![Julie Morgan, Wales' deputy minister for social services: ‘We want our early years, childcare and playwork workforces to understand and reflect all of the various communities in which our children live' PHOTO Welsh government](/media/vsgn0cip/julie-morgan-1.jpg?width=1002&height=668&bgcolor=White&v=1da9ca7c36923d0)
The free, diversity and anti-racist professional learning (DARPL) provision and resources are available for practitioners working with babies and young children providing childcare, play and nursery education.
The training is funded by the Welsh government and supports the Anti-racist Wales Action Plan.
The Welsh government said it is committed to creating an Anti-Racist Wales by 2030, 'which calls for zero tolerance of racism in all its guises'.
The anti-racist professional learning for Childcare, Playwork and Early Years (CPEY) resources are backed by the Childcare Wales Learning and Working Mutually (CWLWM), the umbrella body supporting the sector.
Launching the anti-racist CPEY resources at an event in Llanbedr, near Harlech, deputy minister for social services Julie Morgan, said, ‘Childcare, playwork and early years settings offer inclusive, accepting and fun environments where children can grow and develop.
‘We want our early years, childcare and playwork workforces to understand and reflect all of the various communities in which our children live.
‘This new diversity and anti-racist professional learning (DARPL) series will help to extend that understanding and enable every child to feel welcome.’
Similar anti-racist professional learning and resources were launched last year for the education sector.
In a written statement, Morgan said, ‘Being Anti-racist means actively identifying and eradicating systems, structures and processes that produce radically differential outcomes for ethnic minority groups. Even when we do not regard ourselves as "racist" if we do nothing then we are complicit in allowing racism to continue.'
The DARPL CPEY Practitioner series of professional learning is made up of three online training sessions which aim to unpick anti-racism and explore actions that can be adapted in childcare, playwork, childminding and early years education settings.
The series will explore the impact of racism on the well-being and lives of Black, Asian and other Minority Ethnic people and issues that may adversely affect young children and their families.
DARPL director Chantelle Haughton said, ’Professional learning and re-thinking our strategic approaches need to be priorities in ethical anti-racist leadership. DARPL provides opportunity and expectation to enable equity, authentic inclusion and cynefin for every child in Wales.’
'Cynefin' is a Welsh term, which has no direct translation in English, but loosely means 'habitat'. It is defined by Curriculum for Wales as 'the place where we feel we belong, where the people and landscape around us are familiar, and the sights and sounds are reassuringly recognisable.’
Haughton added, ‘Please join us in realising national impact by taking part in our DARPL CPEY series, attending our events, engaging with our resources and in sharing examples from your own leadership work through blog submissions. DARPL is for everyone involved in childcare, playwork and education in Wales.’
More information
For blogs, essays and training visit
The free online DARPL CPEY Practitioner training takes place on 18 May, 25 May and 1 June from 10-11.30am. Register here