Written question WQ92768

Under current school transport legislation, a learner is entitled to free transport to a Welsh Medium school if that school is considered by the local authority to be the learner’s nearest suitable school and the learner meets the distance criteria specific to their age.

In cases where learners do not attend the nearest suitable school, local authorities can use their discretion to provide free transport to Welsh Medium schools regardless of the distance criteria in order to promote access to education and training through the medium of Welsh. Local authorities also operate bilingual policies in schools in order to promote access to education and training through the medium of Welsh. Local authorities have a general duty to promote access to education and training through the medium of the Welsh language when exercising functions under the Measure, which should be outlined in their Welsh In Education Strategic Plans (WESPs).

All local authorities implement Welsh in Education Strategic Plans to increase provision of, and access to, Welsh-medium education within their area.

The 2023 review team worked closely with the Welsh Language Commissioner’s office and RhAG (Rhieni Addysg Gymraeg) to understand the complexities associated with learners accessing Welsh medium schools and we have been really grateful for their willingness to work in partnership with us on this.

The planned update to the Learner Travel guidance document will amplify the legislation that has been put in places since the current guidance document was written; legislation to support and promote the Welsh language including the Welsh language standards and WESP Regulations. This will help ensure local authorities, and schools, are working collaboratively and where necessary across borders to provide solutions, that may have to be considered at a more regional level to ensure that they support the duties under section 10 of the Learner Travel Measure to ‘promote access to education and training through the medium of the Welsh language’.

The Welsh Government provides funding to local authorities in Wales mainly through the Local Government Revenue Settlement. This funding is not ring-fenced; the funding allocated to each authority is available to the authority to spend as it sees fit on the range of services for which it is responsible, including schools and transport.