Welsh Language and Education (Wales) Act 2025

1. Introduction

2. Summary and Background

   1. National Framework for Welsh Language Education and Learning Welsh

   2. Local authorities’ local Welsh in education strategic plans

   3. Schools’ Welsh language education delivery plans

3. Commentary on Sections

   1. Part 1 – Promotion and Facilitation of Use of the Welsh Language

      1. Section 1 – Welsh language strategy targets: at least a million Welsh speakers and increase in use

      2. Section 2 - Reporting on targets in the Welsh language strategy

      3. Section 3 - Calculating the number of Welsh speakers

      4. Section 4 - Reviewing the Welsh language standards

   2. Part 2 – Describing Welsh Language Ability and Schedule 1 – Types of Welsh Language User and Common Reference Levels

      1. Section 5 - Types of Welsh language user and common reference levels

      2. Section 6 - Code to describe Welsh language ability

      3. Section 7 - Publishing and reviewing the Code

   3. Part 3 – Welsh Language Education

      Introduction

      1. Section 8 – Overview and interpretation

      2. School language categories

         1. Section 9 - School language categories

         2. Section 10 – Minimum amount of provision of Welsh language education for each language category

         3. Section 11 - Welsh language learning goals for each language category

         4. Section 12 - Assessing progress towards meeting Welsh language learning goals

         5. Section 13 - Regulations on school language categories

      3. Welsh language education delivery plans

         1. Section 14 - School Welsh language education delivery plans

         2. Section 15 - Approval of Welsh language education delivery plans

         3. Section 16 - Review and amendment of Welsh language education delivery plan

         4. Section 17 – Amending Welsh language education delivery plan to change school language category

         5. Section 18 - Minimum amount of Welsh language education: temporary exemption

         6. Section 19 - Minimum amount of Welsh language education: further exemption

      4. Special Schools

         1. Section 20 - Community special schools: plans and language category designation

      5. Maintained Nursery Schools

         1. Section 21 - Welsh language nursery education delivery plans

      6. Register

         1. Section 22 - Register of school language categories

      7. Late immersion education

         1. Section 23 - Late immersion education in Welsh

   4. Part 4 – Planning Welsh Language Education and Learning Welsh

      National Framework

      1. Section 24 - National Framework for Welsh Language Education and Learning Welsh

      2. Section 25 - National Framework: further provision on the education workforce

      3. Section 26 - Implementing the National Framework

      4. Section 27 - National Framework: further provision about content, review and amendment

      5. Section 28 – Consultation and publication of the National Framework

      6. Section 29 - Reporting on the National Framework

      7. Local plans

         1. Section 30 – Local Welsh in education strategic plans

         2. Section 31 - Period of local Welsh in education strategic plans

         3. Section 32 - Approval of local Welsh in education strategic plans

         4. Section 33- Publication and implementation of local Welsh in education strategic plans

         5. Section 34 - Review and amendment of local Welsh in education strategic plans

         6. Section 35 - Regulations

         7. Section 36 – Amendments to the School Standards and Organisation (Wales) Act 2013

         8. Section 37 – Interpretation

   5. Part 5 - National Institute for Learning Welsh and Schedule 2 - National Institute for Learning Welsh

      1. Section 38 - National Institute for Learning Welsh

      2. Section 39 - Facilitating and supporting lifelong Welsh language learning

      3. Section 40 - Additional functions

      4. Section 41 – Promoting equality of opportunity

      5. Section 42 - Promoting innovation and continuous improvement

      6. Section 43 - Promoting collaboration in relation to learning Welsh

      7. Section 44 - Promoting co-ordination in relation to learning Welsh

      8. Section 45 - Application of Welsh language standards

      9. Section 46 - Strategic plan

      10. Section 47 - Annual report

   6. Part 6 – General

      1. Section 48 - Directions and guidance

      2. Section 49 - Repeal of provisions in the School Standards and Organisation (Wales) Act 2013

      3. Section 50 - Education Acts

      4. Section 51 – Interpretation

      5. Section 52 – Publication

      6. Section 53 - Sending documents

      7. Section 54 — Regulations under this Act

      8. Section 55 — Consequential and transitional provision etc.

      9. Section 56 - Coming into force

      10. Section 57 - Short title

4. Record of Proceedings in Senedd Cymru