AEP meets with new Welsh Minister for Education & Welsh Language
On Wednesday 12 August, representatives from the AEP met with Anna Brychan, Welsh Minister for Education and the Welsh Language.
This meeting was a valuable opportunity to talk about some of the issues currently affecting children and young people across Wales, and to share the experiences and views of educational psychologists (EPs).
A lot of the discussion focused on the future of ALN and how we can ensure the system is sustainable and able to meet children and young people’s needs in the longer term. There was focus on the importance of inclusive schools, identifying needs early, and making sure children and families can access support within their schools and local communities.
Transitions were another important part of the conversation. Anna shared that she has been hearing a lot about how children’s needs can become more noticeable at times of change, such as moving schools or moving between different stages of education. Ensuring that appropriate support is available during these times was identified as an important consideration for both practitioners and policymakers.
The conversation also touched on the challenge of achieving equity across Wales’s 22 local authorities. There is a shared aim to make sure children and families receive good-quality support wherever they live, while also recognising that local areas need some flexibility to respond to the needs of their own communities.
The value parents place on diagnostic labels was another key focus of the discussion. It was recognised that for many families, having a diagnosis can help them understand their child, access support and explain their needs to others. The AEP representatives also highlighted the importance of making sure that support remains focused on the individual child, their strengths and what they need, rather than being driven by a diagnosis alone.
The meeting highlighted the important role educational psychologists play in informing policy, supporting inclusive practice, and helping to shape services that improve outcomes for children and young people. The AEP emphasised the importance of ensuring that Welsh-speaking and bilingual children can access an EP service through the medium of Welsh. This is particularly important in making sure that children can be supported in the language that is most appropriate for them.
The need for a second EP training course for North and Mid Wales, as well as the need to improve the bursary for trainees on the Cardiff training course was also reinforced.
Overall, it was a positive and useful meeting, and it was encouraging to hear Anna’s commitment to continuing to engage with the AEP and the profession. We look forward to keeping the conversation going and making sure the views of EPs continue to be part of discussions around education and ALN in Wales.
Welsh Language Version
Ar Ddydd Mercher 12 Awst, cyfarfu Rachel Jones, Cynrychiolydd Rhanbarth 9 (Cymru/Cymru) a Dewi Hughes, Cadeirydd Is-bwyllgor Polisïau Proffesiynol, Cymdeithas y Seicolegwyr Addysgol (AEP) ag Anna Brychan, Gweinidog Addysg a'r Gymraeg Cymru, i drafod materion allweddol sy'n effeithio ar blant a phobl ifanc ledled Cymru.
Roedd y cyfarfod yn gyfle pwysig i rannu safbwyntiau seicolegwyr addysgol ac i archwilio cynlluniau'r llywodraeth ar gyfer y system addysg ac yn hollbwysig ADY.
Roedd y trafodaethau yn canolbwyntio ar uchelgais Llywodraeth Cymru i ddatblygu system gynaliadwy sy'n gallu diwallu anghenion plant a phobl ifanc yn effeithiol dros y tymor hir. Rhoddwyd pwyslais cryf ar greu amgylcheddau addysgol cynhwysol lle mae anghenion yn cael eu nodi'n gynnar a chefnogaeth ar gael mewn ysgolion a chymunedau.
Maes trafod allweddol oedd pwyntiau pontio trwy gydol taith addysgol plentyn. Rhannodd Anna ei bod yn derbyn llawer o adborth y gall anghenion plant weithiau ddod yn fwy amlwg yn ystod cyfnodau o newid, fel symud rhwng lleoliadau addysgol neu gamau addysg. Nodwyd bod sicrhau bod cymorth priodol ar gael yn ystod yr amseroedd hyn yn ystyriaeth bwysig i ymarferwyr a llunwyr polisi.
Roedd y sgwrs hefyd yn archwilio'r her o sicrhau tegwch ar draws 22 awdurdod lleol Cymru. Er bod ymrwymiad ar y cyd i sicrhau bod plant a theuluoedd yn derbyn cymorth o ansawdd uchel waeth ble maen nhw'n byw, roedd cydnabyddiaeth bod yn rhaid cydbwyso hyn yn ofalus. Mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn awyddus i hyrwyddo cysondeb a thegwch ledled Cymru tra'n osgoi dull gor-gyfarwyddydol a allai gyfyngu ar hyblygrwydd lleol ac ymateboldeb i anghenion cymunedol.
Pwnc arwyddocaol arall oedd y gwerth y mae rhieni yn aml yn ei roi ar labeli diagnostig. Mae'r drafodaeth yn cydnabod y gall derbyn label eu helpu i ddeall profiadau eu plentyn, cael cymorth a chyfathrebu eu hanghenion yn fwy effeithiol. Ar yr un pryd, pwysleisiodd yr AEP sut y gall cefnogaeth barhau i ganolbwyntio ar gryfderau ac anghenion unigol plant, waeth beth fo'r diagnosis.
Tynnodd y cyfarfod sylw at y rôl bwysig y mae seicolegwyr addysgol yn ei chwarae wrth lywio polisi, cefnogi ymarfer cynhwysol, a helpu i lunio gwasanaethau sy'n gwella canlyniadau i blant a phobl ifanc. Cytunwyd ei fod yn bwysig darparu gwasanaeth seicolegol cyfrwmg Cymraeg ar gyfer plant iaith gyntaf a dwyieithog.
Fe wnaethom sôn am yr angen am ail gwrs hyfforddi ar gyfer SA yng ngogledd a chanolbarth Cymru a hefyd am wella'r fwrsariaeth ar gyfer Hyfforddeion ar gwrs hyfforddi Caerdydd.
Yn galonogol, mynegodd Anna Brychan ymrwymiad cryf i ymgysylltu parhaus â Chymdeithas y Seicolegwyr Addysgol a chydnabod gwerth deialog barhaus rhwng llunwyr polisi a'r proffesiwn seicoleg addysgol.
Dewi Hughes, Chair of the Professional Policies Subcommittee & Rachel Jones, AEP Region 9 (Wales/Cymru) rep and with Anna Brychan, Welsh Minister for Education and the Welsh Language.
Please note: follow tab below article to view a full Welsh language translation.
