Welsh immersion provision
Early Insights 2025-2026
Teaching and learning
Teaching is underpinned by strong Welsh language role models, effective immersion pedagogy, and well-planned learning experiences that enable most pupils to make strong progress in acquiring the Welsh language.
What’s going well
- Staff are strong Welsh language role models and have high expectations of pupils.
- In most provisions, staff use purposeful immersion pedagogy to support pupils’ progressive acquisition of the Welsh language.
- Staff develop a coherent curriculum and provide authentic learning experiences that support clear progression in most pupils’ Welsh language development and encourage purposeful use of Welsh beyond the classroom.
- Most teachers use effective assessment and adapt their teaching purposefully to support pupils’ progress.
- Most pupils develop confidence, fluency and positive attitudes towards using Welsh.
- Over time, most pupils, including those with additional learning needs and those affected by poverty, make strong progress in their Welsh language oracy skills.
What needs to improve
- In a very few cases, staff do not provide sufficient challenge or maintain an appropriate pace to maximise pupils’ progress.
- In a few cases, staff do not provide enough opportunities for pupils to develop independence and take ownership of their learning.
- In a few cases, the aftercare provision is not implemented consistently enough to sustain pupils’ progress.
Well-being, care, support and guidance
Pupils’ well-being is a notable strength. Inclusive, nurturing provision enables pupils to feel safe, engage positively and transition successfully into Welsh-medium education.
What’s going well
- In nearly all provisions, staff promote a nurturing, inclusive environment to support pupils’ well-being, confidence and sense of belonging.
- Nearly all pupils show positive behaviour and attitudes that contribute to a supportive learning culture.
- Staff are responsive to pupils’ emotional well-being and additional learning needs, providing timely and effective support that enables pupils to engage successfully in their learning.
- Strong transition arrangements support continuity in learning and progression into Welsh-medium education.
- In nearly all provisions, effective safeguarding and pastoral care ensure that pupils and families feel safe and well supported.
What needs to improve
- No areas highlighted during our inspections.
Leading and improving
Leadership is effective overall. Further work to strengthen self-evaluation, support the systematic sharing of effective practice, and improve the promotion and accessibility of Welsh language immersion provision would enhance consistency across the sector.
What’s going well
- Strategic leadership in all local authorities inspected provides a clear direction for high-quality Welsh language immersion.
- Strong partnerships and professional learning strengthen the quality and consistency of provision.
- Appropriate quality assurance and self-evaluation processes support continuous improvement through an accurate understanding of strengths and areas for development.
- Resources and funding are used appropriately to enhance provision and learners’ experiences.
What needs to improve
- In two local authorities, self-evaluation processes do not focus consistently on the impact of provision on pupils’ outcomes.
- In one out of the three local authorities, leaders do not always evaluate the impact of provision systematically enough over time.
- In one local authority, leaders do not share effective practice systematically enough across immersion provision.
- In one local authority, leaders do not promote the profile of immersion provision sufficiently or ensure that it is readily accessible through local authority admissions and communication processes.
Overview of recommendations from inspections
In the 2025-2026 academic year, Estyn inspected three local authorities. All three were given recommendations in leading and improving:
- All three authorities were given a recommendation in relation to leading and improving and their self-evaluation processes
- One authority was given a recommendation to further develop professional learning opportunities for staff
- One authority was given a recommendation to promote Welsh language immersion arrangements clearly as part of their admission processes
Effective practice identified during inspection
Vale of Glamorgan Council
Read about how Vale of Glamorgan Council are developing purposeful partnership working to support Welsh language immersion and transition
Carmarthenshire County Council
Read about how Carmarthenshire County Council are enriching immersion provision by using meaningful real-life contexts, giving learners opportunities to use Welsh purposefully in authentic situations that reflect their lives and experiences.
Read about how Carmarthenshire County Council are developing the workforce’s capacity through professional learning opportunities