A wnaiff y Gweinidog ddatganiad am y camau y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn eu cymryd i sicrhau y darperir ar gyfer y rhai sydd ag anghenion dysgu ychwanegol yn ystod y pandemig coronafeirws?
We are committed to doing everything possible to ensure children and young people with additional learning needs, and their parents and carers receive support during this difficult time.
To minimise the spread of the coronavirus if it is at all possible for children and young people to be at home, then they should be. However, if a child or young person needs specialist support, is vulnerable or has a parent who is critical to the Covid-19 response, and there is no safe alternative, then provision in a school or childcare setting should be available for them. This includes disabled children and may include those with statements of special educational needs (SEN).
Schools and colleges are also making lots of resources available online to support all children and young people with their learning at home. This includes resources for learners with additional learning needs. There are a range of digital tools and approaches available across the education system to help ensure continuity of learning for children, young people, teachers and leaders. This includes resources available through Wales’ learning platform, HWB, which has an extensive suite of tools that teachers can use to support remote learning.
During this period of school closures, our aim is to minimise the impact on learning, learners’ progress and wellbeing. At the beginning of the summer term we will be publishing a national Continuity of Learning Plan that will support schools and teachers in guiding the ongoing learning for all children and young people, including those with additional learning needs.
We recognise that this unprecedented situation means support systems are not currently operating as they normally would and we are encouraging a practical and flexible approach, including the provision of services remotely wherever possible.
Where possible, learners with statements of SEN will continue to have their needs met. Local authorities should take all reasonable steps to ensure provision identified within an individual’s statement of SEN is delivered by their school and/or registered childcare setting.
Where NHS support was anticipated for the assessment of a young person with additional learning needs, routine activity will have been stepped down, and waiting lists suspended with young people kept on the waiting lists in their order. Young people who have health needs will continue to have provision both within and outside school settings based on assessment of need. Alternative ways to support these young people, such as digital methods, are being encouraged with resources to support this being developed across Wales.
Our frequently asked questions (FAQs) continue to be updated every day and include FAQs relating to vulnerable learners and safeguarding: https://gov.wales/vulnerable-children-and-safeguarding-coronavirus
A range of information for parents on how best they can support their child or young person with additional learning needs is available on the Childrens Commissioner Wales website and ASDinfoWales. Public Health Wales have produced an easy read leaflet and accessible information to support families to explain to children and young people what they need to do to stay safe during the coronavirus pandemic.
https://www.asdinfowales.co.uk/news/latest-information-on-novel-coronavirus-covid-19
https://www.asdinfowales.co.uk/growing-with-autism
https://phw.nhs.wales/topics/latest-information-on-novel-coronavirus-covid-19/