On June 18th 2026 the Welsh Government published the updated National Minimum Standards (NMS) for regulated childcare. Here Lindsey Wilkins, Development Coordinator for Coram PACEY Cymru looks at what you will need to do next.
The first thing you need to do is make yourself familiar with the updated NMS, highlighting any changes that impact your childcare provision. The Welsh Government have published a Summary of Changes that will support this.
One thing to note is that each standard outcome has now changed to include the child’s voice and the well-being outcome that meets this. We recommend you look at these when reviewing your policies and procedures.
Next steps:
You will need to review your Policies and Procedures in line with the changes in the NMS. We have updated our policy guidance to support you in doing this.
When reviewing your policies you will need to pay particular attention to:
- Medication Policy – additional guidance around the administration of liquid paracetamol has been added in Annex D of the NMS
- Staffing Policy (If applicable) – changes relating to assistant suitability have been added to annex A
- Statement of Purpose (SOP) – changes to ratios will need to be reflected in your SOP
Further changes that may affect your policies and procedures include:
- A change from referring to smoking to referring to smoking and vaping
- A change from referring to children with disabilities or additional needs to referring to disabled children and children with additional support needs
- A change from referring to a child in need to child in need of care and support
- Parental permission forms may also need reviewing.
Please note, this is not an exhaustive list and as noted we recommend you take some time to familiarise yourself with the updated NMS. If you have any questions you can contact Coram PACEY Cymru or your local authority for support.
How to review your policies:
- Make yourself familiar with the updated NMS, highlighting any changes that impact your childcare provision
- Read through your policies and procedures including your SOP and ensure you amend where relevant. The Coram PACEY Cymru policy guidance will support you.
- Share your updated policies and procedures, including your SOP with the relevant people, including parents.
- Ensure that parents have signed and dated the relevant documents to acknowledge the changes.
- Make sure you have informed Care Inspectorate Wales of any changes made to your SOP through the CIW Online This could be with regards to staffing arrangements, ratios or any other changes you have made. An updated copy should be provided to CIW as soon as possible.
Further resources:
Policy Guidance Childminder - Wales | Coram PACEY
Policy Guidance Day Care - Wales | Coram PACEY
Writing and reviewing your policies and procedures
Writing and reviewing your Statement of Purpose (Wales)
National Minimum Standards for Regulated Childcare for children up to the age of 12 years: statutory guidance [HTML] | GOV.WALES
The Child Minding and Day Care (Wales) Regulations 2010
Ar 18 Mehefin 2026 cyhoeddodd Llywodraeth Cymru y Safonau Gofynnol Cenedlaethol (NMS) diweddaredig ar gyfer gofal plant a reoleiddir. Yma mae Lindsey Wilkins, Cydlynydd Datblygu Coram PACEY Cymru yn archwilio'r hyn sydd angen i chi ei wneud nesaf.
Y peth cyntaf sydd angen i chi ei wneud yw ymgyfarwyddo â'r NMS diweddaredig, gan amlygu unrhyw newidiadau sy'n effeithio ar eich darpariaeth gofal plant. Mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi cyhoeddi Crynodeb Newidiadau a fydd yn cefnogi hyn.
Un peth i'w nodi yw bod pob deilliant safonol bellach wedi newid i gynnwys llais y plentyn a'r deilliant lles sy'n bodloni hyn. Rydym yn argymell eich bod yn edrych ar y rhain wrth ddiweddaru'ch polisïau a'ch gweithdrefnau.
Camau nesaf:
Bydd angen i chi adolygu'ch Polisïau a'ch Gweithdrefnau yn unol â'r newidiadau yn y NMS. Rydym wedi diweddaru ein canllawiau polisi i'ch cefnogi i wneud hyn.
Wrth adolygu'ch polisïau bydd angen i chi roi sylw arbennig i:
- Polisi Meddyginiaeth – mae canllawiau ychwanegol ynghylch rhoi paracetamol hylif wedi'u hychwanegu yn Atodiad D o'r NMS
- Polisi Staffio (Os yn berthnasol) – mae newidiadau sy'n ymwneud ag addasrwydd cynorthwywyr wedi'u hychwanegu at atodiad A
- Datganiad o Ddiben (SOP) – bydd angen adlewyrchu newidiadau i gymarebau yn eich SOP
Mae newidiadau pellach a allai effeithio ar eich polisïau a'ch gweithdrefnau yn cynnwys:
- Newid o gyfeirio at ysmygu i gyfeirio at ysmygu a fepio
- Newid o gyfeirio at blant ag anableddau neu anghenion ychwanegol i gyfeirio at blant anabl a phlant gydag anghenion cymorth ychwanegol
- Newid o gyfeirio at blentyn mewn angen i blentyn sydd angen gofal a chymorth
- Mae'n bosib y bydd angen adolygu ffurflenni caniatâd rhieni hefyd.
Sylwer nid yw hon yn rhestr gynhwysfawr ac fel y nodwyd rydym yn argymell eich bod yn cymryd amser i ymgyfarwyddo â'r NMS diweddaredig. Os oes gennych unrhyw gwestiynau gallwch gysylltu â Coram PACEY Cymru neu'ch awdurdod lleol i gael cymorth.
Sut i adolygu'ch polisïau:
- Ymgyfarwyddwch â'r NMS diweddaredig, gan amlygu unrhyw newidiadau sy'n effeithio ar eich darpariaeth gofal plant
- Darllenwch eich polisïau a'ch gweithdrefnau gan gynnwys eich SOP a sicrhewch eich bod yn diweddaru lle bo'n berthnasol. Bydd canllawiau polisi Coram PACEY Cymru yn eich cefnogi.
- Rhannwch eich polisïau a gweithdrefnau diweddaredig, gan gynnwys eich SOP, gyda'r bobl berthnasol, gan gynnwys rhieni.
- Sicrhewch fod rhieni wedi llofnodi a dyddio'r dogfennau perthnasol i gydnabod y newidiadau.
- Sicrhewch eich bod wedi hysbysu Arolygiaeth Gofal Cymru am unrhyw newidiadau a wnaed i'ch SOP drwy borth AGC Ar-lein. Gallai hyn fod mewn perthynas â threfniadau staffio, cymarebau neu unrhyw newidiadau eraill rydych chi wedi'u gwneud. Dylid darparu copi diweddaredig i AGC cyn gynted â phosib.
Adnoddau pellach:
Canllawiau Polisi Gwarchodwr Plant - Cymru | Coram PACEY
Canllawiau Polisi Gofal Dydd - Cymru | Coram PACEY
Ysgrifennu ac adolygu'ch polisïau a'ch gweithdrefnau
Ysgrifennu ac adolygu'ch Datganiad o Ddiben (Cymru)
Safonau Gofynnol Cenedlaethol ar gyfer Gofal Plant a Reoleiddir i blant hyd at 12 oed: canllawiau statudol [HTML] | LLYW.CYMRU
Rheoliadau Gwarchod Plant a Gofal Dydd (Cymru) 2010
