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Every Cylch Meithrin is a Welsh-medium early years childcare and education setting.The language immersion method is the name given to the way in which we introduce Welsh to children from non-Welsh-speaking homes who attend a Cylch Meithrin. As the children receive their education in a language that is different from their home language they develop their language skills naturally during the activities at the setting. This is how the Cylch Meithrin meets the requirement of the Mudiad Meithrin Language Policy.
Although the Cylch Meithrin is expected to operate through the medium of Welsh, it is not expected that every member of the committee can speak Welsh. We welcome and encourage people from all backgrounds to be part of the Cylch Meithrin committee.
Faith, hope and love don't sustain the work of a Cylch Meithrin - it's the committees who do this! It's vitally important that the committee members understand the extent of their responsibilities (duties as an employer, and the financial responsibilities). All of this information is available to members on the Mudiad Meithrin intranet, in the management guidelines (which are in the Cylch Meithrin), and through an induction carried out by your local Support Officer. These pages on the website will give you taste of the roles and responsibilities.
Management committees have specific responsibilities which highlight the need for careful financial planning and the need to follow employment legislation (with Mudiad Meithrin's support).
Insist on knowing your responsibilities!
For some years Mudiad Meithrin have promoted the CIO (Charitable Incorporated Organisation) model, for the constitution and and legal structure of Cylch Meithrin voluntary management committees. This protects the committee members personally and limits the financial liability of individual committee members (to £0), but means that annual accounts must be submitted to the Charity Commission. We encourage each Cylch Meithrin to set itself up as a CIO (rather than a classic charity). It's not a simple process (and necessitates re registration with CIW) but there is support available from Mudiad Meithrin through registering for membership at 'Yr Wyddfa' level; to date several Cylch Meithrin have registered as a CIO.
We recognise and celebrate the Mudiad Meithrin community throughout Wales. It is however important to understand that Cylch Meithrin and Day Nursery staff employment contracts note that the individual Cylch Meithrin through the management committee or company is the employer, and not Mudiad Meithrin.
A Cylch Meithrin which is open for more than two hours a day and up to four hours a day, for children aged between two years old and school age, must register with CIW. This means completing a registration form, being inspected and offering a service which meets the Child Minding and Day Care Regulations. Contact details of the local CIW office are available from your Support Officer.
CIW inspect care service providers against the requirements of the Care Standards Act 2000, the Children and Families (Wales) Measure 2010 and their related regulations.
The National Minimum Standards set out the basic standards of care which registered providers should provide and aim to exceed.
In order to receive a wide range of services and support, including the services of a Support Officer, favourable insurance terms and a grant, the Cylch Meithrin must be a member of Mudiad Meithrin. (A Cylch which is a full member of Mudiad Meithrin has the right to one vote in the National Annual General Meeting and in County Committee meetings). A full list of the services and resources is included in the registration pack. Every Cylch Meithrin is expected to conform with the Mudiad Meithrin language policy.
The annual membership fee for Cylchoedd Meithrin includes several different insurance policies. The Public Liability Insurance covers the Cylch Meithrin for claims up to £10 million and the Employee Dishonesty Policy insures against any fraud by a committee or staff member.
The committee must ensure that risk is managed in the workplace. In order to do so, possible causes of injury which could occur if the Cylch Meithrin does not do enough to avert injury must be considered, through a risk assessment. The purpose of a risk assessment is to identify reasonable measures to mange risk in the workplace. A risk assessment should be made at least once a year and revised if there has been a change of setting or a change in the children’s needs. An action plan should be formulated including a specific timetable to respond to any risk which has been identified. Templates for risk assesments are available to members on the Mudiad Meithrin intranet.
Protecting children from harm is the responsibility of every member of staff and volunteer in the Cylch Meithrin.
Each Cylch has a Child Protection policy which outlines what action the Cylch will take when there is a child protection concern and action must be taken to protect them from harm.
The Cylch Meithrin promotes an atmosphere and ethos which enables children, staff and volunteers to express any concerns they have openly. This Child Protection policy and procedures conform to the All Wales Child Protection Procedures 2008 and the guidelines for safeguarding children: Working Together under the 2004 Children Act.
All Mudiad Meithrin policies are available to our members on the Mudiad Meithrin intranet.