Launch of A Foster Carer’s Guide to Education in Wales/Lansio Canllaw Gofalwr Maeth i Addysg yng Nghymru
The Fostering Network, in conjunction with Welsh Government, has launched A Foster Carer’s Guide to Education in Wales.
The guide, which will help foster carers understand better how the education system works in Wales so that they are better equipped to support the children and young people in their care, has been developed to be used alongside Welsh Government’s Raising the Ambitions and Educational Attainment of Children who are Looked After in Wales.
Dr Emily Warren, director of The Fostering Network Wales, said: ‘Raising the educational outcomes of fostered children and young people is a priority for The Fostering Network. The Fostering Network Wales has expertise and experience in engaging with foster carers and looked after children to inform policy development, and we are delighted to have been commissioned by the Welsh Government to produce this guide which will provide further support for foster carers, so that the promotion of education is paramount.
‘We know that doing well at school can lead to improved confidence and self-esteem, greater resilience and more chances to develop positive, supportive relationships. We also know that foster carers are fundamental to a child’s progress in school. The guide has been produced to help foster carers, in their vital role as first educators, work with key partners in the education system to ensure that decisions impact positively on children and young people.’
Kirsty Williams AM, cabinet secretary for education, in her foreword to the guide, said: ‘Education reform is our national mission. Only by everyone working together will we ensure that our young people have an equal opportunity to reach the highest standards. For some there will be additional challenges that require careful, but robust, support and intervention. This is especially true of those children who are looked after, each and every one of whom will have experienced challenging life experiences we would never wish on our own children.
‘This guide is designed to help support the foster carer’s role as an integral part of the team around the child and to equip them with the skills and knowledge to do so. Foster carers can help identify the learning and emotional needs of the children they care for, and can support them to achieve improved outcomes.
‘I am grateful to The Fostering Network for its continuing commitment in support of foster carers in Wales to deliver better outcomes for children who enter the care system, and for its work with foster carers to produce this very important education guide. I commend it to foster carers in particular, but also to schools and education services to ensure that we are all working together to effectively endure the very best educational outcomes for looked after children.’
Mae’r Rhwydwaith Maethu, ar y cyd â Llywodraeth Cymru, wedi lansio Canllaw Gofalwr Maeth i Addysg yng Nghymru.
Datblygwyd y canllaw, fydd yn helpu gofalwyr maeth i ddeall yn well sut mae’r gyfundrefn addysg yn gweithio yng Nghymru fel eu bod wedi’u cyfarparu’n well i gefnogi’r plant a’r bobl ifanc yn eu gofal, i’w ddefnyddio ochr yn ochr â strategaeth Llywodraeth Cymru, ‘Codi Uchelgais a Chyrhaeddiad Addysgol Plant sy’n Derbyn Gofal yng Nghymru’.
Dywedodd y Dr Emily Warren, cyfarwyddwr Rhwydwaith Maethu Cymru: ‘Mae codi deilliannau addysgol plant a phobl ifanc sydd wedi’u maethu yn flaenoriaeth i’r Rhwydwaith Maethu. Mae gan Rhwydwaith Maethu Cymru arbenigedd a phrofiad o ymgysylltu â gofalwyr maeth a phlant sy’n derbyn gofal i hysbysu datblygiad polisïau, ac rydym wrth ein boddau o fod wedi’n comisiynu gan Lywodraeth Cymru i baratoi’r canllaw hwn fydd yn darparu rhagor o gefnogaeth i ofalwyr maeth, fel bod hyrwyddo addysg o’r pwysigrwydd mwyaf.
‘Gwyddom y gall gwneud yn dda yn yr ysgol arwain at well hyder a hunan-barch, mwy o gadernid a mwy o gyfleoedd i ddatblygu cysylltiadau cadarnhaol, cefnogol. Gwyddom hefyd bod gofalwyr maeth yn sylfaenol i gynnydd plentyn yn yr ysgol. Paratowyd y canllaw i helpu gofalwyr maeth yn eu rôl hanfodol fel addysgwyr cyntaf, i weithio â phartneriaid allweddol yn y gyfundrefn addysg i sicrhau bod penderfyniadau’n effeithio’n gadarnhaol ar blant a phobl ifanc.’
Dywedodd Kirsty Williams, AC, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Addysg, yn ei rhagair i’r canllaw: ‘Diwygio addysg yw’n cenhadaeth genedlaethol. Dim ond drwy fod pawb yn cydweithio y gallwn sicrhau bod gan ein pobl ifanc gyfle cyfartal i gyrraedd y safonau uchaf. I rai, bydd yna heriau ychwanegol sy’n gofyn am gefnogaeth ac ymyrraeth ofalus ond cadarn. Mae hyn yn neilltuol o wir am y plant hynny sy’n derbyn gofal, a bydd pob un ohonynt wedi cael profiadau bywyd heriol na fyddem byth yn dymuno i’n plant ein hunain eu cael.
‘Cynlluniwyd y canllaw hwn i helpu i gynorthwyo rôl gofalwyr maeth fel rhan annatod o’r tîm o amgylch y plentyn ac i’w cyfarparu â’r sgiliau a’r wybodaeth i wneud hynny. Gall gofalwyr maeth helpu i nodi anghenion dysgu ac anghenion emosiynol y plant y maent yn gofalu amdanynt, a gallant eu cynorthwyo i gyflawni gwell deilliannau.
‘Rwyf yn ddiolchgar i’r Rhwydwaith Maethu am barhau i ymrwymo i gefnogi gofalwyr maeth yng Nghymru i gyflawni gwell deilliannau i blant sy’n cyrraedd y system ofal, ac am eu gwaith â gofalwyr maeth i baratoi’r canllaw addysg hynod bwysig hwn. Rwyf yn ei gymeradwyo i ofalwyr maeth yn neilltuol, ond hefyd i ysgolion a gwasanaethau addysg i sicrhau ein bod ni oll yn gweithio gyda’n gilydd i sicrhau’r deilliannau addysgol gorau un i blant sy’n derbyn gofal.’
