Translate the text from English to Welsh.



 
Teaching assistants are an integral part of our education workforce, providing vital support to our children and young people day\-in, day\-out. They have a crucial role to play in helping tackle the impact of poverty on educational attainment and in realising our collective ambitions for Curriculum for Wales.


Teaching assistants have long highlighted concerns in relation to their roles in schools ranging from access to training, deployment, and terms and conditions. As part of my commitment to support the vital work of our teaching assistants, work is progressing to respond to these concerns with our social partners, including the education trade unions, WLGA and local authorities.


A Task and Finish Group, which also includes teaching assistants and headteacher representation, has identified several key areas for attention:


* deployment of teaching assistants;
* access to training and professional development;
* standardisation of roles; and
* pay, as a longer term consideration for local authorities based on outcomes achieved above.


My officials will continue the work underway with our partners in the coming months to identify how improvements can be best made in these areas. I am encouraged that progress is already being made.


Deployment
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Guidance on the appropriate deployment of teaching assistants in schools is already provided to school leaders via Hwb. However, further advice and guidance will feature as part of an invigorated professional learning offer currently being developed in conjunction with stakeholders.


A new Teaching Assistant Professional Learning Steering Group is developing further resources for leaders and Governors on the deployment of teaching assistants. This professional learning package, developed in conjunction with headteachers, teaching assistants and regional staff, will be available to leaders and Governors for both live and remote synchronous learning.


I have also now agreed to fund a comparative research project to look at the deployment of teaching assistants in other education systems, to inform future developments in guidance in this area.


Access to training and professional development
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Since 2017, the Welsh Government in partnership with the Regional Consortia, has supported the development of a Teaching Assistants Learning Pathway (TALP) in order to increase the number Higher Level Teaching Assistant candidates, and provide training for all new teaching assistants, and offer opportunities to gain level 2 qualifications in certain core subjects.


More recently, since its establishment, the Steering Group has also now been identifying gaps in provision of professional development and training to teaching assistants themselves with the aim of ensuring equality of access to targeted, high quality and consistent training.


From September 2022, teaching assistants will have access to a new National Professional Learning Entitlement to support the delivery of the Curriculum for Wales, which will be easily accessible via Hwb. The Entitlement will improve access to the national professional learning offer for school leaders, teachers and teaching assistants. The core principles of the Entitlement are currently being co\-developed with middle tier partners. I hope to be able to provide further information about the likely content of the Entitlement before the Easter recess


An important part of this professional learning offer will be to ensure that headteachers, teachers and teaching assistants can develop alongside each other, to increase the shared development of ideas and understanding.


Other areas that are currently being explored include setting minimum qualification requirements for teaching assistants, and developing further a flexible career pathway for teaching assistants. I hope to be able to provide further updates on progress in this area before the end of the summer term.


Standardisation of roles
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One of the key issues that we have received feedback on is in relation to standardisation of teaching assistant roles across Wales. This is an area I am committed to addressing. The Task and Finish Group will now begin to look at this area, and will determine whether, and if so how, a standard set of job descriptions can be implemented across Wales.


This is a complex matter, but I hope we can take steps to ensure greater clarity and consistency in the roles being undertaken. In order to support this project I am pleased to say that I have agreed to fund a package of research activity, to inform the work of the Task and Finish Group based on experience from across Wales and elsewhere and to provide a solid foundation of evidence for their review.


Pay
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The matter of pay has also been raised by teaching assistants as an area requiring attention, including consistency within and across local authorities. I am mindful that there are different pay structures in place across Wales, and the Welsh Government does not have the ability to set pay and conditions for teaching assistants. This remains the responsibility of local authorities and / or schools, with individual authorities having different approaches within their local pay frameworks to reflect local considerations. However, the work on deployment and standardisation of roles referred to above can bring greater coherence to support pay discussions, to work towards greater consistency between local authority areas and to support local authorities to reflect the important role that teaching assistants play, in their terms and conditions.


Wellbeing
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The well\-being of the education workforce is of critical importance. I have commissioned Education Support (a specialist provider of well\-being resources and support for the education workforce) to explore and develop a bespoke package of well\-being support for teaching assistants. The package will be developed in conjunction with teaching assistants taking account of their experiences and specific support requirements. I hope to be in a position to roll\-out this support in schools in the near future.


Governing body representation
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Finally, I will be writing to all Governing Bodies across Wales recommending that they assign the role of ‘**Teaching Assistant Champion**’ to one of their members, with a responsibility to ensure that the perspective and input of teaching assistants is sought and included when key decisions are being made within the school, and to lead on the Governing Body in relation to teaching assistant deployment, training and wellbeing. In doing so, it will provide for the representation of teaching assistants within Governing Bodies and I understand from my discussions with the profession that this would represent an important and welcome step and provide a strong signal.


I hope that the measures outlined in this statement provide assurance to teaching assistants of the importance I place on the vital work that they do to support learners and my commitment to seeking to address their concerns. I am confident that the work already underway will make a difference, and I am particularly encouraged that this work has been undertaken through partnership working, with employers, staff, trade unions and Welsh Government officials working collaboratively. It is this type of joint working that I believe will lead to sustainable improvements.







Translation:


 
Mae cynorthwywyr addysgu yn ran annatod o'n gweithlu addysg, yn darparu cymorth hanfodol i’n plant a’n pobl ifanc o ddydd i ddydd. Mae ganddynt rôl hollbwysig i'w chwarae o ran helpu i ymdrin ag effaith tlodi ar gyrhaeddiad addysgol a gwireddu ein huchelgeisiau cyffredin ar gyfer y Cwricwlwm i Gymru.


Mae cynorthwywyr addysgu wedi tynnu sylw ers tro at bryderon mewn perthynas â'u rolau mewn ysgolion, yn amrywio o fynediad i hyfforddiant, defnydd, a thelerau ac amodau. Fel rhan o'm hymrwymiad i gefnogi gwaith hanfodol ein cynorthwywyr addysgu, mae gwaith yn mynd rhagddo i ymateb i’r pryderon hyn gyda'n partneriaid cymdeithasol gan gynnwys yr undebau llafur addysg, Cymdeithas Llywodraeth Leol Cymru ac awdurdodau lleol.


Mae Grŵp Gorchwyl a Gorffen, sydd hefyd yn cynnwys cynorthwywyr addysgu a chynrychiolwyr penaethiaid, wedi nodi sawl maes allweddol i roi sylw iddynt:


* y defnydd a wneir o gynorthwywyr addysgu;
* mynediad at hyfforddiant a datblygiad proffesiynol;
* safoni rolau;
* cyflog, fel ystyriaeth tymor hwy i awdurdodau lleol yn seiliedig ar y canlyniadau a gyflawnwyd uchod.


Bydd fy swyddogion yn parhau â’r gwaith sydd ar y gweill gyda’n partneriaid yn ystod y misoedd nesaf i nodi’r ffordd gorau i wneud gwelliannau yn y meysydd hyn. Mae’n galonogol i mi bod cynnydd eisoes yn cael ei wneud.


Y defnydd a wneir o gynorthwywyr addysgu
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Mae canllawiau ar ddefnydd priodol o gynorthwywyr addysgu mewn ysgolion eisoes wedi’u darparu i arweinwyr ysgol drwy Hwb. Fodd bynnag, bydd cyngor ac arweiniad pellach yn rhan o gynnig dysgu proffesiynol bywiog sy’n cael ei ddatblygu ar hyn o bryd ar y cyd â rhanddeiliaid.


Mae Grŵp Llywio Dysgu Proffesiynol Cynorthwywyr Addysgu newydd yn datblygu adnoddau ar gyfer arweinwyr a Llywodraethwyr ar y defnydd a wneir o gynorthwywyr addysgu. Bydd y pecyn dysgu proffesiynol hwn, a ddatblygwyd ar y cyd gyda penaethiaid, cynorthwywyr addysgu a staff rhanbarthol, ar gael i arweinwyr a Llywodraethwyr ar gyfer dysgu cydamserol byw ac o bell.


Rwyf hefyd bellach wedi cytuno i ariannu prosiect ymchwil cymharol i edrych ar y defnydd o gynorthwywyr addysgu mewn systemau addysg eraill, i lywio datblygiadau yn y dyfodol mewn canllawiau yn y maes hwn.


Mynediad at hyfforddiant a datblygiad proffesiynol
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Ers 2017, mae Llywodraeth Cymru, mewn partneriaeth â’r Consortia Rhanbarthol, wedi cefnogi datblygiad Llwybr Dysgu Cynorthwywyr Addysgu (TALP) er mwyn cynyddu nifer ymgeiswyr Cynorthwywyr Addysgu Lefel Uwch, a darparu hyfforddiant i bob cynorthwyydd addysgu newydd, a chynnig cyfleoedd i ennill cymwysterau  

lefel 2 mewn rhai pynciau craidd.


Yn fwy diweddar, ers ei sefydlu, mae’r Grŵp Llywio hefyd bellach wedi bod yn nodi bylchau yn y ddarpariaeth o ddatblygiad proffesiynol a hyfforddiant i gynorthwywyr addysgu eu hunain gyda’r nod o sicrhau mynediad cyfartal at hyfforddiant cyson, o ansawdd uchel, wedi’i dargedu.


O fis Medi 2022, bydd cynorthwywyr addysgu yn cael mynediad at Hawl Dysgu Proffesiynol Cenedlaethol newydd i gefnogi’r gwaith o gyflwyno’r Cwricwlwm i Gymru, a fydd ar gael yn hawdd drwy Hwb. Bydd yr Hawl yn gwella mynediad at y cynnig dysgu proffesiynol cenedlaethol ar gyfer arweinwyr ysgol, athrawon a chynorthwywyr addysgu. Mae egwyddorion craidd yr Hawl yn cael eu datblygu ar y cyd â phartneriaid haen ganol ar hyn o bryd. Gobeithiaf allu darparu rhagor o wybodaeth am gynnwys tebygol yr Hawl cyn toriad y Pasg.


Rhan bwysig o’r cynnig dysgu proffesiynol hwn fydd sicrhau y gall penaethiaid, athrawon a chynorthwywyr addysgu ddatblygu ochr yn ochr â’i gilydd, er mwyn cynyddu’r broses o ddatblygu syniadau a dealltwriaeth ar y cyd.


Mae meysydd eraill sy'n cael eu harchwilio ar hyn o bryd yn cynnwys pennu gofynion cymwysterau sylfaenol ar gyfer cynorthwywyr addysgu, a datblygu llwybr gyrfa hyblyg ymhellach ar gyfer cynorthwywyr addysgu. Gobeithiaf allu darparu diweddariadau pellach ar gynnydd yn y maes hwn cyn diwedd tymor yr haf.


Safoni rolau
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Un o'r materion allweddol rydym wedi cael adborth arno yw safoni rolau Cynorthwywyr Addysgu ledled Cymru. Mae hwn yn faes yr wyf wedi ymrwymo i fynd i'r afael ag ef. Bydd y Grŵp Gorchwyl a Gorffen bellach yn mynd ati i edrych ar y maes hwn, a bydd yn penderfynu a ellir gweithredu set safonol o ddisgrifiadau swydd ledled Cymru a sut.


Mae hwn yn fater cymhleth, ond gobeithiaf y gallwn gymryd camau i sicrhau mwy o eglurder a chysondeb yn y rolau a gyflawnir. Er mwyn cefnogi’r prosiect hwn mae’n bleser gennyf ddweud fy mod wedi cytuno i ariannu pecyn o weithgarwch ymchwil, i lywio gwaith y Grŵp Gorchwyl a Gorffen yn seiliedig ar brofiad o bob rhan o Gymru a mannau eraill ac i ddarparu sylfaen gadarn o dystiolaeth ar gyfer eu hadolygiad.


Cyflog
------


Mae cyflog hefyd wedi'i godi gan gynorthwywyr addysgu fel maes y mae angen rhoi sylw iddo, gan gynnwys cysondeb o fewn ac ar draws awdurdodau lleol. Rwy’n ymwybodol bod strwythurau cyflog gwahanol ar waith ledled Cymru, ac nid oes gan Lywodraeth Cymru'r gallu i bennu cyflogau ac amodau ar gyfer cynorthwywyr addysgu. Cyfrifoldeb yr awdurdodau lleol a / neu ysgolion yw hyn o hyd, ac mae gan awdurdodau unigol ddulliau gwahanol yn eu fframweithiau cyflog lleol i adlewyrchu ystyriaethau lleol. Fodd bynnag, gall y gwaith ar y defnydd a wneir a safoni ar gyfer y rolau y cyfeirir ato uchod ddod â mwy o gydlyniad i gefnogi trafodaethau cyflog, i weithio tuag at fwy o gysondeb rhwng ardaloedd awdurdodau lleol ac i gefnogi awdurdodau lleol i adlewyrchu’r rôl bwysig y mae cynorthwywyr addysgu yn ei chwarae, yn eu termau ac amodau


Llesiant
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Mae llesiant y gweithlu addysg yn hollbwysig. Rwyf wedi comisiynu Education Support (darparwr arbenigol o adnoddau llesiant a chymorth i’r gweithlu addysg) i archwilio a datblygu pecyn pwrpasol o gymorth llesiant ar gyfer cynorthwywyr addysgu. Bydd y pecyn yn cael ei ddatblygu ar y cyd â chynorthwywyr addysgu gan ystyried eu profiadau a’u gofynion cymorth penodol. Gobeithiaf fod mewn sefyllfa i gyflwyno’r cymorth hwn mewn ysgolion yn y dyfodol agos.


Cynrychiolaeth corff llywodraethu
---------------------------------


Yn olaf, byddaf yn ysgrifennu at yr holl Gyrff Llywodraethu ledled Cymru yn argymell eu bod yn neilltuo rôl **'Hyrwyddwr Cynorthwywyr Addysgu'** i un o'u haelodau, gyda chyfrifoldeb i sicrhau y ceisir persbectif a mewnbwn cynorthwywyr addysgu a'u cynnwys wrth wneud penderfyniadau allweddol o fewn yr ysgol, ac i arwain ar y Corff Llywodraethol mewn perthynas â defnydd cynorthwywyr addysgu, hyfforddiant a lles. Wrth wneud hynny, bydd yn darparu ar gyfer cynrychiolaeth cynorthwywyr addysgu o fewn Cyrff Llywodraethu a deallaf o fy nhrafodaethau â’r proffesiwn y byddai hwn yn gam pwysig a groesawir ac yn arwydd cryf.


Rwy’n gobeithio bod y mesurau a amlinellir yn y datganiad hwn yn rhoi sicrwydd i gynorthwywyr addysgu ledled Cymru o’r pwys yr wyf yn ei roi ar y gwaith hanfodol a wnânt i gefnogi dysgwyr, a’m hymrwymiad i geisio mynd i'r afael â'u pryderon. Rwy’n hyderus y bydd y gwaith sydd eisoes ar y gweill yn gwneud gwahaniaeth, ac mae’n arbennig o galonogol bod y gwaith hwn yn cael ei wneud drwy weithio mewn partneriaeth, gyda chydweithio rhwng chyflogwyr, staff, undebau llafur a swyddogion Llywodraeth Cymru. Y math hwn o gydweithio a fydd, yn fy marn i, yn arwain at welliannau cynaliadwy.