The Welsh Language and Education (Wales) Act 2025 (Commencement No. 1 and Transitional and Transitory Provision) Order 2026

• Citation: S.I. 2026/78 (W.)
• Sections: 5

Section 1 Title and interpretation

(1) The title of this Order is the Welsh Language and Education (Wales) Act 2025 (Commencement No. 1 and Transitional and Transitory Provision) Order 2026.

(2) In this Order, “ the Act ” means the Welsh Language and Education (Wales) Act 2025.

Section 2 Provisions coming into force on 1 April 2026

The following provisions of the Act come into force on 1 April 2026—

(a) section 3(1) to (3) (calculating the number of Welsh speakers);

(b) section 4 (reviewing the Welsh language standards);

(c) section 6 (Code to describe Welsh language ability);

(d) section 7 (publishing and reviewing the Code);

(e) section 24 (National Framework for Welsh Language Education and Learning Welsh);

(f) section 25 (National Framework: further provision on the education workforce);

(g) section 26(2)(b) (implementing the National Framework);

(h) section 27 (National Framework: further provision about content, review and amendment);

(i) section 28(1)(a) and (c) to (g), (2) and (3) (consultation and publication of the National Framework);

(j) section 37 (interpretation).

Section 3 Provision coming into force on 1 August 2027

Section 28(1)(b) (consultation on the National Framework with the National Institute for Learning Welsh) of the Act comes into force on 1 August 2027.

Section 4 Provisions coming into force on 1 April 2026 to the extent specified

Part 3 (Welsh language education) of the Act comes into force on the 1 April 2026 for the purposes only of section 37(e) of the Act (but not so as to bring the duties under Part 3 into force).

Section 5 Transitional and transitory provision relating to section 24 of the Act (National Framework for Welsh Language Education and Learning Welsh)

(1) Until section 1 of the Act comes fully into force, references to “ the Welsh language strategy ” in section 24 of the Act are to be read as if they were references to a draft Welsh language strategy containing the matters set out in section 1(1) of the Act and prepared by the Welsh Ministers for the purpose of consultation.

(2) In this article, “ Welsh language strategy ” means the strategy on promoting and facilitating the use of Welsh adopted by the Welsh Ministers in accordance with section 78 of the Government of Wales Act 2006 .