Mwy o Chwarae i Blant Ysgol Cymru

Mae Llywodraeth y Cynulliad yn ymestyn y Cyfnod Sylfaen ar gyfer yr holl blant 5 - 6 mlwydd oed yng Nghymru.

Ar ôl cyflwyno Cyfnod Sylfaen chwyldroadol ar gyfer plant 3-5 oed, o ddechrau’r flwyddyn ysgol newydd, mae'r cwricwlwm hwn, sy’n seiliedig ar chwarae, yn cael ei ymestyn ar gyfer yr holl blant 5-6 oed yng Nghymru.

Meddai Prif Weinidog Cymru, Carwyn Jones: "Ers i ni ddechrau cyflwyno’r Cyfnod Sylfaen ym mis Medi 2008, mae wedi trawsnewid addysg y blynyddoedd cynnar yng Nghymru. Mae wedi sicrhau bod cysondeb a dilyniant yn addysg ein plant, a hynny ar adeg bwysig yn eu bywydau.

Trwy’r Cyfnod Sylfaen, rydyn ni’n rhoi’r cyfle i blant ddysgu trwy gymryd rhan mewn gweithgareddau ymarferol sy’n cynnig tipyn o hwyl a sbri. Maen nhw hefyd yn cael dysgu o brofiad uniongyrchol a hynny trwy chwarae a gwneud gweithgareddau ymarferol sy’n eu sbarduno i fod yn greadigol ac i ddefnyddio’u dychymyg, Ar yr un pryd  mae’n gyfle i gael hwyl wrth ddysgu.

Mae’r ffordd hon o addysgu plant yn bendant yn torri tir newydd. Mae brwdfrydedd ac ymateb athrawon, staff cymorth, ymarferwyr, rhieni/gofalwyr, ac yn bwysicach fyth y plant eu hunain, wedi bod yn gadarnhaol ac yn galonogol iawn."

Meddai’r Gweinidog dros Addysg Leighton Andrews:  "Rydyn ni eisoes yn gweld y manteision a ddaw o addysgu a dysgu trwy’r Cyfnod Sylfaen mewn ysgolion a lleoliadau ar hyd a lled Cymru. Ar ben hynny, daw budd parhaol o’r ffordd newydd radical hon o ddysgu y gwelwn ei heffaith am flynyddoedd i ddod.

Yn y Cyfnod Sylfaen, mae plant yn dysgu pynciau fel mathemateg trwy ddulliau ymarferol er mwyn iddyn nhw allu gweld sut mae problemau’n cael eu datrys a pha mor bwysig mae rhifau yn eu bywyd pob dydd. Hefyd, mae mwy o bwyslais ar gael y plant i ddeall sut mae pethau’n gweithio ac ar ddod o hyd i wahanol ffyrdd o ddatrys problemau.

Erbyn mis Medi 2011, bydd y gwaith o gyflwyno’r Cyfnod Sylfaen wedi’i gwblhau, a bydd pob plentyn rhwng tair a saith mlwydd oed yn gallu manteisio ar ein polisi addysg arloesol ar gyfer y blynyddoedd cynnar. Roedd cyflwyno’r Cyfnod Sylfaen yn gam mawr ymlaen i Gymru. Ond fel mae’r ddwy flynedd diwethaf wedi dangos i ni, roedd yn gam i’r cyfeiriad iawn."

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The Welsh Assembly Government’s flagship Foundation Phase policy has been extended to all 5 and 6-year-olds across Wales.

Following the introduction of the revolutionary Foundation Phase to children aged three to five, the play-based curriculum is being rolled out to all five and six-year-olds in Wales from the start of the new school year.. 

The First Minister, Carwyn Jones said: "Since the Foundation Phase started being introduced in September 2008 it has helped to transform early years education in Wales.  It has brought consistency and continuity to children’s education at such an important period in their lives.

Through the Foundation Phase we are giving children the chance to learn by taking part in practical activities that are fun and enjoyable.  They are also gaining first hand experiences through play and active involvement which enables them to be creative, imaginative and have fun whilst learning.

The approach we have taken has been ground-breaking and the enthusiasm and feedback we have received from teachers, support staff, practitioners, parents/carers and, more importantly, children, has been extremely positive and very encouraging."

Education Minister Leighton Andrews said:  "The benefits of teaching and learning through the Foundation Phase are already being seen in schools and settings across Wales.  But the pay-off of this radical new way of learning will be long-term and its impact will be felt for many years to come.

"Subjects such as mathematics have become more practical in the Foundation Phase so that children can see how problems are solved and how important numbers are in their everyday lives.  There is also more emphasis on children understanding how things work and on finding different ways to solve problems.

"September 2011 will see the Foundation Phase completely rolled out and then all  three to seven-year-olds in Wales will be able to access our flagship early years education policy.  Introducing the Foundation Phase was a big step forward for Wales but, as the past two years have shown us, it was a step in the right direction."