English: Before I go on to the code itself, I wonder if I could just highlight the equality Act regulations being discussed today, because they bring extra protection to young people who challenge their school, via an advocate if necessary, on discrimination grounds. And I raise it because the ALN code has also improved its content as regards mental capacity in the new chapter 31. What's interesting, of course, about the equality Act regulations is that they too capture young people beyond compulsory school age. And I appreciate that the legislation covers young people up to the age of 25 if needed, but COVID has shown us quite how fragile and fragmented the education stage can be for post-16-year-olds without disabilities if we're not careful, and I wonder if the time has come to finally extend the age of compulsory education or training to 18. I think such a move would also resolve an outstanding issue with the code itself, which is secure, safe and accessible transport provision for young people with ALN who are beyond compulsory school age, but still attend, and perhaps some of the other concerns raised by Natspec and the Third Sector Additional Needs Alliance. You'll know, Minister, there remains some anxiety about the accountability for transition to post-compulsory education, as well as post-education lives, particularly in terms of careers advice, which needs to be more specialist, rather than less. These organisations worry that lack of clarity and accountability could lead to late decision making, poorly planned transitions, the danger of placement breakdowns, and an increase in tribunals and the number of young people not in education, employment or training. I can see that the work has been done on this, but the Children, Young People and Education Committee was quite clear that that work cannot just result in a tokenistic response. Further, on the code itself, I thank the Minister for taking on board some of the recommendations of CYPE on the draft code - recommendations that we made after a thorough consultation of our own. The material on ALNCOs has improved, but the sector has pointed out that there is still a clarity gap between guidance and how to implement that guidance, and while I completely understand your reluctance to be prescriptive, as every authority is different, it's going to be interesting, at the first review of the roll-out, to see where the inconsistencies are and how children are affected. Inconsistency and lack of resource, both human and financial, will remain the threat to the success of the Act. Finally, I'm very pleased to see the baking in of the need for educational psychologists in these regulations, Minister. As Bridgend council in my region is considering having to get rid of some of theirs, an early e-mail to their chief executive there would be extremely welcome. So, we will be supporting these motions on the basis that the concerns raised on behalf of children and young people with ALN will not be forgotten, that the code will be tested in practice and data captured rigorously, and that any changes identified will be made swiftly. And it will take a future finance Minister to be willing to commit the money as well, I think. The code still gives authorities wiggle room to make decisions that are finance driven, which was, of course, one of the major complaints about the SEN system. All of us want this Act to work, so that our most vulnerable children and young people, and their families, have futures to look forward to. Diolch.
Welsh: Cyn i mi fynd ymlaen at y cod ei hun, tybed a gaf i dynnu sylw at reoliadau'r Ddeddf cydraddoldeb sy'n cael eu trafod heddiw, oherwydd eu bod yn cyflwyno amddiffyniad ychwanegol i bobl ifanc sy'n herio eu hysgol, drwy eiriolwr os oes angen, ar sail gwahaniaethu. Ac rwy'n ei godi oherwydd bod y cod ADY hefyd wedi gwella ei gynnwys o ran galluedd meddyliol yn y bennod 31 newydd. Yr hyn sy'n ddiddorol, wrth gwrs, ynghylch rheoliadau'r Ddeddf cydraddoldeb yw eu bod nhw hefyd yn cynnwys pobl ifanc y tu hwnt i oedran ysgol gorfodol. Ac rwy'n gwerthfawrogi bod y ddeddfwriaeth yn cynnwys pobl ifanc hyd at 25 oed os oes angen, ond mae COVID wedi dangos i ni pa mor fregus a thameidiog y gall y cam addysg fod ar gyfer pobl ifanc ôl-16 heb anableddau os nad ydym yn ofalus, a tybed a yw'r amser wedi dod i ymestyn oedran addysg neu hyfforddiant gorfodol i 18 oed o'r diwedd. Rwy'n credu y byddai cam o'r fath hefyd yn datrys problem eithriadol gyda'r cod ei hun, sef darpariaeth trafnidiaeth sicr, ddiogel a hygyrch i bobl ifanc ag ADY sydd y tu hwnt i oedran ysgol gorfodol, ond sy'n dal i fynychu, ac efallai rhai o'r pryderon eraill a godwyd gan Natspec a Chynghrair Anghenion Ychwanegol y Trydydd Sector. Byddwch yn gwybod, Gweinidog, fod rhywfaint o bryder o hyd ynghylch yr atebolrwydd am drosglwyddo i addysg ôl-orfodol, yn ogystal â bywydau ar ôl addysg, yn enwedig o ran cyngor gyrfaoedd, y mae angen iddo fod yn fwy arbenigol, yn hytrach na llai. Mae'r sefydliadau hyn yn poeni y gallai diffyg eglurder ac atebolrwydd arwain at wneud penderfyniadau hwyr, trosglwyddiadau wedi'u cynllunio'n wael, y perygl o fethiannau mewn lleoliadau, a chynnydd mewn tribiwnlysoedd a nifer y bobl ifanc nad ydynt mewn addysg, cyflogaeth na hyfforddiant. Gallaf weld bod y gwaith wedi ei wneud ar hyn, ond roedd y Pwyllgor Plant, Pobl Ifanc ac Addysg yn eithaf clir na all y gwaith hwnnw arwain at ymateb symbolaidd yn unig. At hynny, o ran y cod ei hun, rwy'n diolch i'r Gweinidog am ystyried rhai o argymhellion y pwyllgor Plant, Pobl Ifanc ac Addysg ar y cod drafft - argymhellion a wnaethom yn dilyn ein hymgynghoriad trylwyr ein hunain. Mae'r deunydd ar CADY wedi gwella, ond mae'r sector wedi tynnu sylw at y ffaith bod bwlch eglurder o hyd rhwng canllawiau a sut i weithredu'r canllawiau hynny, ac er fy mod i'n deall yn llwyr eich amharodrwydd i fod yn rhagnodol, gan fod pob awdurdod yn wahanol, bydd yn ddiddorol, yn yr adolygiad cyntaf ar ôl cyflwyno, gweld ble mae'r anghysondebau a sut y maen nhw'n effeithio ar blant. Bydd anghysondeb a diffyg adnoddau, yn ddynol ac yn ariannol, yn parhau i fod yn fygythiad i lwyddiant y Ddeddf. Yn olaf, rwy'n falch iawn o weld yr angen am seicolegwyr addysg wedi ei gynnwys yn y rheoliadau hyn, Gweinidog. Gan fod cyngor Pen-y-bont ar Ogwr yn fy rhanbarth i yn ystyried gorfod cael gwared ar rai o'u rhai nhw, byddai croeso mawr i e-bost cynnar i'w prif weithredwr. Felly, byddwn yn cefnogi'r cynigion hyn ar y sail na fydd y pryderon a godwyd ar ran plant a phobl ifanc ag ADY yn cael eu hanghofio, y bydd y cod yn cael ei brofi'n ymarferol a data eu casglu yn drylwyr, ac y bydd unrhyw newidiadau a nodwyd yn cael eu gwneud yn gyflym. A bydd angen i Weinidog cyllid yn y dyfodol fod yn barod i ymrwymo'r arian ar gyfer hyn hefyd, rwy'n credu. Mae'r cod yn dal i roi lle i awdurdodau wneud penderfyniadau sy'n cael eu gyrru gan gyllid, a oedd, wrth gwrs, yn un o'r prif gwynion am y system anghenion addysgol arbennig. Mae pob un ohonom yn dymuno i'r Ddeddf hon weithio, fel bod gan ein plant a'n pobl ifanc mwyaf agored i niwed, a'u teuluoedd, ddyfodol i edrych ymlaen ato. Diolch.