The Early Years Minister for Wales has launched new anti-racist guidance for childcare settings, at a launch event in North Wales.

Early Years Minister Jayne Bryant launched a toolkit that is designed to foster an anti-racist culture in Wales' childcare settings.

Providing practical advice on various anti-racist topics, the toolkit is there to help people working in childcare, early years and play sectors in Wales.

The toolkit, a collaborative effort by five childcare and play partners - Cwlwm, and the Diversity and Anti-Racist Professional Learning organisation (DARPL), also had inputs from the Welsh Government, community mentors and people with lived experience.

Notably, the toolkit incorporates practical tips such as using the Halo code for Afro-textured hair and providing books reflecting Wales's diversity into children’s libraries.

The toolkit gives staff advice about steps they can take to make sure their environment is anti-racist.

It supports settings in establishing connections with parents and communities to encourage understanding about different backgrounds.

The toolkit reinforces the ambitions from the Anti-Racist Wales Action Plan, which aims to guarantee access for everyone, irrespective of their background, to culturally responsive childcare and educational experiences.

The plan includes specific goals for education and childcare settings, focusing on children, learners of all ages, and the workforce.

The Minister said at a DARPL in Llandudno conference, "I’m really pleased to support DARPL and Cwlwm in the launch of the toolkit today, as it is a great addition to the work we are doing to progress our Anti-racist Wales Action Plan goals.

"Our work includes embedding anti-racist principles in our curriculum and provision, training educators and practitioners to recognise and challenge their own biases, and creating environments that celebrate diversity and promote inclusion."

She also added: "I’m really pleased to support DARPL and Cwlwm in the launch of the toolkit today, as it is a great addition to the work we are doing to progress our Anti-racist Wales Action Plan goals.

Founder and director of DARPL, Chantelle Haughton, said: "The toolkit offers useful starting points leading to whole team engagement with DARPL resources, continuums and consultations."

Gwenllian Lansdown- Davies from Cwlwm said: "This practical toolkit will be useful for all childcare, play and early years settings as they embed anti-racism within their practice."