Coleg y Cymoedd launches first all-Welsh childcare course to support growing regional demand

1 April 2026

Coleg y Cymoedd has launched its first vocational course delivered entirely in Welsh, creating a new pathway for learners while helping to address a growing demand for bilingual childcare staff across the region.

The Level 2 Childcare course, starting this September at the college’s Nantgarw campus, will support learners to develop the skills and confidence needed to work in early years and childcare settings through the medium of Welsh.

The course responds to increasing demand from employers for bilingual staff, while supporting the Welsh Government’s Cymraeg 2050 ambition of reaching one million Welsh speakers.

Led by Caerphilly-based tutor Lois Moremon, the course places a strong focus on building professional confidence. Learners will develop practical skills for working in nurseries and early years environments, while learning how to communicate naturally and effectively with Welsh-speaking children and families.

Lois said: “In the childcare sector, being able to speak Welsh is a real advantage. Many of our learners go on to work in community-based roles, where engaging with families in their first language is so important.

This course gives learners the opportunity to build their professional skills while continuing to use and develop their Welsh, opening doors to rewarding career opportunities here in Wales.”

The introduction of the course follows wider calls for more post-16 vocational opportunities through the medium of Welsh.

Alongside this new course, Coleg y Cymoedd continues to invest in a range of Welsh-language initiatives to support learners and staff to use Welsh in everyday college life. These include ‘Cwtch Cymraeg’ social spaces on each campus, a network of student ambassadors, and the development of a new AI-powered tool to support spoken Welsh and pronunciation.

Jonathan Morgan, Principal at Coleg y Cymoedd, added:”We are proud to launch our first fully Welsh-medium vocational course. By introducing this pathway at Level 2, we are strengthening progression opportunities for Welsh speakers while equipping learners with the bilingual skills that employers are actively looking for.

Supporting learners in this way plays an important role in developing a confident, bilingual workforce across key sectors in Wales.”

The course will begin in September 2026 at the Nantgarw campus. Applications are now open for learners interested in careers in early years education, childcare and the wider care sector.

Coleg y Cymoedd launches first all-Welsh childcare course to support growing regional demand

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Nantgarw

Rhondda

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