Welsh Medium Early Years - getting it right from the start - 0-4 years old
Thinking of Welsh- medium education for your child? You will receive a warm welcome on the journey!
Pregnancy to 6 months
During pregnancy, research tells us that babies can hear voices and music. So if you are keen to raise your child bilingually, now is the time to start speaking and singing in Welsh to your baby. Cymraeg for kids provides information and advice about the advantages of being bilingual with parents to be and new parents https://meithrin.cymru/irieni/?lang=en.
Speaking some words to your baby from birth is important, even if you only know a small amount of Welsh words, since it gives your baby the best start to a bilingual life. Singing is a good way to communicate with your baby, you could sing Welsh rhymes or listen to Welsh songs. From six months onwards your baby’s language skills will develop rapidly. This is the time to begin reading simple stories with your baby and turning pages of picture books together. Your baby will begin to mimic sounds and link words with objects, so learning simple Welsh words together each day will be effective.
Cymraeg i Blant
Cymraeg for kids share information, advice and support for parents on how to introduce Welsh early on through a range of free support groups such as baby massage, baby yoga and Sign, Story and Rhyme. To register on a group go to Facebook Cymraeg i blant Merthyr. Find out more here
Ti a Fi
Babies and toddlers up to two years of age get a chance to play together, listen to stories and sing Welsh songs.
Both Welsh speakers and non-Welsh speakers are warmly welcomed and it's a great place to make new friends - for both grown-ups and children. Mudiad Meithrin, a key organisation supporting early learning in Wales, runs the Ti a Fi groups.
Cylchoedd Meithrin 2-4
Children can access around 2-2 ½ hours per session. Some groups provide rising 3 places, registered education, Flying Start places and after school provision. On occasions, a wraparound service is available where children can access a breakfast club or after school club at the meithrin, before or after the meithrin session and then they can be transported to the local Welsh medium school for their education input.
Cylchoedd Meithrin in Merthyr Tydfil
You can search for a Cylch in Merthyr Tydfil here: Search for a Cylch - Meithrin
Cylch Meithrin Aberfan Trinity Child and Family Centre Aberfan CF48 4NT Phone: 01443 693777 E-mail: info@trinitychildcare.wales
Cylch Meithrin y Gyrnos Cedar Way, Gurnos, Merthyr Tydfil, CF47 9PA Phone: 07507 690863 E-Mail: cylchmeithrinygyrnos@outlook.com
Cylch Meithrin Twyncarmel Capel Twyncarmel, Clwydyfagwr, Ffordd Abertawe, Merthyr Tudful, CF48 1HN Phone: 01685 350167 E-mail: cylchmeithrintwyncarmel@live.co.uk - This Cylch is a Registered Education Provider.
Cylch Meithrin Pentrebach Canolfan Integredig Cwm Golau Heol Dyffryn, Pentrebach CF48 4BJ Phone: 01685 727374/07506 715186 E-mail: meithrinpentrebach@hotmail.com
Cylch Meithrin Treharris Boys and Girls Club Forest Road, Treharris CF46 5RG Phone: 07716 822686 E-mail: cylchmeithrin_treharris@outlook.com
Flying Start
Flying Start has now rolled out for all 2-3 year olds that live in Merthyr County Borough. There is funded childcare for up to 12.5 hours per week for this age group and is available in Welsh.
To register and apply for the funded childcare:
Flying Start Registration Form
Flying Start Childcare Application Form
The Flying Start bilingual journey