Translate the text from English to Welsh.



 
The Cabinet Secretary has written to schools across Wales to confirm how much they will directly receive in 2018\-19\.

 In addition to over £90m committed this year, £187m has been guaranteed for the remainder of the Assembly term, so that schools have the stability to plan ahead. 

 The Pupil Development Grant (PDG) helps schools tackle the effects of poverty and disadvantage on attainment and is targeted at learners who are eligible for Free School Meals or are Looked After Children.  

 Schools use the PDG in a number of different ways, including nurture groups for children who may be socially and emotionally vulnerable, out\-of\-hours school learning, on\-site multi\-agency support and better tracking of pupils as they progress through school. 

 This year, the PDG for the youngest learners (pupils aged 3\-4 years old) has increased from £600 to £700 per pupil. This builds on last year’s doubling of financial support from £300 to £600 per learner in the early years.

 Primary and secondary schools will continue to receive a rate of £1,150 per learner, and this rate also continues to apply to learners in education other than at school (EOTAS).

 From this year, schools will also have greater flexibility to support learners who have been eligible for Free School Meals in the previous two years.

 Advisers and coordinators from education consortia are also on\-hand to provide extra support and guidance for schools on using the funding. 

 Kirsty Williams said:

 
> “Reducing the attainment gap between pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds and their peers is at the heart of our national mission to raise standards. This is one of the most effective ways in which we can break the cycle of deprivation and poverty.
> 
>  “Time and again, teachers have told me how much of a difference PDG funding has made in raising aspirations, building confidence, improving behaviour and attendance and in involving families with their children’s education.
> 
>  “Teachers have also called for greater certainty around future PDG funding and that’s why I’m pleased to be able to guarantee allocation levels for the next two financial years and reaffirm our commitment to the grant for the lifetime of this Assembly.  
> 
>  “We have always said that the PDG is there to support all pupils who are eligible for Free School Meals, not just those that are struggling academically. That’s why I want schools to ensure they are supporting more able pupils as well.
> 
>  “I would also encourage all schools to make full use of the PDG advisers and coordinators from the education consortia – they’re there to help when it comes to making the best use of the funding and ensuring that we raise attainment across the board.”

 An independent evaluation of the PDG last year found that many schools consider the funding to be ‘invaluable’, with further evidence from Estyn and the Welsh Government’s raising attainment advocate, Sir Alasdair MacDonald, showing the majority of schools are making well thought out decisions on how to spend the funding.







Translation:


 
Mae Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet wedi ysgrifennu at ysgolion drwy Gymru yn cadarnhau faint y byddant yn ei dderbyn yn uniongyrchol yn 2018\-19\.

 Yn ychwanegol i’r £90m sydd wedi ei ymrwymo eleni, mae £187m wedi cael ei warantu am weddill tymor y Cynulliad, er mwyn rhoi sefydlogrwydd i ysgolion gynllunio ymlaen.   

 Mae’r Grant Datblygu Disgyblion yn helpu ysgolion i fynd i’r afael ag effeithiau tlodi ac anfantais ar gyrhaeddiad ac mae wedi ei dargedu at ddysgwyr sy’n gymwys i gael Prydau Ysgol am Ddim neu sy’n Blant sy’n Derbyn Gofal.

 Mae ysgolion yn defnyddio’r Grant mewn nifer o wahanol ffyrdd, gan gynnwys grwpiau anogaeth ar gyfer plant sy’n fregus yn gymdeithasol neu’n emosiynol, dysgu y tu allan i oriau ysgol, cefnogaeth arbenigol gan nifer o asiantaethau allanol a gwella systemau disgyblion wrth iddynt ddatblygu drwy’r ysgol yn well.

 Eleni, mae’r Grant Datblygu Disgyblion ar gyfer y dysgwyr ieuengaf (disgyblion 3\-4 oed) wedi cynyddu o £600 i £700 y disgybl. Mae hyn yn ychwanegol at y cymorth ariannol a ddyblwyd y llynedd o £300 i £600 y dysgwr yn y blynyddoedd cynnar.

 Bydd ysgolion cynradd ac uwchradd yn parhau i dderbyn cyfradd o £1,150 y dysgwr, ac mae’r gyfradd yma hefyd yn parhau i fod yn gymwys i rai sy’n derbyn addysg heblaw yn yr ysgol (EOTAS).

 O’r flwyddyn yma ymlaen, bydd gan ysgolion fwy o hyblygrwydd hefyd i gefnogi dysgwyr sydd wedi bod yn gymwys i gael Prydau Ysgol am Ddim yn ystod y ddwy flynedd ddiwethaf.

 Mae cynghorwyr a chydlynwyr o’r gwahanol gonsortia addysg ar gael hefyd i gynnig cefnogaeth ac arweiniad bellach i ysgolion ar sut y gallant ddefnyddio’r cyllid.

 Dywedodd Kirsty Williams:

 
> “Mae cau y bwlch rhwng cyrhaeddiad dysgwyr o gefndiroedd difreintiedig a chyrhaeddiad eu cyfoedion yn ganolog i’n hymgais genedlaethol i godi safonau. Dyma un o’r dulliau mwyaf effeithiol inni fedru torri cylch amddifadedd a thlodi.
> 
>  “Mae athrawon wedi dweud wrthyf dro ar ôl tro gymaint o wahaniaeth y mae cyllid y Grant Datblygu Disgyblion wedi ei wneud i godi dyheadau a  hyder, gwella ymddygiad a phresenoldeb a chynnwys teuloedd yn addysg eu plant.
> 
>  “Mae athrawon hefyd wedi galw am fwy o sicrwydd ynglŷn â dyfodol cyllid y Grant Datblygu Disgyblion a dyna pam fy mod yn falch o fedru gwarantu lefelau’r dyraniad am y ddwy flynedd ariannol nesaf ac i gadarnhau ein hymrwymiad i’r grant hwn am dymor y Cynulliad presennol.
> 
>  “Rydym wedi dweud bob amser fod y Grant ar gael ar gyfer pob disgybl sy’n gymwys i dderbyn Prydau Ysgol am Ddim, nid y rhai sy’n cael trafferthion yn academaidd yn unig. Dyna pam fy mod eisiau i ysgolion wneud yn siwr eu bod yn cefnogi disgyblion sy’n fwy abl a galluog hefyd.
> 
>  “Rwyf hefyd yn annog pob ysgol i fanteisio’n llawn ar y cynghorwyr a chydlynwyr y Grant sydd yn y consortia addysg – maent yno i helpu wrth benderfynu sut i wneud y defnydd gorau o’r cyllid ac i wneud yn siwr ein bod yn codi cyrhaeddiad pob disgybl.”

 Mae gwerthusiad annibynnol o’r Grant  a wnaed y llynedd yn dangos fod llawer o ysgolion yn gweld y cyllid yma’n ‘amhrisiadwy’, gyda thystiolaeth bellach gan Sir Alasdair MacDonald, eiriolwr codi cyrhaeddiad ar ran Estyn a Llywodraeth Cymru, sy’n dangos fod y mwyafrif o ysgolion yn gwneud penderfyniadau doeth ar sut i wario’r cyllid.