​

Cwestiynau Ysgrifenedig y Cynulliad a gyflwynwyd ar 20 Ebrill 2015 i'w hateb ar 27 Ebrill 2015

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)

Rhaid cyflwyno Cwestiynau Ysgrifenedig o leiaf bum diwrnod gwaith cyn y disgwylir iddynt gael eu hateb.  Yn ymarferol, bydd Gweinidogion yn ceisio ateb o fewn saith neu wyth diwrnod ond nid oes rheidrwydd arnynt i wneud hynny.  Caiff yr atebion eu cyhoeddi yn yr iaith y maent yn cael eu darparu, gyda chyfieithiad i'r Saesneg o ymatebion a ddarperir yn Gymraeg.

Gofyn i'r Gweinidog Cymunedau a Threchu Tlodi

Andrew RT Davies (Canol De Cymru):  A wnaiff y Gweinidog ddarparu dadansoddiad o'r cyllid a ddyrennir drwy'r rhaglen Cymunedau yn Gyntaf i ardal Merthyr Tudful a'r Ymddiriedolaeth Ddatblygu 3G yn arbennig, gan roi ffigurau ar gyfer pob un o'r tair blynedd ariannol ddiwethaf? (WAQ68602)

Derbyniwyd ateb ar 28 Ebrill 2015

Y Gweinidog Cymunedau a Threchu Tlodi (Lesley Griffiths): Communities First funding for Merthyr Tydfil for each of the last three financial years is set out in the table below. 

Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council is the Lead Delivery Body and grant recipient.  3Gs Development Trust does not receive Communities First funding directly from the Welsh Government.       

Andrew RT Davies (Canol De Cymru):  Pa ganllawiau a roddir i awdurdodau lleol mewn perthynas â dyrannu arian Cymunedau yn Gyntaf, ac a oes yn rhaid i leiafswm o'r cyllid a gaiff ei ddyrannu fynd yn uniongyrchol i brosiectau eu hunain? (WAQ68603)

Derbyniwyd ateb ar 24 Ebrill 2015

Y Gweinidog Cymunedau a Threchu Tlodi (Lesley Griffiths): Welsh Government provides detailed financial guidance to the Local Authorities and Third Sector Organisations acting as Lead Delivery Bodies for the Communities First Programme.  This includes how funding should be allocated.

Gofyn i'r Gweinidog Addysg a Sgiliau

Suzy Davies (Gorllewin De Cymru): A wnaiff y Gweinidog ddatganiad ar addysg y tu allan i  ysgolion yng Nghymru? (WAQ68604)

Suzy Davies (Gorllewin De Cymru): Yn dilyn pryderon a gododd Estyn yn ddiweddar, pa ddatblygiadau y mae'r Gweinidog yn eu hystyried i addysg y tu allan i ysgolion? (WAQ68605)

Suzy Davies (Gorllewin De Cymru): A yw'r Gweinidog yn bwriadu lleihau nifer yr athrawon sy'n gweithio gyda disgyblion y tu allan i'r ysgol, naill ai yn y cartref neu mewn unedau cyfeirio? (WAQ68606)

Suzy Davies (Gorllewin De Cymru): A yw'r Gweinidog yn bwriadu uno neu leihau'r nifer o unedau a ddynodwyd ar gyfer darparu addysg y tu allan i amgylchedd yr ysgol? (WAQ68607)

Suzy Davies (Gorllewin De Cymru): Pa gamau y mae'r Gweinidog yn bwriadu eu cymryd yn erbyn awdurdodau lleol nad ydynt yn gwneud darpariaeth ar gyfer isafswm statudol o oriau o addysg ar gyfer plant a gaiff eu haddysgu y tu allan i'r ysgol? (WAQ68608)

Derbyniwyd ateb ar 24 Ebrill 2015 (WAQ 68604/05/06/07/08)

Y Gweinidog Addysg a Sgiliau (Huw Lewis): EOTAS (education otherwise than at school) provision plays a crucial role in educating vulnerable learners. Pupil Referral Units (PRUs) in particular remain a necessary alternative to mainstream schooling.

At the annual Welsh Government PRU conference, which followed the publication of Estyn's annual report, my officials announced plans to establish a working group which will be tasked with developing an EOTAS framework for action. The purpose of the framework will be to identify key actions which build upon existing good practice within the sector and are aimed at improving EOTAS services in Wales.

However, the arrangement of EOTAS services, such as PRUs, is a matter for local authorities to determine as they are best placed to make decisions based on the needs of pupils in their area. Likewise, decisions regarding staffing levels in EOTAS provision are the responsibility of local authorities.

All local authorities have a responsibility to ensure that pupils who are unable to attend school, through illness or exclusion, are provided with access to EOTAS services within 15 school days. However, there is no statutory minimum number of hours per week for which EOTAS services should be provided. The Welsh Government's Inclusion and Pupil Support document provides non-statutory guidance for local authorities in which it is recommended that children and young people receiving EOTAS provision have access to full-time education. Full-time in this instance means offering supervised education or other activity equivalent to that being offered by mainstream schools in the area.

Full-time provision may not always be appropriate for pupils who may have become deeply disengaged from education. In these circumstances it is important that local authority and school staff are able to provide flexible services whilst planning for a reintroduction into full-time services. 

Suzy Davies (Gorllewin De Cymru): Pa gamau y mae'r Gweinidog yn bwriadu eu cymryd yn erbyn awdurdodau lleol yn ymgynghori'n briodol â phlant a phobl ifanc ar benderfyniadau sy'n affeithio ar eu haddysg? (WAQ68609)

Derbyniwyd ateb ar 7 Hydref 2015

Huw Lewis:  

The Welsh Government has continually shown commitment to promote and protect the rights of children and their participation is a significant part of this commitment. 

In terms of setting out the local structures to support participation, Section 12 of the Children and Families (Wales) Measure 2010 places a duty on Local Authorities to put in place suitable arrangements to promote and facilitate participation by children in decisions which might affect them. Statutory guidance for Local Authorities and their partners has been issued as an annex to Shared Purpose – Shared Delivery: to use in the development of Single Integrated Plans (SIP).

Where Welsh Ministers are satisfied that a local authority is failing, or is likely to fail, to comply with the duty to put in place arrangements to promote and facilitate participation of children in decisions that affect them they may direct the authority to take any action which they consider necessary or expedient to secure its compliance, which may include a written direction.

Were a school or local authority to fail to comply with a specific duty set out in education legislation to consult with pupils, Welsh Ministers have the power, in the School Standards and Organisation Act 2013, to direct the school or local authority to do so. 

In response to your question therefore I would need to consider the particular circumstances of the case before deciding on any steps that might be appropriate.