Scoping study for a review of Welsh-medium additional learning provision: headline results

Overall, the availability and sufficiency of Welsh-medium Additional Learning Provision (WM-ALP) is limited and involves several challenges.

English continues to be the default language for ALN services. Welsh-medium learners face greater difficulties in accessing support than English-medium learners.

This can discourage families from requesting services. It can also force a choice between accessing appropriate and timely support or maintaining Welsh-medium education.

Provision varies considerably by geography and is generally stronger where Welsh is widely spoken and weaker in areas with fewer Welsh speakers.

Some families report needing to travel outside their local authority area to access support because suitable Welsh-medium provision is unavailable.

Workforce shortages are a barrier and stakeholder’s broadly agreed that current capacity is insufficient to meet demand.

Over half of local authorities (13 or 22) identified in their Welsh in Education Strategic Plans (WESPs) that they experience difficulties recruiting Welsh-speaking staff with relevant ALN expertise.

Shortages were reported among:

• teaching assistants
• educational psychologists
• speech and language therapists
• health professionals

There is currently a shortage of:

• Welsh-language ALN resources
• diagnostic assessments
• training materials

Staff frequently translate or create their own materials. This is increasing workload and costs, and raising concerns about quality and standardisation.

Collaboration between schools, local authorities and health services is seen as critical for overcoming workforce and resource shortages.

There is inconsistency, good practice is not always shared effectively, and limited evidence is available on what collaboration models work best.

Funding was identified as an important issue, although evidence about how WM-ALP funding is allocated and used also remains limited.

There is an absence of robust data on:

• the number of learners who require WM-ALP
• the numbers who actually receive support in Welsh
• the workforce available

A lack of data may result in unmet need being underestimated and makes judging the level of WM-ALP sufficiency difficult to assess.

The report suggests that the first full five-year review is required to gather further evidence. The goal will be a better understanding of the current sufficiency of WM ALP.

Report author: Bethan Collins, Cadi Sion, Eleri Jones, Laura Bloomfield

Views expressed in this report are those of the researchers and not necessarily those of the Welsh Government.

For further information please contact:

Schools Research Branch
Welsh Government
Cathays Park
Cardiff
CF10 3NQ

Email: schoolsresearch@gov.wales 

Social research number: 77/2026