Bridgend
Cymraeg belongs to us all. In the County Borough of Bridgend, everyone can learn the language. Children acquire language skills quickly in Welsh Medium education.
Bridgend County Borough provides extensive support to children, and their families, promoting the learning and use of the Welsh language. For more information about the Welsh Medium Education website in the area, visit our website.
Bilingualism
Learning Welsh at a young age offers significant benefits. Young children absorb languages more easily, making them natural Welsh speakers. Being bilingual enhances cognitive skills, including problem-solving and creative thinking. It also opens up a broader cultural understanding and appreciation of Wales' rich heritage.
Additionally, bilingualism provides practical advantages in the job market, as the demand for Welsh-speaking professionals continues to grow in various sectors. Overall, early Welsh language acquisition lays a strong foundation for lifelong bilingualism and its many rewards.
Why Choose Welsh-medium Education booklet
https://www.bridgend.gov.uk/media/ygunvjwv/welsh-medium-education-booklet.pdf
Child Care
The Cylchoedd Meithrin are Welsh-medium playgroups where children from non-Welsh-speaking homes are warmly welcomed.
The Cylchoedd Meithrin are held in a variety of locations across the county borough. They inspire development through play, preparing your child for language development in the future by being bilingual from an early age.
Click on the links to find your local Cylch Meithrin, the DEWIS website or by contacting the Family Information Service on familyinformationservice@bridgend.gov.uk
Infant/Toddler and Parent Groups
Cymraeg for Kids holds free sessions for you and your baby throughout Bridgend. From the earlier stages, you can access sessions in baby massage, baby yoga and Welsh rhymetime and sign.
Cylch Ti a Fi is a group for babies/toddlers and parents and is held bilingually. The sessions offer great opportunities to socialise with other parents and for you to get a taste of how your child will adapt to the Cylch Meithrin. Everyone is warmly welcomed and it’s important to note that you don’t have to speak Welsh to attend the sessions.
You do not have to attend these sessions to attend a Cylch Meithrin or a Welsh language school - your child will be supported at every stage of their journey. To find your local Cylch Ti a Fi group here.
Flying Start Welsh-medium provision
If you are a parent/carer of a child living in an eligible Flying Start area, you have the option of choosing Welsh or English-medium childcare provision for your child.
There is information available to highlight the benefits of choosing Welsh-medium education in our ‘Why Choose Welsh-medium Education?’ booklet.
Ask your health visitor or enquire directly with the Flying Start team to find out more about Welsh-medium childcare provision in your area. For enquiries, contact flyingstart@bridgend.gov.uk
Late Immersion Provision - Newcomers Welcome!
Good news! It’s not too late for Welsh-medium education.
Our late immersion provision is specially designed for pupils through primary up to year nine that are new to Welsh-medium education. Through intensive language learning, we enable pupils to quickly gain fluency and smoothly transition to a Welsh-medium school. Find more out via our website
Our Schools
We have four Welsh medium primary schools:
- Ysgol Gymraeg Bro Ogwr, Brackla
- Ysgol Gymraeg Calon y Cymoedd. Bettws
- Ysgol Gymraeg Cynwyd Sant, Maesteg
- Ysgol Gymraeg Y Ferch o’r Sger, North Cornelly
Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Llangynwyd is our Welsh-medium secondary school which has been recently inspected by Estyn. The report recognises its excellence and it is the first Welsh-medium school in Wales to receive no recommendations.
To find out more about our schools, please visit our our website
School Transport
We normally offer free home-to-school transport to your nearest suitable Welsh-medium school within Bridgend, if you live more than 1½ miles away for Nursery pupils, more than 2 miles away for primary school pupils and more than 3 miles away for secondary school pupils.