Wales ‘led the way’ in providing IT and online learning to pupils at home throughout pandemic

The way the Welsh Government provided laptops and wi-fi devices to address the lack of access to online learning caused by the coronavirus pandemic has been described as ‘commendable’ in an independent report published today (Friday, October 9).

The new report, by the Education Policy Institute (EPI), also says the Welsh Government was successful in ensuring that families eligible for free school meals had ‘access to timely and appropriate support’.

The Education policy responses across the UK to the pandemic report is the first detailed analysis comparing how the governments of each of the UK nations supported pupils’ education during the period of closures to schools this year.  

In a section looking into supporting online learning at home, the report states that, in contrast to other UK nations, the Welsh Government was able to draw on ‘well-established infrastructure to act quickly following the closures’.

It says: “Policymakers and schools were able to re-purpose existing stocks of laptops and send internet routers to disadvantaged learners by the end of May.

“The delivery of laptops and internet routers came later in England, as new procurement systems were needed. The majority of equipment was delivered by the end of June…In Scotland and Northern Ireland, the response was far slower. Laptop and internet delivery in these countries was not even complete by the end of the school year, leaving poorer pupils to wait several months to access online learning materials.”

The report goes on to cover free school meals in which it says: “Scottish and Welsh responses proved more effective as they were delivered through local authorities, used existing infrastructure and were flexible according to families’ needs.

“On extending support to those who receive free school meals into the summer, Wales was the only country to give certainty to families by announcing the policy very early on, in April.”

Education Minister Kirsty Williams said:

“This report makes for interesting reading; as I’ve said before, there was no guide left on how to run an education system during a pandemic.

“Clearly there is plenty of room for improvement for all governments across the UK. That is why it is so helpful to have evidence collated like this – devolution means we are all able to learn from each other to deliver for our citizens.

“Ensuring that no child or family was left behind as a result of this crisis remains a key priority for the Welsh Government, so it particularly encouraging to see the EPI highlight our work in response to providing free school meals and supporting online learning.”

Cymru wedi ‘arwain y ffordd’ wrth ddarparu TG a gwersi ar-lein i ddisgyblion drwy gydol y pandemig

Mae’r ffordd y darparodd Llywodraeth Cymru liniaduron a dyfeisiau wi-fi i fynd i’r afael â’r diffyg mynediad at ddysgu ar-lein a achoswyd gan y pandemig coronafeirws wedi’i ddisgrifio fel un clodwiw mewn adroddiad annibynnol a gyhoeddwyd heddiw (dydd Gwener, 9 Hydref).

Mae’r adroddiad newydd gan y Sefydliad Polisi Addysg hefyd yn dweud bod Llywodraeth Cymru wedi llwyddo i sicrhau bod teuluoedd sy’n gymwys i gael prydau ysgol am ddim yn cael cymorth amserol a phriodol.

Yr adroddiad Education policy responses across the UK to the pandemic yw’r dadansoddiad manwl cyntaf sy’n cymharu sut yr oedd llywodraethau pob un o wledydd y DU yn cefnogi addysg disgyblion yn ystod y cyfnod pan oedd ysgolion ar gau eleni. 

Mewn adran sy’n edrych ar gefnogi dysgu ar-lein gartref, mae’r adroddiad yn nodi bod Llywodraeth Cymru, yn wahanol i wledydd eraill y DU, wedi gallu defnyddio seilwaith sefydledig i weithredu’n gyflym ar ôl cau’r ysgolion.

Meddai bod llunwyr polisi ac ysgolion wedi gallu ail-gyfeirio’r stociau presennol o liniaduron ac anfon llwybrwyr rhyngrwyd i ddysgwyr difreintiedig erbyn diwedd mis Mai.

Daeth y broses o ddarparu gliniaduron a llwybrwyr rhyngrwyd yn ddiweddarach yn Lloegr, gan fod angen systemau caffael newydd. Cafodd y rhan fwyaf o’r offer ei ddarparu erbyn diwedd mis Mehefin. Yn yr Alban a Gogledd Iwerddon, roedd yr ymateb yn arafach o lawer. Nid oedd y broses o ddarparu gliniaduron a’r rhyngrwyd yn y gwledydd hyn wedi’i chwblhau erbyn diwedd y flwyddyn ysgol hyd yn oed, gan adael disgyblion tlotach i aros sawl mis i gael gafael ar ddeunyddiau dysgu ar-lein.

Mae’r adroddiad yn mynd ymlaen i edrych ar brydau ysgol, gan ddweud bod ymatebion Cymru a’r Alban wedi bod yn fwy effeithiol gan iddynt gael eu darparu drwy awdurdodau lleol, gan ddefnyddio’r seilwaith presennol a’u bod yn hyblyg yn ôl anghenion teuluoedd.

O ran ymestyn cymorth i’r rhai sy’n cael prydau ysgol am ddim i’r haf, Cymru oedd yr unig wlad i roi sicrwydd i deuluoedd drwy gyhoeddi’r polisi yn gynnar iawn, ym mis Ebrill.

Dywedodd Kirsty Williams, y Gweinidog Addysg: “Mae’r adroddiad hwn yn ddiddorol tu hwnt; rwy’ wedi dweud o’r blaen nad oedd canllaw ar gael ar sut i redeg system addysg yn ystod pandemig.

“Yn amlwg, mae digon o le i wella gan bob llywodraeth ledled y DU. Dyna pam ei bod mor ddefnyddiol casglu tystiolaeth fel hyn – mae datganoli’n golygu ein bod i gyd yn gallu dysgu oddi wrth ein gilydd i gyflawni dros ein pobl.

“Mae sicrhau nad oes unrhyw blentyn neu deulu yn cael ei adael ar ôl o ganlyniad i’r argyfwng hwn yn parhau i fod yn flaenoriaeth allweddol i Lywodraeth Cymru, felly mae’n galonogol iawn gweld y Sefydliad Polisi Addysg yn tynnu sylw at ein gwaith o ran darparu prydau ysgol am ddim a chefnogi dysgu ar-lein.”