Welcome back to the first term of the new academic year and the second Legal Education and Children’s Rights in Schools Newsletter brought to you by The Children’s Legal Centre, Wales.
In each newsletter we aim to highlight ongoing work in children’s rights that is of particular relevance in education settings.
The Children’s Legal Centre Wales is a Wales-wide, bilingual service providing information for children and young people.
Our main aims are to:
Provide training and education on the law as it affects children and young people.
Carry out research, data analysis and evaluative studies to change and improve law, policy and practice in relation to children and young people.
We also:
Offer training and other help to schools, community groups and professionals
Organise conferences, workshops and seminars
Support networks that help spread knowledge about children’s human rights and the law in Wales.
During a scoping exercise carried out by the Children’s Legal Centre Wales, Year Six Pupils identified vaping as one of the main issues that is currently affecting young people. We are working on a project to create a bank of resources to help schools educate young people on these issues.
Most children and young people don’t vape. However, studies including the School Health Research Network (SHRN) Student Health and Wellbeing Survey in Wales have shown that the use of vaping devices among children and young people in the UK has been on the rise in recent years.
If you want to teach young people about the law and vaping, check out some of these great resources;
Healthy Learning Healthy Lives have a range of resources aimed at both students and parents and carers. These include an information video that can be used during an assembly or form-time along with follow up slides for more information. All of the resources can be found here;
Article 24: I have the right to be as healthy as possible.
States Parties recognize the right of the child to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health and to facilities for the treatment of illness and rehabilitation of health. States Parties shall strive to ensure that no child is deprived of his or her right of access to such health care services
This means that children can not be punished in a cruel or hurtful way including hitting, slapping, shaking and smacking. This applies to visitors as well as people who live in Wales. Information and guidance has been created by Welsh Government ;
The Children’s Legal Centre Wales has strong links with Swansea Law School students. We run a volunteer programme called ‘Reading my Rights’ where students are invited to write a blog aimed at young people based on a piece of literature. Through the blog, the students highlight an area of law or Children’s Rights they wish to explore further.
A recent blog based on David Walliams’ ‘Awful Auntie’ looks at the way the child in the story is treated and what protection she would have as a child in Wales. Read the full blog, as well as many others, here;
States Parties shall take all appropriate legislative, administrative, social and educational measures to protect the child from all forms of physical or mental violence, injury or abuse, neglect or negligent treatment, maltreatment or exploitation, including sexual abuse, while in the care of parent(s), legal guardian(s) or any other person who has the care of the child.
Racism in Schools
Diversity and Anti-Racist Professional Learning (DARPL) was founded as a Community of Practice (CoP) in 2021, funded by the Welsh Government and established at Cardiff Metropolitan University. DARPL brings together a diverse team of providers with lived and professional experience through a professional learning and resource hub with a Welsh perspective in raising multi-disciplinary racial consciousness, that work together within the New Curriculum for Wales.
DARPL has produced guidance for learning organisations which can be found here;
The Children’s Legal Centre, Policy Advocacy & Strategic Litigation Lead, Dr Rhian Croke shares her reflections on the issue of racism and it’s links with school exclusions here;
States Parties shall respect and ensure the rights set forth in the present Convention to each child within their jurisdiction without discrimination of any kind, irrespective of the child’s or his or her parent’s or legal guardian’s race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national, ethnic or social origin, property, disability, birth or other status.
Mental Health
World Mental Health day is on October 10th. Anna Freud, Mentally Healthy Schools, have created a calendar of curriculum themes and occasions linked to mental health for the 2024 autumn term, with activity ideas and free resources for each theme.
States Parties recognize the important function performed by the mass media and shall ensure that the child has access to information and material from a diversity of national and international sources, especially those aimed at the promotion of his or her social, spiritual and moral well-being and physical and mental health.
Knife Crime
According to the Ben Kinsella Trust the number of knife-related offences in England and Wales rose to 49,489 in 2023, up from 46,153 in 2022.
‘Not the One’ is an anti-knife crime campaign with the aim of reducing the number of knife crime offences and perpetrators in South Wales. Launched in South Wales in 2022, #NotTheOne aims to reduce youth knife crime by utilising expert evidence and insights to create messages that strongly resonate with young people.
#NotTheOne education resources are for use in a classroom setting and can be found here;
Following years of advocacy, the ban on machetes and zombie knives takes effect on Tuesday, 24th September. While it's important to acknowledge that this alone won't eradicate knife crime, it marks a crucial step in the right direction. The ban on zombie knives and machetes is the result of the dedicated efforts of many individuals and organisations working together.
Before the law change, the government is launching a surrender and compensation scheme to help reduce the number of these dangerous weapons and offer reimbursement to those who hand them in. More information can be found here;
Article 6: I have the right to live and grow as a person.
States Parties recognize that every child has the inherent right to life.
States Parties shall ensure to the maximum extent possible the survival and development of the child
We hope you have found this information useful, and we would welcome any information on upcoming events or resources that we can share with schools. For more information on the Law in Wales and how this affects young people please visit The Children’s Legal Centre Wales.
If you would like to read previous Newsletters please click here
Croeso nol to the first term of the new academic year and the second Legal Education and Children’s Rights in Schools Newsletter brought to you by The Children’s Legal Centre, Wales.
Ym mhob cylchlythyr, ein nod yw tynnu sylw at waith parhaus yn y maes hawliau plant sy'n arbennig o berthnasol mewn lleoliadau addysg.
Mae Canolfan Gyfreithiol y Plant, Cymru yn wasanaeth dwyieithog sy’n rhoi gwybodaeth i blant a phobl ifanc ledled Cymru.
Ein prif amcanion yw:
Darparu hyfforddiant ac addysg ar y gyfraith fel y mae'n effeithio ar blant a phobl ifanc.
Cynnal ymchwil, astudiaethau gwerthuso a dadansoddi data i newid a gwella’r gyfraith, polisi ac ymarfer mewn perthynas â phlant a phobl ifanc.
Rydym hefyd yn:
Cynnig hyfforddiant a chymorth arall i ysgolion, grwpiau cymunedol a gweithwyr proffesiynol
Trefnu cynadleddau, gweithdai a seminarau
Cefnogi rhwydweithiau sy'n helpu i ledaenu gwybodaeth am hawliau dynol plant a'r gyfraith yng Nghymru.
Yn ystod ymarfer cwmpasu a gynhaliwyd gan Ganolfan Gyfreithiol y Plant Cymru, roedd disgyblion Blwyddyn Chwech yn dweud bod fepio yn un o’r prif broblemau sy’n effeithio ar bobl ifanc ar hyn o bryd. Rydyn ni wrthi’n gweithio ar brosiect i greu cronfa o adnoddau i helpu ysgolion i addysgu pobl ifanc am y materion hyn.
Dydy’r rhan fwyaf o blant a phobl ifanc ddim yn fepio. Ond, mae astudiaethau gan gynnwys Arolwg Iechyd a Llesiant Disgyblion y Rhwydwaith Ymchwil Iechyd mewn Ysgolion yng Nghymru wedi dangos cynnydd yn nifer y plant a phobl ifanc yn y DU sy’n defnyddio dyfeisiau fepio yn ystod y blynyddoedd diwethaf.
Os ydych chi eisiau dysgu pobl ifanc am y gyfraith a fepio, tarwch olwg ar rai o’r adnoddau gwych hyn;
Mae gan Healthy Learning Healthy Lives amrywiaeth o adnoddau i ddisgyblion, rhieni a gofalwyr. Mae’r rhain yn cynnwys fideo gwybodaeth y mae modd ei ddefnyddio mewn gwasanaeth neu yn ystod amser cofrestru ynghyd â sleidiau dilynol i gael rhagor o wybodaeth. Mae’r holl adnoddau ar gael yma;
Erthygl 24: Mae gen i’r hawl i fod mor iach â phosib.
Mae Partïon yn cydnabod hawl y plentyn i fwynhau’r safon iechyd uchaf posib ac i gael mynediad at gyfleusterau i drin salwch ac adsefydlu iechyd. Bydd Partïon yn ymdrechu i sicrhau na chaiff unrhyw blentyn ei amddifadu o'i hawl i gael mynediad at wasanaethau gofal iechyd o'r fath.
Mae hyn yn golygu na ellir cosbi plant mewn ffordd greulon neu niweidiol, gan gynnwys eu taro, eu slapio, na’u hysgwyd. Mae hyn yn berthnasol i ymwelwyr yn ogystal â phobl sy’n byw yng Nghymru. Mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi creu gwybodaeth ac arweiniad;
Mae gan Ganolfan Gyfreithiol y Plant Cymru gysylltiadau cryf â myfyrwyr Ysgol y Gyfraith Abertawe. Rydyn ni’n cynnal rhaglen wirfoddoli o'r enw 'Darllen fy Hawliau' lle mae myfyrwyr yn cael eu gwahodd i ysgrifennu blog wedi'i anelu at bobl ifanc yn seiliedig ar ddarn o lenyddiaeth. Drwy'r blog, mae'r myfyrwyr yn tynnu sylw at faes o'r gyfraith neu Hawliau Plant y maen nhw am ei archwilio ymhellach.
Mae blog diweddar yn seiliedig ar ‘Anti Afiach’ gan David Walliams yn edrych ar y ffordd y mae’r plentyn yn y stori yn cael ei drin a pha amddiffyniad y byddai’n ei gael fel plentyn yng Nghymru. Darllenwch y blog llawn, yn ogystal â llawer o rai eraill, yma;
Erthygl 17: Mae gen i’r hawl i gael gwybodaeth mewn llawer o ffyrdd, cyn belled â’i fod yn ddiogel.
Mae Partïon yn cydnabod swyddogaeth bwysig y cyfryngau torfol a byddan nhw’n sicrhau bod y plentyn yn cael gafael ar wybodaeth a deunyddiau o amrywiaeth o ffynonellau cenedlaethol a rhyngwladol, yn enwedig y rheini sydd wedi'u hanelu at hyrwyddo llesiant cymdeithasol, ysbrydol a moesol, ac iechyd corfforol a meddyliol.
Hiliaeth mewn ysgolion
Sefydlwyd Dysgu Proffesiynol Amrywiaeth a Gwrth-hiliaeth (DARPL) fel Cymuned Ymarfer yn 2021, a gyllidir gan Lywodraeth Cymru ac a sefydlwyd ym Mhrifysgol Fetropolitan Caerdydd. Mae DARPL yn casglu ynghyd tîm amrywiol o ddarparwyr sydd â phrofiad byw a phroffesiynol drwy ganolfan adnoddau a dysgu proffesiynol sydd â phersbectif Cymreig o ran codi ymwybyddiaeth o hiliaeth amlddisgyblaethol, sy’n gweithio gyda’i gilydd o fewn y Cwricwlwm Newydd i Gymru.
Mae DARPL wedi cynhyrchu canllawiau ar gyfer sefydliadau dysgu ac maen nhw ar gael yma;
Mae Dr Rhian Croke, sef Arweinydd Ymgyfreitha Strategol ac Eiriolaeth Polisi Canolfan Gyfreithiol y Plant, yn rhannu ei barn am hiliaeth a sut mae’n gysylltiedig ag achosion o wahardd o’r ysgol yma;
Erthygl 2: Mae gan bob plentyn yr hawliau hyn ni waeth beth yw ei wahaniaethau.
Mae’n rhaid i Bartïon barchu a sicrhau'r hawliau a nodir yn y Confensiwn presennol ar gyfer pob plentyn o fewn eu hawdurdodaeth heb wahaniaethu o unrhyw fath, waeth beth fo hil, lliw, rhyw, iaith, crefydd, barn wleidyddol neu farn arall, tarddiad cenedlaethol, ethnig neu gymdeithasol, eiddo, anabledd, genedigaeth neu statws arall y plentyn, ei riant neu warcheidwad cyfreithiol.
Iechyd Meddwl
Iechyd Meddwl
Mae hi’n ddiwrnod Iechyd Meddwl y Byd ar 10 Hydref. Mae Anna Feud Mentally Healthy Schools wedi creu caledr o themâu a digwyddiadau cwricwlwm sy’n gysylltiedig ag iechyd meddwl ar gyfer tymor yr hydref 2024, gyda gweithgareddau ac adnoddau am ddim ar gyfer pob thema.
Mae’r calendr yn tynnu sylw at ddiwrnodau codi ymwybyddiaeth a themâu ar gyfer y tymor hwn, gan gynnwys:
Dychwelyd i’r ysgol a phontio
Mis Hanes Pobl Ddu
Diwrnod Iechyd Meddwl y Byd
Wythnos Ryngwladol Ymwybyddiaeth o Straen
Wythnos Gwrth-Fwlio
Erthygl 17: Mae gen i’r hawl i gael gwybodaeth mewn llawer o ffyrdd, cyn belled â’i fod yn ddiogel.
Mae Partïon yn cydnabod swyddogaeth bwysig y cyfryngau torfol a bydd yn sicrhau bod y plentyn yn cael gafael ar wybodaeth a deunyddiau o amrywiaeth o ffynonellau cenedlaethol a rhyngwladol, yn enwedig y rheini sydd wedi'u hanelu at hyrwyddo ei lesiant cymdeithasol, ysbrydol a moesol, a'i iechyd corfforol a meddyliol.
Troseddau Cyllyll
Yn ôl Ymddiriedolaeth Ben Kinsella, roedd nifer y troseddau yn ymwneud â chyllyll yng Nghymru a Lloegr wedi cynyddu i 49,489 yn 2023, o 46,153 yn 2022.
Mae ‘Ddim yr Un’ yn ymgyrch yn erbyn troseddau cyllyll gyda’r nod o leihau nifer y tramgwyddwyr a throseddau cyllyll yn Ne Cymru. Lansiwyd #DdimYrUn yn Ne Cymru yn 2022, gyda’r nod o leihau troseddau cyllyll ymysg pobl ifanc drwy ddefnyddio gwybodaeth a thystiolaeth i greu negeseuon sy’n taro tant gyda phobl ifanc.
Mae adnoddau addysgol #DdimYrUn i’w defnyddio mewn ystafell ddosbarth ac maen nhw ar gael yma;
Ar ôl blynyddoedd o eiriolaeth, bydd y gwaharddiad ar gyllyll sombi a thwca yn dod i rym ddydd Mawrth, 24 Medi. Er ei bod yn bwysig cydnabod na fydd hyn ar ei ben ei hun yn rhoi diwedd ar droseddau cyllyll, mae’n gam hollbwysig i’r cyfeiriad iawn. Mae’r gwaharddiad ar gyllyll sombi a thwca yn ganlyniad i ymdrechion ymroddedig llawer o unigolion a sefydliadau sy’n gweithio gyda’i gilydd.
Cyn i’r gyfraith newid, mae’r llywodraeth yn lansio cynllun ildio ac iawndal i helpu i leihau nifer yr arfau peryglus hyn a chynnig ad-daliad i’r rheini sy’n eu hildio. Mae rhagor o wybodaeth ar gael yma;
Erthygl 6: Mae gen i hawl i fyw a thyfu fel person.
Mae Partïon yn cydnabod bod gan bob plentyn yr hawl gynhenid i fywyd.
Mae’n rhaid i Bartïon sicrhau, i’r graddau mwyaf posibl, bod y plentyn yn goroesi ac yn datblygu.
Gobeithio bod yr wybodaeth hon wedi bod yn ddefnyddiol i chi, a byddem yn croesawu unrhyw wybodaeth am ddigwyddiadau neu adnoddau sydd ar y gweill y gallwn eu rhannu ag ysgolion. Mae ein cylchlythyrau blaenorol ar gael yma: Hafan | Children's Legal Centre Wales (childrenslegalcentre.wales)
I gael rhagor o wybodaeth am y Gyfraith yng Nghymru a sut mae hyn yn effeithio ar bobl ifanc, ewch i Ganolfan Gyfreithiol y Plant Cymru.
