Early Years Minister learnt more about the
expansion of early years Welsh medium childcare and
playwork during meetings with Mudiad Meithrin and Clybiau
Plant Cymru at the Eisteddfod
The Minister hailed the provision of Welsh-medium early years
care and education to around 22,000 children in Wales every week.
Welsh Government has invested more than £500k this year and
committed £1.1m next year to train the workforce to deliver
Welsh-language childcare.
This funding enables Mudiad Meithrin, the national organisation
for Welsh-medium playgroups in Wales, to provide Welsh-medium
childcare qualifications, on an ongoing basis, for 100 Level 3
and 50 Level 5 learners via its ‘Cam wrth Gam' programme.
It is hoped this expansion of the workforce will improve the
accessibility, availability and affordability of Welsh-medium
childcare and play work provision across Wales.
This aims to further support parents and carers return to work,
as part of efforts to improve the social and economic wellbeing
of the nation, as well as reach the Cymraeg 2050 target of
1million Welsh speakers.
The ‘Sefydlu a Symud' (Set up and Succeed) programme to expand
Welsh medium Early Years provision, has already opened or
expanded 61 Cylchoedd Meithrin, with an additional 23 opening or
expanding during 2024/25, which will create a total of 84 new or
expanded locations since 2018.
Funding for Welsh-language childcare has supported more than 400
Cylchoedd Meithrin and 45 Private Nurseries, with the ambition
that more than 70 further provisions will benefit in future.
Early Years Minister said
“It was great to visit the Mudiad Meithrin stand to have the
opportunity to learn more about the excellent work they do in
supporting Welsh medium childcare.
“I know that Mudiad Meithrin's work to expand Welsh medium
provision is vital to enable a seamless transition from
Welsh-medium childcare to school provision.”
Dr Gwenllian Lansdown Davies from Mudiad Meithrin
said:
“Mudiad Meithrin's work is so important for parents because our
community helps children learn and grow. We teach kids to speak
Welsh and parents also get to meet other families and learn how
to help their kids. It's just like a big family.
“Welsh Government's support is vital to enable our work so it's
been great to discuss this with the Early Years Minister at the
Eisteddfod today.”
Early Years Minister also met with Clybiau Plant
Cymru and was given a tour of the Pentref
Plant (Children's Village) at the Eisteddfod.
She added: “The work Clybiau do shows our
commitment to increasing Welsh medium childcare and playwork
provision.
“They continue to ensure all children that want to take part in
an opportunity to develop social and emotional skills are able to
do so.”
Jane O'Toole, Chief Executive of Clybiau Plant Cymru,
said:
“Through our CYMell project and the
Welsh Promise
initiative, the organisation provides training, resources, and support to
enhance the quality of Out of School Childcare provision,
promoting the Welsh language and culture.”
The Minister met with the out of school childcare provider ahead
of the national day of play, ‘Playday', on Wednesday, August 7,
which is a celebration of children's right to play and highlights
the importance of play in children's lives.
Play opportunities are crucial for children's good
health,wellbeing and future life chances. Play supports children
to feel part of their neighbourhoods and wider communities, as
well as helping them to play with others, learning respect and
tolerance.
Welsh Government has made £1m available to local authorities,
through the Playworks Holiday Project programme, to support
access to increased play opportunities for children and young
people in vulnerable communities during the school holidays and
provide healthy food and snacks.
Notes to editors
Welsh Government provide additional funding to CWLWM (which
includes Mudiad Meithrin, Clybiau Plant Cymru, Pacey Cymru, Early
Years Wales and NDNA) to support with the expansion of Welsh
medium childcare and play provision
-
Clybiau Plant Cymru
Kids' Clubs will be providing play activities at the
Eisteddfod as part of the Play Day celebrations. They receive
funding from Welsh Government for their Cymell Project which
helps support an increase in qualified Welsh speaking
Playworkers and the Welsh Promise Scheme which is aimed at
increasing the use of Welsh in English or bilingual out of
school settings and the Welsh Promise Scheme which is aimed at
increasing the use of Welsh in English or bilingual out of
school settings.
Mudiad Meithrin
Homepage - Mudiad Meithrin -
Welsh-medium playgroups
Playworks Holiday Project
- Funding of £1m has been made available to the local
authorities in 2024-2025 for the Playworks Holiday Project, as an
element within the flexible Children and Communities Grant (CCG).
The Playworks Holiday Project aims to support access to increased
play opportunities for children and young people in vulnerable
communities during the school holidays and provide healthy food /
snacks.
- The £1m Playworks Holiday Project was established following a
successful pilot in 2019, to tackle holiday hunger by providing
free food / snacks at play schemes during the holiday periods.
Holiday hunger: playworks
pilot | GOV.WALES
Evaluation of the
Playworks Holiday Project: March 2021 to March 2022 |
GOV.WALES
