Shaping the future of education in Wales: Our first year of commissioning resources
Adnodd has commissioned 27 projects and worked with 16 different suppliers to bring hundreds of new bilingual resources to life over the last year. Here's how we’ve started shaping the future of education in Wales.
In Adnodd’s first year as a new organisation we have been busy commissioning and managing several new projects. The resources we’ve supported include those which are priority areas for Welsh Government, as well as providing essential updates to existing resources to make them more accessible and relevant to the Curriculum for Wales
This process has helped us get to know new and existing suppliers and to learn more about the resources landscape in Wales. We’ve also been able to trial new ways of commissioning and to establish new processes.
Below we give a flavour of some of the work we have commissioned so far, as well as some of the things we have learnt along the way.
Our commissioning story so far
We’ve used information from users and suppliers on what’s already out there, and the Welsh Government’s review of resources in Hwb flagged up some gaps. These resources support various Areas of Learning and Experience (AOLEs) within the Curriculum for Wales, with a strong emphasis on supporting literacy.
As we move into our second year, we will continue trialing new ways of investing in, and funding, resource development across Wales.
Part of our work is to engage the sector, learn more about what is out there, and to embrace innovation and good practice across Wales. We want to look far and wide for inspiration and new ideas of what works well.
Diversity in resources, formats, and partnerships
In our first year, we commissioned 27 projects from 16 different suppliers, resulting in hundreds of new bilingual resources to support and inspire learning. Ranging from £7,500 to £500,000, and in a variety of formats, the resources have all demonstrated excellent value for money and demand from users.
The resources reflect current gaps in provision and Welsh Government priorities. Using research, we are developing our data and insights so we can have a deeper understanding of the needs and experiences of practitioners, as well as learners, their families, and their communities.
These resources span a wide mix of formats, including microsites, interactive web tools, games, and even virtual reality experiences. We’ve also supported the development of content linked to television programmes and learning through play.
Connecting with practitioners and suppliers
We continue to run engagement sessions and carry out research as we shape our commissioning opportunities for the year ahead. To do this effectively we will collaborate with others, and we have been overwhelmed by the interest from across Wales and further afield.
Across two weeks in March and April we engaged over 100 people as part of an online roadshow for education practitioners, as well as existing and potential suppliers. We were excited to share our approach, our work so far, and our plans for the year ahead. Thanks to all who took part!
We also had over 160 engagements with stakeholders as part of a research project with Miller Research. Early findings show a strong desire from practitioners for resources that are easy to find, use, and adapt. We will publish the final report and work on implementing responses in summer 2025.
New approaches to resource development
In our second year, we will continue to trial new methods of commissioning and invest in new ideas for resources
We will have a significant focus on equity, inclusion, and anti-racism to ensure the resources we commission reflect the diverse communities of Wales. We are committed to innovation and will take appropriate risks based on the insights we’ve gathered from the sector and our strategic focus. To keep learning and growing we will be trialling new ways of working and collaborating to add value and quality to the content we commission.
We have also developed a new process to capture information about exciting new resources in development or plans you may have for new ones. If you’d like to share your ideas for resources and projects with us, use this quick and easy form.
We’ll listen, evaluate, review, and adapt the ways we commission educational resources over the course of the next year so we continue to learn and improve.
Join our community
We’re keen to share more updates and opportunities with people across the education sector in Wales. Join our community here.
We also look forward to attending the following events in 2025:
- 26th to 31st May – Urdd Eisteddfod, Parc Margam
- 13th June – National Education Show, Llandudno
- 2nd to 9th August –Eisteddfod Genedlaethol, Wrecsam
- 3rd October – National Education Show, Cardiff
Diolch – thank you for being part of our journey,