Translate the text from English to Welsh.



 
 


 


On the 24 September, I provided an initial response to the Welsh Government Consultation on Proposed Changes to Childcare Regulation and Registration in Wales. I can now update Members on the outcome of the consultation. My officials have also completed a summary report of the responses received which will be placed on the Welsh Government website today.


The consultation, attracted considerable interest from the childcare sector. Over 130 written responses were received and over 80 representatives from the childcare sector, Local Authorities and youth sector attended consultation events held across Wales. More localised events aimed at providers were also held by the childcare and play organisations on behalf of Welsh Government.


I would like to thank to all those who responded and the childcare and play organisations for their support in ensuring a good representative response was received from stakeholders.


The main consultation centred on the Welsh Government’s proposals to extend the upper age limit for the compulsory registration of childcare beyond the age of 8 years. As I announced in September, from 1 April 2016 the upper age limit will be extended from 8 to 12 years. This will ensure there is a consistent means of regulating the quality and suitability of childcare provision up to the age of 12, will bring the system of registration in line with the other parts of the UK and align it with the new Tax Free Childcare scheme in 2017\.  

  

As part of the arrangements to implement the extension of registration, changes need to be made to the National Minimum Standards (NMS) for Regulated Child Care to ensure they take account of the requirements for older children. The consultation sought views on specific changes to the NMS to allow the extension of registration and also invited more general comments about the standards. The majority of responses supported our proposal for the changes to the NMS to be appropriate to the age of the child.


Specific changes to the revised NMS informed by feedback received to the consultation, will be issued early in 2016\.  However, the summary report containing the full Welsh Government response to the consultation, provides an overview of the changes being made, as well as detailing the specific changes and arrangements to the NMS for staffing ratios and qualifications.


In making these changes, I have carefully considered the consultation responses and the implications of the changes on the sustainability of the sector. I am aware of the considerable challenges which the childcare sector is currently facing in terms of sustaining existing provision. I value the positive and constructive manner in which all parts of the sector have responded to the consultation. I believe the changes  we have set out, will achieve a balance between helping to ensure all children in registered childcare provision are cared for in a safe and appropriate environment and take account of the views and concerns expressed about the impact of any increased burdens on childcare providers and the associated implications for parents and carers.  


We will look further at points raised in relation to other issues in the consultation responses received.


CSSIW is engaging extensively with the childcare sector to raise awareness about the extension of registration and the implications of the changes for providers and parents. As part of these arrangements, regional stakeholder events are being held later this month and early in December to discuss plans for the implementation of these changes.


I will continue to keep Members informed about matters arising from the consultation.


 


 


 


 







Translation:


 
Ar 24 Medi, fe ddarperais ymateb cychwynnol i Ymgynghoriad Llywodraeth Cymru ynghylch Newidiadau Arfaethedig i Reoleiddio a Chofrestru Gofal Plant yng Nghymru. Yn awr gallaf roi gwybodaeth i Aelodau am ganlyniad yr ymgynghoriad. Mae fy swyddogion hefyd wedi cwblhau adroddiad cryno ar yr ymatebion a gafwyd, a bydd yr adroddiad hwnnw’n cael ei roi ar wefan Llywodraeth Cymru heddiw.

Denodd yr ymgynghoriad ddiddordeb sylweddol o’r sector gofal plant. Cafwyd dros 130 o ymatebion ysgrifenedig a daeth dros 80 o gynrychiolwyr o’r sector gofal plant, Awdurdodau Lleol a’r sector ieuenctid i ddigwyddiadau ymgynghori a gynhaliwyd ledled Cymru. Cafodd digwyddiadau mwy lleol ar gyfer darparwyr eu cynnal hefyd gan y sefydliadau gofal plant a chwarae ar ran Llywodraeth Cymru. 

Hoffwn ddiolch i bawb a ymatebodd, ac i’r sefydliadau gofal plant a chwarae am eu cymorth i sicrhau ymateb cynrychiolaidd da o blith rhanddeiliaid. 

Roedd y prif ymgynghoriad yn canolbwyntio ar gynigion Llywodraeth Cymru i ymestyn y terfyn oedran uwch ar gyfer cofrestru gorfodol yng nghyswllt darpariaeth gofal plant y tu hwnt i 8 oed. Fel a gyhoeddais ym mis Medi, o 1 Ebrill 2016 bydd y terfyn oedran uwch yn cael ei ymestyn o 8 i 12 oed. Bydd hyn yn sicrhau bod dull cyson o reoleiddio ansawdd ac addasrwydd darpariaeth gofal plant hyd at 12 oed, bydd yn gwneud y system yn gyson â rhannau eraill o’r DU, a bydd yn ei chysoni â’r cynllun Gofal Plant Di\-dreth newydd yn 2017\.   
   
Fel rhan o’r trefniadau i ymestyn y terfyn oedran ar gyfer cofrestru, mae angen gwneud newidiadau i’r Safonau Gofynnol Cenedlaethol (SGC) ar gyfer Gofal Plant a Reoleiddir i sicrhau eu bod yn cymryd y gofynion ar gyfer plant hŷn i ystyriaeth. Roedd yr ymgynghoriad yn gofyn am farn pobl am newidiadau penodol i’r SGC i’w gwneud yn bosibl ymestyn y terfyn oedran ar gyfer cofrestru a hefyd yn gwahodd sylwadau mwy cyffredinol am y safonau. Roedd y mwyafrif o’r ymatebion yn cefnogi ein cynnig y dylai’r newidiadau i’r SGC fod yn briodol i oedran y plentyn. 

Bydd newidiadau penodol i’r SGC, a oleuwyd gan adborth a gafwyd yn yr ymgynghoriad, yn cael eu cyhoeddi’n gynnar yn 2016\. Fodd bynnag, mae’r adroddiad cryno, sy’n cynnwys yr ymateb llawn gan Lywodraeth Cymru i’r ymgynghoriad, yn rhoi trosolwg o’r newidiadau sy’n cael eu gwneud, yn ogystal â manylu ar y newidiadau a’r trefniadau penodol yn y SGC o ran cymarebau staffio a chymwysterau. 

Wrth wneud y newidiadau hyn, rwyf wedi rhoi ystyriaeth ofalus i’r ymatebion i’r ymgynghoriad a goblygiadau’r newidiadau ar gyfer cynaliadwyedd y sector. Rwy’n ymwybodol o’r heriau sylweddol y mae’r sector gofal plant yn eu hwynebu ar hyn o bryd o ran cynnal y ddarpariaeth bresennol. Rwy’n gwerthfawrogi’r modd cadarnhaol ac adeiladol y mae pob rhan o’r sector wedi ymateb i’r ymgynghoriad. Rwy’n credu y bydd y newidiadau yr ydym wedi’u nodi’n taro cydbwysedd rhwng helpu i sicrhau bod yr holl blant mewn darpariaeth gofal plant gofrestredig yn cael gofal mewn amgylchedd diogel a phriodol ar y naill law, ac ystyried barn a phryderon a fynegwyd am effaith unrhyw feichiau cynyddol ar ddarparwyr gofal plant a’r goblygiadau cysylltiedig ar gyfer rhieni a gofalwyr ar y llaw arall.  

Byddwn yn rhoi ystyriaeth bellach i’r pwyntiau a godwyd mewn perthynas â materion eraill yn yr ymatebion a gafwyd i’r ymgynghoriad. 

Mae AGGCC yn ymgysylltu’n helaeth â’r sector gofal plant i godi ymwybyddiaeth o’r estyniad i’r terfyn oedran ar gyfer cofrestru a goblygiadau’r newidiadau ar gyfer darparwyr a rhieni. Fel rhan o’r trefniadau hyn, mae digwyddiadau rhanbarthol i randdeiliaid yn cael eu cynnal yn ddiweddarach y mis hwn ac yn gynnar ym mis Rhagfyr i drafod cynlluniau ar gyfer rhoi’r newidiadau hyn ar waith. 

Byddaf yn parhau i hysbysu Aelodau ynghylch materion sy’n codi o’r ymgynghoriad.