(Mae fersiwn Gymraeg yr erthygl hon yn dilyn y fersiwn Saesneg.)
Mudiad Meithrin, the Nursery Movement, has welcomed the Welsh Government’s commitment to provide a new universal Childcare Offer for children aged between nine months and four years. This reflects and reinforces Mudiad Meithrin’s call in its own manifesto for universal childcare provision for every child from the age of nine months onwards.
The Welsh Government’s Programme for Government 2026–2030, published on 22 September, states: “Every child deserves the best start in life, and no family should be held back by the cost of childcare.”
Mudiad Meithrin is a major provider of childcare in Wales. It aims to give all young children the opportunity to play, learn, grow and become confident Welsh speakers. By giving the Welsh language to the young children of Wales and their families, it hopes to unify the nation and build a vibrant, open and multicultural Welsh community.
A promise to put children and families first
Responding to the new programme, Dr Catrin Edwards, Chief Executive of Mudiad Meithrin, said: “The commitment to the new Childcare Offer and to expanding Welsh-medium provision is an important step forward for children and families across Wales.” She continued:
“As a member of the Expert Steering Group, I look forward to playing my part in this important work, as it aligns with Mudiad Meithrin’s aspirations and manifesto commitment to extend the Childcare Offer to children from nine months of age onwards. This is a unique opportunity to build a fairer and more inclusive system that makes Welsh a natural part of every child’s life from the very beginning.”
Support from the earliest years
Across Wales, Mudiad Meithrin runs more than 1,000 early years settings and services. They support children and families from the earliest stages. Its “Cymraeg for Kids” scheme introduces Welsh to nursery-age children through groups for families with babies and very young children. “Cylchoedd Ti a Fi” (You and Me groups) cater for children from birth to compulsory school age and their parents. The weekly sessions allow families to socialise, share experiences and play together in an informal Welsh-language setting.
“Cylchoedd Meithrin” (Welsh-medium playgroups) offer daily sessional care and education for children aged two to five. More than 12,000 children are given the opportunity to learn through play in Welsh at these playgroups.
Care and guidance across Wales
Day nurseries – Mudiad Meithrin’s nurseries provide high-quality, full-day care and early education for children from six weeks old to school age in an attractive, safe, friendly and Welsh-language environment.
Mudiad Meithrin employs more than 220 staff nationally, while more than 1,500 members of staff work in its nursery groups. Mudiad Meithrin’s support officers work locally in each county, offering guidance and practical advice to nursery group staff, volunteers and parents.
Building Welsh skills and confidence
Language support – Mudiad Meithrin offers language support to parents through “Clwb Cwtsh”, to staff through “Camau” (Steps), and to the Cylchoedd Meithrin through the language immersion scheme Croesi’r Bont (Crossing the Language Bridge).
Mudiad Meithrin has several departments responsible for developing and delivering early years care and education training through the medium of Welsh to secondary school pupils, as well as for upskilling staff and volunteers at the Cylchoedd Meithrin. These include the National Training Scheme, the “Cam wrth Gam” (Step by Step) Schools Scheme and “Academi”.
Bringing Welsh to life through familiar characters
The Urdd has Mistar Urdd, while Mudiad Meithrin has two characters, Dewin and Doti, who are friends to all the children in the cylchoedd (nursery groups). They help and encourage the children to speak Welsh. Dewin and Doti resources are available through Mudiad Meithrin’s online shop. Dewin a Doti also have a dedicated YouTube channel full of Welsh-language content suitable for young children and their families. As the organisation is a registered charity, emphasis is placed on fundraising activities through the “100 Club”, sponsorship packages and events held both locally and across Wales.
(The English version of this article is above this Welsh version)
Dechrau cryfach: Mudiad Meithrin yn croesawu gofal plant cyffredinol o naw mis oed
Mae Mudiad Meithrin wedi croesawu ymrwymiad Llywodraeth Cymru i ddarparu Cynnig Gofal Plant cyffredinol newydd ar gyfer plant rhwng naw mis a phedair oed. Mae hyn yn adlewyrchu ac yn atgyfnerthu galwad Mudiad Meithrin yn ei faniffesto ei hun am ddarpariaeth gofal plant cyffredinol i bob plentyn o naw mis oed ymlaen.
Mae Rhaglen Lywodraethu Llywodraeth Cymru 2026–2030, a gyhoeddwyd ar 22 Medi, yn nodi: ““ Mae pob plentyn yn haeddu’r dechrau gorau mewn bywyd, ac ni ddylai unrhyw deulu gael ei ddal yn ôl gan gost gofal plant.” (Llywodraeth Cymru)
Mae Mudiad Meithrin yn ddarparwr pwysig o ofal plant yng Nghymru. Ei nod yw rhoi cyfle i bob plentyn ifanc chwarae, dysgu, tyfu a dod yn siaradwyr Cymraeg hyderus. Drwy roi’r Gymraeg i blant ifanc Cymru a’u teuluoedd, mae’n gobeithio uno’r genedl ac adeiladu cymuned Gymreig fywiog, agored ac amlddiwylliannol.
Addewid i roi plant a theuluoedd yn gyntaf
Wrth ymateb i’r rhaglen newydd, dywedodd Dr Catrin Edwards, Prif Weithredwr Mudiad Meithrin, “Mae’r ymrwymiad i’r Cynnig Gofal Plant newydd ac i ehangu darpariaeth Gymraeg yn gam pwysig ymlaen i blant a theuluoedd ledled Cymru, ac mae’n gam i’w groesawu’n fawr. Ategodd:
“Fel aelod o’r Grŵp Llywio Arbenigol, edrychaf ymlaen at chwarae fy rhan yn y gwaith pwysig hwn gan fod hyn yn cyd-fynd â’n dyheadau a Maniffesto Mudiad Meithrin i ehangu’r Cynnig Gofal Plant i blant 9 mis oed + . Dyma gyfle unigryw i adeiladu system sy’n fwy teg, yn fwy cynhwysol, ac sy’n rhoi’r Gymraeg yn rhan naturiol o fywyd pob plentyn o’r cychwyn cyntaf.”
Cynhaliaeth o’r blynyddoedd cyntaf
Ledled Cymru, mae Mudiad Meithrin yn rhedeg mwy na 1,000 o leoliadau a gwasanaethau blynyddoedd cynnar. Mae’n cefnogi plant a theuluoedd o’r camau cynharaf. Mae cynllun “Cymraeg for Kids” y Mudiad yn cyflwyno’r Gymraeg i blant oed meithrin trwy grwpiau ar gyfer teuluoedd â babanod a phlant bach iawn. Mae “Cylchoedd Ti a Fi” yn darparu ar gyfer plant o’u geni hyd at oedran ysgol gorfodol a’u rhieni. Mae’r sesiynau wythnosol yn galluogi teuluoedd i gymdeithasu, rhannu profiadau a chwarae gyda’i gilydd mewn awyrgylch anffurfiol lle siaredir Cymraeg.
Mae “Cylchoedd Meithrin” yn cynnig gofal ac addysg ddyddiol ar sail sesiynau i blant rhwng dwy a phum oed. Rhoddir cyfle i fwy na 12,000 o blant ddysgu trwy chwarae yn y Gymraeg yn y cylchoedd hyn.
Gofal ac arweiniad ledled Cymru
Meithrinfeydd dydd – mae meithrinfeydd Mudiad Meithrin yn darparu gofal ac addysg gynnar o ansawdd uchel trwy’r dydd i blant o chwe wythnos oed hyd at oedran ysgol, mewn amgylchedd deniadol, diogel, cyfeillgar a Chymraeg.
Mae Mudiad Meithrin yn cyflogi mwy na 220 o staff yn genedlaethol, tra bod mwy na 1,500 o aelodau staff yn gweithio yn ei grwpiau meithrin. Mae swyddogion cymorth Mudiad Meithrin yn gweithio’n lleol ym mhob sir, gan gynnig arweiniad a chyngor ymarferol i staff y grwpiau meithrin, gwirfoddolwyr a rhieni.
Datblygu sgiliau ac hyder yn y Gymraeg
Cymorth iaith – mae Mudiad Meithrin yn cynnig cymorth iaith i rieni trwy “Clwb Cwtsh”, i staff trwy “Camau”, ac i’r Cylchoedd Meithrin trwy’r cynllun trochi iaith “Croesi’r Bont”.
Mae gan Mudiad Meithrin nifer o adrannau sy’n gyfrifol am ddatblygu a darparu hyfforddiant gofal ac addysg blynyddoedd cynnar trwy gyfrwng y Gymraeg i ddisgyblion ysgolion uwchradd, yn ogystal ag uwchsgilio staff a gwirfoddolwyr yn y Cylchoedd Meithrin. Mae’r rhain yn cynnwys y Cynllun Hyfforddi Cenedlaethol, Cynllun Ysgolion “Cam wrth Gam” ac “Academi”.
Dod â’r Gymraeg yn fyw trwy gymeriadau cyfarwydd
Mae gan yr Urdd Mistar Urdd, tra bod gan Mudiad Meithrin ddau gymeriad, Dewin a Doti, sy’n ffrindiau i’r holl blant yn y cylchoedd meithrin. Maent yn helpu ac yn annog y plant i siarad Cymraeg. Mae adnoddau Dewin a Doti ar gael trwy siop ar-lein Mudiad Meithrin. Mae gan Dewin a Doti hefyd sianel YouTube bwrpasol sy’n llawn cynnwys Cymraeg sy’n addas ar gyfer plant bach a’u teuluoedd.
Gan fod y sefydliad yn elusen gofrestredig, rhoddir pwyslais ar weithgareddau codi arian trwy’r “Clwb 100“, pecynnau nawdd a digwyddiadau a gynhelir yn lleol ac ar draws Cymru.
More from Gareth Wyn Roberts
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