Language Immersion Centres
Page updated on: 24/11/2025
Welsh Language Immersion Service
In line with Carmarthenshire County Council’s Welsh in Education Strategic Plan, schools in the area provide bilingual education. To help your child fully integrate into school life and the local community, we offer a special opportunity for them to attend an intensive language programme at a Welsh Immersion Centre.
Arrangements for Language Immersion Centres in Carmarthenshire
There are currently two Language Immersion Centres in Carmarthenshire: Canolfan Gwên, located at Ysgol Gymraeg Maes y Gwendraeth and Canolfan Brianne, based at Ysgol Bro Dinefwr.
Canolfan Gwên opened in 2022. The centre includes three dedicated spaces: a secondary room, a primary room, and a quiet room. This is a new, stand-alone building within the secondary school.
Canolfan Brianne opened in November 2025. This centre is situated in an adapted classroom designed specifically to support primary-aged learners.
Plans are also in place to develop a new Language Immersion Centre for the Llanelli area, located on the grounds of Ysgol Gyfun y Strade. The centre is expected to welcome learners in 2027.
Newcomers from years 2 to 6 attend the Language Immersion Centres for a ten-week programme, attending four days per week.
Before pupils begin their time at the Ganolfan Iaith, staff will visit learners, their teachers, and their parents or guardians at their current schools. During the term, parents and guardians will also be invited to visit the Centre.
Arrangements for Language Immersion Centre outside Carmarthenshire
Pupils from Ysgol Llanllwni, Ysgol Llanybydder, and Ysgol Carreg Hirfaen can access Canolfan Drochi Iaith y Felin at Ysgol Dyffryn Aeron, Felinfach. Carmarthenshire County Council will cover transport costs to support these cross-county arrangements.
Immersion education is an approach to learning an additional language in which the target language—in this case, Welsh—is used as the medium of classroom instruction. The aim is to help learners develop a high level of proficiency within a relatively short period. This method has long been successful in introducing Welsh to early years and nursery groups across Wales, and it has also proved highly effective in Language Immersion Centres since the 1980s.
Research shows that students who experience immersion education:
Excel academically
Acquire a third and even a fourth language more easily
Develop a deeper understanding and appreciation of other cultures
Gain greater awareness of their own identity, culture, and sense of community
Build stronger self-respect and confidence
Strengthen their communication and social skills
Within a targeted and developmental work plan, teachers ensure that learning Welsh is engaging and enjoyable. The language is introduced across all Areas of Learning and Experience through a wide range of activities, including practical experiences, visits, structured tasks, and fun games.
The teachers will:
- deliver lively lessons across the Areas of Learning and Experience, paying attention to specific language patterns
- focus on speaking and listening,
- teach vocabulary through games, songs, and rhymes
- introduce role-play and drama activities to practice daily conversations,
- conduct creative activities
- conduct physical and social activities,
- play indoor and outdoor games
- arrange cooking activities and scientific experiment
as well as celebrating Welsh culture.
Currently, pupils attend four(4) days a week for ten(10) weeks.
The pupils will attend the Language Immersion Centre for an intensive learning period - for 4 days a week for ten weeks. Places are offered for pupils aged 6-11 years.
After the 10 weeks, follow-up language support will be offered. For example:
- school visits,
- additional courses at the Language Immersion Centre
No more than 16
Students are taught by experienced teachers who specialise in language learning. Before starting at the Language Immersion Centre, teachers visit schools to meet new students and help them feel at ease. Lessons are enriched with fun and varied activities delivered in a homely, caring atmosphere. Each Centre is supported by a dedicated classroom assistant.
Transport to the Language Immersion Centre is provided free of charge in taxis arranged by the county. Each child will be collected from their primary school in the morning and returned there in the afternoon. Parents or guardians who prefer to transport their child themselves may do so, with funding available to support this option.
School lunch will be available free of charge to every child in the Secondary School cafeteria.
