Estyn Review
You will remember that following our inspection last academic year we were tasked with drawing up an action plan to address the recommendations of our report and Estyn would review progress between 12 and 18 months later. This is the lightest touch of follow up to an inspection and not a statutory category (such as significant improvement or special measures).
I’m sure you will join me, and the whole school community, in welcoming the news that at the end of our review period Estyn have agreed that we have made sufficient progress against our recommendations and that there will be no further follow up to last year's inspection.
Much work has been done since then to deliver a range of improvements to address Estyn’s three key recommendations:
Recommendation 1: Develop and implement effective evaluation and improvement processes.
We have re-established our full range of evaluation processes and have gathered a significant range of evidence from key stakeholders. This has shaped our recent improvement journey and has ensured progress towards all recommendations. We are engaged in continuous self-evaluation and the school is clear about our strengths and areas for development.
Recommendation 2: Ensure that teaching supports pupils to develop the full range of skills progressively as they move through the school and that pupils have opportunities to use these skills in their work across the curriculum.
Since the inspection we have received valuable support to develop our curriculum and to increase pupil independence. Robust monitoring through a variety of activities indicates that greater progress towards the implementation of Curriculum for Wales is impacting positively on pupil progress and independence for all learners. Across the school, learners complete independent challenges that build on previous learning, whilst teachers work with focus groups to deepen understanding.
R3 Develop effective partnerships with parents.
The PTFA and Parent Forum have been re-established and are both greatly valued. Information for parents is more frequent and accessible and we have also enhanced our school website so that parents have access to an increased range of useful information. The school website is frequently updated to provide information in response to parents’ queries, for example, the sections about school dinners and attendance.
We are also implementing a range of activities, such as the recent open day for maths and Miss Rooke's availability at parents evening to discuss all things digital, to provide information to parents about how to support their children's progress.
The points covered above are just a small snapshot of the overall positive progress that has been made over recent months and we are looking forward to building on this success in future.
Our focus remains on providing all our children with the best outcomes and the most positive learning experience possible. Thank you for your continued support and I will keep you updated about further progress.
Cluster Times Table Competition Winners!
Congratulations to our Y5/6 team who represented us at Ynysddu Primary yesterday with children from all the cluster primaries (Ynysddu, Cwmfelinfach, Penllwyn, Bryn, Trinant & Rhiw Syr Dafydd. We won the team competition and Caeson, in Year 6, got the Bronze award for individuals. We're very proud of them!
Attendance
Our Callio emails are being generated and sent out this afternoon. Please remember that no offence is intended and that this approach is in common with the majority of schools across the south east wales region. Welsh Government are very keen for schools to address the low attendance rates that have followed the pandemic. However, as mentioned in last week's email, in Pontllanfraith we are concerned that we are not making as much progress in increasing the percentage of children with 'green' (above 95% attendance) as some other local schools. In particular we are concerned that we have a high number of persistent absentees (attendance below 80%).
Unfortunately, our 100% prizes have not arrived in time to present today and so we will give out prizes and certificates for this term at the end of the first week back. Please remember that certificates are for this term only (and so it is possible to get a certificate and still be under 95% overall if attendance was low in the Autumn Term).
PTFA
And finally, thank you to the PTFA for providing the Easter Eggs today - we're very grateful! We hope the children enjoy them. Also a thank you and well done to our PTFA art competition winners.
Please see the letter that will go out from the PTFA with the eggs advertising their next fundraiser on Friday 12th April (end of the first week back) and the summer fete (Friday 21st June).