Misneachd (Scottish Gaelic for ‘Confidence’) is e-Sgoil’s online, small group provision to deliver targeted support to learners in Gaelic Medium Education in primary schools with further developing their Gaelic literacy skills and build confidence in using the language.

What Was Done?

During the initial periods of online learning in 2020, Misneachd e-Sgoil staff worked in partnership with colleagues in other primary schools to create a digital vehicle through which primary aged pupils could seek support with their Gaelic language skills from their homes.

As schools returned to in-person learning, the Misneachd programme was adapted in order to meet the needs of learners back in a school setting. Staff worked digitally with small groups of learners to ensure they were supported to plug any Gaelic language gaps caused by their experiences during the pandemic. The aim was to reinforce and support language development and to provide an appropriate level of challenge for more able learners.

Misneachd expanded to include ‘An Deasbad Beag’ (The Wee Debate), an opportunity for those primary aged learners participating in Misneachd to take part in a debate with pupils from across different areas of Scotland. This opportunity supported learners to increase their confidence in their language skills, learn new vocabulary and work with a community of Gaelic speaking peers. 12 schools from across 7 Local Authorities took part in An Deasbad Beag.

During session 2021/22, Misneachd further expanded to include support for phonics, reading, writing and grammar in addition to the original focus on talking and listening skills. Close relationships were built between the class teacher and the Misneachd teacher to ensure bespoke, targeted sessions which meet the needs of individual learners and, ultimately, helped them to achieve the aim of the programme – increased confidence and fluency. Since January 2023, Misneachd has included Makaton sign sharing.

In Session 2022/23 there were over 100 learners from across Scotland involved in Misneachd.

Why was it done

To support learners in the development of the Gaelic literacy skills for learners in Gaelic Medium Education and to increase their confidence and fluency through personalised, targeted support.

To support teaching staff to better meet the needs of their learners in Gaelic Medium Education, in particular those with additional support needs.

MISNEACHD - Gaelic Only

MISNEACHD - English subtitles

Impact

Misneachd has had a positive impact on learning and teaching in Gaelic Medium Education at primary level. It has supported teachers by providing opportunities for increased immersion and professional networking, especially in smaller Gaelic Medium Education provisions. Misneachd has been described by class teachers as providing “access to learning experiences we would not otherwise be able to engage with” and praised saying “I just sincerely thank the team as a whole who are involved with Misneachd. As a Gaelic teacher working in isolation in a large school with no Gaelic support it has made me feel that I was supported and understood… it is the closest I can get to physically having someone with me in class.”

Learners and staff were surveyed about their thoughts on Misneachd’s impact on the confidence of children at the end of Term 2, session 2022 – 2023. Staff involved reported that Misneachd made a difference for 87% of their learners. 64% of learners reported that they felt they had improved their own confidence between term 1 and term 2, whilst 79% of learners felt that it made a difference to the confidence of other learners in general.

Improvement questions

• How effectively does our setting use digital technologies to provide immersion opportunities for children and young people, and to link with other children and young people in Gaelic Medium Education settings?
• What opportunities do children and young people in Gaelic Medium Education have to fulfil the four capacities of a Curriculum for Excellence through the medium of Gaelic?
• Does our setting have policies for correcting children and young people’s Gaelic language errors so that such errors do not become the norm?
• Does our setting have a whole-school approach to providing additional support needs for young people in Gaelic Medium Education?