WEE COUNTY families looking to ensure their children learn Gaelic will be able to access tuition in Stirling.

Clackmannanshire Council's Partnership and Performance Committee is set to meet tomorrow, Thursday May 13, to hear an annual report on the local authority's Gaelic Language Plan.

Elected members will hear that links have been established with Stirling Council to formalise an agreement which will see Clacks families access Gaelic education within Riverside PS.

It is understood a small number of young people already have access to Gaelic learning at the Stirling school and work is ongoing to "formalise the agreement in place and to clarify the offer to residents and young people in Clackmannanshire".

Council documents to be tabled on the day added: "We are also seeking to work with partners to provide community-based learning in Clackmannanshire such as book bugs and adult learning provision.

"This work will be progressed in 2021."

The annual report and the Gaelic Language Plan for 2020-25 were prepared under the Gaelic Language (Scotland) Act 2005, which was passed to secure the status of Gaelic as an official language in Scotland, commanding equal respect to English.

The council's plan was approved just prior to the coronavirus pandemic and "there has been some inevitable slippage on implementation" as a result.

However, the council has started to use its corporate logo to reflect equal respect for both languages, including on vehicles in its fleet, on all publications and materials while council email signatures are also bilingual.

Some specific web pages have also been developed to promote information on Gaelic language and activities in the Wee County.

Council papers added: "In line with our commitment to ensure that employees are suitably equipped to deliver services through the medium of Gaelic, it is necessary to develop the requisite job and language skills of staff.

"An initial audit was undertaken, prior to the pandemic, which identified a small percentage of staff with an interest in Gaelic skills training.

"Given disruptions as a result of the pandemic, this exercise will be repeated so that there is current data to reflect the situation regarding interested parties."

The report to be tabled also reveals that in 2020-21, the council has received one communication in Gaelic and issued no social media posts in the language.

There are currently no jobs where Gaelic is essential, however, "this will be kept under review".

The report also highlighted that less than one per cent of the whole Clacks population speaks Gaelic and work is ongoing to better understand any equalities challenges or issues.