Translate the text from English to Welsh.



 
New draft guidance, ‘Belonging, engaging and participating’, has been published for consultation to support schools, pupil referral units, and local authorities in efforts to improve school attendance.  

  

Prior to the pandemic, there had been a gradual rise in school attendance, but overall attendance figures have significant dropped since the pandemic. In the 2018/19 school year overall absenteeism figures stood at 5\.7%. Provisional data for the 2022/23 school year to date shows this has risen to 10\.5%. Persistent absence amongst pupils eligible for Free School Meals has more than doubled from 8\.4% of pupils in 2018/19 to 18\.8% of pupils in 2022/23 to date.  

  

The consultation seeks views on the current definition of ‘persistent’ absence which is currently defined as more than 20%. This measure is often set as the trigger for certain kinds of intervention such as the involvement of the Education Welfare Service. The consultation will review whether lowering the threshold for intervention would better support families.  

  

In the last year, the following measures have also been taken:


* £6\.5 million for financial year 23\-24 for more Family Engagement Officers to establish positive relationships with families, and provide clear guidance and information on good attendance
* £2\.5million for financial year 23\-24 for Education Welfare Officers to enable the service to provide earlier support, before issues escalate, and also to provide more intensive support to learners with high absence
* updating the All Wales Attendance Framework
* Estyn have strengthened their reporting requirements on pupil attendance
* all schools required to publish or make available their attendance polices
* the reintroduction of Fixed Penalty Notices, but only as a last resort


Minister for Education and Welsh Language, Jeremy Miles said:



> “Attendance figures have not recovered since the pandemic in a way we would have hoped – it needs a national effort to tackle the ongoing attendance issue.  
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> “Improving school attendance must been seen as a national priority. We know there are a range of reasons or underlying causes for learner absence, and that this has been further exacerbated over the last two years.  
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> “There is a well\-established link between attendance, attainment and wellbeing. My priority, above all else, is to ensure that every young person has the opportunity to reach their full potential. Tackling learner absence is key to this.  
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> “Schools are doing excellent work, but they can’t do this on their own. Learners need to be attending school, seeing their friends, and learning in the classroom. This is vital for their wellbeing, their education, and their future prospects. Parents and carers should be doing absolutely everything they can to ensure their children are in school. It’s the best way to give them the start in life and the future they deserve.  
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> “I would urge families, schools and relevant parties to have their say to help shape this important piece of guidance we have published.”


The consultation will run until July 20th.  

 







Translation:


 
Mae canllawiau drafft newydd, ‘Perthyn, ymgysylltu a chyfranogi’, wedi eu cyhoeddi ar gyfer ymgynghoriad, i gefnogi ymdrechion ysgolion, unedau cyfeirio disgyblion ac awdurdodau lleol i wella lefelau presenoldeb mewn ysgolion.  

  

Cyn y pandemig, gwelwyd cynnydd graddol mewn lefelau presenoldeb mewn ysgolion, ond mae’r ffigurau presenoldeb cyffredinol wedi gostwng yn sylweddol ers y pandemig. Ym mlwyddyn ysgol 2018/19, 5\.7% oedd y ffigur absenoldeb cyffredinol. Hyd yma, mae’r data dros dro ar gyfer blwyddyn ysgol 2022/23 yn dangos bod hwn wedi codi i 10\.5%. Mae lefelau absenoldeb cyson ymhlith disgyblion sy’n gymwys i gael prydau ysgol am ddim wedi mwy na dyblu, o 8\.4% o ddisgyblion yn 2018/19 i 18\.8% o ddisgyblion yn 2022/23 hyd yma.  

  

Mae’r ymgynghoriad yn holi barn am y diffiniad cyfredol o absenoldeb ‘cyson’, a ddiffinnir ar hyn o bryd fel mwy nag 20%. Yn aml, pennir y mesur hwn fel trothwy ar gyfer mathau penodol o ymyrraeth, ee mewnbwn gan y Gwasanaeth Lles Addysg. Bydd yr ymgynghoriad yn ystyried p’un a fyddai gostwng y trothwy ar gyfer ymyrraeth yn cefnogi teuluoedd yn well.  

  

Yn ystod y flwyddyn ddiwethaf, cymerwyd y mesurau canlynol hefyd:


* £6\.5 miliwn ar gyfer blwyddyn ariannol 23\-24 ar gyfer mwy o Swyddogion Ymgysylltu â Theuluoedd er mwyn sefydlu cysylltiadau cadarnhaol gyda theuluoedd, a darparu canllawiau a gwybodaeth glir ar lefelau presenoldeb da.
* £2\.5 miliwn ar gyfer blwyddyn ariannol 23\-24 ar gyfer Swyddogion Lles Addysg er mwyn i’r gwasanaeth allu darparu cymorth yn gynharach, cyn i broblemau waethygu, a hefyd i ddarparu cymorth dwysach i ddysgwyr sy’n absennol yn aml
* diweddaru Fframwaith Presenoldeb Cymru Gyfan
* mae Estyn wedi cryfhau eu gofynion adrodd o ran lefelau presenoldeb disgyblion
* ei gwneud yn ofynnol i bob ysgol gyhoeddi neu ddarparu eu polisïau presenoldeb
* ailgyflwyno Hysbysiadau Cosb Penodedig, ond dim ond pan nad oes dewis arall


Dywedodd Jeremy Miles:



> “Dyw’r ffigurau presenoldeb ddim wedi gwella ers y pandemig yn y ffordd y bydden ni wedi gobeithio – mae angen ymdrech genedlaethol i fynd i’r afael â’r argyfwng sy’n parhau o ran presenoldeb.  
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> “Mae’n rhaid ystyried gwella lefelau presenoldeb mewn ysgolion fel blaenoriaeth genedlaethol. Rydyn ni’n gwybod bod yna resymau o bob math dros absenoldeb dysgwyr, a bod hyn wedi’i waethygu ymhellach dros y ddwy flynedd ddiwethaf.  
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> “Mae yna gysylltiad hirsefydledig rhwng presenoldeb, cyrhaeddiad a lles. Fy mlaenoriaeth i, uwchlaw popeth arall, yw gwneud yn siŵr bod pob person ifanc yn cael y cyfle i gyflawni ei botensial. Mae mynd i’r afael ag absenoldeb dysgwyr yn allweddol i hyn.  
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> “Mae ysgolion yn gwneud gwaith ardderchog, ond allan nhw ddim gwneud hyn ar eu pen eu hunain. Mae angen i ddysgwyr fynychu’r ysgol, gweld eu ffrindiau a dysgu yn y dosbarth. Mae hyn yn hollbwysig i’w lles, eu haddysg a’u dyfodol. Dylai rhieni a gofalwyr fod yn gwneud popeth o fewn eu gallu i sicrhau bod eu plant yn yr ysgol. Dyna’r ffordd orau o roi’r dechrau mewn bywyd a’r dyfodol y maen nhw’n ei haeddu.  
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> “Fe fyddwn i’n pwyso ar deuluoedd, ysgolion a’r partïon perthnasol i ddweud eu dweud er mwyn helpu i lywio’r canllawiau pwysig hyn rydyn ni wedi’u cyhoeddi.”


Bydd yr ymgynghoriad ar agor tan 20 Gorffennaf 2023\.