Ffa La La

Y Gymraeg: A Case Study for Ffa La La

The challenge facing English medium primary schools across Wales is introducing the Welsh language for the first time in Progression Step 1 (Nursery/Reception) by class-teachers and teaching assistants who lack confidence in speaking Welsh, or are unable to speak Welsh at all. Welsh Government’s aim is to encourage a million Welsh speakers by 2050, therefore Partneriaeth decided to fund and run a pilot Ffa La La project across the region to rise to the challenge.

Ffa La La is a resource that was created by an experienced class-teacher to assist the process of learning Welsh sub-consciously through song and roleplay. The aims of the Ffa la La training and resources are:

to promote the use of the Welsh language from an early age in a fun, simple way through music and creative activities
to raise the confidence of class-teachers and teaching assistants in communicating through the medium of Welsh
to develop Welsh vocabulary and simple, correct language patterns in a fun way.

The project to pilot the Ffa La La resource was undertaken with a selection of cross-regional English medium primary schools in March 2023. These schools were selected following discussions with consortia Welsh Development Officers based on the need for support prior or post Estyn and Local Education Authority visits where it was felt there was a need to promote Welsh as a second language as well as schools on the Siarter Iaith continuum. Class-teachers received training as well as a copy of songs and activities to use in the Nursery/Reception class. In addition, participants also received an electronic copy of the songs and music on a digital platform. This was funded by Partneriaeth.

46 members of staff and 31 cross-regional schools attended the pilot projects in their counties. Most of the schools were English medium schools, apart from two dual-stream schools and one Welsh school in a highly deprived area where only 5% of learners speak Welsh at home.

The response to the training during the pilot project was enthusiastic, with nearly all class-teachers responding in a highly positive manner on evaluation forms. Partneriaeth received comments praising the high standard of the training, the enthusiasm of the course provider, valuable and useful resources and requests for further training for Progression Step 1 teaching assistants and if possible rolling out the programme across Progression Steps 2 and 3. Due to the huge impact of the pandemic on the use of the Welsh language amongst learners in Welsh medium schools, requests were made for including Welsh schools in Ffa La La training in the future.

Following the pilot project the Strategic Adviser for Welsh in Education with Partneriaeth visited a selection of cross-regional primary schools who had been a part of the pilot project after four months of utilising the resources. She observed learners and their class-teachers in Progression Step 1 singing Welsh songs and dancing enthusiastically, using colourful scarves and percussion instruments. She observed that receiving a selection of new, fresh songs had motivated everyone. The vocabulary and the repetitive language patterns in the songs are a powerful tool for learning Welsh sub-consciously in an enjoyable, fun way. Some class-teachers have adapted some of the songs for thematic purposes, for example, people’s vocations in the song, ‘Beth sydd yn y bocs?’ and use puppets to denote those jobs. A film was produced to celebrate good practice.

Partneriaeth - Ffa La La.mp4

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During these visits nearly all schools noted that they are seeing the highly positive impact on learners’ oracy skills when drilling language patterns through fun songs and extending vocabulary in an inspirational way that promotes intrinsic motivation. Nearly all members of staff who had been a part of the pilot project said they are beginning to develop confidence in speaking Welsh because of the Ffa La La training and resources. Here are responses from two English medium schools in Pembrokeshire:

“Thank you very much for this wonderful resource! I never thought I’d enjoy singing in Welsh so much with young children. It’s great to finally have such simple, fun songs that match the children’s oracy skills perfectly.”

“This is the best course I have ever attended! We are ffa-la-la-ing all day long in my Nursery/Reception class.”

In response to these comments from the Ffa La La pilot project participants, Partneriaeth decided to provide further training for cross-regional class-teachers and teaching assistants in Progression Step 1 during the Autumn Term 2023 and the SpringTerm 2024. Following a request from the Welsh Development Officer in Pembrokeshire, Partneriaeth decided to fund and commission Ffa La La to produce and record more songs in order to further develop language patterns to align with each county’s language continuum. To date 222 members of staff and 135 schools have received training and constantly use the resources on a digital platform that is monitored by Partneriaeth. Analysis of the course participants’ evaluation forms clearly demonstrates that nearly all strongly agree that the training has improved their knowledge of introducing Welsh to learners from a young age, that the content is appropriate for their needs and skill level, that the training provides content that is relevant to their role and they would encourage others to attend this training. About half of the participants were responsible for co-ordinating Welsh in their schools and asked for further training for class-teachers and teaching assistants working in PS2 and 3 in order to ensure progress, progression, consistency and inclusion for all. Nearly all of the participants stated that they could foresee that the Ffa La La training and resources would have a positive impact on their current practice.

Following the training, case studies were undertaken in a sample of cross-regional schools to measure the impact on oracy skills and learners’ confidence. Here are comments about the progress in the Reception class of a Carmarthenshire school in a deprived area where there is an assessment unit, an intense needs unit and a language unit. The school has recently transitioned from dual stream to Welsh medium education in Progression Step 1:

“Since introducing Ffa La La to the learners, they are excited and enthusiastic in the sessions. They’re enjoying all the songs to date, especially ‘Beth sydd yn y bocs’. After introducing this song, we noticed that the children go to fetch objects and sing the song whilst they play. One non-verbal child in our class who is awaiting a place in the language unit does not join in with class activities very much, however during this song he joins in and takes objects out of the box and places them in a line. We have heard this child singing the song while he plays. This week, new children started in our class and after one session the children were singing ‘Bore da Tedi’ while they played. Therefore, we only have positive words to describe the Ffa La La programme, the staff and learners enjoy the programme, it’s lovely to have new songs to introduce to learners.”

Here are comments describing the impact of Ffa La La at an English primary school in Carmarthenshire:

“The staff who have received the training to date have returned to school full of enthusiasm and energy and they feel more motivated to introduce the resource to the children. The younger children love singing the songs, and they learn so much new vocabulary daily."

"Ffa La La is used across the curriculum. The children sing and enjoy in Welsh as they work, and they learn the language without realising."

"The confidence of teachers and children has improved, and their willingness to speak Welsh is obvious."

"We look forward to receiving more training for PS2 and 3 pupils."

"Thank you very much for the opportunity.”

Here are comments from an English medium primary school in Pembrokeshire:

“I thought that the Ffa La La course was great and I’ve been using the songs in my class every day since then! In the Nursery we use the songs as part of the daily routine to introduce and practice language patterns from the continuum. We have placed songs from our class Tonie box on our Ffa La La Tonie and the children go to it during challenge time- they love singing the songs with the music! I believe it would be beneficial if teaching assistants from our school could attend the course in order to raise their confidence and learn language patterns with the children. I would also like to see Year 1 and 2 class-teachers at our school attend the course in order to ensure that they reinforce language patterns that have been taught previously. Our Year 1 children are enjoying the songs as much as the children in the Nursery/Reception classes!”

“The Ffa La La course was excellent and we have been excited to receive the resources and start using them in our classes as soon as possible. We use Ffa La La every day when registering the children and also as a stand alone singing session. We have kept some songs the same but have also amended some, e.g. ‘Beth sydd yn y bocs- Beth sydd yn y rhwyd’ (What’s in the net) with sea creatures. The children have access to the songs in the areas by following QR codes. It would be great to receive more songs on different themes and for special occasions, e.g. Christmas, March 1st, Harvest, etc. Thank you so much for this wonderful resource! I believe that the Ffa La La training and resource is also very suitable for pre-school children to develop their Welsh oracy skills through song and creative activities.”

Here is a comment from a parent in the City and County of Swansea:

“At Christmas time my 4 year old son was playing at home with his friend from another Welsh school. We don’t speak Welsh at home, but as the two of them were playing, they started singing Ffa La La songs together. It was so lovely to hear the Welsh language in our home and being spoken so naturally. It would be good to have resources for parents.”

Representatives from the non-maintained sector, education support advisers from the Local Authorities and a lecturer from The University of Wales Trinity St.David’s have attended the Ffa La La training and as a result have decided to invest in training for their staff and students on a sabbatical course. Since seeing the good practice from Ffa La La training being celebrated on Partneriaeth’s X page and Clwb Ysgol and the impact on standards of Welsh oracy upon learners, other consortia across Wales have arranged training for Progression Step 1 staff in their schools.

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