Between 10 and 14 November we’ll be hosting events and sharing good practice to celebrate our first ever early years and childcare learning week. This event is part of the learning week.
You can see the full programme of events here.
Join us to explore how the Welsh Promise can support you to increase how much Welsh is used in your setting. We’ll look at how through breaking things down to manageable bite-sized sections, you can show you’re working towards the Active Offer.
Whether your setting is starting from scratch or you’re already using some Welsh, the bronze, silver and gold levels will allow your setting to use Welsh in a way that’s appropriate for you. We’ll also give an overview of why ‘immersing’ children in the Welsh language, or giving meaningful experiences using only Welsh, is an effective way to help children learn and develop their Welsh language skills
Speakers
Lou Stevens Jones
Lou Stevens Jones is the national project manager for ‘Croesi’r Bont’, Mudiad Meithrin’s language immersion scheme, and Clebran, Mudiad Meithrin’s Welsh language support scheme for English medium early years settings.
Lou’s role includes managing a national team of language officers, and coordinating training opportunities on the language immersion method for the Cylchoedd Meithrin and Welsh medium primary schools.
Originally a business graduate, Lou retrained in childcare and worked as an early years practitioner for seven years. Lou has worked for Mudiad Meithrin in a variety of roles since 2006.
Sian James
Sian is the Lead Welsh Language Childcare Business Development Officer for Clybiau Plant Cymru Kids’ Clubs. She currently leads on the organisation’s CYMell and Work Welsh projects with a team of Welsh language childcare business development officers who support the out of school childcare workforce to increase the use of Welsh in childcare and playwork settings.
Sian has worked in the childcare and playwork sector for the past 17 years. This started as a part time job around her studies which then turned into a full-time career supporting other childcare workers. A qualified teacher, Sian also has a degree in Education Studies and Social Inclusion and is Level 3 Playwork qualified.