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Saesneg yn isod / English below
Nicola Edwards
Dirprwy Cyfarwyddwr
Is-adran Gofal Plant, Chwarae a Blynyddoedd Cynnar
At: Darparwyr gofal plant a chwarae
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Annwyl Cydweithwyr
COVID-19 a’r Safonau Gofynnol Genedlaethol ar gyfer Gofal Plant a Reoleiddir i blant hyd at 12 oed
Mae hwn yn gyfnod anarferol a heriol ac mae Gweinidogion Cymru yn hynod ddiolchgar am y ffordd adeiladol a chreadigol y mae pob rhan o’r sector gofal plant a gwaith chwarae, gan gynnwys arweinwyr awdurdodau lleol, sefydliadau ambarél a darparwyr gofal plant a gwaith chwarae, wedi ymateb i’r argyfwng hwn.
Rydych i gyd yn gwneud eich gorau i sicrhau bod lefel sylfaenol o ddarpariaeth ar gael i blant ein gweithwyr hanfodol ac i blant mewn categorïau penodol. Mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi bod yn ystyried sut y gallai hithau helpu i gefnogi argaeledd darpariaethau hanfodol o dan yr amgylchiadau heriol hyn.
Gan gadw hyn mewn cof, mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi penderfynu llacio dros dro rai o’r gofynion yn ei Safonau Gofynnol Cenedlaethol ar gyfer Gofal Plant a Reoleiddir. Gobeithio y bydd y mesurau hyn yn helpu i fynd i’r afael â rhai o’r anawsterau uniongyrchol, gan hwyluso’r ddarpariaeth barhaus o ofal plant allweddol.
Bydd hyn yn gyfyngedig i ganllawiau gan Lywodraeth Cymru, fel y nodir yn y llythyr hwn, a bydd rhaid i bob achos gael ei gymeradwyo gan awdurdod lleol. Ni ddylai awdurdodau lleol gymeradwyo achosion oni bai fod y mesurau a gynigir gan y darparwr gofal plant yn rhesymol ac yn gymesur â’r amgylchiadau lleol a’r angen i sicrhau darpariaeth gofal i blant gweithwyr hanfodol a phlant bregus. Y darparwr gofal plant cofrestredig fydd yn gyfrifol o hyd am sicrhau diogelwch a lles y plant yn eu gofal.
Yn unol â chyngor gan Lywodraeth Cymru, ni ddylai lleoliadau gofal plant a gwaith chwarae fod ar agor ond i blant gweithwyr hanfodol a phlant agored i niwed/plant sydd angen cymorth arbenigol, a hynny dim ond os na fydd y plentyn yn gallu cael gofal diogel gartref. Dyma ddolen at ddatganiad a wnaed gan y Gweinidog Addysg a’r Dirprwy Weinidog Iechyd a Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol ar 20 Mawrth.
Cyhoeddwyd rhagor o wybodaeth gan Lywodraeth Cymru o ran y diffiniad o weithwyr hanfodol ar 27 Mawrth a gellir dod o hyd i’r wybodaeth yma.
Nes clywir yn wahanol, mae Gweinidogion Cymru wedi cytuno y gellir ystyried llacio dros dro yr agweddau a ganlyn ar y Safonau Gofynnol Cenedlaethol ar gyfer Gofal Plant a Reoleiddir.
Cymarebau staffio
Gellid llacio dros dro gymarebau oedolion:plant fel a ganlyn:
1. Safon 15.12 – Gofal dydd:
- llacio cymhareb y Safonau Gofynnol Cenedlaethol o un oedolyn i wyth plentyn 3-7 oed i un oedolyn i ddeg plentyn
- llacio cymhareb y Safonau Gofynnol Cenedlaethol o un oedolyn i ddeg plentyn 8-12 oed i ganiatáu i un oedolyn ofalu am hyd at 12 plentyn.
2. Safon 15.7 – Gwarchodwyr plant:
- llacio cymhareb y Safonau Gofynnol Cenedlaethol sy’n pennu na chaiff gwarchodwr plant ofalu am fwy na chwe phlentyn dan 8 oed er mwyn iddo gael gofalu am fwy na chwe phlentyn yn y grŵp oedran 5-7, ar yr amod nad oes mwy na 10 o blant i gyd o dan 12 oed. Noder nad oes unrhyw newid i’r gymhareb ar gyfer plant o dan 5 oed.
Rhaid cael cymeradwyaeth yr awdurdod lleol cyn gweithredu unrhyw lacio ar y gymhareb staffio, er mwyn sicrhau bod y newidiadau yn rhesymol ac yn gymesur, a bod modd darparu gofal rheolaidd yng ngoleuni’r amgylchiadau lleol, heb gyfaddawdu ar ddiogelwch a lles y plant y gofelir amdanynt.
Yn unol â’r cyngor gwyddonol ar ymbellhau cymdeithasol, ni ddylai unrhyw achos o lacio’r cymarebau staffio ganiatáu i unrhyw leoliad gofal plant ofalu am fwy o blant na’r nifer cytunedig o blant cofrestredig sydd ganddynt.
Safon 15.13 Staff ychwanegol mewn lleoliadau gofal dydd
Dylech chi a’ch awdurdod lleol gytuno ar y trefniadau hyn fesul achos, yn dibynnu ar yr amgylchiadau penodol. Ceir llacio’r gofyniad na ddylid cynnwys y rheolwr wrth gyfrifo cymarebau oedolion:plant mewn lleoliad gofal dydd llawn sydd wedi’i gofrestru ar gyfer 20 neu fwy o blant, ar yr amod bod yr awdurdod lleol yn cymeradwyo hynny ymlaen llaw.
Dau aelod o staff ar ddyletswydd mewn lleoliadau gofal dydd
Ar yr amod bod pob gofyniad arall o ran cymarebau staffio yn cael eu bodloni, ceir llacio’r gofyniad bod yna ddau aelod o staff ar ddyletswydd bob amser, ar ôl i’r awdurdod ystyried amgylchiadau penodol y lleoliad.
Cymwysterau staff
Dylid edrych ar y gofynion cymwysterau mewn ffordd hyblyg a chymesur mewn perthynas ag aelodau o staff a fydd yn gweithio neu wirfoddoli mewn lleoliad gofal plant. Er enghraifft, gallai hyn olygu llacio’r safonau o ran y gyfran o staff gofal plant y mae’n rhaid iddynt fod â chymhwyster gofal plant cydnabyddedig, neu gellid derbyn hyfforddiant ar-lein mewn perthynas â chymwysterau cymorth cyntaf.
Ym mhob achos, byddai’n rhaid i warchodwyr plant a’r sawl sy’n rheoli lleoliad neu ei ddirprwy gael cymwysterau yn unol â’r Safonau Gofynnol Cenedlaethol. Hefyd, byddai rhaid i’r darparwr gofal plant cofrestredig a’r sawl sy’n rheoli fod yn hyderus ynghylch ansawdd a diogelwch y gofal a ddarperir yn eu lleoliad. Yn ogystal â hyn, byddai rhaid iddynt ystyried a yw personoliaeth a rhinweddau pob aelod o staff a gyflogir yn addas, pe byddai’r gofynion o ran cymwysterau’n cael eu llacio.
DBS
Nid yw Llywodraeth Cymru yn llacio unrhyw un o’r rheolau sy’n gysylltiedig â’r gofyniad i ddarparwyr gofal plant gael gwiriad manylach gan y Gwasanaeth Datgelu a Gwahardd (DBS) gan ein bod yn teimlo y byddai hynny yn peryglu diogelwch plant. Fodd bynnag, ystyrir bod llacio’r arferion cyfredol/cyffredin sy’n gysylltiedig â gwiriadau cofnodion troseddol manylach, fel y nodir isod, yn briodol o gofio’r angen i sicrhau darpariaeth gofal ddigonol ar gyfer plant gweithwyr hanfodol a phlant bregus.
Mae’n ofynnol, o dan Reoliadau Gwarchod Plant a Gofal Dydd (Cymru) 2010, i bob aelod o staff a gwirfoddolwr sy’n gweithio mewn lleoliadau gwarchod plant a gofal dydd fod â thystysgrif cofnod troseddol fanylach, gan gynnwys gwiriad yn erbyn y rhestr gwahardd plant. Yn ymarferol, mae unigolion naill ai wedi cael gwiriad DBS newydd wrth newid swydd neu wedi eu cofrestru â gwasanaeth diweddaru y DBS, a gall cyflogwyr wirio hwnnw’n gyflym wrth i staff newid swyddi. Mae hyn yn rhoi sicrwydd i gyflogwyr ynghylch addasrwydd y staff y maent yn eu cyflogi.
Fodd bynnag, rydym mewn sefyllfa o argyfwng ar hyn o bryd ac efallai y bydd rhaid i unigolion cymwys a phrofiadol sy’n gweithio gyda phlant symud yn aml ac yn gyflym rhwng lleoliadau er mwyn sicrhau gofal ar gyfer plant agored i niwed a phlant gweithwyr hanfodol. Er mwyn mynd i’r afael â’r angen brys hwn, rydym wedi dod i’r casgliad y byddai’n briodol i staff gofal plant a gwaith chwarae, a nanis sydd wedi’u cymeradwyo dan Gynllun Cymeradwyo Gwirfoddol Gofal Plant yn y Cartref Llywodraeth Cymru, fedru symud rhwng lleoliadau os ydynt wedi cael gwiriad DBS dilys, hy gwiriad cofnod troseddol manylach, gan gynnwys gwiriad yn erbyn y rhestr gwahardd plant, o fewn y 3 blynedd ddiwethaf. Byddai’n rhaid i hyn gael ei brofi gan staff sydd am weithio mewn lleoliad gofal plant drwy ddangos eu tystysgrif DBS. Dylid parhau i gynnal gwiriadau diweddaru ar gyfer y rheini sydd ar y system ddiweddaru.
Mae’r camau hyn wedi cael eu trafod ag Arolygiaeth Gofal Cymru a chynrychiolwyr awdurdodau lleol. Hefyd, rydym wedi ceisio sicrhau cydbwysedd derbyniol rhwng rhoi’r hyblygrwydd i ddarparwyr addasu a pheidio â pheryglu diogelwch a llesiant y plant sy’n cael gofal.
Rhaid i ddarparwyr gofal gymryd pob cam rhesymol i gynnal pellter corfforol yn y gweithle yn unol â chanllawiau Llywodraeth Cymru sydd ar gael yma.
Gofynnwn hefyd i bob darparwr gofal plant barhau i ystyried cyngor Iechyd Cyhoeddus Cymru ynghylch golchi dwylo’n aml ac ymbellhau’n gymdeithasol. Efallai y bydd yn ddefnyddiol i awdurdodau lleol a darparwyr gofal plant edrych hefyd ar y canllawiau cyfredol sydd ar gael ar wefan Llywodraeth Cymru mewn perthynas â gofal plant a’r Coronafeirws: https://llyw.cymru/coronafeirws
Cyn llacio unrhyw ofyniad, dylai pob darparwr roi gwybod i’w Awdurdod Lleol (drwy eu Gwasanaethau Gwybodaeth i Deuluoedd neu eu cyswllt arferol yn y tîm gofal iechyd) am ei fwriad i weithredu unrhyw un neu ragor o’r mesurau a ddisgrifir yn y llythyr hwn.
Bydd rhaid i awdurdodau lleol gael eu bodloni bod y cynlluniau’n angenrheidiol ac yn gymesur â’r amgylchiadau.
Rhaid i Arolygiaeth Gofal Cymru, fel y rheoleiddiwr gwasanaethau gofal plant, gael gwybod am unrhyw newidiadau a wneir:
- Rhaid i ddarparwyr ddefnyddio eu cyfrifon ar-lein i hysbysu Arolygiaeth Gofal Cymru am unrhyw newidiadau sy’n cael eu cytuno.
- Rhaid i awdurdodau lleol hysbysu Arolygiaeth Gofal Cymru eu bod wedi cytuno i’r newidiadau.
Hefyd, dylai’r darparwr a’r awdurdod lleol adolygu’r trefniadau bob mis hyd nes y bydd rhaid glynu wrth y Safonau Gofynnol Cenedlaethol eto. Ni fydd y mesurau dros dro hyn yn gymwys pan fydd darpariaeth gofal plant a gwaith chwarae yn weithredol ar gapasiti llawn eto. Bydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn cyhoeddi cylchlythyr arall bryd hynny.
Cynghorir darparwyr sy’n gweithredu o dan amodau llacach y Safonau Gofynnol Cenedlaethol i wirio dilysrwydd eu hyswiriant gyda’u darparwr yswiriant gan y gallai fod yna oblygiadau i’r newidiadau.
Mae Deddf Coronafeirws y DU yn rhoi rhagor o bwerau i Weinidogion Cymru edrych yn fanwl ar rai o’r gofynion statudol eraill mewn perthynas â chofrestru a rheoleiddio gofal plant a’r dyletswyddau a roddir ar awdurdodau lleol.
Felly bydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn monitro’r sefyllfa yn ofalus iawn dros y dyddiau a’r wythnosau nesaf. Efallai y bydd rhaid darparu rhagor o ganllawiau ar fesurau ychwanegol y bydd angen eu cymryd yng ngoleuni COVID-19 wrth i’r sefyllfa barhau i ddatblygu.
Yr eiddoch yn gywir
NICOLA EDWARDS
Dirprwy Cyfarwyddwr
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Cwestiynau cyffredin gan Llywodraeth Cymru am y safonau gofynnol cenedlaethol ar gyfer gofal plant wedi’i reoleiddio
Cyngor i awdurdodau lleol a darparwyr gofal plant. Cliciwch yma i ddarllen.
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Nicola Edwards
Deputy Director
Childcare, Play and Early Years Division
To: Childcare and play providers
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Dear Colleagues
COVID-19 and the National Minimum Standards for Regulated Childcare for children up to the age of 12 years
These are exceptional and challenging times and the Welsh Ministers are tremendously grateful for the constructive and creative way in which every part of the childcare and play sector, including local authority leads, umbrella organisations and childcare and play providers have responded to this emergency.
You are all going to great efforts to ensure that there is a fundamental level of provision available to the children of our critical workers and to certain categories of children. The Welsh Government has been considering what part it might also play in supporting the availability of essential provision in these challenging circumstances.
With this in mind, the Welsh Government has decided to temporarily relax some of the requirements in its National Minimum Standards for Regulated Childcare. It is hoped that these measures will help address some of the immediate difficulties and facilitate the continued provision of key childcare provision.
Any relaxation will be restricted to Welsh Government guidelines, as set out in this letter and subject to local authority approval on a case by case basis. The local authority approval should only be granted on the basis that the measures being proposed by the childcare provider are reasonable and proportionate in responding to local circumstances and ensuring the provision of childcare to the children of critical workers and vulnerable children. The responsibility for ensuring the safety and the welfare of the children in their care will remain with the registered childcare provider.
In accordance with Welsh Government advice, childcare and playwork settings should now only be open to care for the children of critical workers and vulnerable children/children in need of specialist support and only then if the child cannot be cared for safely at home. A link to a statement made by the Minister for Education and the Deputy Minister for Health and Social Services on 20 March is provided here.
Further information on the Welsh Government’s definition of critical workers was made available on 27 March and can be found here.
Until further notice, the Welsh Ministers have agreed that the following aspects of the National Minimum Standards can be considered for relaxation on a temporary basis at this time.
Staffing ratios
Adult:child ratios for children over the age of 5 years could be relaxed on a temporary basis as follows:
1. Standard 15.12 – Day care:
- the NMS ratio of one adult to eight children for children aged 3-7 years to be relaxed to one adult to 10 children.
- the NMS ratio of one adult to 10 children aged 8-12 years to be relaxed to allow one adult to care for up to 12 children.
2. Standard 15.7 - Child minders:
- The NMS ratio for child minders to care for no more than six children under eight years of age to be relaxed to enable child minders to care for more than six children aged 5-7 years, subject to the overall limit of 10 children under the age of 12 years. Please note, ratios for children under the age of five are unchanged.
Local authority approval is required prior to any relaxation in staffing ratio being implemented, in order to ensure that the changes are reasonable and proportionate, and ensure that ongoing care can be provided, taking account of local circumstances and without compromising the safety and welfare of the children being cared for.
In line with the scientific advice on social distancing, any relaxation of staffing ratios should not however allow any childcare setting to exceed their agreed numbers of registered children.
Standard 15.13 - Supernumerary staffing in day care settings
Arrangements to be agreed with local authorities on a case by case basis, depending on the specific circumstances. The requirement that the manager should not be included in any calculation of adult:child ratios in a full day care setting registered for 20 or more children, can be relaxed subject to the prior approval of the local authority.
Standard 15.3 - Two staff on duty in day care settings
Subject to all other staffing ratio requirements being met, the requirement that there are always at least two staff on duty can be relaxed on a case by case basis subject to authority taking into account the specific circumstances of the setting.
Staff qualifications
A flexible and proportionate approach to qualification requirements to be adopted in relation to staff working or volunteering in a childcare setting. For example, this could mean relaxation of the standards in respect of the proportion of childcare staff who must have a recognised childcare qualification, or acceptance of online training in respect of first aid qualifications.
In all instances, child minders and the person in charge of a setting or their appointed deputy would require qualifications in line with the NMS. The registered childcare provider and person in charge would also need to be confident about the quality and safety of the care provided at their setting, and would need to consider whether any staff employed were of suitable integrity and good character if any of the staff qualification requirements were relaxed.
DBS
The Welsh Government is not relaxing any of the rules around the requirement for childcare providers to have an enhanced DBS check, as we feel that there is a risk to children’s safety of doing this. However, it is considered that a relaxation of current/common practice around the obtaining of enhanced criminal records checks, as set out below, is appropriate given the need to ensure there is sufficient childcare provision available for the children of critical workers and vulnerable children. It is a requirement under the Child Minding and Day Care (Wales) Regulations 2010 that all staff and volunteers working in child minding and day care settings have an enhanced criminal record certificate, including a check against the children’s barred list. In practice, individuals have either had a new DBS check when they move role or are signed up to the DBS update service which can be checked quickly by employers as staff move roles, which provides employers with assurance of the suitability of the staff they employ.
However, we are currently in an emergency situation and it may be necessary for individuals who are qualified and experienced to work with children to move often and quickly between settings, in order to ensure care for vulnerable children and the children of critical workers. In order to address this urgent need, we have concluded that it would be appropriate for childcare and playwork staff and nannies approved under the Welsh Government Childcare at Home Voluntary Approval Scheme to be able to move between settings if they have had a valid DBS check i.e. an enhanced criminal records check, including a check against the children’s barred list, within the last 3 years. This would need to be proved by staff seeking to work in childcare settings by showing their DBS certificate. Update checks should still be carried out for those on the update system.
These steps have been discussed with Care Inspectorate Wales and with local authority representatives. We have also sought to strike an acceptable balance between giving providers the flexibility to adapt whilst not compromising on the safety and well-being of children in childcare.
Child care providers must take all reasonable measures to maintain physical distancing in their settings in line with Welsh Government guidance.
We would also ask all childcare providers to continue to be mindful of Public Health Wales advice relating to frequent hand washing and social distancing. Local authorities and childcare providers may also find it helpful to refer to the current guidance available on the Welsh Government website relating to childcare and the coronavirus, available at https://gov.wales/coronavirus
All providers should inform their local authority (through their Family Information Services or usual contact in the childcare team) of their intention to implement any of the measures described in this letter, before any relaxation is made.
Local authorities will need to be satisfied that plans are necessary and proportionate in the circumstances.
CIW as the regulator of childcare services will need to be informed of any changes made:
- Providers will need to use their online accounts to notify CIW of any agreed changes.
- Local authorities will need to notify CIW that they have agreed the changes.
The provider and local authority should also review the arrangements on a monthly basis until the point at which full adherence to the National Minimum Standards is resumed. These are temporary measures and will cease to apply when childcare and playwork provision is operating at full capacity again. A further circular letter will be issued by Welsh Government at that time.
Providers operating under the relaxed NMS conditions are advised to check the validity of their insurance with their insurance provider as there could be implications for their cover.
The UK Government Coronavirus Act gives the Welsh Ministers further powers to look closely at some of the other statutory requirements in relation to the registration and regulation of childcare, and duties placed on local authorities.
The Welsh Government will therefore be monitoring the situation on the ground very carefully over the coming days and weeks, and it may be necessary to provide further guidance on additional measures that may or need to be taken in light of COVID-19 as the situation continues to unfold.
Yours sincerely
NICOLA EDWARDS
Deputy Director
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Welsh Government's frequently asked questions on the national minimum standards for regulated childcare
Includes advice for local authorities and childcare providers. Please click here to read.
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