Latest news with #Welsh-medium
South Wales Argus
3 days ago
- Business
- South Wales Argus
Pontypool Welsh-medium school to receive major investment
Ysgol Bryn Onnen in Varteg, Pontypool, will undergo a multi-million pound refurbishment as part of long-term plans to improve Welsh-medium education in the area. The project will be funded through a Welsh Government Sustainable Communities for Learning grant and supported by Torfaen County Borough Council. Rhys ap Gwyn, headteacher at Ysgol Bryn Onnen, said: "The news of the investment and update from Estyn made our 30th anniversary celebrations even more special. "We're looking forward to planning for the next 30 years of providing excellent Welsh medium education in our community." Site surveys will take place over the summer, with work expected to begin next July and finish by October 2027. The investment follows positive feedback from Estyn, which recently confirmed the school is no longer under review after making 'sufficient progress' on recommendations from its last inspection. Dr Andrew Powles, director of education, said: "I am pleased Estyn has recognised the good and sustained progress made by Ysgol Bryn Onnen over the past year. "The school's leadership team and governing body have driven improvements across many areas which gave Estyn confidence that the school is offering a good standard of education to its pupils." Councillor Richard Clark, executive member for children, families and education, said: "We are pleased with the progress Ysgol Bryn Onnen has made and pleased that Estyn has recognised this."
North Wales Chronicle
6 days ago
- Health
- North Wales Chronicle
Anglesey: Gwyddfor care apprentice wins new talent award
Claire Elizabeth Hughes, a health and social care apprentice based at Gwyddfor Residential Care Home in Bodedern, Ynys Môn, was named the winner of the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol New Talent Award in memory of Gareth Pierce. The award honours individuals who have demonstrated exceptional talent and made a significant impact in their workplace. (L) Claire Elizabeth Hughes, with (R) Gwyn Arfon Williams, work-based learning assessor (Image: Llandrillo Menai) Mary Williams, care home manager, said: "Claire has worked for us since 2022 and has taken to her role – from junior to senior care practitioner – like a duck to water. "Previously skilled as a beauty therapist, she is now an asset to our home and highly respected by the whole team. "She takes a special interest in the well-being of every resident, going out of her way to ensure they are well-presented and always treated with dignity. "Promoting the Welsh language and its traditions is very important to her, and this is clear in her day-to-day work. "Speaking Welsh is a part of everyday life in our home, and the ability to communicate in Welsh enhances well-being and gives residents a sense of belonging and identity. "Claire understands the responsibility of helping to preserve and promote the language – ensuring it is valued and respected in everything she does." Ms Hughes was praised for her 'person-centred' approach to dementia care, delivered in both Welsh and English. Ms Hughes' assessor, Gwyn-Arfon Williams, said: "Claire is an exceptional learner who consistently exceeds expectations. "She works tirelessly to support individuals living with dementia, and what truly sets her apart is her bilingual communication – a vital bridge for residents who feel more comfortable in Welsh. READ MORE: Charity to pause care at its four-bedded hospice on Anglesey "She's not only a hardworking and compassionate apprentice, but also a role model in the workplace – demonstrating leadership, empathy, and a constant drive to learn. "This recognition is so well deserved." The Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol works to increase Welsh-medium and bilingual opportunities in post-16 education, supporting learners like Ms Hughes to use the Welsh language in their professional roles.
South Wales Argus
7 days ago
- General
- South Wales Argus
Care Inspectorate Wales rates Cylch Meithrin Nelson 'good'
Cylch Meithrin Nelson, located in the centre of Nelson, received the positive rating in the inspection carried out on March 5. The service is a Welsh-medium early years childcare setting, which caters for up to 19 children from the age of two until school age. Inspectors found that the children "are happy, settled, and thriving" at the service, benefitting from "nurturing relationships with staff, well-organised learning environments, and enriching play-based experiences." (Image: Cylch Meithrin Nelson) The report also highlights the service's "strong focus on Welsh language and culture, as well as its child-centred approach to learning and care." The inspection report is broken down into four categories: well-being, care and development, environment, and leadership and management. In terms of well-being, inspectors found that the children "are confident, communicative, and engaged in their activities." They also said that the children's voices "are heard and respected, and they are supported in making choices throughout the day." (Image: Cylch Meithrin Nelson) In the care and development section, staff were praised for their "effective implementation of policies, strong safeguarding practices, and meaningful relationships with children." The report also highlights the "particular emphasis on supporting children with additional learning needs." The environment was found to be "safe, clean, and welcoming," with both indoor and outdoor spaces supporting children's learning. (Image: Cylch Meithrin Nelson) However, inspectors recommended more strategic use of outdoor space to further enhance physical development. The leadership and management team was acknowledged for its "effective oversight, positive team culture, and meaningful engagement with parents and the local community." The report also highlights the service's "commitment to continuous improvement and quality care." (Image: Cylch Meithrin Nelson) Despite the positive findings, the CIW offered several recommendations to further enhance the service. These include including children's voices more formally in activity planning, improving the use of outdoor areas to maximise developmental opportunities, and ensuring appraisal and supervision documentation is consistently signed and dated. The report also highlights the strong partnerships the service has with parents, using regular updates through private social media and face-to-face interactions. (Image: Cylch Meithrin Nelson) Initiatives such as the "Doti" puppet, Welsh cake-making activities, and community visits to local shops and libraries reinforce the setting's commitment to cultural heritage and community values. Parents expressed high satisfaction with the care their children receive, praising the "warm, inclusive, and enriching environment provided by staff." (Image: Cylch Meithrin Nelson) Cerys Hancox, leader of Cylch Meithrin Nelson, said: "We strongly believe that all children in the Nelson area should have the best start in life and a solid introduction to the Welsh language. "Every family is welcome in our Cylch Meithrin; there is no requirement for you to speak Welsh yourself. "Our work in the community ensures that the Welsh language belongs to everyone, and we are so grateful for the support of our families." (Image: Cylch Meithrin Nelson) Cylch Meithrin Nelson is open from 8.30am to 3pm, Monday to Friday, and offers various services including the Childcare Offer (up to 30 hours of funded care), three-year-old nursery education, and Flying Start.
Euronews
11-07-2025
- Euronews
Welsh tourist tax to launch in 2027 to keep native language alive
It's been a long time coming, but Wales has confirmed it will allow local councils to introduce a tourist tax starting in 2027. The levy will add £1.30 (€1.50) per night to the price of accommodation in Wales, or £0.75 (€0.90) for visitors over the age of 18 staying on campsites and in hostels. The tax won't be universally applied across Wales. Rather, different regional councils will decide for themselves whether to introduce the levy in their area. Some exemptions have been noted too, including when lodging with family or at an individual's sole or main residence, or staying for over 31 days in a single period. First floated in 2018, a public consultation for the proposed tourist tax was held in 2022. Now that it's officially passed into law by the national parliament, the new Welsh tourist tax is expected to come into force in 2027. What will Wales tourist tax be spent on? Taxes on visitors are nothing new, but efforts have significantly ramped up in recent years. As long ago as 1910, France introduced its 'taxe de séjour,' becoming the first country in the world to do so. Today, more than 60 destinations around the world have such a tax in place, including Barcelona, Amsterdam and, since April, Venice. In most cases, the proceeds from such taxes are used to fund specific projects or events, market the destination, or diversify the economy of areas reliant on tourist cash. The Welsh government also says it will use the earnings to fund improvements to infrastructure that will benefit both residents and tourists, including toilets, footpaths, beaches, and support visitor centres. But it has another plan for its tax winnings, and it's about protecting one of the country's most unique elements. Welsh language speakers are in decline: latest figures from the Welsh Government show that as of 30 June 2024, just 27.8 per cent of people aged three and over were able to speak Welsh. This was the lowest percentage recorded in the last eight years - and around 1.4 percentage points lower than in 2023. Will the tourist tax in Wales really help revive the national language? Efforts are already underway to boost the language under the government's Cymraeg 2050 plan, which aims to have a million Welsh speakers by 2050. To date, much of the work has focused on children, including school curriculum reforms and the promotion of Welsh-medium playgroups (Cylchoedd Meithrin). But more efforts are needed to get to a million Welsh speakers, and the estimated £33 million (€38 million) raised from such a tourist tax is seen as a valuable vehicle for driving this change. The new visitor levy could support the language 'particularly within Welsh-speaking communities where tourism is considered a significant contributor to the local economy,' said the Welsh Government'. How this translates into concrete action remains to be seen, particularly given the element of local authority autonomy. However, it also suggests that revenue could be used to 'promote the visibility, vitality, and viability of the Welsh language, as well as increase the awareness and appreciation of visitors and residents alike'. More UK cities are planning to charge visitors The idea of making tourists pay more to directly support the local area is gaining traction across the UK. Last year, Edinburgh announced plans to become the first Scottish city to introduce a tourist tax, which will apply from 2026. The fee has been set at five per cent of accommodation costs and is expected to raise up to £50 million (€59 million) a year to be used to make improvements to the city. In England, primary legislation would be required to permit a tourist tax, with neither central government nor local councils having the power to introduce such a levy. However, other UK cities are getting in on the action via a legal workaround that could be rolled out more widely in the coming years. Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) are partnerships operated by local businesses intended to provide additional services or improvements to a specific area. Through this mechanism, cities can collect additional business rate payments (BID levies) from companies in that district. Several English cities have already used this to target tourism, and more are set to follow. Manchester introduced an 'accommodation BID' in April 2023, known as the 'City Visitor Charge.' Liverpool established a similar system at around the same time, and tourism BIDs also exist in cities including Blackpool, Great Yarmouth, and Tweed Valley. The combined unitary authority of Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch (BPC) revealed plans to apply a £2 (€2.30) per night 'visitor charge' this summer, although a backlash from the hospitality sector has put the plans temporarily on hold. BPC maintains that as many as 60 other UK cities are poised to introduce levies through the BID system.
Wales Online
11-07-2025
- General
- Wales Online
Preferred location of a new Welsh medium school in Merthyr revealed
Preferred location of a new Welsh medium school in Merthyr revealed Cabinet members have given their backing for a new build on the Goetre Primary School site (Image: Google ) The preferred location of a new Welsh medium school in Merthyr Tydfil has received the backing of council cabinet members A report approved by the council's cabinet on Wednesday, July 9, says the preferred way forward for the permanent siting of the new Welsh-medium seedling school is a new-build school on the current Goetre Primary site for 210 pupils and it also includes a temporary solution to use the St Aloysius campus, once it is vacated, from September, 2027, until the new building is ready. The local authority has been set a target by Welsh Government to increase the number of learners accessing Welsh-medium education in year one of primary education to between 22% and 26% of the total year one cohort by 2031. In January, 2020, there were 100 year one pupils attending Welsh-medium schools, which was around 14% of the total cohort of pupils in year one. To meet the Welsh Government target, based on current pupil projections, it is estimated that between 144 and 170 pupils will need to be in year one Welsh-medium primary education by January, 2031, the cabinet report said. There are currently two longstanding Welsh-medium primary schools within Merthyr Tydfil which are Ysgol Gymraeg Santes Tudful serving the north and centre of the borough and Ysgol Gymraeg Rhyd Y Grug serving the south of the borough. Article continues below The report said officers had undertaken extensive work to identify the most suitable permanent location for the third Welsh-medium seedling school to fulfil the ambition to increase the number of children educated through the medium of Welsh. There were three school sites identified as viable options and consideration has been given to proximity to the cylch meithrin in Gurnos, cost, and achievability of each option. In total, five options were shortlisted which included refurbishing St Aloysius primary campus for 210 pupils plus nursery, refurbishing St Illtyd's primary campus for 210 pupils plus nursery, refurbishing Goetre Primary School for 210 pupils, a new-build primary on the Goetre Primary School site for 210 pupils plus nursery, and a new-build primary on the Goetre Primary School site for 420 pupils plus nursery. To get all the latest Merthyr Tydfil news straight to your inbox, sign up to our newsletter here. Following evaluation of the options, the preferred option is the fourth option which is for a new-build 210-place school on the current Goetre Primary site. The reason given is that it provides 'sufficient pupil places to meet the WESP targets, without creating unnecessary surplus places, in a building designed to Building Bulletin Guidance with optimal condition and sufficiency'. This option also retains the potential for further development to a 420-place school at some time in the future if the demand for places supports a larger school being built, the report said. The report added that it was likely that completion of a new school building for the seedling school would be September, 2032, at the earliest so an interim solution for the Welsh medium seedling school is needed to ensure that the school can accommodate the projected growth in pupil numbers until at least 2032. Three options were considered for this and the option to refurbish St Aloysius primary campus by 2027 to improve the teaching and learning environment is the preferred option. It was deemed to provide best value for money as it provides sufficient building and site space for 160 pupils and would result in improved condition following a light refurbishment. The anticipated cost for the new-build Welsh medium seedling school is £12.35m with £8.25m coming from Welsh Government and £4.1m from the council. The Welsh Government has approved £3.2m towards refurbishing St Aloysius and for improvement works to Safle'r Gurnos, a satellite of Ysgol Santes Tudful. Cabinet member for education, Councillor Gareth Lewis, said it was not just about new infrastructure but is a clear demonstration of the commitment to the Welsh language. Article continues below He said it gave families a better choice and gave children the opportunity to learn through the medium of Welsh.
