Translate the text from English to Welsh.



 
Local authorities have been applying for the funding after the Education Secretary Kirsty Williams revealed the support package in November last year to encourage innovation and  support greater school to school working.

 This includes using digital technology to combat the issue of professional isolation, providing administrative support in schools where the head teacher has significant teaching commitment, supporting collaboration and federation of schools, and where opportunities exist and there is local demand, using school facilities for community purposes.

 Amongst the local authorities to receive funding are Anglesey, which will receive £138,000 to federate some of its schools, and Pembrokeshire, which has been awarded £158,000 to fund a Small School Innovation Project for a network of 15 small and rural schools.

 Kirsty Williams said:

  
> “Small and rural schools play an important role in our national mission to raise standards and extend opportunities for all our young people. 
> 
>  “We are taking action and providing new funding to help small and rural schools deal with the unique challenges they face, such as small pupil numbers and issues in recruiting head teachers and staff.  
> 
>  “This financial support will benefit pupils, teachers, and the wider community. I want to see rural schools working more formally together and across the country, forming federations and looking into the possibility of sharing buildings with other services to ensure school buildings remain viable.”

 WLGA Spokesperson for Education, Councillor Debbie Wilcox (Newport) said:

  
> “This funding is great news for small and rural schools. As a former teacher of many years myself, I know how having the best possible learning environment can enhance education and overall experiences. Local education authorities have been working hard to ensure schools are responding to modern challenges and are fully\-equipped to provide the best education environment for teachers, pupils and staff, and this investment will help to continue that important work.”

 WLGA Deputy Spokesperson for Education, Councillor Ellen ap Gwynn (Ceredigion) said:

 
> “Small and rural schools face unique challenges, especially in terms of recruitment and smaller pupil numbers. But they’re more than just schools in the communities that they serve. They are important assets to the community as school buildings and resources are widely used for an array of community purposes. This funding will contribute to ensure that learners and communities alike can continue to reap the benefits of these schools, and also to strengthen the support for Welsh language education provision in our rural communities.”

 The Education Secretary also announced plans to consult on strengthening the School Organisation Code in respect of a presumption against the closure of rural schools. For the first time ever there will be a designation of rural schools for that purpose. A 14 week consultation ended on 30 September and responses are currently being analysed.







Translation:


 
Mae awdurdodau lleol wedi bod yn cyflwyno ceisiadau am y cyllid ar ôl i'r Ysgrifennydd Addysg, Kirsty Williams, gyhoeddi'r pecyn cymorth ym mis Tachwedd y llynedd. Diben y pecyn yw annog arloesi a chefnogi mwy o gydweithio rhwng ysgolion.

 Mae hyn yn cynnwys defnyddio technoleg ddigidol i fynd i'r afael â phroblem ynysu proffesiynol, darparu cymorth gweinyddol yn yr ysgolion lle mae gan y pennaeth ddyletswyddau addysgu sylweddol, cefnogi cydweithredu rhwng ysgolion a'u ffederaleiddio, a lle bo hynny'n bosibl a bod galw amdano'n lleol, defnyddio cyfleusterau ysgolion at ddibenion cymunedol.

 Ymhlith yr awdurdodau lleol a fydd yn cael arian, mae Ynys Môn, a fydd yn cael £138,000 i ffederaleiddio rhai o'i ysgolion, a chafodd Sir Benfro £158,000 i ariannu Prosiect Arloesi Ysgolion Bach ar gyfer rhwydwaith o 15 o ysgolion bach ac ysgolion gwledig.

 Dywedodd Kirsty Williams:

  
> “Mae ysgolion bach ac ysgolion gwledig yn chwarae rôl bwysig yn ein cenhadaeth genedlaethol i godi safonau ac ehangu cyfleoedd i'n pobl ifanc i gyd. 
> 
>  “Rydyn ni'n cymryd camau ac yn darparu cyllid newydd i helpu ysgolion bach a gwledig i ddelio â'r heriau unigryw y maent yn eu hwynebu, fel niferoedd bach o ddisgyblion a phroblemau wrth geisio recriwtio penaethiaid a staff.  
> 
>  “Bydd y cymorth ariannol hwn yn helpu ysgolion i weithio gyda'i gilydd er lles disgyblion, athrawon a'r gymuned ehangach. Rydw i am weld ysgolion gwledig yn gweithio'n fwy ffurfiol gyda'i gilydd ac ar draws y wlad, gan ffurfio ffederasiynau ac ystyried y posibilrwydd o rannu adeiladau â gwasanaethau eraill, er mwyn sicrhau y bydd dyfodol i adeiladau ysgol.”

 Dywedodd y Cynghorydd Debbie Wilcox (Casnewydd), Llefarydd CLlLC dros Addysg:

  
> “Mae’r cyllid hwn yn newyddion ardderchog i ysgolion bach ac ysgolion gwledig. A minnau wedi bod yn athrawes am flynyddoedd maith gynt, gwn sut y gall yr amgylchedd dysgu gorau posibl wella profiadau a chyfoethogi addysg. Mae awdurdodau addysg lleol wedi bod wrthi’n gweithio’n galed i sicrhau bod ysgolion yn ymateb i heriau cyfoes a’u bod yn barod ym mhob ffordd i ddarparu’r amgylchedd gorau ar gyfer addysg i’r athrawon, i’r disgyblion ac i’r staff, a bydd y buddsoddiad hwn yn golygu bod y gwaith pwysig hwnnw yn parhau.”

 Dywedodd Dirprwy Lefarydd CLlLC dros Addysg, y Cynghorydd Ellen ap Gwynn (Ceredigion):

 
> “Mae ysgolion bach a gwledig yn wynebu heriau unigryw, yn enwedig o ran recriwtio a nifer isel o ddisgyblion. Ond maen nhw’n fwy nag ysgolion yn unig i’r cymunedau y maent yn eu gwasanaethu. Maen nhw’n asedau pwysig i’r gymuned, gan fod adeiladau ac adnoddau ysgolion yn cael eu defnyddio’n helaeth ar gyfer amrywiaeth o ddibenion cymunedol. Bydd y cyllid hwn yn help i sicrhau bod dysgwyr a chymunedau, fel ei gilydd, yn gallu parhau i elwa ar fanteision yr ysgolion hyn, a hefyd i gryfhau’r gefnogaeth ar gyfer darpariaeth drwy gyfrwng y Gymraeg yn ein cymunedau gwledig.”

 Hefyd, cyhoeddodd yr Ysgrifennydd Addysg gynlluniau i gynnal ymgynghoriad ar gryfhau'r Cod Trefniadaeth Ysgolion, mewn perthynas â rhagdybiaeth na chaiff ysgolion gwledig eu cau. Am y tro cyntaf erioed, bydd statws 'ysgol wledig' yn cael ei nodi at y diben hwnnw. Daeth cyfnod ymgynghori o 14 wythnos i ben ar 30 Medi ac mae'r ymatebion yn cael eu dadansoddi ar hyn o bryd.