The aspiration of having centres to provide intensive Welsh language education at three sites across Powys has been revealed by a senior councillor.

This came at a meeting of Powys County Council’s Learning and Skills scrutiny committee on Thursday, January 16, as councillors and lay independent members received a report with four recommendations to improve “trochi” provision in the county.

The report was outlined by Plaid Cymru’s Cllr Bryn Davies, who had led a working group made up of committee members to look at the issue in depth.

Cllr Davies explained the different types of “trochi” provision that can help non-Welsh speakers who are being taught or about to enter a Welsh medium school.

The report outlined the current situation where trochi education is now taking place at Llanfair Caereinion’s Ysgol Bro Caereinion.

Ysgol Bro Caereinion is now transitioning to become a wholly Welsh medium school.

To help this “trochi pontio” provision was provided at the all-through primary and secondary school last summer and autumn terms.

In future, trochi provision will run at the school each autumn term on a four day basis for 12 weeks.

It will become the “trochi” centre for all Montgomeryshire pupils who will be entering Welsh language education streams.

Committee chairman Cllr Gwynfor Thomas (Conservative) said: “It was interesting to be part of the group.

“What struck me is there’s an opportunity to make a real difference.

“There’s a set of recommendations, subject to funding, but this starts rolling the ball.”

Education portfolio holder Liberal Democrat, Cllr Pete Roberts told the committee that as the council moves ahead with its school reorganisation plans, they need to find sites in “three localities” in which to set up Welsh language immersion centres.

Cllr Roberts: “We are going to need Welsh Government help if it is genuinely a priority to reach the 2050 target (one million Welsh speakers) this is an area where they can contribute to make it happen.

“Not just here but in other rural counties where the levels of Welsh speaking  are much lower and distances between immersion support are greater.”

He confirmed the report would go before Cabinet “soon.”

Cllr Roberts said: “I hope when we move forward with organisational changes in respect to Welsh medium across the county, we have three localities in which we can look at immersion centres.”

Head of school improvement and learning Anwen Orrells said “I want to reiterate our full commitment to this and increasing the number of learners becoming bilingual across Powys.”

The recommendations are:

Accessible late immersion centres (trochi hwyr) must be consistently maintained to ensure the right to access Welsh language education in all parts of Powys.

Funding for transitional immersion (trochi pontio) on a permanent basis must be ensured by the council so that it is not dependent on temporary grants from the Welsh Government.

Effective annual promotion of the late and transitional immersion opportunities across the county.

A five to 10-year plan for Trochi should be developed alongside the WESP (Welsh in Education Strategic Plan) which should provide a blueprint for its development.