As we reach the end of our first half term back, it’s been brilliant to see Ysgol Y Bryn full of energy, purpose and positivity once again. The children have settled quickly into their new routines and there’s been a real buzz of learning across the school.
Our enquiry-based curriculum has got off to a flying start, with every class diving into big questions that have sparked curiosity and conversation — from identity and belonging in the lower school to health, relationships and community in the upper years. The classrooms and corridors are full of creativity, collaboration and laughter, and it’s been a pleasure to see how confidently pupils are talking about their learning.
We’ve also had plenty going on beyond the classroom: our First Ministers have been busy leading pupil voice activities, the Eco Council have already made a great start with their Rags2Riches campaign, and Bryn Beyond clubs are returning after half term. Year 5’s two-night stay at Llain was a real highlight, and it’s been great to see so many pupils taking part in outdoor learning and practical, hands-on experiences.
It’s been a strong start to the year, and there’s a real sense of momentum and pride building across the school. I’m looking forward to seeing that continue next half term as we move further into our enquiries, develop our school priorities, and keep building on the excellent work that’s already underway.
At Ysgol Y Bryn, keeping our children safe is our top priority. We are fully committed to promoting the health, wellbeing and protection of every pupil, and we take our responsibilities very seriously.
Our staff are trained to recognise and act on any concerns, and every adult in school — from teachers to lunchtime supervisors — plays a key role in creating a safe, caring environment. We have designated safeguarding leads, Mr. Williams (Headteacher) and Mrs. Ryan (Deputy Headteacher) who are responsible for making sure the right support is given when needed.
We teach children how to keep themselves safe, build trusted relationships, and help them feel confident speaking up if something worries them. Our curriculum includes lessons on relationships, emotions and staying safe, both offline and online.
We work closely with outside agencies, follow Welsh Government guidance, and have clear procedures in place if any concerns arise.
If you ever have concerns about a child’s safety, please contact the school immediately. Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility — together, we can help every child thrive in a safe and supportive environment.
I’d like to take a moment to explain why we set deadlines for things like school trips, parents’ evening bookings and event replies. These dates aren’t just arbitrary — they’re there to make sure the many processes behind the scenes can run smoothly.
Once a deadline passes, staff need to confirm transport, venues, catering, insurance, staffing ratios, and safeguarding arrangements. Even small delays can have a knock-on effect on the planning and organisation needed to keep things running safely and efficiently.
I completely understand that life is busy, but meeting these deadlines really helps us keep everything on track for the benefit of all pupils. Thank you for continuing to work with us and for supporting the smooth running of school events.
I’d also like to remind everyone that our staff work hard every day to support our children and families. We understand that, at times, situations can feel frustrating, but it’s never acceptable for staff to be spoken to or treated in a disrespectful or abusive manner.
Abuse towards school staff — whether verbal, written or in person — will not be tolerated under any circumstances. We will always seek to resolve matters calmly and constructively, and I ask that all communication with the school reflects the respectful values we teach our children every day.
If you missed it, please see a letter from the Director of Education.
LAST CALL - If you wish for your child to attend this March, please contact Mrs Robinson in the office by Friday 7th November.
LAST CALL - If you wish for your child to attend this June, please contact Mrs Robinson in the office by Friday 7th November.
Week of 10 - 14/11/2025
14/11/2025 - Children In Need
03/12/2025 - Christmas Dinner Day - Book via Parent Pay
04/12/2025 - Nursery Intake Transition Afternoon
05/12/2025 - Christmas Fayre
05/12/2025 - Elf Day
11/12/2025 - Christmas Jumper Day
15/12/2025 - Trip to Brynteg Farm - Book via Parent Pay
18/12/2025 - PS2 & PS3 Panta Trip - Book via Parent Pay
08/12/2025 - PS1 (Early Years Concert) 9:30am
09/12/2025 - PS3 (Year 4, 5 & 6) 9:30am & 1:30pm
11/12/2025 - PS2 (Year 1, 2 & 3) 9:30am & 1:30pm
Our school will be closed on the following dates for our INSET Days:
Monday 1st September 2025
Friday 24th October 2025
Monday 5th January 2026
Monday 1st June 2026
Friday 17th July 2026
Monday 20th July 2026
Year 5 enjoyed an unforgettable two-night stay at Llain Activity Centre, where they challenged themselves, built confidence, and strengthened friendships through a variety of adventurous outdoor activities. From the mud assault course and bushcraft to team-building games and exploring nature, the children showed incredible teamwork, resilience and enthusiasm throughout. It was wonderful to see them step out of their comfort zones, support one another, and create lasting memories that truly captured the spirit of Ysgol Y Bryn.
A huge well done to our Eco Council, who collected over 100kg of recyclable clothing as part of our recent Rags2Riches initiative. Their efforts not only helped promote sustainability and reduce waste, but also raised over £25 for our school. A fantastic team effort — thank you to everyone who donated and supported the cause!
A huge thank you to our brilliant Sports Ambassadors who have been an incredible help throughout the year. Whether it’s leading games on the yard, supporting activities during play and lunchtimes, or welcoming children into school with energy and enthusiasm each morning, they’ve played a key role in promoting teamwork, wellbeing and active play across the school. Their leadership and positivity have made a real difference—diolch to each and every one of them!
After eight busy weeks, it’s been wonderful to see our pupils settled, motivated, and thriving in their learning. As we look ahead, we’re excited to share our School Development Priorities for 2025–2026.
These priorities have been shaped through careful planning, reflection and self-evaluation alongside our staff, learners, and governing body. The views and feedback from our parents and carers have also been invaluable—helping us reflect on what’s working well and where we can continue to grow.
Our four priorities for the year ahead are:
We want Welsh to be heard and celebrated naturally across our school day — not just in lessons, but in play, routines and conversations.
Launching daily “Slot-Drillio” sessions and short Welsh challenges.
Strengthening the role of our Criw Cymraeg, who will lead games, assemblies and playground activities in Welsh.
Supporting staff through confidence-building sessions, modelling and training to use more Welsh naturally in conversation around the school.
We’re focusing on giving pupils strong number foundations, while helping them use maths confidently across all areas of learning.
Introducing short, daily number fluency sessions in every class.
Embedding reasoning and problem-solving challenges into topic work.
Using our school data tracking systems to identify and support pupils who need extra help with maths.
Providing staff training on new approaches to conceptual understanding and manipulatives in maths lessons.
We want every pupil to clearly understand why they are learning something and how it connects to their progress.
Introducing “Learning Conversations” where pupils discuss what they’ve learned, how they know they’re improving, and what comes next.
Embedding purposeful questioning strategies that encourage reflection and metacognition.
Using pupil voice activities to help children talk confidently about their learning.
Displaying learning journeys in classrooms so pupils can see the bigger picture of their progress.
Our enquiry-based approach encourages curiosity and connects learning to real-life experiences and the local community.
Building on our “I Wonder” topics to make learning pupil-led, authentic, and engaging.
Linking enquiries to local and global contexts — including visits, outdoor learning, and community experts.
Develop to involve parents and families by sharing enquiry questions and ways to contribute at home.
Continuing to refine planning and assessment so our curriculum remains dynamic, inclusive and responsive to pupil interests.
We’re delighted to announce that our Bryn Beyond after-school clubs will be returning after half term! These clubs give pupils fantastic opportunities to develop new skills, take part in exciting activities, and spend quality time with friends outside the classroom.
Please check ParentPay for full details about this term’s clubs and how to book your child’s place — spaces fill up quickly, so be sure not to miss out!
A huge thank you to our incredible staff who volunteer their own time, beyond their contractual hours, to run these clubs purely for the benefit of our pupils. Your passion, energy, and commitment make a real difference, and we are so grateful for everything you do to make Bryn Beyond such a success.
Our After School Club with Miss Phillips and Miss Boyling will also resume after half term, offering a safe, fun, and engaging environment for children after the school day.
There are changes to our After School Club, please see the attached letter.
After a thorough and challenging selection process — which included speeches, written applications, interviews, and even answering questions from their peers — our successful candidates have now been chosen. Each of them demonstrated outstanding confidence, leadership potential, and a genuine passion for making a difference at Ysgol Y Bryn.
We were incredibly proud of all who applied and the maturity they showed throughout the process. Their commitment to representing their classmates and improving our school truly stood out.
Since their appointment, our new First Ministers have already been busy:
• Creating an exciting Attendance Wheel, with 14 prizes up for grabs for the class with the highest attendance each week.
• Developing pupil questionnaires to gather feedback on what learners enjoyed most about their recent topics.
• Listening to pupil voice across classes and sharing ideas with staff.
• Organising their very own Movie Night, which was a huge success — raising funds and bringing pupils together for a fun evening. Keep an eye out for the next Movie Night before Christmas – details to follow soon!
We’re delighted to officially welcome Mrs Ryan, our new Deputy Headteacher, to Ysgol Y Bryn. Although she’s only been with us for eight weeks, she’s already become an important part of our school family — bringing enthusiasm, fresh ideas, and a genuine passion for supporting both pupils and staff.
Mrs Ryan shared this message with families:
“I just wanted to say a heartfelt thank you to all the children and families for the warm welcome I’ve received since joining the school in September. It has been lovely getting to know so many of you already, and I look forward to meeting those I haven’t had the chance to meet yet.
The school is a truly special place, and the children are fantastic—kind, enthusiastic and a pleasure to work with. I feel very proud to be part of this wonderful community and I’m excited for all that lies ahead.”
We’re thrilled to have Mrs Ryan on our leadership team and look forward to the positive impact she’ll continue to make across the school.
Our Early Years have had a fantastic first half term exploring their inquiry question, “I wonder where we belong?” Through this theme, pupils have been encouraged to think about themselves, their families, and their place in our school and wider community.
The children began by asking “I wonder what I look like?” and created self-portraits to explore their features and individuality. They talked about what makes them happy or sad and shared ideas about the different emotions we all experience. Building on this, pupils discussed who’s in their family, learning that every family is unique and special.
As part of “I wonder what our school community is like?”, the children explored the many people who help us at Ysgol Y Bryn and talked about what makes our school a caring, friendly place to belong. They also looked back in time to find out what Bryn School looked like long ago, comparing photos and noticing how things have changed over the years. Finally, pupils thought about how we are all different in our class, celebrating diversity, kindness and inclusion through stories, circle time and creative play.
Across all areas of learning, the children have been developing their early skills through exciting, hands-on experiences:
• Language: enjoying the story of The Gingerbread Man and learning how to follow and write their own sets of instructions.
• Mathematics: practising counting, recognising and writing numbers, and exploring early addition as well as one more/one less activities.
• PE: taking part in fun team games that build coordination, cooperation and confidence.
• Welsh: learning how to ask and answer “Pwy wyt ti?” and “Sut wyt ti?” as well as naming different parts of the body in Welsh.
It’s been a joyful and busy start to the year in our Early Years classrooms. The children have settled brilliantly and shown endless curiosity, creativity and kindness as they’ve explored where they belong. We can’t wait to see where their next inquiry takes them after half term!
Inquiry: “I wonder how to be a good friend”
Year 1 have had a wonderful first half term exploring what it truly means to be a good friend. Through their inquiry, “I wonder how to be a good friend,” the children have developed their understanding of friendship, kindness, and helping others in thoughtful and creative ways.
They began by asking “What is a friend?” and used their DCF skills to create digital posters showing pictures of their friends and describing what makes them special. They also discussed different types of behaviour, sorting examples into friendly and unfriendly actions.
The following week, pupils explored the qualities that make someone a good friend—such as honesty, kindness, and being a good listener. They created beautiful friendship portraits and even built a “Friendship Web” to celebrate the positive qualities they each bring to the class.
In week three, the children turned their focus to kindness, inspired by the book Have You Filled a Bucket Today? They wrote their own kindness recipes, performed the “Fill Your Bucket” song, and reflected on how small acts of kindness can make a big difference.
The final week of the inquiry looked at how we can help others, with pupils designing information posters full of practical ways to show care and support in our community.
Alongside their inquiry, Year 1 have been busy across all areas of learning:
• Science: Investigating materials to find which one would help a witch see clearly while flying through the sky — a fun and imaginative way to explore sight and transparency.
• Language: Enjoying the story The Magic Porridge Pot and retelling it using props and role play.
• Maths: Building number fluency through activities on ordering, place value, addition and subtraction, and even some “spooky estimations”!
• Welsh: Practising conversational Welsh through dialogues between Tedi Twt and Doli Glwt.
• DCF: Developing digital creativity by editing text and images and creating multi-page documents using Jit Mix.
• PE: Exploring dance and movement to express rhythm and teamwork.
• Jigsaw (PSHE): Focusing on the theme Being Me In My World.
• Creative arts: Making scarecrow crafts and learning the Harvest song Down to the Allotment to celebrate the season.
• Community fun: Ending the half term with a fantastic Halloween Disco, filled with costumes, laughter and dancing!
Inquiry: “I wonder what makes me, me?”
Year 2 have had a wonderful first half term filled with curiosity, creativity, and confidence. Their main inquiry question, “I wonder what makes me, me?”, encouraged the children to explore what makes each of us unique — our families, personalities, interests, and the qualities that make us who we are.
The term began with pupils sharing their likes, hobbies, and the people who are important to them. Through stories about identity, families and friendship, they learned that everyone is different but equally special. Building on this, they discussed what it means to be a good friend, using the story The Snail and the Whale as inspiration. They created a word bank of positive friendship qualities, linked them to our school values, and even combined their learning with Maths by collecting and presenting data in tally charts and block graphs.
Later in the term, the children explored the question “I wonder how people stay safe every day?” — developing an important understanding of personal and online safety. They took part in a Safety Scavenger Hunt around the school, identifying crossings, signs and safe spaces, and created a Digital Device Promise to remind everyone how to look after technology responsibly. They also learned how to create strong passwords and talked about what information is safe to share online. As part of Kerbcraft, pupils practised staying safe when walking near roads and crossing carefully with adult supervision.
Language, Literacy and Communication
In Language, Literacy and Communication, Year 2 have been exploring narrative writing. Their model text, The Magic Brush, helped them understand how a great story is built — with interesting characters, a clear setting, a problem and solution, and exciting vocabulary. Pupils have now completed their independent ‘hot writes’, showing wonderful progress and imagination in their storytelling.
In Welsh, they have been practising how to give information about themselves and holding conversations about their families, hobbies and favourite things.
Mathematics
In Maths, pupils have been developing confidence in place value and number understanding. They’ve learned to identify hundreds, tens and units, partition numbers in different ways, recognise even and odd numbers, and add and subtract using place value to support their reasoning. It’s been fantastic to see their growing fluency and enthusiasm for tackling new challenges.
PE – Athletics
This term in PE, Year 2 focused on athletics. Pupils developed coordination and movement through running, jumping, and throwing activities, building stamina and control along the way. Their determination and teamwork have really shone through in every session.
Jigsaw – Being Me in My World
In Jigsaw, the theme “Being Me in My World” helped pupils reflect on their feelings, strengths, and responsibilities within the class and wider school community. They discussed how their actions affect others, learned how to set personal goals, and explored what it means to be a kind and responsible member of Ysgol Y Bryn.
Extra Highlights
It’s been a busy and joyful term, packed with memorable experiences:
• Shwmae Day, celebrating the Welsh language and culture.
• Kerbcraft sessions to support road safety and independence.
• A brilliant Cinema Night, organised by our First Ministers.
• And of course, a spooky and fun-filled Halloween Disco to finish the half term!
Year 2 have shown curiosity, kindness and enthusiasm throughout their learning this term. We’re so proud of their progress and can’t wait to see where their next inquiry takes them after half term!
Inquiry: “I wonder how to care for my body?”
Year 3 have had an exciting and hands-on start to the year, exploring the big question “I wonder how to care for my body?” Through a range of creative and practical activities, pupils have developed their understanding of how to keep themselves healthy, both inside and out.
Their inquiry began with a fun Immersion Day, where the class discovered a mystery suitcase filled with self-care products! This sparked discussions about hygiene, healthy routines, and the importance of looking after our bodies. Pupils went on to explore the Eatwell Guide through outdoor learning, identifying food groups and discussing how a balanced diet helps us stay strong and energised.
They also learned about the human body and skeleton, building and labelling their own life-size models and taking inspiration from artist Nick Veasey to create striking skeleton artwork. Using the Photobooth app, pupils produced their own imaginative X-ray pictures, combining creativity with digital skills.
In Science and Technology, Year 3 carried out a fascinating investigation to find out which drinks are healthiest for our teeth. They observed the effects of different liquids over time and discussed how our everyday choices can impact dental health. The class also loved using the GlitterBug Machine to test their handwashing skills — seeing first-hand why good hygiene matters!
Across all areas of learning, the children have shown great curiosity and teamwork:
• Mathematics: exploring place value outdoors, comparing numbers, and building strong number sense through practical activities.
• Language, Literacy and Communication: studying Jack and the Beanstalk, with pupils stepping into character during Hot-Seating activities to develop empathy, confidence and speaking skills.
Inquiry: “I wonder how relationships shape us?”
Year 4 have had a thoughtful and inspiring start to the year, exploring the question “I wonder how relationships shape us?” Through discussion, creativity and hands-on learning, pupils have deepened their understanding of how the people around us – our families, friends and communities – help shape who we are.
The children began by creating a Class Charter, agreeing on the values of respect, kindness and care that will guide their year together. They explored different types of relationships, thinking about how these change over time, and designed “relationship wheels” showing who is closest to them and how those people support them. Through their inner and outer self-portraits, pupils reflected on what we show on the outside and what’s important to us on the inside – such as hobbies, feelings and friendships.
Building on this, they examined family life through time, creating timelines comparing the roles and structures of families from the Victorian era to the present day. When exploring “I wonder about the importance of friendships,” pupils worked through real-life friendship scenarios, discussed respectful behaviour, and identified the key qualities that make a good friend.
Later in the term, the focus shifted to the community, where pupils investigated how people’s actions can make a positive difference – from food banks and community gardens to supporting the elderly and helping neighbours. They finished their inquiry by looking at “I wonder which foods help me stay strong,” creating healthy recipes and smoothie instructions, learning about the five food groups, and designing digital projects to promote healthy living using PowerPoint and Adobe Express.
Science & Technology
Pupils explored the digestive system, creating working models to see how food travels through the body and conducting investigations into how quickly foods break down in our stomachs. It’s been a brilliantly messy (and memorable) way to learn how our bodies work.
Mathematics & Numeracy
In Maths, the focus has been on place value, addition, subtraction, and exploring multiplication and division facts. Outdoors, pupils used natural materials to build place-value grids and multiplication arrays, applying their learning in practical ways. They’ve also enjoyed a variety of games to reinforce number skills, with Multiplication Splat being a class favourite.
Language, Literacy & Communication
Year 4 have written imaginative portal stories based on the Talk for Writing text Alien Landing and recently crafted their own conversation poems. In Welsh, pupils have been writing biographies and taking part in daily Amser Drillio sessions led by our Criw Cymraeg, focusing on the topic “Dyma Fi.”
PE & Sport
In PE, pupils have been developing their skills in competitive sports, focusing on football and rounders. They’ve shown excellent teamwork, sportsmanship and determination throughout every session.
Inquiry: “I wonder how we can protect our health”
Year 5 have had an exciting and thought-provoking first half term exploring the question “I wonder how we can protect our health.” Through a blend of science, expressive arts, digital learning and hands-on experiences, pupils have developed a strong understanding of what it means to lead a healthy, balanced lifestyle.
The term began with an engaging Immersion Week, where pupils took part in pulse-timing activities, “healthy habits” charades, and created word art showing different ways to stay healthy. They also explored how our lungs work by making models and carrying out simple investigations. From there, pupils examined healthy and unhealthy habits, ranked lifestyle choices in a Diamond 9 activity, and created digital presentations explaining their understanding.
As part of their inquiry into how balanced diets can help us, Year 5 took part in a talk with PC Courtney about the dangers of substance misuse and its impact on health. Pupils researched food groups, created questionnaires, and built their own food pyramids to show how to maintain a healthy diet. Later, they investigated how different substances affect the body, producing iMovie adverts promoting NHS messages about the risks of drugs and alcohol.
One of the highlights of the term was the Llain Residential, where pupils took part in kayaking, abseiling, a mud assault course, archery, team building, and bushcraft challenges. These experiences built confidence, resilience, and teamwork, helping pupils appreciate the mental and physical benefits of staying active and spending time outdoors.
As the term continued, the children explored the effects of screen time on the body and mind, comparing their experiences of being offline at Llain to everyday digital habits. They used Venn and Carroll diagrams to analyse their findings. In Science and Numeracy, they investigated the importance of sleep and hydration, tracking their own routines and presenting results using pictograms, line graphs and infographics. They finished their inquiry by focusing on the benefits of being active, using clickers to track movement data and calculate averages.
Across all areas of learning, pupils have demonstrated creativity and independence:
• Language, Literacy and Communication: Writing a dilemma story based on the Talk for Writing text Crying Wolf, followed by rap poems about healthy living and outdoor “short burst” writing tasks. Pupils also gave oracy presentations on the question “How do I protect my health?”
• Mathematics: Strengthening understanding of place value, addition, subtraction, multiplication and division through practical maths and outdoor learning, including arrays and division grids in the outdoor classroom.
• Welsh: Engaging in dialogue tasks and Slot Drillio sessions to develop fluency and confidence.
• Science and Technology: Investigating how smoking has changed over time and how it affects the body.
• Digital Competence (DCF): Creating multimedia projects using PowerPoint, Adobe and Microsoft Word; embedding hyperlinks, sharing work digitally, and providing feedback online.
• Expressive Arts: Designing an NHS mural to promote staying healthy, and producing artwork inspired by Irving, representing themselves being active.
• PE: Focusing on dance, rhythm and coordination through group activities performed in unison.
The term ended with a lively Experience Day, where pupils made healthy smoothies, created group posters, and took part in wellbeing games. They also enjoyed the Halloween Disco and an important visit from the Police to discuss Halloween and fire safety.
This term, Year 6 have explored the inquiry question “I wonder how the emergency services support us?” Through a rich and varied learning experience, pupils have developed a deeper understanding of the vital role these services play in keeping our communities safe.
We were fortunate to welcome several visitors into class who shared their expertise and real-life experiences, including a phlebotomist, volunteers from the RNLI, a CSI officer, and PC Courtney from Dyfed-Powys Police. These visits brought learning to life and helped pupils appreciate the range of skills and teamwork involved in emergency response.
As part of the inquiry, pupils studied major real-world events such as the Grenfell Tower tragedy and the Aberfan disaster, reflecting sensitively on how emergency services respond in times of crisis and how communities support one another.
A particular highlight was the practical investigation, “Who Stole Miss James’ Coffee?” where pupils used their numeracy, problem-solving and reasoning skills to analyse evidence and identify the culprit. This activity combined logical thinking with teamwork and creativity, mirroring the real work of forensic investigators.
In Science, pupils carried out an investigation to discover which types of exercise most affect heart rate. They collected, recorded and analysed their data using graphs, and discussed how results can differ based on individual effort and endurance.
It has been a purposeful and engaging start to the year for Year 6. Pupils have shown maturity, curiosity and enthusiasm throughout their inquiry and have begun to demonstrate the independence and responsibility that will prepare them for the transition to secondary school.
As always, thank you for all of your support. Have a lovely break with the family, stay safe and enjoy making memories!
Mr Williams
Headteacher
Ysgol Y Bryn