The Minister for Children and Social Care has published a statement about the response to the public consultation on the National Minimum Standards for regulated childcare which ran from 17 September to 10 December 2025.
A summary of responses to the consultation has also been published.
Dawn Bowden MS, Minister for Children and Social Care said:
The consultation proposals sought to address recommendations arising from the Early Years, Childcare and Play reviews, as well as concerns raised by stakeholders and providers. Our aim was to ensure that providers can remain sustainable while children and families benefit from safe, nurturing and high‑quality childcare and play experiences that support children to play, learn, socialise and thrive.
I want to extend my sincere thanks to everyone who contributed to this consultation. Your feedback has been invaluable in helping us shape standards that are relevant, proportionate and fit for purpose, both now and for the future.
Claire Protheroe, Head of Contracts and Projects for Coram PACEY said:
Coram PACEY Cymru are extremely pleased to see that key changes related to childminder practice, that we have been working hard to influence, will be taken forward in the review of the NMS that will be published in summer 2026. This reflects recommendations within the Independent Review of Childminding that will have a positive impact on access to childminding services by children and families and on childminder sustainability and growth. We have made it clear to Welsh Government that providers will need these changes to be published as far as possible in advance of the summer holidays in order to have a positive impact on care for children in the summer holidays later this year. We are continuing to work closely with Wesh Government and key stakeholders to confirm the specific detail of the changes and will share this once confirmed.
Next steps
The Welsh Government will be taking forward the following changes that impact on Coram PACEY members specifically (see section 5 for the full list):
Please note these changes do not come into effect until the publication of the revised NMS later in the summer. All childcare providers should work to the current NMS until then.
- Update Standard 11 (Medication) and introduce an additional supporting annexe within the NMS.
- Amend the relevant standard to allow childminding assistants to begin employment whilst working towards the required qualification, with the 6-month time limit with adherence to conditions set out within the supporting annexe.
- Amend the relevant standard to clarify a defined time limit on childminding assistants being left in sole charge of children.
- Update the childminder ratios to:
The maximum number of children for whom a child minder can care for is as follows:
Ten children up to 12 years of age;
Of those ten children, no more than six may be under 8 years of age.
Of those six, no more than four may be under 5 years of age.
Of those four no more than three may be under 2 years of age
Of those three children, normally no more than two may be under 18 months of age, although exceptions can be made for siblings.
and in collaboration with Coram Pacey Cymru consider any further refinements.
- Implement an additional standard that children who are due to start full-time statutory schooling (reception year) in the September can be classed as over 5 years old in the summer holidays immediately before this for the purposes of the ratios relevant to childminders. In collaboration with Coram PACEY Cymru to consider whether any further refinements are required.
- Amend the existing standard 15.2 (CM) to reflect that children aged 3-5 years old who attend an educational provision or a combination of an educational provision and wrap-around childcare within school hours at another setting for five or more hours per day could be classed as over 5 years old for the purposes of the ratios relevant to child minders. In collaboration with Coram PACEY Cymru to consider whether any further refinements are required.
Further information
If you have further queries please email cymru@corampacey.org.uk
Y Gweinidog Plant a Gofal Cymdeithasol wedi cyhoeddi datganiad ynghylch yr ymateb i’r ymgynghoriad cyhoeddus ar y Safonau Gofynnol Cenedlaethol ar gyfer Gofal Plant a Reoleiddir, a gynhaliwyd rhwng 17 Medi a 10 Rhagfyr 2025.
Mae’r crynodeb o’r ymatebion i’r ymgynghoriad hwnnw wedi’i gyhoeddi.
Dywedodd Dawn Bowden AS, y Gweinidog Plant a Gofal Cymdeithasol:
Roedd y cynigion ymgynghori yn ceisio mynd i'r afael ag argymhellion sy'n deillio o adolygiadau'r Blynyddoedd Cynnar, Gofal Plant a Chwarae, yn ogystal â phryderon a godwyd gan randdeiliaid a darparwyr. Ein nod oedd sicrhau bod darparwyr yn gallu parhau i fod yn gynaliadwy tra bo plant a theuluoedd yn elwa ar brofiadau gofal plant a chwarae diogel a llesol o ansawdd uchel sy'n cefnogi plant i chwarae, dysgu, cymdeithasu a ffynnu.
Hoffwn ddiolch yn ddidwyll i bawb a gyfrannodd at yr ymgynghoriad hwn. Mae eich adborth wedi bod yn amhrisiadwy wrth ein helpu i lunio safonau sy'n berthnasol, yn gymesur ac yn addas i'r diben, heddiw ac ar gyfer y dyfodol.
Dywedodd Claire Protheroe, Pennaeth Cytundebau a Phrosiectau, Coram PACEY:
Mae Coram PACEY Cymru yn hynod o falch o weld y bydd newidiadau allweddol sy’n ymwneud ag ymarfer gwarchod plant, yr ydym wedi bod yn gweithio’n galed i’w dylanwadu, yn cael eu hyrwyddo yn adolygiad y Safonau a gaiff ei gyhoeddi yn haf 2026. Mae hyn yn adlewyrchu argymhellion yn Adolygiad Annibynnol Gwarchod Plant a fydd yn cael effaith gadarnhaol ar wasanaethau gwarchod plant gan blant a theuluoedd ac ar gynaliadwyedd a thyfiant gwarchod plant. Rydym wedi gwneud yn glir i Lywodraeth Cymru y bydd angen i gyhoeddi newidiadau cyn gynted â phosibl cyn gwyliau haf, er mwyn cael effaith gadarnhaol ar ofal plant yn ystod gwyliau haf y flwyddyn hon. Rydym yn parhau i weithio’n agos gyda Llywodraeth Cymru a phrif randaliadau i gadarnhau manylion penodol y newid ar gyfer cyhoeddi ac yn rhannu hyn unwaith y bydd wedi cael ei gadarnhau.
Y Camau Nesaf
Mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi ystyried yr ymatebion i'r cwestiynau a bydd yn bwrw ymlaen â'r newidiadau canlynol (gweler adran 5 am y rhestr lawn):
Sylwch na fydd y newidiadau hyn yn dod i rym tan gyhoeddi'r Safonau wedi'u haddasu yn ddiweddarach yn yr haf. Dylai pob darparwr gofal plant weithio i'r Safonau cyfredol tan hynny.
- Diweddaru Safon 11 (Meddyginiaeth) a chyflwyno atodiad ategol ychwanegol yn y Safonau Gofynnol Cenedlaethol.
- Diwygio'r safon i ganiatáu i gynorthwywyr gwarchod plant ddechrau cyflogaeth wrth iddynt weithio tuag at y cymhwyster gofynnol, gyda therfyn amser o 6 mis i fodloni'r amodau fel y'u nodir yn yr atodiad ategol.
- Diwygio'r safon er mwyn egluro terfyn amser penodol ar gyfer faint o amser y gall cynorthwywyr gwarchod plant fod yn gyfrifol am blant ar eu pen eu hunain.
- Diweddaru'r cymarebau ar gyfer gwarchodwyr plant ac, mewn cydweithrediad â Coram PACEY Cymru, ystyried unrhyw welliannau eraill.
Newid i:
Y nifer fwyaf o blant y caiff gwarchodwr plant ofalu amdanynt yw:
Deg o blant hyd at 12 oed;
O'r 10 plentyn hynny, ni all mwy na chwech fod o dan wyth oed.
O'r chwe phlentyn hynny, ni all mwy na phedwar fod o dan 5 oed.
O'r pedwar plentyn hynny, ni chaiff mwy na thri fod o dan 2 oed.
O’r tri phlentyn hynny, ni chaiff mwy na dau fod o dan 18 mis oed fel arfer, er bod eithriadau'n bosibl yn achos brodyr a chwiorydd.
- Gweithredu safon ychwanegol fel y gall plant sydd i fod i ddechrau addysg statudol amser llawn (blwyddyn derbyn) ym mis Medi gael eu categoreiddio fel plant dros 5 oed yn ystod gwyliau'r haf yn union cyn hynny at ddibenion y cymarebau sy'n berthnasol i warchodwyr plant. Mewn cydweithrediad â Coram PACEY Cymru er mwyn penderfynu a oes angen unrhyw welliannau eraill.
- Diwygio'r safon bresennol 15.2 (Gwarchodwyr Plant) i adlewyrchu'r ffaith y gallai plant 3-5 oed sy'n mynychu darpariaeth addysgol neu gyfuniad o ddarpariaeth addysgol a gofal plant cofleidiol o fewn oriau ysgol mewn lleoliad arall am bum awr neu fwy y dydd gael eu categoreiddio fel rhai dros 5 oed at ddibenion y cymarebau sy'n berthnasol i warchodwyr plant. Mewn cydweithrediad â Coram PACEY Cymru er mwyn penderfynu a oes angen unrhyw welliannau eraill.
Gwybodaeth bellach
Os oes gennych ymholiadau pellach ar ôl darllen y rhain, anfonwch e-bost at cymru@corampacey.org.uk
