144.This section makes provision for the review and amendment of local Welsh in education strategic plans.
145.Section 34(1) requires a local authority to keep its plan under review for the purpose of considering if it needs to be amended, for example if there is a risk that the local authority’s plan is not going to lead to meeting its targets, or that circumstances beyond the local authority’s control affect its ability to achieve the targets.
146.Section 34(2) and (3) makes provision about the circumstances in which the Welsh Ministers may direct a local authority to consider reviewing its plan, with section 34(4) to (6) setting out what a local authority is required to do when considering to amend or deciding not to amend its scheme.
147.Under section 34(4), if a local authority decides not to amend its plan following a direction under section 34(3), it would have to give Welsh Ministers reasons for not doing so. If Welsh Ministers do not accept the local authority’s reasons, the Welsh Ministers may give a new direction. Depending on the circumstances, they may also consider using their powers under Part 2 of the School Standards and Organisation (Wales) Act 2013 (which allows Welsh Ministers to intervene in relation to education functions in certain circumstances). The Welsh Ministers might also wish to ask His Majesty’s Chief Inspector for Education and Training in Wales (in accordance with their powers in section 38 of the Education Act 1997) to inspect how the local authority performs its education functions. The functions of a local authority in this Part are education functions (section 50).
Commentary on Sections Local plans Section 34 - Review and amendment of local Welsh in education strategic plans