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Have you considered Welsh-medium education

for your child?

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Some famous Welsh speakers

include Arsenal footballer

Aaron Ramsey, singers Duffy,

Cerys Matthews and Connie

Fisher, and BBC anchorman

Huw Edwards.

Nearly 41% of children aged

between 5 and 15 can speak

Welsh according to the 2001

Census.

Between 60% and 75% of the

world’s population is bilingual.

People who only speak one

language are in the minority.

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Welcome!

By choosing Welsh-medium education, you will ensure that your child will become completely bilingual.

In this booklet, we answer some of the questions you may have in relation to bilingualism and Welsh-medium education. It also details Welsh-medium provision in Powys and sign posts other organisations able to provide further information in relation to various aspects of Welsh-medium education.

If you have any further questions, you can contact: Powys County Council on 0845 602 7030 or education@powys.gov.uk.

Welsh Language Line on 08456 027 054

Information is also available on our website, www.powys.gov.uk

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In this booklet, we answer some of the questions you may have in relation to bilingualism and Welsh-medium education. It also details Welsh-medium provision in Powys and sign posts other organisations able to provide further information in relation to various aspects of Welsh-medium education.

If you have any further questions, you can contact:

Powys County Council on 0845 602 7030 or education@powys.gov.uk.

Welsh Language Line on 08456 027 054

rmation is also available on our website, www.powys.gov.uk

In this booklet, we answer some of the questions you may have in relation to bilingualism and Welsh-medium education. It also details Welsh-medium provision in Powys and sign posts other organisations able to provide further information in relation to various aspects of Welsh-medium education.

If you have any further questions, you can contact:

Powys County Council on 0845 602 7030 or education@powys.gov.uk.

Welsh Language Line on 08456 027 054

Information is also available on our website, www.powys.gov.uk

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Powys and sign posts other organisations able to provide further information in relation to various aspects of Welsh-

If you have any further questions, you can contact:

Powys County Council on 0845 602 7030

rmation is also available on our website,

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Is Welsh-medium education suitable for my child?

What are the advantages of being bilingual?

Education

In Wales, children who study through the medium of Welsh do just as well, if not better, in school than children who study through the medium of English. External examination results at Welsh-medium secondary schools are consistently high, and on average, pupils who receive Welsh-medium education achieve higher grades in examinations.

Children who speak two languages are more versatile and creative in their thinking, and they are also more intellectually advanced in other fi elds at four and fi ve years old.

Bilingual people also tend to do better in IQ tests compared with people who are fl uent in only one language. A study carried out at the University of York in Canada concluded that speaking two languages can help keep people more mentally agile; bilingual volunteers had faster reaction times than those who only spoke one language, and were less likely to suffer from mental decline in old age.

“Research from a number of different countries shows

that bilingual pupils tend to do better in IQ tests and

creative assessments.”

Professor Colin Baker, International Expert in Bilingual Education.

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Careers

Being fl uent in both Welsh and English gives young people in Wales an enormous advantage when they enter the job market.

The Welsh Language Act 1993 gave equal status to the Welsh and English languages in the public sector in Wales, and placed a duty on public bodies to provide services through the medium of Welsh and English. Since the introduction of the Act, more use is being made of the Welsh language in every aspect of life, including the private sector. As a result, public bodies, private companies and voluntary organisations are looking for staff who can perform effectively in both languages.

Social

A child who is able to speak two languages is able to mix and communicate with a wider variety of people, and therefore have a more diverse social life. The ability to speak Welsh will also enable your child to benefi t from the broader horizons provided by the enjoyment of two cultures.

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Will learning Welsh affect my child’s English?

No! In fact, it may even help your child’s English. By learning two languages at the same time, children become aware of how languages work in general. Recent results suggest that children who receive a bilingual education do better in subjects across the curriculum – including English!

Research shows that being able to speak and use two languages improves a child’s ability to use and learn language in general.

Don’t children become confused?

Not at all. When learning any language, young children mix and experiment with words – this doesn’t mean that they’re confused, it’s part and parcel of learning.

The power to learn language is so great in the

young child that it doesn’t seem to matter how many

languages you throw their way...They can learn as

many spoken languages as you can allow them to

hear systematically and regularly.

Dr Susan Curtiss, Professor of Linguistics.

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Will my child learn two languages only half as well as one?

No, quite the opposite – there’s almost no limit to a child’s ability to learn languages.

In most European countries, young children can speak two or three languages. Usually, one language helps the other, and it becomes easier for the child to learn more languages later on.

Hollywood has some fl uent Welsh speakers

in its midst, with “Fantastic Four” actors Ioan

Gruffudd and “Brothers and Sisters” actor

Matthew Rhys both being proud Welsh

speakers.

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How can I support my child if I don’t speak Welsh?

You don’t need to be able to speak Welsh to send your child to a Welsh-medium playgroup or school. In many areas of Wales, including Powys, the vast majority of children in Welsh-medium or bilingual nursery groups and schools come from non-Welsh-speaking homes.

As a parent, the biggest help you can give your child is to encourage and praise them. You can also help their progress by urging them to attend Welsh-medium activities and to watch Welsh-medium television programmes, and by providing them with Welsh-language books, tapes, CDs, videos and DVDs.

How can I help with homework?

Your child’s teacher will be more than happy to help you with your child’s homework. However, research has shown that children who have to translate a task for their parents get a better understanding of the subject, as the process of translation actually reinforces the subject in the child’s mind.

Help and support is also available from the Welsh Language Board’s Welsh Homework Support Line – 0871 230 0029 orpost@homeworkinwelsh.com. This service provides help with Welsh words or terms, as well as practical help with general matters regarding homework.

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Why not try learning Welsh yourself?

It’s never too late for you or your partner to learn Welsh. Learning alongside your child can be an incentive, and lots of fun! Welsh for Adults courses are available throughout Wales, and are suitable for learners at all levels. In some areas, there are classes aimed specifi cally at parents.

Details of courses in Powys are available from the Welsh for Adults centre, Aberystwyth.

Tel: 0800 876 6975 or visit: www.aber.ac.uk/welshforadults

Age is no barrier to learning – almost

20,000 adults are currently learning Welsh.

In Powys, the majority of pupils who receive

their education through the medium of Welsh

come from non-Welsh-speaking homes.

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My child is already of primary school age, can he/she be

educated through the medium of Welsh?

Although your child may have no experience of the Welsh language, they will still be able to access Welsh-medium education, and help is available to enable them to integrate effortlessly.

In Powys, intensive short term support is provided for latecomers in Welsh-medium schools and Welsh-medium streams, in order to speed up the process of familiarisation with the Welsh language.

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In 2005/06, 53,251 primary school pupils

across Wales received their education

through the medium of Welsh.

The fi rst specifi cally designated Welsh

medium local authority primary school was

opened in Llanelli in 1947.

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I believe that languages will become more

important in the 21st century; an ability to speak

Welsh and English will hopefully facilitate learning

other languages later in life. The Welsh language is

part of our heritage and I want my children to

be able to benefi t from that.

I am very pleased for my children that they now

have the choice of the two languages. They have

the opportunity to be involved in all aspects of the

community. With the support of the school, they are

now both fl uent in Welsh and English.

Views of non-Welsh-speaking parents

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Welsh-medium education in Powys

Nursery Education

The main providers of Welsh-medium pre-school education in Powys and throughout Wales are Mudiad Ysgolion Meithrin or MYM (‘the National Association of Welsh-medium Playgroups’). You do not need to be able to speak Welsh

to take advantage of their provision. MYM offers two main types of provision all over Powys, and throughout Wales.

i) Cylchoedd Ti a Fi (Carer and Child Groups) The Cylchoedd Ti a Fi provide for children from birth through to compulsory school age.

They offer opportunities for parents and carers to enjoy playing with their children in an informal Welsh atmosphere, while socialising with other parents. Neither you nor your child needs to be able to speak Welsh to join the local group – conversation between parents in these groups happens in both English and Welsh. You will be given every encouragement to join in the activities, and perhaps learn a little Welsh yourself on the way.

Some Cylchoedd Ti a Fi run “Welsh for the Family” courses, which introduce Welsh stories, songs, nursery rhymes and simple phrases to use at home.

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ii) Cylchoedd Meithrin (Play Groups) The Cylchoedd Meithrin provide for children from 2 years of age to school age.

Children can attend the Cylchoedd whether they are able to speak Welsh or not. They offer opportunities for children to play, learn and socialise through the medium of Welsh.

Children make signifi cant linguistic progress at this age. Offering opportunities for them to play and to enjoy the company of friends through the medium of Welsh sets a fi rm foundation for further development.

There is a designated Welsh language radio

station, Radio Cymru, and TV channel, S4C,

which broadcasts programmes for young

children every weekday morning as part of

its Cyw service.

There are approximately 550 Cylchoedd

Meithrin throughout Wales, and these are

attended by over 10,000 children.

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Cylch Ti a Fi and Cylch MeithrinBreconBuilth Wells – Ynys y Plant CaerswsCarnoCwm-twrchDyffryn BanwGlantwymynLlanbrynmairLlandrindod WellsLlanfair CaereinionLlanfyllinLlanrhaeadrLlansilinLlanwddynNewtownPen-y-bont-fawrPontrobertRhayader – Arch yr EnfysWelshpoolYstradgynlais

Cylch Ti a Fi onlyMachynllethSennybridge

Welshpool – Mes Bach

Cylch Meithrin onlyButtington / TrewernCrickhowellDolauKnightonLlanwrtyd WellsMachynlleth – Bysedd BachMachynlleth – Y PlasTalgarthTregynon – Rhiwbechan

MYM provision is available in Powys in the following locations:

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Primary Education

The best way to become totally fluent in the Welsh language is to attend a primary school that offers Welsh-medium provision. In Powys, Welsh-medium primary education is available at two different categories of schools, as defined by the Welsh Assembly Government:

• Category 1 – Welsh-medium schools • Category 2 – Dual stream schools, where Welsh and English provision exists side by side

In Welsh-medium schools or streams, children are taught solely through the medium of Welsh at Key Stage 1 (up to the age of 7). Welsh continues to be the main teaching medium at Key Stage 2 (ages 7 to 11), and English is introduced as a subject.

Welsh-medium education is available to all children who live in Powys, and if there is no Welsh-medium school or stream in the area where you live, Powys County Council will provide transport to the nearest Welsh-medium provision within Powys.

Details of the primary schools that provide Welsh-medium education in Powys can be seen on the next page.

Secondary Education

Although there are no Welsh-medium secondary schools in Powys, Welsh-medium secondary provision is provided in Welsh streams in a number of high schools across the county. Although the number of subjects taught through the medium of Welsh varies between secondary schools, the aim of Powys County Council and every secondary school that has a Welsh-medium stream is to teach all subjects offered on the curriculum through the medium of Welsh and English in every Key Stage, in order to ensure equal opportunity and equality of provision for all pupils in Powys.

In the Ystradgynlais area, Powys County Council provides transport out of county to Welsh-medium secondary provision at Ysgol Gyfun Ystalyfera.

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Welsh-medium primary education in Powys

Category 1 – Welsh-medium schools

1. Ysgol y Bannau, Brecon (01874) 6222072. Ysgol Carno (01686) 4202093. Ysgol Gymraeg Cwm-twrch (01639) 8424964. Ysgol Dafydd Llwyd, Newtown (01686) 6221625. Ysgol Dyffryn Banw, Llangadfan (01938) 8202266. Ysgol Glantwymyn (01650) 5113947. Ysgol Llanbrynmair (01650) 5213398. Ysgol Llanerfyl (01938) 8202949. Ysgol Pennant, Pen-y-bont-fawr (01691) 86032610. Ysgol Pontrobert (01938) 500394

11. Ysgol Gymraeg Ynysgedwyn, Ystradgynlais (01639) 843117

Category 2 – Dual stream schools

12. Ardwyn Infants School, Welshpool (01938) 55200513. Builth Wells Primary School (01982) 55360014. Dôlafon Primary School, Llanwrtyd Wells (01591) 61032615. Dyffryn Trannon Primary School, Trefeglwys (01686) 43064416. Llanfair Caereinion Primary School (01938) 81047017. Llanfyllin Primary School (01691) 64820718. Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant Primary School (01691) 78035219. Machynlleth Primary School (01654) 70238620. Maesydre Primary School, Welshpool (01938) 55297121. Rhayader Primary School (01597) 81028822. Rhiw Bechan Primary School, Tregynon (01686) 65030323. Sennybridge Primary School (01874) 63626824. Trefonnen Primary School, Llandrindod Wells (01597) 822190

Llanidloes

Talgarth

Llanfair

Caereinion

Builth Wells

Brecon

Rhayader

Newtown

Welshpool

Machynlleth

Sennybridge

Crickhowell

Llandrindod Wells

Llanwrtyd Wells

Presteigne

Llanfyllin

Ystradgynlais

Knighton

Hay-

on-Wye

19. 6.7.

2.

15.

5.8.

21.

24.

4.

22.

16.

10.

9.

18.

12.20.

14.

23.

13.

1.

3. 11.

POWYS

17.