A POPULAR playgroup assistant from Llangollen has received a national award for high quality Welsh-language childcare.

Becky Tobin, deputy leader and special education needs officer for Cylch Meithrin Llangollen, has been awarded second place in the Assistant of the Year category at the Mudiad Meithrin Awards (MMA), a national awards ceremony for the early years Welsh-language childcare provider.

Ms Tobin, 30, from Llangollen, was nominated by parents and colleagues at the playgroup who felt she deserved to be recognised for her hard work.

She picked up the award at the ceremony held at Aberystwyth University on Friday, October 19, attended by Mudiad Meithrin's staff from across Wales that had been shortlisted from more than 350 nominees.

Following the award, Ms Tobin said: "It is surreal to have won this award.

"I still don't know why I have been awarded.

"I don't ever expect to be awarded for my work.

"I think it is because I'm a local girl, well-known in the town and see many of the children outside of the playgroup and so build strong relationships.

"But - and it sounds cheesy - I couldn't have won the award without the team.

"It is a massive achievement for a north Wales playgroup to win and it gives the Llangollen Cylch the recognition that it deserves."

Ms Tobin, who has two children aged six and 10, is a second-language Welsh learner and says her children have benefitted from learning Welsh and that early years Welsh language childcare "it is the best way to go".

"Llangollen is not a massively Welsh speaking community, unlike Bala or Corwen, but we live in Wales so I think we should speak the language, it is the best way to go.

"I am amazed at how well children and their little minds pick it up. "My own children go to school in Welsh and come home to speak English without any difficulties.

"Learning Welsh is a life skill - children have it for life."