Mooinjer Veggey

Failt erriu!

Background

Mooinjer Veggey (MV) was founded in 1996 and last year became a company limited by guarantee and a registered charity. MV is an associate member of CNSA, the Scottish Gaelic Preschool Council, and frequently receives training, support and advice from CNSA on preschool education and specific language learning techniques. All MV groups are registered with the Department of Health and Social Security (DHSS) and are regularly inspected by that Department's officers.

MV groups offer children the opportunity to learn about the Manx language and culture through structured play, language games, songs, stories and craft activities. MV has over 60 children registered at its 4 groups situated in Ballasalla, Braddan, Jurby and Port Erin. The expansion of MV over the past 4 years demonstrates the growing parental support for the provision of education to preschool children through the Manx language. DHSS preschool inspection reports have been very positive about all Mooinjer Veggey's groups and this has been reflected in the high level of praise and satisfaction expressed to staff and committee members by parents.

MV employs 3.5 full-time equivalent staff, however, it currently relies on high levels of voluntary work from its committee and staff to ensure its success. As well as employing a full-time 'Preschool Training and Support Officer' MV also provides part-time employment for 12 staff members and regularly runs training sessions in child care, teaching methods, linguistic development and Manx language for its staff). MV has opened some of its staff training courses to parents and is planning to extend this service.

MV receives substantial funding from Manx Heritage Foundation (MHF) and DoE. MV has regular fund raising initiatives and has been successful in the past in attracting support from Manx businesses and independent charitable trusts.

MV has been very successful since its inception in attracting extensive outside interest in its attempts to revive Manx. TV, radio and newspapers from all over the British Isles, Europe and America have run stories or features on Mooinjer Veggey's activities. This role in promoting a different side of our Island is one which MV takes very seriously as it helps to build the distinctiveness of the Isle of Man's cultural and national identity.



Philosophy

MV believes that it is important to help children at a crucial early years stage to become more rounded, responsible citizens who identify with their community and Island. Essentially MV groups provide children with a high quality, stimulating and enjoyable environment through which they can develop positive social, physical, learning and communicative skills. MV groups also provide opportunities for children to learn specifically about the Isle of Man, its people and their culture, helping them to develop their personal and cultural identity.

MV is an organisation which was formed specifically to support the development of Manx Gaelic and much of the drive and initiative behind the organisation comes from this Manx Gaelic root. MV believes that all preschool children in the Isle of Man should have the opportunity to learn about the Manx language and its associated culture.

MV recognises that children between the ages of three and eight can pick up two languages as easily as one, when placed in the right environment and given suitable encouragement. MV aims to provide both the environment and the encouragement to enable young children to benefit from the generally accepted educational advantages of being bilingual (English/Manx speaking).

MV believes that being bilingual from an early age:

i] helps develop mental agility keenness and alertness; ii] develops improved communication and language skills; iii] helps and encourages the learning of other languages to a higher level and more quickly iv] learning through a second language, as at MV, children can reach levels of fluency which cannot be approached by formal language teaching in schools.

MV considers that there is no better preparation for a multilingual world than having two languages in your own life and community.


Mission

MV aims to advance the education of preschool children so that they may take a constructive place in the community, and in furtherance of this, aims to provide safe, high quality preschool education, ideally through the medium of Manx Gaelic.


Definition of organisation and general structures

MV is a company limited by guarantee and a registered charity. MV is managed on behalf of its members by an elected Management Committee which meets at least four times a year to make policy decisions, review MV's activities and agree fund raising strategies.

Responsibility for the day to day running of the organisation is delegated to the Management Committee's Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer.

MV preschool group teachers/leaders are responsible for the day to day running of their group. The Preschool Training and Support Officer (PTSO) is responsible for the overall management of all MV groups ensuring that policy is correctly implemented and the standard of provision in all groups is high and consistent throughout the organisation.

MV's Preschool Training and Support Officer provides full-time professional expertise in all aspects of Manx preschool education including cultural and linguistic provision. The PTSO is a qualified teacher with extensive experience in language and special needs planning and is responsible for the assessment of and development of MV's groups. The PTSO is a fluent Manx speaker and has expertise in Manx music and culture.

Teachers/Leaders provide high quality preschool education to MV children. All MV staff are expected to pursue high standards in professional and personal development.


Objectives

To provide, promote and develop high quality education for preschool children in the Isle of Man, furnishing them with an environment through which they can learn about the Manx language and culture, through the medium of the Manx language where possible.



Strategies to use in pursuit of objectives

Establish and operate Manx preschool education groups to adequately cover as wide an area of the Isle of Man as possible; such groups being regularly monitored to ensure high standards are attained in all areas. MV defines 'Manx preschool education' as education which includes aspects of Manx language, culture, music and history, not necessarily offered through the medium of Manx.

Develop a comprehensive range of resources and training and support services for MV staff and parents, ensuring that all MV groups have high quality materials, highly trained staff and parents fully aware of their child's development . Such services and resources to be made available to other organisations working with preschool children, where appropriate.

Establish MV as a key language promotion and development agency by demonstrating best practice in language development and extensively promoting public awareness of the Manx language and the work of MV both in the Isle of Man and internationally.

Improve provision of preschool education in the Isle of Man through liaison with DoE, DHSS and other preschool organisations and coordinating joint projects and initiatives.



Copyright 2001 - MooinjerVeggey