneedstobeaddressedurgently.Asthedatashows,younger
childrencanbeunabletoaccessGaelic-mediumpre-schoolcareforthefullperiodof
theirentitlement.Immersionintheearlyyearsisveryimportantinpreparingthe
childrenforschoolandensuringthatallthechildrenenteringprimaryschoolaredoing
sowithasolidbackgroundinGaelic.DenyingsomechildrenaccesstoGMEforaperiod
oftheireducationdisadvantagesthemindividuallybutalsodisadvantagestheirpeers
whomayhavehadaccesstoGMEandmakesfull-immersionfromC1difficultfor
teacherstoachieve.
Inordertoproperlyaddresscapacityconcerns,thekeypointstoconsiderarelocation,
staffing,andtheexistenceofwraparoundcareonsitetoallowaccessibilityforworking
families.
15.Arethereanyspecificactionsthatyouthinkarenecessarywhichhavenotbeen
includedfor3to5years?Pleaseprovidedetailsinthespaceprovidedbelow.
ThereisnospecificactionthatrecognisestheimportanceofaGaelic-medium
wraparoundserviceonsite.Thisisakeyfactorintheaccessibilityofnurseryprovision
andthecreationofanimmersionenvironment.
Page 8: Current State, Engagement Outcomes and Future State Actions for 5 to 11 years
17.Pleaseusethespacebelowforanycommentsorsuggestionsabouttheactionsfor5to
11years.
Itisdifficulttoratetheactionsinorderofimportance,asitwillbenecessaryforanumber
ofdifferentactionstotakeplacesimultaneouslytoachievetheaimsoftheGLP.For
example,anewBun-sgoilwillrequireanincreaseinthenumberofteachers,soactions
relatingtorecruitmentandretentionofteachingstaffshouldratejustashighlyasany
actionsrelatingtoexpansionofcapacity.Itisnotpossibletoseparatethetwoandtorate
themdifferently.
ItisnotappropriatetoincludeAdditionalSupportNeedswithinthe5-11Actions.Additional
SupportNeedsrequiresaseparatesectionandshouldbeconsideredthroughoutthewhole
periodofeducation.GMEschoolsrequireadditionalresourcetosupportGaelicliteracyin
additiontootherlearningsupportneeds.
AnincreasetoprimaryschoolGMEcapacityisveryimportant.Thiswillgivecertaintyfor
familieswhowishGMEfortheirchildren.Thetypeofschool(newbuildorrefurbishment)is
notasimportantasensuringthereisadequatestaffingtodeliveranimmersioneducation.
Thelocationisalsoimportanttoensureaccessibility,asistheprovisionofonsite
wraparoundcare.
Thekeyactionwhichrequiresurgentattentionistoensurethereareadequatenumbersof
GaelicspeakingstafftodelivertheGMEentitlementofGaelicimmersion.Thisneeds
specific,measurableactions.TherecruitmentandretentionofGaelicspeakingstaffwill
requireafulltimeGaelicDevelopmentOfficerworkingspecificallyineducation.
TheinclusionofSradaganandoutofschoolactivitiesisnotappropriateinthissection.
ThereshouldbeaseparatesectionoftheGLPtocoversupportforoutofschoolactivities.
Outofschoolactivitiesneedtobeaddressedseparatelyastheyareimportanttoensure
childrenseeGaelicasmorethanalanguageoftheclassroom.
18.Arethereanyspecificactionsthatyouthinkarenecessarywhichhavenotbeen
includedfor5to11years?Pleaseprovidedetailsinthespaceprovidedbelow.
ContinuingprofessionaldevelopmentofstaffneedstobeconsideredintheGMEcontext,
withanunderstandingthatdeliveringCfEthroughGaelicrequiresadditionalinputof
teachertimeandincreasestheirworkload.WhenEdinburghCouncilcommitstodelivering
GME,italsoneedstocommittosupportingstaffthroughmakingtimeforthemtomaintain
andimprovetheirGaelicskills.Thisrequiresaspecificactionpoint.
Parentsofchildreninthisagegroupwillbemakingdecisionsaboutsecondaryschool.
CertaintyofprovisionaroundGMEsecondaryisessential.
Page 9: Current State, Engagement Outcomes and Future State Actions for 11 to 18 years
20.Pleaseusethespacebelowforanycommentsorsuggestionsabouttheactionsfor11to18
years.
Itisdifficulttoratetheactionsinorderofimportance,asitwillbenecessaryforanumberof
differentactionstotakeplacesimultaneouslytoachievetheaimsoftheGLP.Forexample,
expansionofprovisionofGMEdeliveryatJGHSwillrequireanimmediatefocusonencouraging
teachersintoGMEfromacrosstheschoolestate.
ThepriorityofparentsistheirchildrenwillhavecertaintyofamuchenhancedandimprovedGaelic-
mediumexperienceforourchildrenatsecondaryschool.Thiswouldincludeagreaterpercentageof
thetimetabletobedeliveredthroughthemediumofGaelic.Thereisalsothevisionofagrowing
Gaelic-mediumcommunityatsecondaryschool,andthevisionofthiscommunitystayingtogetherin
oneschool.FamilieswithchildreninGaeliceducationareentitledtoexpectastandardofeducation
equaltotheirpeersinEnglish-medium.
Thereneedstobeaplantosupporttake-upofSQAexamsthroughthemediumofGaelic.Thisrelies
oncontinuedsupport,includingstaffandlearningresources,toensurethatpupilsundertaking
certificationcoursesthroughGaelicareabletocompletethem,anddonotfeeldisadvantaged
comparedwiththosetakingthesamesubjectinEnglish.
TheactionsshouldacknowledgeandreflectthefactthatsomeGaeliccoursesatsecondarylevelare
stillatdevelopmentstage,andthereforestaffwillrequiretimeforcoursedevelopment.
Theinclusionofthee-sgoilisimportantasitcouldplayanimportantpartineffectiveandefficient
deliveryofGaeliccourses.Thereneedstobeanunderstandingthatthiscouldnotactasa
replacementforGaelicspeakingteachers,butcouldactasasupplementforthedeliveryofspecific
coursematerial.
21.Arethereanyspecificactionsthatyouthinkarenecessarywhichhavenotbeenincludedfor11
to18years?Pleaseprovidedetailsinthespaceprovidedbelow.
ThereisaneedtoensurethatthefinalversionoftheGLPincludesveryspecificandmeasurable
actionstotakeforwardtheexpansionofsecondaryGME.Withoutdefinitecommitmentsandreal
evidenceofaplan,itwillbedifficultforparentstobuy-intoavisionofsecondarygrowth.Families
willneedcertaintyforthesecondaryeducationoftheirchildren.
Page 10: Other comments
22.PleaseusethespacebelowforanyothercommentsorsuggestionsabouttheGaelicLanguage
Plan.
TheoverallmessageofthedraftGaelicLanguagePlanisverypositiveforthedevelopment
ofGaelicinEdinburgh.Itisveryencouragingtoseeapositiveattitudeandarangeofideas
forbuildingonprevioussuccessandinvestment.
TheGLPdoesnotincludeacomprehensivereviewofprogressagainsttargetssetinthe
previousplan.Ananalysisofthiskindwouldassistwithidentifyingareaswherefocusis
required.
TheGLPdoesnotdiscussadultlearning,andthereisverylittlementionofGLE(thelearners’
programmeforschools).GLEisaverydifferentpathwayfromGME,andrequiresdifferent
staffing,sodoesneeditsownareawithintheGLP.Wewouldliketoseemoreambition
regardingGLE,forexamplethrougheveryclusterschoolofJGHSdeliveringGaelicasoneof
their1+2languages,andtheopportunitytocontinueatsecondary.
SupportforyoungpeopletoengagethroughGaelicisparticularlyimportanttoparents.
Thisissomethingthatrequiresmorethanjustdevelopmentofschoolplaces,itisalsovery
importanttoensurevisibilityandrespectforthelanguagearoundthecity.Itisimportant
thatyoungpeopleseeconsistentpositivemessagesaboutGaelicfromnationalinstitutions
inourcapital(ScottishParliament,NMS,etc.),positivemessagesfromEdinburghCouncil,
andonsocialmedia.
Page 11: Almost Done
Lett ing us know Wewouldbegratefulifyoucouldletusknowifyouhaveresponded.Ifyoucanletusknow
whoyouareandwhatclassesyouchild/childrenis/arebyemailing