Episode 3 – Introduction to the Communication Developmental Pathway with Kayleigh Bickford from Cylch Meithrin Beddau.
This is the third episode in the Baby Steps into the Curriculum podcast series by Mudiad Meithrin, a series of podcasts explaining what the new Curriculum for Wales means for the Mudiad’s children, staff and families.
This time, Nia Parry’s guest was Kayleigh Bickford, Manager of Cylch Meithrin Beddau by Pontypridd. Kayleigh was raised in Beddau and is a keen promoter of Welsh in the area. Kayleigh was one of the Mudiad Meithrin staff responsible for developing the new Curriculum;
“It was a lovely experience and I’m glad that I’ve being a part of the process. The children are at the heart of everything in the new Curriculum, it’s all about them. Each child develops in his/her own time and in his/her own way, and this Curriculum celebrates the child for who they are and provides according to their needs. It’s inclusive and creates a strong feeling of belonging to the Cylch and the wider community.”
In this episode, Kayleigh discusses the Communication Developmental Pathway which is one of the five Developmental Pathways in the new Curriculum.
“Communication is so important and it is so much more than just talking. We’ve used singing in cylchoedd for a long time, but now we also use talking tiles and Makaton – which use lots of symbols and also technology. With us, the children can Facetime parents if they need to communicate while they’re in the cylch.”
We learn how the Curriculum is very supportive of the children who have not yet begun to communicate verbally. Keighley discusses how using acting and props when storytelling has proved a boost to several of the children in her Cylch;
“Very often, after the story we see the children playing with the props and starting to say the words or make the sounds we made when we were performing the story. It’s exciting!”
Communicating with parents is also a vital part of the Cylch’s work;
“I WhatsApp pictures of the children to their parents in order to celebrate the child’s development and that helps them to be a part of the journey, and it’s a lot of help if a child was tearful in the morning. We also talk lots to parents to learn more about the child’s home life and to ensure that we respond to situations that arise outside of the child’s life in the Cylch.”
Kayleigh has already seen positive developments in the children’s communication skills;
“By stepping back, following the child’s voice and observing more, we give more time and support to them to communicate when they are ready. In our Cylch, some children who only spoke with their parents have now begun to speak in the Cylch. It proves how well it works!”
For parents who are worried about the new Curriculum, Kayleigh’s advice is:
“Don’t worry! This change is for the best. Everything is planned and delivered according to the needs and interests of the children who are with us every day. It’s great!”
Baby Steps into the Curriculum is a Bengo Media and Llais Cymru production for Mudiad Meithrin. To listen to this episode and others in the series, go to www.podfollow.com/babystepsintowelsh
