Wales election issue guide 2016: Welsh language
- Published
Parties listed alphabetically
Implement the improvements to second-language Welsh learning as recommended in the review by Professor Sioned Davies, including a Welsh teaching continuum and, over time, Welsh medium education for all
Improve Foundation Phase teaching and the provision of Welsh so all pupils can speak Welsh "to an acceptable standard" by the age of seven
Expand the use of Welsh as the language of administration within local government and the wider public sector
Push for improved Welsh language status at UK and European levels, including the designation of Welsh as an official language of the European Union
Improve Welsh language provision for dementia and end-of-life care
Ensure Welsh public services are accessible to people through the medium of Welsh
Advocate access to paperwork in a person's language of choice, rather than placing over-emphasis on bilingual documents
Ensure efforts to promote bilingualism between English and Welsh as a springboard for learning other languages, not as an alternative
People have a right to live their lives through the medium of Welsh from nursery education through to college and university as well as in the workplace
Increase learning opportunities for children and adults
Place greater duties on public services to deliver bilingually
Overhaul Welsh language education strategy to include clear targets and to help all children in Wales become confident communicating in Welsh
Ensure that children in all Flying Start childcare settings have growing contact with the Welsh language
Develop a network of Welsh language business champions
Increase the Welsh Language Commissioner's accountability by making this an appointment of the National Assembly for Wales
Work towards one million people speaking Welsh by 2050
Establish a language usage fund
Continue to invest in encouraging more people to use and speak Welsh in their everyday lives
Amend the Welsh language measure so business and others can invest in promoting use of the language
Ensure Welsh Government policies undergo Welsh language impact assessment
Reform teaching of Welsh in English medium schools
Ensuring every primary and secondary school has sufficient numbers of qualified Welsh language teachers
Make language impact assessments of proposed developments a statutory requirement before planning permission is granted
