The bilingual journey
The Early Years
You can start introducing your baby to Welsh from the very beginning - even during pregnancy, babies can hear voices and music. Use whatever Cymraeg you have - whether that's speaking in Welsh to your baby, singing some Welsh nursery rhymes, or just putting the TV channel S4C on for them to hear the Welsh language.
Cymraeg for Kids offers practical support for parents to use Welsh with their child. Cymraeg for Kids staff in Powys run free activities such as baby massage sessions, baby yoga and story and song time. These sessions are a great opportunity for parents to socialise and start using Welsh with their baby. There is no need to be a Welsh speaker to participate - everyone is welcome.
Cylch Ti a Fi gives parents and carers of babies and young children the opportunity to socialise, share experiences and to play together in an informal Welsh atmosphere. In the Cylch Ti a Fi you can enjoy making new friends, playing with toys, learn to sing simple Welsh songs and listen to Welsh stories with your child.
Cylch Meithrin is a Welsh-medium playgroup which offers your child an opportunity to socialise and learn through play under the guidance of professional and qualified staff. By attending Cylch Meithrin your child will begin their journey to Welsh-medium education and will develop into a confident individual ready to take the next natural step into Welsh-medium education at school.
Primary School
Choosing a Welsh-medium education is the best way for children to become bilingual - fluent in Welsh and English.
In Powys, learners can receive a Welsh-medium education in Welsh-medium schools or through a Welsh-medium stream at a dual stream school. At dual stream schools, Welsh and English provision exists side by side, however usually it is only pupils in the Welsh-medium stream that become bilingual.
Welsh-medium education is available to all children who live in Powys. If there is no Welsh-medium school or stream in the area where you live, Powys County Council will provide transport to the nearest Welsh-medium provider.
Look at Find a School in Powys for more information about each school, including contact details, websites & Estyn reports.
Secondary School
To make sure learners keep and develop their skills in Welsh and English it is important that they continue to access Welsh-medium education at secondary school. Welsh-medium provision is available at several dual stream secondary schools across Powys. At these schools, Welsh and English provision exists side by side, however usually it is only pupils in the Welsh-medium stream that are bilingual. Ysgol Bro Caereinion and Ysgol Bro Hyddgen are all-age schools which are in the process of becoming Welsh-medium schools.
Look at Find a School in Powys for more information about each school, including contact details, websites & Estyn reports
In south-west Powys, learners can access Welsh-medium secondary provision at Ysgol Gymraeg Ystalyfera Bro Dur, located in Neath Port Talbot County Borough.
Apply for a secondary school place