Council chiefs have approved changing the foundation phase to Welsh only for new pupils at a Newcastle Emlyn school.

The executive board at Carmarthenshire County Council approved the change at Ysgol y Ddwylan and also at Ysgol Griffith Jones, Ysgol Llangynnwr and Ysgol Llys Hywel, with the choice of language medium to be introduced at Key Stage 2.

A consultation is now getting under way – and full council will make a decision on the proposals in October.

The authority wants all Carmarthenshire’s pupils to be able to speak, read and write in Welsh and English fluently by the end of Key Stage 2.

Cllr Glynog Davies, who holds the education brief, said 226 of the 364 pupils of Ysgol y Ddwylan, Newcastle Emlyn, were from outside the catchment area – with many of those travelling from Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire.

He said he felt he could “ignore” those from out of the county, adding: “I am making plans for the children of Ysgol y Ddwylan.”

The Welsh Government wants the country to have one million Welsh speakers by 2050.

Cllr Davies said: “2050 sounds far away but, believe me, the process has to start now. We cannot waste time.”

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