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Menter Caerdydd Self-Assessment Report Open Access Play Provision 2017/2018

Menter Caerdydd (Welsh language Initiative funded by Welsh Government) was established in June 1998 with the aim of promoting and expanding the use of Welsh in by creating opportunities for the city residents to use the language outside working hours and outside school gates.

In 2010/11 Menter Caerdydd received Cymorth funding enabling us to pilot Welsh language Open Access Play sessions called ‘Bwrlwm’ for children and Young People between 5 - 15 for the first time. The pilots proved to be a great success and we have developed this provision further since 2011, through a service level agreement with Cardiff Council, by establishing 6 open access play provision sites in the City.

Menter Caerdydd received a grant of £85,000 during 2017-2018 to run a Welsh Language Open Access Play service in the city. This year we held sites in the following areas of Cardiff –

• Llanedeyrn • Gabalfa • Trowbridge • Pentrebane • Caerau • Heath • Splott (NEW SITE)

3822 children attended this year bringing our average up to 765 children attending Bwrlwm sessions each week (when all 6 sites are open) and we have run 7 weeks of provision during school holidays (Easter/Whitsun/Summer/ October/February).

A majority of the children attending experience Play activities outside school hours in Welsh for the first time. The Bwrlwm sessions are an opportunity for the children to develop confidence in using their Welsh language skills during the holidays in a social, informal and safe environment.

Welsh is the main language of the sessions and we offer a safe and happy space to play, learn and make new friends. As well as school site specific Play sessions, we have also developed a Bwrlwm Play zone for children in Tafwyl Festival in during 2015/2016 and piloted taster Play sessions in the City Centre at Yr Hen Lyfrgell.

During our Summer holiday Bwrlwm scheme this year (2017) we decided to ask parents and children what they thought about our open access play provision – some of their answers are included in this report. We surveyed 30 parents and 50 children from a variety of sites.

This Self-Assessment Report is our own evaluation of our open access Play service: how well we engage and support our learners to enjoy their learning and achieve maximum gain from attending courses. The report identifies what we do well (strengths) and areas where we need to improve and develop in the future. EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING

During 2017 – 2018 we employed 40 additional staff to work on the provision and offered volunteering opportunities for 8 young people aged between 16-18 years old. As well as employment and volunteering opportunities, we provided fully funded training in Play work and first aid for all staff.

PROVISION STRENGTHS:

• In a recent survey where we asked 50 children what they thought of the ‘Bwrlwm’ Play sessions and 100% answered that the sessions were ‘Good’ or ‘Excellent’.

• Since March 2017, 3,822 children have attended at least one open access play sessions in of our 7 sites.

• In a recent survey of 30 parents with children attending the Bwrlwm Play sessions 100% stated that they would like to see Menter Caerdydd continuing to run holiday provision and 100% thought that we provide a high quality, professional service.

• Providing Welsh language open access provision is the only chance a number of the children attending get to use the language outside school – especially during the holidays. In our recent evaluation survey, 92% of the children came from Non Welsh speaking homes, while 100% of parents said they chose to send their children to the Bwrlwm Play sessions because they were held through the medium of Welsh.

• A 100% of the children surveyed on site said that they spoke Welsh during the sessions.

• We have opened a new Play site at Ysgol Glan Morfa school in Splott. The sessions started in October 2017 and are already well attended. We are also in discussions with Ysgol Hamadryad in Grangetown to open new welsh language Play provision at their new school site next year.

• Not one of the parents surveyed were aware of any other Welsh language activities in their local area apart from Menter Caerdydd activities and would struggle to find Welsh language activities in their local area without our provision.

• PROVISION FEEDBACK

“I am not a Welsh speaker so it’s brilliant that Kari can go to Bwrlwm and speak Welsh during the holidays. She loves the staff, the trips and has made lots of new friends”

“Bwrlwm has helped my daughter considerably with her Welsh language confidence and socialising”

“Being able to offer a free of charge Bwrlwm play service at Ysgol Glan Morfa is something that is very special to the school and the community of Splott. Most of the school’s pupils come from non- Welsh speaking homes and so this particular service enables our pupils to play, socialise and enjoy through the Welsh language. I would like to thank Menter Caerdydd for offering a special service which gives the children invaluable experiences” Mr Meilir Tomos, Headmaster, Ysgol Glan Morfa, Splott FUTURE ACTION POINTS

Parent and child feedback, end of scheme evaluation and consulting with current and new partners are invaluable when looking towards the future and developing our Welsh language open access Play programme.

• Aim to ensure that ALL of our staff attend at least one training courses provided in First Aid, Food Hygiene, Play Works and Safeguarding Children.

• Developing and keeping a workforce can be challenging as we only hire staff for holiday periods. It can be difficult to find qualified and experienced Play workers and the staff turnover is high. We have to work with more young people to upskill and offer as much training as possible to create a suitable workforce.

• Look to establish new Welsh language play provision in Butetown/Grangetown by working in partnership with Ysgol Hamadryad.

LOCAL AND NATIONAL STRATEGIES IN REGARDS TO WELSH LANGUAGE SERVICES

Our Welsh language Play provision supports and reinforces the following points taken from local and National strategies

Bilingual Cardiff: 5 Year Welsh Language Strategy 2017-2022

Our vision is to develop a truly bilingual Cardiff. A Cardiff where our citizens can live, work and play, as well as access services and support in Welsh or English equally. A capital city where bilingualism is promoted as something completely natural, and where the Welsh language is protected and nurtured for future generations to use and enjoy.

Strategic Area: Families, Children and Young People

Priority Area: Increase the provision of Welsh-medium extra-curricular activities and opportunities for children and young people to use Welsh outside the school gates.

Cardiff Council ‘What Matters Strategy’ - 2010:2020-The 10 Year Strategy

• ‘There has recently been a small increase in the number of Welsh language activities available for children and young people but it remains inadequate compared to the numbers receiving Welsh medium education.

• For children and young people, a great place to live, work and play is somewhere where they can enjoy their childhood and youth. It also means being able to access a range of cultural activities in both English and Welsh.

Cardiff is a bilingual city, 20% of the young people 11 – 18 and 17% of children 4 – 11 in Cardiff are fluent Welsh speaker. As a result, partners remain committed to continuing to accommodate the rising demand for Welsh medium services.

The Well-being of Future Generations () Act 2015

The Act is a legislation requiring public bodies - such as local authorities to put long-term sustainability at the forefront of their thinking, and work with each other along with other relevant organisations (such as third sector groups) and the public to prevent and tackle problems. The Act was passed into law in April 2015.

In order to create a more sustainable Wales, public bodies must work towards seven Well-being Goals one of which is ‘A Wales of vibrant culture and thriving Welsh language’. Welsh language Strategy (2012 - 17) Welsh Government

The strategy reflex’s the Welsh governments vision to see the welsh language thriving in Wales. To achieve that, the strategy aims to see an increase in the number of people who both speak and use the Welsh language. The strategy sets out six areas for action. They are:

• To encourage and support the use of the Welsh language within families.

• To increase the provision of Welsh medium activities for children and young people and to raise their awareness of the value of the language.

• To strengthen the position of the Welsh language in the community.

• To increase opportunities for people to use Welsh in the workplace.

• To improve Welsh language services to citizens; and

• To strengthen the infrastructure, including technology and media, for the language.

CYMRAEG 2050: Welsh Government

The social use of the Welsh language: Ensure positive language practices supported by formal and informal opportunities to use Welsh socially. SUMMARY

Overall we are very satisfied with our open access Play provision that has developed to be widely acknowledged as a very good Welsh language service. Progress on the future action points will be monitored by Menter Caerdydd Chief Executive and Management Committee who meet on a regular basis.

Menter Caerdydd is a charity registered in England and Wales, number 1098606, company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales, number 4576565