Welsh Language Immersion Centres
Page updated on: 04/09/2026
Croeso! A warm welcome!
Is your child new to Welsh-medium education?
In line with Carmarthenshire County Council's Welsh in Education Strategic Plan (WESP), schools across the county offer valuable opportunities for children to develop bilingually and benefit from the advantages of Welsh-medium education. To help your child feel confident and become a full member of the school and local community, they have the exciting opportunity to attend an intensive course at a Welsh Language Immersion Centre. In a welcoming and supportive environment, your child will develop their Welsh language skills, build confidence, and gain a strong foundation for success in their education.
Estyn's inspection report (2026) praised the support, teaching and learning experiences provided in the Welsh Language Immersion Centres, noting that most pupils make good progress and develop confidence in using Welsh both in school and beyond.
Beginning your child's journey with Welsh
Our Welsh Language Immersion Centres provide the support, confidence and skills children need to succeed in Welsh-medium education and enjoy the lifelong benefits of bilingualism.
Welsh Language Immersion Centres in Carmarthenshire
At present, there are two Welsh Language Immersion Centres in Carmarthenshire: Canolfan Gwên at Ysgol Gymraeg Maes y Gwendraeth and Canolfan Brianne at Ysgol Bro Dinefwr.
Canolfan Gwên opened at Ysgol Gymraeg Maes y Gwendraeth in 2022. The centre includes three rooms: a secondary classroom, a primary classroom and a quiet room. It is a purpose-built facility located independently from the secondary school.
Canolfan Brianne opened at Ysgol Bro Dinefwr in November 2025. The centre is based in classrooms that have been specially adapted to support primary-aged newcomer learners.
Plans are also in place to build a new Welsh Language Immersion Centre for the Llanelli area on the site of Ysgol Gyfun y Strade. The centre is expected to be ready to welcome learners during 2027.
Newcomers to Welsh-medium education in Years 2 to 6 attend the Welsh Language Immersion Centres for a period of ten weeks, attending four days each week.
Teachers from the Welsh Language Immersion Centres will visit new pupils, their teachers, and their parents or guardians in their schools before they begin the programme. Parents and guardians will also have the opportunity to visit the centre during the term.
Welsh Language Immersion Arrangements Outside Carmarthenshire
It may be possible for newcomer learners attending schools located close to neighbouring local authority boundaries to access immersion centres in Ceredigion or Pembrokeshire through cross-county collaborative arrangements, subject to local agreements and availability.
We look forward to welcoming you and your child!
The immersion programme provides a strong foundation in Welsh, helping learners to develop their language skills quickly and successfully integrate into their new school.
For further information, please speak to your child's school or contact Bilingual Carmarthenshire today: wesp@carmarthenshire.gov.uk
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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.
