MORE than £5 million will be spent on improving teachers’ Welsh language skills after the minister for education approved the decision.

Over £5.3 million has been allocated over three years to continue the Welsh language sabbatical scheme, which offers training to teachers and other staff who need the confidence and specialist terminology to teach, lecture or train through the medium of Welsh or bilingually, or teach Welsh second language.

The minister has also approved £300,000 over three years to provide Welsh-language training for practitioners working in English-medium non-maintained early years schemes like playgroups and nurseries.

The funding will help set up a new training programme in basic language skills called Un, Dau, Tri – Hwyl A Sbri, delivered by the University of South Wales with the six regional Welsh for Adults centres across Wales.

The National Day Nurseries Association Cymru and Wales Pre-school Providers Association will also visit early years settings to introduce children to the Welsh language and provide information to staff about the training available.