LEARNING SCHEME LAUNCHED IN WELSH

The Welsh version of a unique method of developing literacy skills is being launched in Pembrokeshire next week.

The POPAT programme aims to make it easier for children to learn to read and write.

After being used in the majority of English speaking schools in the County for several years, the programme has been piloted at 10 Welsh-medium schools over the last two years.

Now Pembrokeshire County Council is to roll out the scheme across all of the County's Welsh-medium primary schools.

A CD Rom of POPAT activities, which schools can use as a resource, will also be launched.

POPAT is a method of teaching phonics, which makes the links between letters and sounds easier to learn for children across a range of ages and abilities. It teaches spelling, punctuation and grammar and assists teachers in identifying children who are having difficulty early on.

Primarily aimed at children in mainstream education, it can also be used for those with Special Educational Needs.

Pembrokeshire County Council Welsh Advisor Marian Thomas said the pilot programme had proved to be a success and Pembrokeshire was now providing Welsh medium training in the scheme in schools in Carmarthenshire and Swansea.

"It has produced positive feedback, mainly because it places emphasis on developing listening skills to distinguish sounds" she said.


Pembrokeshire County Council Press Release to the Western Telegraph newspaper