A college in South Wales is launching its first vocational course delivered entirely in Welsh to help address growing demand for bilingual staff in the childcare and care sectors.
Coleg y Cymoedd will introduce a Welsh-language Level 2 Childcare course from September, creating a new pathway for learners who want to study and work through the medium of Welsh.
The course – the first of its kind at the college – will help fill a regional gap for Welsh-medium Level 2 provision in South East Wales and support learners to progress into further study and careers within childcare.
Led by Caerphilly-based tutor Lois Moremon, the programme will provide learners with the opportunity to develop the skills needed to pursue careers in nurseries, early years settings and the wider care sector, while studying in Welsh, helping to build confidence using the language in professional settings.
The move reflects the growing demand for bilingual skills across the childcare and social care sectors, where the ability to communicate in Welsh can offer a clear employability advantage for learners looking to progress into roles working with children, families and communities.
Lois said: “Childcare is a sector where being able to speak Welsh can make a real difference. Many of our learners go on to work in nurseries, early years settings and community services where they are engaging with children and families in Welsh is incredibly important.
“This course will give learners the opportunity to study and develop their professional skills through the medium of Welsh, while also building confidence in using the language in real-world settings, helping open doors to future career opportunities.”
The new course forms part of Coleg y Cymoedd’s wider commitment to strengthening the use of Welsh across the college and supporting national efforts to grow the number of Welsh speakers to one million by 2050. Recent findings from the Welsh Language Commissioner have highlighted the importance of strengthening opportunities for learners to continue developing their Welsh language skills throughout post-16 education and into the workplace to achieving this ambitious goal.
Alongside developing the new childcare course, the college has introduced a number of other initiatives aimed at encouraging learners and staff to use Welsh more confidently / in their day-to-day lives.
These include ‘Cwtch Cymraeg’ social spaces on each campus where learners can practise the language informally, a network of Welsh language ambassadors and engagement hubs, and dedicated staff roles focused on promoting Welsh across student life.
The college is also currently developing an AI-powered tool to help learners practise spoken Welsh and pronunciation.
The steps come as learners and staff have also taken part in international learning opportunities aimed at improving Welsh provisions, including a recent visit to Patagonia to explore how Welsh language and culture is sustained within communities overseas.
Jonathan Morgan, Principal at Coleg y Cymoedd, added: “We are proud to launch our first fully Welsh-medium vocational course as part of our commitment to expanding opportunities to use the Welsh language across the college.
“Providing opportunities for learners to study through the medium of Welsh not only supports national language ambitions but also helps equip learners with valuable skills that are increasingly sought after by employers.
“Offering Welsh-medium vocational pathways from Level 2 will strengthen the progression route for Welsh-speaking learners and support the development of a bilingual workforce across key sectors. Our new childcare course will support learners to maintain and build their Welsh language skills while progressing into careers where bilingual communication is increasingly valued”
The course will launch in September 2026 at the college’s Nantgarw campus and is expected to support learners interested in careers in early years education, childcare and the wider care sector.
