With 100 days to go until the day of the Senedd elections, Mudiad Meithrin has launched its manifesto for the 2026-2030 Senedd term. In it, Mudiad Meithrin calls for more investment from the government to support the childcare sector in Wales, specifically addressing these three priority areas:
- Ensure Quality and Sustainability: Ensuring quality early care and education provision with fair funding for the sector, and for Mudiad Meithrin itself.
- Expand Provision: Planning childcare and early education provision funded from 9+ months, contributing to the creation of one million Welsh speakers by 2050.
- Increase Confidence and Skills: Building confidence, knowledge and skills within the early years workforce, voluntary committees and parents and carers
Mudiad Meithrin figures show a significant increase in weekly childcare hours in Cylchoedd Meithrin (Welsh-medium playgroups) over the last 5 years from 7597 hours (2019-2019-20) to 8,906 (2023-4) with over 77% of those children coming from families where English is identified as the language spoken at home. Around 22,000 children in Wales benefit from the provision of early years care and play through the medium of Welsh through the Mudiad’s services on a weekly basis.
Dr Catrin Edwards, Chief Executive of Mudiad Meithrin, said,
“Mudiad Meithrin is passionate about giving every child in Wales the opportunity to play, learn, and grow through the medium of Welsh. With increased investment from the Welsh Government in Mudiad Meithrin, we can develop into a powerhouse for the early years here in Wales, knowing that the early stage in a child’s life is key to ensuring growth for the Welsh language and lifelong prosperity.”
To read the full Manifesto, click here.
