Embedded Files
The Language competence framework
Are you familiar with the Welsh Language Skills of the School workforce within the school?
To support the implementation of the Professional Standards, the Welsh Government has developed a Welsh Language Competence Framework for practitioners. The framework is part of the professional learning passport and enables practitioners to note their progress in developing their Welsh language skills from initial teacher education throughout their careers.
The Framework is a way of showing what teachers and classroom assistants can do in Welsh in the classroom at all levels of language skills.
Here are some examples:
Entry Level: I can write simple sentences every day, which are relevant to the school context e.g. instructions, questions, orders, simple feedback
Advanced Level: I can understand most discussions, even about unfamiliar and specialist subjects e.g. in a formal context
The Framework helps to measure and identify the progress in the language skills of the education workforce. Schools are encouraged to ensure that there is a procedure in place for all practitioners to assess their language ability against this framework at least once a year. Click here to find out what level you are!
Schools are advised to plan strategically for improving the ability of all practitioners in the Welsh language as individual practitioners, groups and/or entire staff. Professional learning should be at a suitable level and the delivery method is appropriate for the individual and the school. Following the assessment of practitioners against the Welsh Language Competence Framework, schools can then analyze this data to plan the appropriate Welsh professional learning for each practitioner.
Do you want to further develop your Welsh language skills? More information is available on this page of this website.
The School Workforce Annual Census (SWAC)
What is the importance of the School Workforce Annual Census (SWAC)?
This annual census provides an opportunity to accurately report on practitioners' Welsh language skills against the Welsh Language Competence Framework and to plan suitable professional learning to strategically develop each practitioner's language competence.
In addition, the SWAC provides annual comprehensive information on:
the size of the workforce; staff demographics; staff recruitment and retention levels; use of supply teachers; absences; the capacity in terms of teaching through Welsh and teaching specific subjects; and the cost of teacher salaries in Wales.
Schools are strongly advised to ensure that accurate and up-to-date Welsh language competence data is fed to the SWAC. The data about Welsh Language Skills (based on the Welsh Language Competence Framework) will enable schools, regional consortia, and the Welsh Government to gain an understanding of the skills of the practitioners to be able to plan professional learning to ensure skills development in accordance with the appropriate Professional Standards.
Data at an individual level provides much more information than is possible through data about a cluster of schools and at local authority level. This will provide more thorough and detailed information to better plan the workforce, progress, and succession at school level, but also local and national authority.
Schools are encouraged to ensure that there is a procedure in place:
for all practitioners to assess their linguistic ability against this framework at least once a year.
Schools are advised to plan strategically for developing the ability of all practitioners in the Welsh language as individual practitioners, groups and/or entire staff.
Professional learning should be at a suitable level and the delivery method is appropriate for the individual and the school.
Following practitioners’ assessment against the Welsh Language Competence Framework, schools can then analyse this data to plan the appropriate Welsh professional learning for each practitioner.
The accuracy of the data is therefore crucial.
SWAC Technical completion notes
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