Developing resources for Hwb

Resource author or supplier

Resource authors or suppliers must:

• develop high-quality bilingual, accurate and relevant educational resources
• align resource content with the Curriculum for Wales and other relevant educational standards
• create accessible resources that comply with Hwb’s publishing criteria
• follow specific guidelines and procedures for submitting resources to Hwb
• ensure the resource is free from errors and meets the quality standards set by Hwb
• ensure early dialogue with the Welsh Government to create a better resource in both Welsh and English
• provide all necessary information and documentation required for the submission, including metadata, descriptions and any supplementary materials
• participate in the content design process, which may involve revisions and updates based on feedback from reviewers
• be prepared to review and update the resource periodically to ensure it remains current and relevant
• respond to feedback and make necessary adjustments to improve the resource
• adhere to the indicative timeframes for submission, review and publication as agreed upon submission acceptance

Hwb

In this context, ‘Hwb’ refers to the internal departments of the Welsh Government and designated external bodies and organisations responsible for resource review.

Hwb must:

• communicate clear guidelines and criteria for resource submission, including Welsh language standards and accessibility requirements
• ensure that resources meet the required educational standards and Hwb’s publishing criteria
• run accessibility checks and return any inaccessible documents to author or supplier to amend where necessary check resources are free from errors and are user-friendly
• provide feedback to authors for necessary revisions and improvements
• regularly review and update published resources to ensure they remain current and relevant
• communicate any updates required by the author
• collect feedback from users to continuously improve the quality of the service
• use feedback to inform future resource development and submission guidelines
  
  

Quality assurance and content design

Resources created by external organisations

You will need to have quality assurance processes in place before sending the materials to Hwb.

You may be asked the following questions by a member of the Hwb Content Team when it comes to reviewing the documents.

• Who wrote the content? Are they a subject specialist?
• Has the content been fact-checked by more than one person?
• Has the content been copy-edited by someone other than the author?
• How was the Welsh version created? Did it go to a professional translator?
• When was the resource written and created?
• Has the correct housestyle been applied when writing the materials? (For materials produced for the Welsh Government, please refer to the GOV.WALES style guide.)
• Have all copyrighted images, videos, music and any other materials been cleared for inclusion? For resources created for or by the Welsh Government has the model release form been completed to obtain permission?
• Do the materials take account of issues of representation (such as Welsh and English examples of learners’ work, mix of genders, ethnic minorities) and any accessibility considerations?

Resources commissioned by the Welsh Government via third parties

If the resources have been commissioned, the Hwb Content Team will then be a part of the development process once the contract has been awarded. The team will advise on:

• how to improve the format, structure, design and language to make it as simple as possible for users
• the correct house style to be applied when writing the materials
• approved translators who can be commissioned to supply Welsh versions
• materials commissioned for inclusion in the resources, for example images, videos or music, and the correct permissions for their use that must be obtained from any participants (utilising the Welsh Government model release form)
• the use of extant copyrighted materials in the resources and the proper permissions that must be obtained from copyright holders for their inclusion
• issues of representation (such as Welsh and English examples of learner work) and any accessibility considerations

Promoting and evaluating your resources

You should promote your resource and let practitioners know how to find it.

You should also evaluate and review your resource over time (at least yearly is suggested) to ensure it remains fit for purpose.