Translate the text from Welsh to English.



 
  
Yn fy Natganiad hydref diwethaf, soniais wrth yr Aelodau am y camau sy’n cael eu cymryd i fynd i’r afael â’r diffygion a nodwyd yn ystod arolygiad Mai 2011 o wasanaethau addysg i blant a phobl ifanc ym Mlaenau Gwent. Yn sgil hyn, penderfynwyd cyflwyno mesurau arbennig. Dywedais y byddwn yn rhoi gwybod yn rheolaidd i’r Aelodau am sut roedd Cyfarwyddyd y Gweinidog a roddwyd i Flaenau Gwent ym Medi 2011 yn cael ei weithredu. Cyn imi wneud hynny, rwy’n teimlo ei bod yn werth atgoffa’r Aelodau o fanylion y Cyfarwyddyd.

Roedd y Cyfarwyddyd yn dweud bod angen penodi dau Gomisiynydd Addysg a dau Gomisiynydd Addysg Cynghorol. Ysgwyddodd y Comisiynwyr Addysg yr holl swyddogaethau addysg, ac mae’r Comisiynwyr Addysg Cynghorol yn rhoi cymorth i’r Comisiynwyr Addysg yn eu rôl ac yn eu herio.

Mae’r Comisiynwyr yn rhoi adroddiadau ysgrifenedig imi bob mis ar eu gwaith, ac rwy’n cwrdd â’r Comisiynwyr Addysg a’r Comisiynwyr Cynghorol bob chwarter. Cefais fy nghyfarfod diweddaraf gyda’r Comisiynwyr ar 9 Gorffennaf 2012, pan drafodais y cynnydd a wnaed hyd yn hyn.

Ymwelodd Estyn â’r awdurdod yn ystod yr wythnos yn cychwyn ar 11 Mehefin 2012; yn unol â phrotocol Estyn i fonitro gwasanaethau addysg awdurdodau lleol drwy fesurau arbennig, ni roddodd y tîm arolygu ddyfarniad ar berfformiad yr awdurdod nac ar y rhagolygon. Yn hytrach, nododd y camau a gymerwyd i weithredu’r argymhellion yn arolygiad 2011\. Bydd Estyn yn ailarolygu Blaenau Gwent ddechrau 2013\. Bryd hynny, bydd yn rhoi dyfarniad newydd ar gyfer pob prif ddangosydd.

Mae’r Cyfarwyddyd yn effeithiol tan 31 Mawrth 2013 ond dywedais y byddwn yn ei adolygu’n rheolaidd. I’r perwyl hwn, felly, rwyf wrthi’n cynnal y cyntaf o’r adolygiadau hynny. Rwyf wedi holi pob prif randdeiliad am eu barn, gan gynnwys Cymdeithas Llywodraeth Leol Cymru; Arweinydd, Dirprwy Arweinydd a Phrif Weithredwr Blaenau Gwent; y Comisiynwyr Addysg a Chynghorol; Estyn; a Thasglu Castell\-nedd Port Talbot.

Ar sail yr ymweliad monitro a safbwyntiau’r prif randdeiliaid, credir bod pethau wedi newid yn gyflymach yn ddiweddar, a bod y ffocws wedi gwella hefyd, er gwaethaf y dechrau araf ym Mlaenau Gwent. Mae staff ar bob lefel ac mewn asiantaethau partner wedi gwneud cryn ymdrech i newid pethau. Er bod pethau’n symud i’r cyfeiriad iawn, mae llawer o waith pwysig yn dal i’w wneud gan yr awdurdod lleol er mwyn sicrhau bod y gwelliant yn gynaliadwy. 







Translation:


 
In my Statement last autumn, I advised Members of the action that is being taken to address the shortcomings identified during the May 2011 inspection of education services for children and young people in Blaenau Gwent, which led to the authority requiring special measures. I said that I would to keep Members informed of the progress of the Ministerial Direction issued to Blaenau Gwent in September 2011\. Before I do that, I think it is worth reminding Members of what the Direction involved.


The Direction involved the appointment of two Education Commissioners and two Advisory Education Commissioners. The Education Commissioners assumed all of the education functions previously undertaken by the Executive and the Advisory Education Commissioners provide support and challenge to the Education Commissioners in their role.  


The Commissioners provide me with monthly written reports on their work, and I meet with the Education Commissioners and Advisory Commissioners quarterly.  My most recent meeting with the Commissioners was on 9 July 2012, when I discussed with them the progress to date.


Estyn undertook a monitoring visit to the authority during the week commencing 11 June 2012; in line with Estyn's protocol for the monitoring of local authority education services in special measures, the monitoring visit to Blaenau Gwent was a ‘lighter touch’ – the inspection team did not make any judgements on the authority's current performance or prospects. The inspectorate simply reported on the progress made against the recommendations in the 2011 inspection.  Estyn will re\-inspect Blaenau Gwent early in 2013, and at that, time will give new judgements against each key indicator.


The Direction has effect until 31 March 2013 but I said that I would review it regularly, and to this end, I am in the process of undertaking the first of those reviews. I have sought the views of all key stakeholders, including the Welsh Local Government Association, Blaenau Gwent Leader, Deputy Leader and Chief Executive, the Education and Advisory Commissioners, Estyn and the Neath Port Talbot Taskforce.


Indications from both the monitoring visit and the views of key stakeholders is that although progress in Blaenau Gwent was initially slow across the range of recommendations, more recently the pace and focus of change have improved. There have been considerable efforts by staff at all levels and in partner agencies to make change happen. Although, the direction of travel is broadly right, much important work remains to be done by the local authority, if it is to secure sustainable capacity.