Ysgol Gymraeg Dewi Sant

It's nice to look back and reflect over the past year. The school has once again extended its care for the children as much as ever and ensured that the health and well-being of each individual was taken into account. A big thank you to all the staff who have persevered and worked together as a team to ensure that the school was a safe, happy and active place.

It was nice to see some of the school's pupils starting to compete once again in a variety of competitions. Great! A few trips had been organised and it was nice to see the pupils gain more experiences as the school term progresses. I also wish well to members of staff who have left us during the past year to pursue different careers.

Thank you to the pupils and staff for their tremendous effort again this year. The past school year has been a very challenging one for all of us and the efforts of both pupils and staff have been first class. I would also like to thank you parents for your continued support.

I would like to wish everyone a successful and pleasant year.

Senior Leadership Team and Chair of the Governing Body.

The school's governing body includes a cross section of the local community and the Chair is elected at the beginning of each new academic year. The full governing body meets once a term and the Headteacher prepares a detailed report for them.

When parent governors need to be elected, election forms are sent electonically to all parents at the school. When there is more than one nomination, an election is held. Parents nominate and elect parent governors who represent parents' views on the body.

If you have any queries or comments that you would like to share with the governing body, please feel free to write to the Chair by letter or email admin@dewisant.ysgolccc.cymru We welcome your contribution at all times.

An annual parents' meeting is no longer held, unless parents wish to hold a meeting. Three meetings can be held each year by submitting a petition with 10% of the school's parents' signatures and an explanation as to why they want to hold a meeting.

Headteacher: Mrs A C Davies

Deputy: Mrs H Garland

Assistant Head: Mrs S Davies

Leadership Team : Mr S Owen, Mrs N Tiplady, Mrs R Rees a Miss H Land

Peripatetic Music Teachers

Mr J Morgan

Miss S Rees

Mr P Shingler

Mr R Walters

Mrs G Conock-Evans

Mrs H Evans

Lunchtime Supervisors

Mrs S Hanbury

Mrs C Thomas (A)

Mrs A Osbourne-Yip

Miss M Roberts (A)

Miss S Jones

Miss A Morgan

Mrs R Peregrine

Mrs K Hillier

Mr A Pike (A)

Mrs B Pound

Mrs D Phillips

Mrs R Purdue

Miss C Arthur

Miss A James

Miss E Latham

Mrs H K Thomas

Mrs L Evans

Miss M Fisher

Welsh is the official language of Ysgol Gymraeg Dewi Sant. Pupils are taught entirely through the medium of Welsh until they start in year 3, when English is introduced as part of the ​​Languages, Literacy and Communication area of learning and experience. Ysgol Gymraeg Dewi Sant is a designated Welsh school and all assemblies, meetings or activities are held before, during and after school hours through the medium of Welsh for all pupils and staff. We aim to ensure that every child is fluently bilingual by the time they leave school and our pupils are expected to continue their education through the medium of Welsh after transferring to their secondary schools.

In line with the school policy, the principles of the Curriculum for Wales and the new ALN Code, support for pupils with additional learning needs is provided through additional support within the classroom. In order to meet the individual and specialist needs of our pupils, additional class support is provided. We also work with various external agencies in order to identify needs, agree on teaching and learning strategies and receive advice in order to cater for everyone's needs.

Mrs Helen Garland is the school's additional learning needs co-ordinator.

The school promotes the importance of a healthy lifestyle which is reflected in the educational provision within our classes. We have a Healthy School Council that includes elected pupils who meet regularly to discuss issues on the importance of a healthy lifestyle. We encourage children to bring a healthy packed lunch to school and fruit as a snack. The school's lunch menu is in line with the Local Authority's healthy eating provision.

Our prospectus can be read on the school's website. The school's policies and strategies have been reviewed in response to changes in the curriculum.

The school has six blocks of toilets for the pupils and five toilets for staff which includes one disabled toilet. The facilities are cleaned daily by the Education Authority's cleaning service.

Ymdrech a lwydda

Ysgol Gymraeg Dewi Sant is a happy, lively and welcoming school where everyone works together to provide a variety of experiences and a wide range of opportunities with the aim of laying firm foundantions for each child's future.

We inspire our pupils through a varied and exciting curriculum. Our aim is to encourage every pupil to believe in themselves and in what they can: we expect our pupils to achieve their very best in everything they attempt.

Children learn effectively when they are happy, safe and secure, therefore all staff are committed to supporting pupils and their families to ensure children are ready and able to learn. We aim to ensure that children’s learning experiences are relevant, exciting and purposeful and underpinned by the rigorous development of basic skills.

Our Vision

We promote a positive ethos and a friendly and welcoming atmosphere that encourages confident and healthy pupils. We develop lifelong learners who are curious and resourceful and appreciate the moral values ​​of our nation and the world. They will practice the core values ​​of the School which is to be proud of their Welshness, show respect and be ambitious in order to develop into principled and informed citizens.

Our Values

Respect and Trust

Wellbeing and Care

Happiness and Enjoyment

Resilience and Confidence

Wales and Welshness

Community and Habitat

Take risks and Innovate

Support and Collaboration

The development plan addresses the priorities that have arisen from the school's self-evaluation procedures and national local priorities, together with an analysis of pupils' progress and standards. The school follows a robust system of self-evaluation to identify strengths, areas of improvement and the way forward, and the Governing Body is also involved in monitoring the school's progress.

1. 1. 1. Create a whole school vision for the New Curriculum and ensure that all stakeholders understand and realize it through a simple and clear interpretation.

1. 1. 2. Literacy: Raising reading standards and developing reading skills across the curriculum

1. 1. 3. Leadership: Developing the role of leaders to enable them to contribute effectively towards developing the school's strategic direction.

1. 1. 4. All the school's staff are confident in dealing with and preparing for the new ALN Transformation and the school is changing and adapting their procedures as a result. Create a fully inclusive education system that meets their needs and monitors the progress of each learner.

1. Continue to develop learning and teaching through an Inquiry Based Learning style.

2. Ensure that the level of challenge is appropriate in order to challenge all pupils to support them to make the best progress.

3. Apply Numeracy skills in a variety of contexts, real life across the Curriculum.

The school has a child protection policy which is based on national guidelines. The designated safaguarding staff members are: Mrs A C Davies, Mrs H Garland and Mrs S Davies. There are also designated members of the governing body with responsibility for safeguarding and protecting children.

There is one secondary school within our catchment area where our pupils continue their education at the end of year 6, namely Ysgol Gyfun Y Strade. The pupils have transition sessions during year 6 in order to familiarise themselves with their new school. Parents are required to apply online for a secondary school place for their child. Full details can be found on the Carmarthenshire County Council website.

Net expenditure: 2021/22: £1,471,521

Formula funding allocation: 2021/22: £1,506,340

Surplus brought forward from 2020 /21: £261,753

Surplus Carried forward to 2022/23: £296,572