Gaelic for toddlers plan welcomed
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A PLAN to make Gaelic available to toddlers in Caithness has been welcomed by a local Highland councillor. Landward Caithness representative David Flear said there is demand for such provision in the Far North.
“I have no problem with this at all. I have never been against Gaelic – although I did oppose the bilingual Gaelic road signs,” Mr Flear told the Caithness Courier.
“The perception in some quarters is that if you are against bilingual road signs then you are anti-Gaelic but that is not the case. I am pleased people want their children to be immersed in the Gaelic language.”
Mr Flear pointed out there are groups in Thurso and Wick which want Gaelic provision for toddlers and have been asking for it for some time.
He is “absolutely delighted” Carol-Anne Farquhar (née Mackay) has agreed to take up the post of support worker for the Caithness area.
She will be one of five part-time Gaelic parent and toddler development workers in the Highlands. The team will be visiting Gaelic toddler groups in local communities throughout the North. The posts were created after a partnership agreement involving the Highland Council, the Care and Learning Alliance (CALA) and Bòrd na Gàidhlig was formed. It aims to develop Gaelic language provision for toddlers and parents.
Margaret Mulholland, the Highland Council’s community learning officer, said: “This is an important time for Gaelic development especially as the council’s second generation Gaelic plan has been recently discussed and approved by the council’s Gaelic committee.”
Those interested in Gaelic provision for toddlers can contact the toddler development workers at the Care and Learning Alliance office on 01463 703033 or can e-mail Carol-Anne on?carolannecala@gmail.com
