Guidance on responding to City of Edinburgh Council’s ... · PDF fileEdinburgh Council’s GLP should also include a commitment to increase the visibility of Gaelic in the city.

Guidance on responding to City of Edinburgh Counci l ’s draft Gael ic Language Plan ThisdocumenthasbeenproducedbyComannnamPàrantDùnÈideannandParentCouncil

Bun-sgoilTaobhnaPàircetoassistparentsinrespondingtoEdinburghCouncil’sdraftGaelic

LangaugePlan2018-22(theGLP).

When is the deadline for responding to the GLP consultation? Friday15

thDecember.

Important L inks:

ThedraftGaelicLanguagePlan-

https://consultationhub.edinburgh.gov.uk/ce/gaelic_language_plan/user_uploads/city-of-edinburgh-council---gaelic-language-plan-2018-to-2022---v22---final-draft-for-public-consultation.pdf

Theonlineresponseportal-

https://consultationhub.edinburgh.gov.uk/ce/gaelic_language_plan/

ComannnamPàrant’sblogwithhelpandadvice

https://cnpduneideannblog.wordpress.com

Why should I respond? TheGLPsetsoutEdinburghCouncil’splansforthedevelopmentofGaelicinEdinburghover

thenextfiveyearsandcoverskeyareasincludingvisibilityofthelanguage,education,and

cultureandthearts.

Wereallyneedyoutorespondtotheconsultationtoshowthatyousupportthepositive

developmentofGaelicinEdinburgh.Theco-productiongroupwillusethedatatofinalise

theGaelicLanguagePlanindicatingwhichoftheoptionstheCouncilwillcommittoforthe

nextfiveyears.Thenumberofresponsestotheconsultation(positiveandnegative)could

alsobeusedasevidenceofwhetherEdinburghresidentssupportfutureinvestmentin

Gaelic.Numbersreallycount,soeveryresponsematters!

Gaelic-mediumeducationisatacrucialstageofdevelopmentandthisconsultationpresents

agreatopportunitytoshapeitsfuturedirection.Thisplanwillformthebasisofwhat

happenstoGaelicinEdinburghoverthenextfiveyears,sothisisourchancetohaveour

say.

About this guidance Theguidancebelowprovidesscreenshotsoftheonlineresponsesurveytoaidparentsand

membersoftheGaeliccommunityinrespondingtotheGLPconsultation.

Exampletexthasbeenprovidedwhichreflectssomeoftheviewsthathavebeenput

forwardbyparentsinmeetingstodiscusstheGLP.Thismayproveusefulinaidingyouin

thinkingaboutyourownresponse.

Rememberthatyoudon’thavetoanswereveryquestion,andyoudon’thavetoprovide

rankingsfortheactionsifyoudonotwishto.Youcansimplyskipanyquestionsthatyou

don’tfeelyoucananswer.

Lett ing us know Wewouldbegratefulifyoucouldletusknowifyouhaveresponded.Ifyoucanletusknow

whoyouareandwhatclassesyouchild/childrenis/arebyemailing

[email protected].

Page 1: Introduction

Page 2: Vis ion and principles

4.Pleaseusethespacebelowforanycommentsorsuggestionsaboutthevisionsand

principles.

Vision-ThevisionisverypositiveaboutsupportforGaelic.

Principles-TheprinciplesreflectwellthattheGaeliccommunityisdiverseandthriving.The

communityisalsogrowingwithnewyoungspeakers.

Theprinciplesrightlyreflecttheequalstatusinlawofthelanguage.Thespecialstatusof

Edinburghasourcapitalcityshouldbereflected,withacommitmenttoworkwithnational

institutionstoimprovevisibilityandpromotionofthelanguage.

Page 3: Strategic themes and commitments

5.Doyouhaveanycommentsorsuggestionsinrelationtothesitestrategicthemesand

commitments?

Overallthestrategicthemesandcommitmentsarepositive.

Education–thereshouldbeacommitmenttoprovidingcertaintyofpathwayforchildren

withinGME,i.e.inensuringthatchildrencantransitionwithcertaintyfromonestagetothe

next.

ThereshouldbeacommitmenttothecontinuinggrowthanddevelopmentofGaelic

educationandtheGaeliclanguageinEdinburgh.Alongsidethis,familieswanttoseeafocus

onthequalityoftheGaeliceducationbeingdelivered,andarecognitionoftheentitlement

ofchildreninGMEtoanimmersioneducation.

Supportingco-productionapproachesinthedeliveryofcommunitycommitmentsisagood

strategicideaasithasbeenshowntoworkeffectivelywitheducation.

EdinburghCouncil’sGLPshouldalsoincludeacommitmenttoincreasethevisibilityofGaelic

inthecity.

CultureandArtsandHeritage-thereshouldbemuchmoreambitionanddetailinrelation

tothiscommitment.ItwillbeverydifficulttoachievethevisionoftheGLPwithoutan

ambitiousartsstrategy.TheGLPcurrentlyfocussesonchildrengoingthroughGME.Those

childrencannotbecomeconfidentadultspeakersofthelanguageifitisconfinedtoa

languageoftheclassroom.

Page 4: Service Standard Commitments

6.Doyouhaveanycommentsorsuggestionsinrelationtotheservicestandard

commitments?

Theservicestandardcommitmentsarepositiveinthattheyaimtoincreasethevisibilityof

Gaelicinthecity,andaresensitivetothechildrenwhoarebeingraisedasGaelicspeakers.

Page 5: Current State, Engagement Outcomes and Future State Actions for Pre-0 to 6 month

8.Pleaseusethespacebelowforanycommentsorsuggestionsabouttheactionsfor

Pre-0to6months.

Itisdifficulttoratetheactionsinorderofimportance,asitwillbenecessaryfora

numberofdifferentactionstotakeplacesimultaneouslytoachievetheaimsoftheGLP.

Themostimportantaspectofeducationatthisveryearlystageistoensurethatfamilies

haveanawarenessthatGaelicispartoftheeducationsystem,andthattheyareableto

accessopportunitiestolearnthelanguageandparticipateinGaeliccommunityevents.

9.Arethereanyspecificactionsthatyouthinkarenecessarywhichhavenotbeen

includedforPre-0to6months?Pleaseprovidedetailsinthespaceprovidedbelow.

ConsiderbestpracticeinthedeliveryofotherminoritylanguageselsewhereinEurope.

Page 6: Current State, Engagement Outcomes and Future State Actions for 0 to 3 years


0to3years.



Forexample,itmaynotbepossibletoexpandCròileaganserviceswithoutdoingmore

todevelopandencouragestaff.

EngagementwithCròileaganfamiliesshowsthattheyvalueaccessibilityofplaygroups,

certaintyofprogressiontoSgoil-àraich,andresourcestosupporttheirfamilylearning.

Theactionsshouldfocusonthesethemes.


includedfor0to3years?Pleaseprovidedetailsinthespaceprovidedbelow.

FurtheractionscouldbetakentosupportfamilieswhoarenotabletoaccessCròileagan

withtheirchildrenduetoworkinghours,butmaywishtostartlearningGaelicasa

familywhentheirchildrenareveryyoung.



3to5years.



ItisalsoimportanttonotethatanexpansionofSgoil-àraichprovisionisimportantto

meettheaimofcontinuingtoprovideaccesstoGME–itisnotnecessarilyhelpfulatthis

stagetorateonetypeofexpansionoveranother.Allpracticaloptionsshouldbe

considered.

Thekeypointofconcerntoparentswithchildreninthisagegroupisthelack

ofcapacity.Thisneedstobeaddressedurgently.Asthedatashows,younger

childrencanbeunabletoaccessGaelic-mediumpre-schoolcareforthefullperiodof

theirentitlement.Immersionintheearlyyearsisveryimportantinpreparingthe

childrenforschoolandensuringthatallthechildrenenteringprimaryschoolaredoing

sowithasolidbackgroundinGaelic.DenyingsomechildrenaccesstoGMEforaperiod

oftheireducationdisadvantagesthemindividuallybutalsodisadvantagestheirpeers

whomayhavehadaccesstoGMEandmakesfull-immersionfromC1difficultfor

teacherstoachieve.

Inordertoproperlyaddresscapacityconcerns,thekeypointstoconsiderarelocation,

staffing,andtheexistenceofwraparoundcareonsitetoallowaccessibilityforworking

families.



ThereisnospecificactionthatrecognisestheimportanceofaGaelic-medium

wraparoundserviceonsite.Thisisakeyfactorintheaccessibilityofnurseryprovision

andthecreationofanimmersionenvironment.


17.Pleaseusethespacebelowforanycommentsorsuggestionsabouttheactionsfor5to

11years.

Itisdifficulttoratetheactionsinorderofimportance,asitwillbenecessaryforanumber

ofdifferentactionstotakeplacesimultaneouslytoachievetheaimsoftheGLP.For

example,anewBun-sgoilwillrequireanincreaseinthenumberofteachers,soactions

relatingtorecruitmentandretentionofteachingstaffshouldratejustashighlyasany

actionsrelatingtoexpansionofcapacity.Itisnotpossibletoseparatethetwoandtorate

themdifferently.

ItisnotappropriatetoincludeAdditionalSupportNeedswithinthe5-11Actions.Additional

SupportNeedsrequiresaseparatesectionandshouldbeconsideredthroughoutthewhole

periodofeducation.GMEschoolsrequireadditionalresourcetosupportGaelicliteracyin

additiontootherlearningsupportneeds.

AnincreasetoprimaryschoolGMEcapacityisveryimportant.Thiswillgivecertaintyfor

familieswhowishGMEfortheirchildren.Thetypeofschool(newbuildorrefurbishment)is

notasimportantasensuringthereisadequatestaffingtodeliveranimmersioneducation.

Thelocationisalsoimportanttoensureaccessibility,asistheprovisionofonsite

wraparoundcare.

Thekeyactionwhichrequiresurgentattentionistoensurethereareadequatenumbersof

GaelicspeakingstafftodelivertheGMEentitlementofGaelicimmersion.Thisneeds

specific,measurableactions.TherecruitmentandretentionofGaelicspeakingstaffwill

requireafulltimeGaelicDevelopmentOfficerworkingspecificallyineducation.

TheinclusionofSradaganandoutofschoolactivitiesisnotappropriateinthissection.

ThereshouldbeaseparatesectionoftheGLPtocoversupportforoutofschoolactivities.

Outofschoolactivitiesneedtobeaddressedseparatelyastheyareimportanttoensure

childrenseeGaelicasmorethanalanguageoftheclassroom.



ContinuingprofessionaldevelopmentofstaffneedstobeconsideredintheGMEcontext,

withanunderstandingthatdeliveringCfEthroughGaelicrequiresadditionalinputof

teachertimeandincreasestheirworkload.WhenEdinburghCouncilcommitstodelivering

GME,italsoneedstocommittosupportingstaffthroughmakingtimeforthemtomaintain

andimprovetheirGaelicskills.Thisrequiresaspecificactionpoint.

Parentsofchildreninthisagegroupwillbemakingdecisionsaboutsecondaryschool.

CertaintyofprovisionaroundGMEsecondaryisessential.


20.Pleaseusethespacebelowforanycommentsorsuggestionsabouttheactionsfor11to18

years.

Itisdifficulttoratetheactionsinorderofimportance,asitwillbenecessaryforanumberof

differentactionstotakeplacesimultaneouslytoachievetheaimsoftheGLP.Forexample,

expansionofprovisionofGMEdeliveryatJGHSwillrequireanimmediatefocusonencouraging

teachersintoGMEfromacrosstheschoolestate.

ThepriorityofparentsistheirchildrenwillhavecertaintyofamuchenhancedandimprovedGaelic-

mediumexperienceforourchildrenatsecondaryschool.Thiswouldincludeagreaterpercentageof

thetimetabletobedeliveredthroughthemediumofGaelic.Thereisalsothevisionofagrowing

Gaelic-mediumcommunityatsecondaryschool,andthevisionofthiscommunitystayingtogetherin

oneschool.FamilieswithchildreninGaeliceducationareentitledtoexpectastandardofeducation

equaltotheirpeersinEnglish-medium.

Thereneedstobeaplantosupporttake-upofSQAexamsthroughthemediumofGaelic.Thisrelies

oncontinuedsupport,includingstaffandlearningresources,toensurethatpupilsundertaking

certificationcoursesthroughGaelicareabletocompletethem,anddonotfeeldisadvantaged

comparedwiththosetakingthesamesubjectinEnglish.

TheactionsshouldacknowledgeandreflectthefactthatsomeGaeliccoursesatsecondarylevelare

stillatdevelopmentstage,andthereforestaffwillrequiretimeforcoursedevelopment.

Theinclusionofthee-sgoilisimportantasitcouldplayanimportantpartineffectiveandefficient

deliveryofGaeliccourses.Thereneedstobeanunderstandingthatthiscouldnotactasa

replacementforGaelicspeakingteachers,butcouldactasasupplementforthedeliveryofspecific

coursematerial.

21.Arethereanyspecificactionsthatyouthinkarenecessarywhichhavenotbeenincludedfor11

to18years?Pleaseprovidedetailsinthespaceprovidedbelow.

ThereisaneedtoensurethatthefinalversionoftheGLPincludesveryspecificandmeasurable

actionstotakeforwardtheexpansionofsecondaryGME.Withoutdefinitecommitmentsandreal

evidenceofaplan,itwillbedifficultforparentstobuy-intoavisionofsecondarygrowth.Families

willneedcertaintyforthesecondaryeducationoftheirchildren.

Page 10: Other comments

22.PleaseusethespacebelowforanyothercommentsorsuggestionsabouttheGaelicLanguage

Plan.

TheoverallmessageofthedraftGaelicLanguagePlanisverypositiveforthedevelopment

ofGaelicinEdinburgh.Itisveryencouragingtoseeapositiveattitudeandarangeofideas

forbuildingonprevioussuccessandinvestment.

TheGLPdoesnotincludeacomprehensivereviewofprogressagainsttargetssetinthe

previousplan.Ananalysisofthiskindwouldassistwithidentifyingareaswherefocusis

required.

TheGLPdoesnotdiscussadultlearning,andthereisverylittlementionofGLE(thelearners’

programmeforschools).GLEisaverydifferentpathwayfromGME,andrequiresdifferent

staffing,sodoesneeditsownareawithintheGLP.Wewouldliketoseemoreambition

regardingGLE,forexamplethrougheveryclusterschoolofJGHSdeliveringGaelicasoneof

their1+2languages,andtheopportunitytocontinueatsecondary.

SupportforyoungpeopletoengagethroughGaelicisparticularlyimportanttoparents.

Thisissomethingthatrequiresmorethanjustdevelopmentofschoolplaces,itisalsovery

importanttoensurevisibilityandrespectforthelanguagearoundthecity.Itisimportant

thatyoungpeopleseeconsistentpositivemessagesaboutGaelicfromnationalinstitutions

inourcapital(ScottishParliament,NMS,etc.),positivemessagesfromEdinburghCouncil,

andonsocialmedia.

Page 11: Almost Done

Lett ing us know Wewouldbegratefulifyoucouldletusknowifyouhaveresponded.Ifyoucanletusknow

whoyouareandwhatclassesyouchild/childrenis/arebyemailing

[email protected].

Guidance on responding to City of Edinburgh Council’s ... · PDF fileEdinburgh Council’s GLP should also include a commitment to increase the visibility of Gaelic in the city.

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