Cwestiynau Ysgrifenedig y Cynulliad a gyflwynwyd ar 10 Chwefror 2014 i’w hateb ar 17 Chwefror 2014

R - Yn dynodi bod yr Aelod wedi datgan buddiant.
W - Yn dynodi bod y cwestiwn wedi’i gyflwyno yn Gymraeg.

(Dangosir rhif gwreiddiol y Cwestiwn mewn cromfachau)

 

Gofyn i Weinidog yr Economi, Gwyddoniaeth a Thrafnidiaeth

Eluned Parrott (Canol De Cymru): Yn dilyn ateb y Gweinidog i WAQ65398, o ystyried bod £651,000 wedi cael ei ddyrannu yng Nghyllideb 2013/14 Llywodraeth Cymru ar gyfer y Rhaglen Cyfleoedd Masnach Rhyngwladol, faint ohono sydd wedi cael ei wario hyd at ddiwedd mis Ionawr? (WAQ66404)

Derbyniwyd ateb i’w gyhoeddi ar 17 Chwefror 2014

Weinidog yr Economi, Gwyddoniaeth a Thrafnidiaeth (Edwina Hart): £234,948 of the International Trade Opportunities programme budget has been spent this financial year to 31 January 2014.

 

Eluned Parrott (Canol De Cymru): Faint o arian sydd wedi cael ei ddyrannu ar gyfer y Rhaglen Cyfleoedd Masnach Rhyngwladol yng Nghyllideb Llywodraeth Cymru ar gyfer 2014/15? (WAQ66405)

Derbyniwyd ateb i’w gyhoeddi ar 17 Chwefror 2014

Edwina Hart: The 2014-15 budget for the International Trade Opportunities programme has not yet been agreed.

 

Eluned Parrott (Canol De Cymru): Pa ddadansoddiad y mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi’i gynnal ynghylch y rhesymau y mae busnesau’n penderfynu peidio â bwrw ymlaen â Phrosiectau’r Rhaglen Cyfleoedd Masnach Rhyngwladol a beth mae’r Gweinidog wedi’i ddysgu o hyn? (WAQ66406)

Answer received for publication on 17 February 2014

Edwina Hart: Our analysis shows that there are four main reasons for a company’s decision not to proceed with an ITO project. These are:   

• Company restructure or change of personnel;
• Project linked to an overseas visit that was cancelled or postponed by the company;
• Company has insufficient resources to take the project forward at the time;
• Company selected an alternative source of assistance

 

Eluned Parrott (Canol De Cymru): Yn y Rhaglen Cyfleoedd Masnach Rhyngwladol, fesul mis rhwng 1 Medi 2013 a 31 Ionawr 2014, sawl Briff Prosiect sydd wedi cael ei anfon at gontractwyr er mwyn iddynt lunio Cynlluniau Prosiect ym mhob un o’r rhanbarthau canlynol:

• Gorllewin Ewrop 1 (Iwerddon, Gwlad Belg, yr Iseldiroedd, Lwcsembwrg, Denmarc, Sweden, Norwy, y Ffindir, Gwlad yr Iâ)
• Gorllewin Ewrop 2 (Ffrainc, yr Almaen, yr Eidal, Sbaen, Portiwgal, Awstria, y Swistir, Groeg)
• Canol a Dwyrain Ewrop (y Weriniaeth Tsiec, Gwlad Pwyl, Rwmania, Twrci, Hwngari, Slofacia, Slofenia, Bwlgaria, Lithwania, Latfia, Estonia)
• Rwsia a’r Wcráin
• Y Dwyrain Canol a Gogledd Affrica (Sawdi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, Cowait, yr Aifft, Oman, yr Emiraethau Arabaidd Unedig, Libya)
• Gogledd America (UDA, Canada, Mecsico)
• De America (Brasil, yr Ariannin, Chile)
• Ynysoedd y De (Awstralia, Seland Newydd)
• India
• Tsieina, Hong Kong a Taiwan
• Gogledd Asia (Japan, De Korea)
• De Asia (Gwlad Thai, Fiet-nam, Ynysoedd y Philipinau, Malaysia, Singapore)? (WAQ66407)

Derbyniwyd ateb i’w gyhoeddi ar 17 Chwefror 2014

Edwina Hart: Thirty eight project briefs were forwarded to contractors between 1 September 2013 and 31 January 2014. The monthly breakdown by region is provided below.

 

Eluned Parrott (Canol De Cymru): Yn y Rhaglen Cyfleoedd Masnach Rhyngwladol, ar gyfer pob rhanbarth a restrir isod, ar 31 Ionawr 2014, (a) sawl prosiect oedd wedi cael ei gymeradwyo ac wedi symud ymlaen, (b) sawl prosiect oedd wedi dod i ben (h.y. penderfyniad wedi’i wneud i beidio â bwrw ymlaen â’r prosiect), (c) sawl un oedd yn aros penderfyniad a (d) sawl un oedd eto i gyrraedd y dyddiad cau ar gyfer cyflwyno Cynlluniau Prosiect:

• Gorllewin Ewrop 1 (Iwerddon, Gwlad Belg, yr Iseldiroedd, Lwcsembwrg, Denmarc, Sweden, Norwy, y Ffindir, Gwlad yr Iâ)
• Gorllewin Ewrop 2 (Ffrainc, yr Almaen, yr Eidal, Sbaen, Portiwgal, Awstria, y Swistir, Groeg)
• Canol a Dwyrain Ewrop (y Weriniaeth Tsiec, Gwlad Pwyl, Rwmania, Twrci, Hwngari, Slofacia, Slofenia, Bwlgaria, Lithwania, Latfia, Estonia)
• Rwsia a’r Wcráin
• Y Dwyrain Canol a Gogledd Affrica (Sawdi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, Cowait, yr Aifft, Oman, yr Emiraethau Arabaidd Unedig, Libya)
• Gogledd America (UDA, Canada, Mecsico)
• De America (Brasil, yr Ariannin, Chile)
• Ynysoedd y De (Awstralia, Seland Newydd)
• India
• Tsieina, Hong Kong a Taiwan
• Gogledd Asia (Japan, De Korea)
• De Asia (Gwlad Thai, Fiet-nam, Ynysoedd y Philipinau, Malaysia, Singapore)? (WAQ66219)

Derbyniwyd ateb i’w gyhoeddi ar 17 Chwefror 2014

Edwina Hart: The total number of projects approved, discontinued, awaiting a decision and awaiting a project plan is shown in the table below. This information is for the financial year to 31 January 2014.

 

Gofyn i’r Gweinidog Addysg a Sgiliau

Aled Roberts (Gogledd Cymru): Pa mor fuan ar ôl cyhoeddi data’r Cyfrifiad Ysgolion (CYBLD) mae ysgolion unigol yn cael gwybod am ddyraniad eu Grant Amddifadedd Disgyblion? (WAQ66409)

Derbyniwyd ateb i’w gyhoeddi ar 17 Chwefror 2014

Weinidog Addysg a Sgiliau (Huw Lewis): Guidance issued to Consortia in April 2013 included an indicative budget for 2013-14 and 2014-15 for the PDG to enable longer term planning. The verified PLASC data on which the allocations are calculated is normally available in June/July. The Welsh Government’s Final Budget for 14-15 was published in December.

Consortia have been advised of their PDG allocations for 2014/15 and they are in the process of confirming with schools the exact level of funding they will receive. Local Authorities are required to set their overall budgets by 11 March and to confirm school budgets by 31 March.

 

Aled Roberts (Gogledd Cymru): A wnaiff y Gweinidog gadarnhau bod gan yr holl ysgolion sy’n derbyn cyllid y Grant Amddifadedd Disgyblion fanylion ar eu gwefannau’n dangos sut mae’r cyllid yn cael ei wario? (WAQ66411)

Derbyniwyd ateb i’w gyhoeddi ar 17 Chwefror 2014

Huw Lewis:The requirement for schools to publish information about the PDG on their websites is clearly stated in our guidance and we will be asking consortia coordinators to follow this up to ensure that schools comply.

 

Aled Roberts (Gogledd Cymru): Pa waith y mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi’i wneud i asesu estyniad ar y Grant Amddifadedd Disgyblion i gynnwys plant ysgol o dan bum mlwydd oed? (WAQ66413)

Derbyniwyd ateb i’w gyhoeddi ar 17 Chwefror 2014

Huw Lewis: The budget agreement clearly states that the Pupil Deprivation Grant (PDG) is only available to support pupils aged 5-15 who are eligible for Free School Meals (e-FSM) and looked after children (LAC) aged 4-15.  Any changes to include nursery age pupils would breach the budget agreement.

The Welsh Government recognises the importance of early years education. Officials are currently working to improve consistency of support across Wales and this will be addressed further through the Early Years and Child Care Plan, which will link into our emerging Deprivation Programme.

 

Aled Roberts (Gogledd Cymru): Pa ddulliau monitro cyson mae’r Gweinidog yn eu defnyddio ar hyn o bryd i gasglu gwybodaeth am sut mae ysgolion yn gwario cyllid eu Grant Amddifadedd Ysgolion? (WAQ66410)

Aled Roberts (Gogledd Cymru): Pa gynlluniau sydd gan y Gweinidog i resymoli nifer y dogfennau y mae’n rhaid i arweinwyr ysgolion eu darllen er mwyn deall yn llawn sut mae gwario’r Grant Amddifadedd Disgyblion? (WAQ66414)

Aled Roberts (Gogledd Cymru): Pa asesiad y mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi’i gynnal o’r syniad bod lefel y gwaith papur sy’n gysylltiedig â gweithredu’r Grant Amddifadedd Disgyblion yn “rhy fiwrocrataidd”? (WAQ66416)

Derbyniwyd ateb i’w gyhoeddi ar 17 Chwefror 2014 (WAQ66410, WAQ66414 ac WAQ66416)

Huw Lewis: In terms of monitoring expenditure, the primary source of evidence is in consortia PDG spending plans and school reports on the use of their PDG.  

In order to assist school leaders, we published a short guidance for practitioners in December 2013; this was focussed on what they need to know. The Sutton Trust Toolkit and other recommended reading are all hosted at a central point on Learning Wales, grouped under the Poverty theme; these additional documents are not essential to understanding how to spend the grant but are there to provide practitioners with ideas and inspiration.

Other than a requirement to publish online their PDG allocations, plans for its use, and the impact of their interventions, the Welsh Government does not impose any other reporting requirements on schools in relation to their allocation of the PDG.  The grant is distributed via the regional consortia and it is the consortia that are required to submit spending plans and reports to Welsh Government.

 

Aled Roberts (Gogledd Cymru): Pa asesiad y mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi’i gynnal o nifer y plant o dan bum mlwydd oed sy’n gymwys am brydau ysgol am ddim mewn ysgolion cynradd? (WAQ66417)

Derbyniwyd ateb i’w gyhoeddi ar 14 Chwefror 2014

Huw Lewis: Nursery-aged children do not normally receive full time education hence they are not normally eligible to receive free school meals.

The most recent data available comes from the Pupil Level Annual School Census 2013 (PLASC).  According to PLASC, 10,109 pupils under five years of age were eligible for Free School Meals as at January 2013.

 

Aled Roberts (Gogledd Cymru): Pa hyfforddiant sy’n cael ei roi i arweinwyr a staff ysgolion ynghylch y defnydd o gyllid y Grant Amddifadedd Disgyblion? (WAQ66415)

Aled Roberts (Gogledd Cymru): Sut y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn sicrhau bod arferion gorau o ran gwario’r Grant Amddifadedd Disgyblion yn cael eu rhannu ag ysgolion eraill? (WAQ66418)

Derbyniwyd ateb i’w gyhoeddi ar 17 Chwefror 2014 (WAQ66415 ac WAQ66418)

Huw Lewis: School Improvement Consortia are expected to support practitioners’ professional development, including developing effective leadership at all levels.

In terms of PDG, consortia should work with schools to promote:

• collaborative approaches such as coaching and mentoring by the most effective practitioners
• action-based enquiry methods such as professional learning communities
• attendance at seminars and events on reducing the impact of poverty on pupils’ educational attainment,
• high-quality accredited practical programmes and/or modules as set out in the Masters in Educational Practice (MEP), launched in September 2012;
• a module on poverty will be published on the Learning Wales website in Spring 2014.

The Welsh Government has commissioned the four consortia to develop a Policy Observatory and database of good practice for schools to share..

To further support schools to make effective use of the PDG, we are developing a quick guide to what works in schools which will be published shortly.  We will also be broadcasting a webinar at the end of March which will show video footage case studies, a presentation by the Sutton Trust on the use of the toolkit, and the opportunity to put questions to an invited panel.

 

Aled Roberts (Gogledd Cymru): Pa raglenni neu gynlluniau presennol sydd wedi cael eu canslo er mwyn darparu’r £7.9 miliwn, sydd heb ei nodi, sy’n rhan o’r cynllun Her Ysgolion Cymru newydd gwerth £20 miliwn? (WAQ66419)

Derbyniwyd ateb i’w gyhoeddi ar 17 Chwefror 2014

Huw Lewis: The £20 million package of support announced for Schools Challenge Cymru includes the £12.1 million identified by the Minister for Finance last month as part of the Welsh Government’s response to the UK Government’s Autumn Statement.  We are looking at a range of budget lines across the DfES MEG to identify which ones will support delivery of the Schools Challenge Cymru programme.  Any resultant budget movements will be included in the 2014-15 Supplementary Budgets.

 

Aled Roberts (Gogledd Cymru): Pa newidiadau fydd y Gweinidog yn eu gwneud i werthuso datblygiad proffesiynol athrawon er mwyn cyflawni “ffocws diflino” ar wella fel rhan o Her Ysgolion Cymru? (WAQ66420)

Derbyniwyd ateb i’w gyhoeddi ar 17 Chwefror 2014

Huw Lewis: I recognise that the quality of teaching is the single most influential factor on learner outcomes and I am committed to ensuring that all school practitioners in Wales undertake effective professional development throughout their career. The whole school workforce has a role to play in driving up standards in schools and it is essential that, together, they are able to deliver, support and lead high quality teaching.

In terms of evaluating professional development, we have already established the practice, review and development (PRD) process, following a review of continuing professional development (CPD) provision, performance management and professional standards for teachers in Wales.  PRD combines these three elements to establish an integrated system that ensures professional development needs are identified through performance management, using professional standards as the ‘backdrop’.  This helps to ensure that professional development is focussed on improved learner outcomes and requires schools and practitioners to evaluate the impact of their participation in professional development activities.

To further support the evaluation of professional development, work is also underway to introduce Regulations that will require schools to show how they intend to develop their staff in their school development plan (SDP).  This will help to ensure that professional development is firmly linked to the school’s improvement priorities and support rigorous evaluation of the extent to which improvement targets and priorities have been addressed.

Following a thematic study recently carried out by Estyn of schools’ use of statutory INSET days, officials have written to all local authorities/consortia, setting out the expectation for consortia system leaders/challenge advisors to work with individual schools to plan and evaluate INSET provision.  The letter also highlighted their duty to identify and share effective practice with other schools and facilitate collaborative development activities.

 

Aled Roberts (Gogledd Cymru): Pa feini prawf fydd y Gweinidog yn eu defnyddio i ddatgan pa ysgolion fydd yn cymryd rhan yn Her Ysgolion Cymru? (WAQ66421)

Derbyniwyd ateb i’w gyhoeddi ar 17 Chwefror 2014

Huw Lewis: This programme will focus on our most challenged schools facing the most challenging circumstances.  Participating schools will be identified as underperforming as measured by banding, plus a range of deprivation related factors including the achievement of Level 2 inclusive of pupils eligible for free school meals.  Education Consortia are key partners. We will work with them in line with the national model to ensure we target our resources effectively.

 

Aled Roberts (Gogledd Cymru): A fydd y gefnogaeth ariannol a fydd ar gael i ysgolion sy’n cymryd rhan yn Her Ysgolion Cymru yn ychwanegol at y £10,000 maent yn ei dderbyn fel ysgolion Band 4 neu Fand 5? (WAQ66422)

Derbyniwyd ateb i’w gyhoeddi ar 17 Chwefror 2014

Huw Lewis: No decision has been made yet about the continuation of financial support for Band 4 and 5 schools in 2014/15. Officials are currently considering options for the continuation of this financial support alongside the funding arrangements for Schools Challenge Cymru.

 

Aled Roberts (Gogledd Cymru): Yn dilyn datganiad ysgrifenedig y Gweinidog, a gyflwynwyd ar 10 Chwefror 2013, pa gadarnhad mae’r Gweinidog wedi’i dderbyn eisoes y bydd yr “arbenigedd o bob cwr o’r DU” sydd i’w ddisgwyl yn cael ei gyflawni?  (WAQ66423)

Derbyniwyd ateb i’w gyhoeddi ar 17 Chwefror 2014

Huw Lewis: We already have experts working with us to ensure we have the best education system possible. Some have conducted reviews on our behalf – including Robert Hill. Others such as Mel Ainscow are already working with local authorities and consortia and making a significant difference. We will draw on their expertise and identify others who will work with us to support and deliver Schools Challenge Cymru.

 

Aled Roberts (Gogledd Cymru): Pa feini prawf a ddefnyddir i ddatgan a defnyddio’r “arweinwyr systemau a benodir yn arbennig” sy’n ofynnol i helpu i gyflawni Her Canol De Cymru? (WAQ66424)

Derbyniwyd ateb i’w gyhoeddi ar 17 Chwefror 2014

Huw Lewis: Ensuring we have the right people working in the right way with our challenge schools is essential to this programme. Officials are developing the criteria for this crucial role.

We will ensure we make full use of the knowledge and expertise across Wales as well as working with experts drawn from across the UK. Some of Wales’ best performing schools will share expertise and leadership, supporting teachers in the Challenge Schools Cymru programme to achieve the improvements needed.

 

Aled Roberts (Gogledd Cymru): Sut y bydd rhaglen ysgolion Her Canol De Cymru yn gweithio oddi mewn i Her Ysgolion Cymru? (WAQ66425)

Derbyniwyd ateb i’w gyhoeddi ar 17 Chwefror 2014

Huw Lewis: The Consortia across Wales have a fundamental role in Schools Challenge Cymru programme and are key partners.  They will help to identify the schools to benefit from this programme.  We will work with them in line with the national model to ensure that we target our resources effectively.  

Central South Wales consortia are encouraging their schools to work together to share good practice to improve standards.  This approach will be part of the wider Schools Challenge Cymru package of support underpinned by the additional funding that has been announced.  We expect the action plans for each school in the Schools Challenge Cymru programme to bring coherence across any other interventions in place to support improvement.

 

Aled Roberts (Gogledd Cymru): Pa effaith fydd cyllid Her Ysgolion Cymru yn ei chael ar ysgolion sy’n elwa ar brosiectau a chyllid cyfredol? (WAQ66426)

Derbyniwyd ateb i’w gyhoeddi ar 17 Chwefror 2014

Huw Lewis: As advised in WAQ66419, we are looking at a range of budget lines across the DfES MEG to identify which ones will support delivery of the Schools Challenge Cymru programme.  Any resultant budget movements will be included in the 2014-15 Supplementary Budgets.

 

Aled Roberts (Gogledd Cymru): Pa drafodaethau a gafodd y Gweinidog gydag arweinwyr ysgolion a swyddogion addysg proffesiynol cyn cyhoeddi rhaglenni’r Her Ysgolion? (WAQ66427)

Derbyniwyd ateb i’w gyhoeddi ar 17 Chwefror 2014

Huw Lewis: I meet with school leaders and education professionals on a regular basis and hold discussions on many areas of my portfolio.

 

Aled Roberts (Gogledd Cymru): A fydd rhaglen Her Ysgolion Cymru yn weithredol o fis Ebrill 2014 ynteu o fis Medi 2014? (WAQ66428)

Derbyniwyd ateb i’w gyhoeddi ar 19 Chwefror 2014

Huw Lewis: Once we have identified the schools to take part in the programme there will be a period of action planning, with the programme taking effect in schools from September.  We expect to announce the schools participating in Schools Challenge Cymru by the beginning of May and the Head Teachers of those schools will be expected to engage in activities over the summer period in readiness for September.

 

Aled Roberts (Gogledd Cymru): A wnaiff y Gweinidog ystyried adolygu’r system gyllido ar gyfer y Grant Amddifadedd Disgyblion fel ei bod yn adlewyrchu union nifer y disgyblion cymwys yn hytrach na’r nifer yng Nghyfrifiad Ysgolion y flwyddyn flaenorol? (WAQ66412)

Aled Roberts (Gogledd Cymru): Pa gyfyngiadau sy’n atal Llywodraeth Cymru rhag talu’r Grant Amddifadedd Disgyblion i ysgolion arddechrau blwyddyn ariannol ysgolion? (WAQ66429)

Derbyniwyd ateb i’w gyhoeddi ar 17 Chwefror 2014 (WAQ66412 ac WAQ66429)

Huw Lewis: We currently have no plans to review the allocation basis for PDG.

We can only base funding allocation on verified data. We use verified PLASC.

PDG allocations for the 2014/15 financial year were based on the PLASC data for January 2013. PLASC data for January 2014 will not be available until August 2014.

The budgeting negotiations and settlement run to the financial year. Due to the level of funding provided under PDG, the grant must remain in line with the budgeting process and hence the financial year.

 

Gofyn i’r Gweinidog Iechyd a Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol

Leighton Andrews (Rhondda): A yw’r Gweinidog yn gwybod a oedd mamau beichiog yn cael eu hanfon o Ysbyty Athrofaol Cymru i ysbytai eraill rhwng 7 a 9 Chwefror ac, os yw hyn yn wir, a wnaiff roi’r rhesymau dros hyn a nodi’r nifer a effeithiwyd? (WAQ66408)

Derbyniwyd ateb i’w gyhoeddi ar 19 Chwefror 2014

Weinidog Iechyd a Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol (Mark Drakeford): Because of a highly unusual and sudden surge in demand on 7th February, one woman was diverted to another general hospital due to the lack of capacity in the Maternity Unit. On 8 February one woman was transferred to a facility that was able to provide neonatal cots following an elective Caesarean section for a twin pregnancy.