Trinity welcomes VIPs from home and abroad

The School of Early Years Education at Trinity University in Carmarthen has been busy welcoming important visitors from home and abroad.
The School of EYE has established a ground-breaking new link with Ireland and has recently hosted a visit by VIPs from the Welsh Assembly Government.
The School of EYE was delighted to welcome Dr Máire Mhic Mathúna and some her students on the Early Childhood Education programme at Dublin Institute of Technology.
The Irish team were on a fact-finding mission at Trinity to study early years education provision in Wales.
They were particularly interested in the importance given to the Welsh language and the development of bilingualism in early childhood services.
The Irish students gave the Trinity early years students some presentations on early years provision in Ireland.
Sian Wyn Siencyn, Head of School, said: “It was a wonderful opportunity for students from Ireland and students from Wales to learn from each other. The students from Ireland were particularly impressed with the commitment to promoting bilingualism in Wales. We are all looking forward to a return visit to Dublin before too long!”
The School of EYE at Trinity is home to an innovative project which aims to promote the use of Welsh and extend bilingualism in early years provision.
The project is called ‘Geiriau Bach’ and impressed Welsh Assembly members on their visit to Trinity.
Geiriau Bach, funded by the Welsh Assembly Government, is a course offered throughout Wales to more than 300 students.
Students include teachers and headteachers, learning support workers, playgroup leaders, and daycare staff. They all join the project in order to improve their Welsh language skills and make Welsh and bilingualism fun for young children.
Lindsey Llewelyn, who recently completed the course, said: “It has been a wonderful experience and my Welsh language skills and confidence have just taken off. I am now confidently using my Welsh with young children – both my own and others!”
The Trinity visit was by the Welsh Assembly’s Rapporteur Group on Bilingualism and they met with staff and students on the Geiriau Bach project.
They reported back to the Head of School that they were impressed what they saw during the visit and were grateful for having the opportunity to have first-hand experience of the good practice that is undertaken by Geiriau Bach.
The Rapporteur Group’s report will be published shortly.

Welsh Assembly VIPs visit: Gareth Jones AM, Chair of the Rapporteur Group on Bilingualism, Jeff Cuthbert AM, David Melding AM, Jenny Randerson AM with staff from the School of Early Years Education at Trinity University College and tutors and students from the Geiriau Bach project.

Irish link: Trinity University Early Years Education students with Eileen Merriman, senior lecturer in the School of EYE with Dr Máire Mhic Mathúna and her students from Dublin Institute of Technology.

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