School Prospectus YST 2021-2022

School Prospectus
2021-2022

Ysgol
Santes Tudful



Contents

4 Welcome from the Headteacher
5 Ysgol Santes Tudfulʼs Vision and Objectives
6 Our School
7 Contact Details
8 School Day
9 Term Dates
11 School Admissions
12-13 School Achievements
14-16 Curriculum and Education
18 Religious and Sex Education
19 Race Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
20 Assessment and Feedback
21 Welsh Curriculum
22-23 Discipline and Reward
24-27 Curriculum Enrichment
28 Educational Visits
29 Charging and Remissions
30-32 ALN
34-36 Health, Welfare and Sport
38-39 Pupil Voice
39 Equal Opportunities
40 Transition to Secondary
41 Parent Participation
42 Parents and Friends Association
44-45 Working with the Community
46 Keeping in Touch
47 Child Safety, Health and Safety, Illness and Accidents, Medicines
48 Attendance and School Uniform
49 Complaints
49 Transport
49 Visiting the School

Croeso

Welcome to Ysgol Santes Tudful. The school was opened in 1972 with a class
of 18 children. The school has now grown to over four hundred and seventy-

one pupils in 2021. The governors in co-operation with Merthyr Tydfil
Education Authority have worked closely to secure a purpose-built additional

building to meet the increase in our pupil numbers.
With the knowledge that pupils benefit from bilingualism there has been a
significant increase in the number of non-Welsh speaking parents sending their

children to school. We fully support our non-Welsh speaking homes by
ensuring that all communication is bilingual and help at hand on how they can

support their children's education. There is no problem that we cannot
overcome, working together.

There are now 20 teachers and 18 assistants working in the school along with
10 ancillary staff. The team is enthusiastic and works hard to continuously
improve the school and raise standards. We take pride in the school's

excellent standards of achievement. We have high expectations of behaviour,
effort, respect and attitude. Our pupils are children who contribute to our

community, are ambitious, intelligent and principled learners. We develop the
whole student through enterprising work and by offering them numerous extra-
curricular opportunities, from after-school clubs, educational trips, residential
trips and life skills weeks. These experiences all complement our Eisteddfodau,

the Urdd Eisteddfod, Reading for Wales competitions, numerous sports
tournaments and art projects. We celebrate all talents.

Our aim is to create a safe, happy and Welsh atmosphere - where they can
host "Fflam yr Iaith yn Nhref y Ffwrnais" (The Flame of Language in the Town

of the Furnace). Read on for more information, or contact us to make an
appointment for a visit so you can experience the atmosphere and bustle of

this thriving school.

Mr Gwyndaf Jones

Our Vision

Our school is united. United by passion. United by values. Weʼre a team. Our school family
is driven towards creating a happy, supportive and thriving environment together. We have
high expectations in standards, and effort but equally compassion, consideration, kindness,
honesty and respect. We celebrate our heritage, culture and nationality. We will always be

a proud and active hub of the Welsh community. We want to empower our children with
self-belief, aspiration and positivity to achieve and succeed in life. Resilience, perseverance
and determination are qualities we promote both at school and at home. We will provide

tools and support for our children to become independent and confident in their own
abilities. Confident to give things a try and not be defeated by mistakes but to adapt and
learn from them. School life is accessible and inclusive to all and our approach is open-

minded and fair. All children are given rich experiences in fun and inspiring ways with
opportunities for innovation, creativity and critical thinking. We want our children to seek
opportunities, be ambitious, capable and ready to learn and contribute as 21st century

citizens.
School aims:-
Provide a safe, supportive and happy environment with a homely atmosphere.
Offer equality opportunities to all.
Support all members of the school community to reach their full potential.
Foster an ethos of a growth mindset and promote personal well being.
Raise standards by providing a broad curriculum full of rich tasks.
Provide a solid foundation for lifelong learning.

Our School

Ysgol Santes Tudful was originally opened in October, 1972 as part of Ysgol Gellifaelog.
Eighteen children attended the school with one teacher and an assistant teaching them. The first
school uniform badge was designed by the grandfather of one of our current pupils.

The Infant department moved to their new site
on Queen's Road in Twynyrodyn, Merthyr
Tydfil in September 1979 and were followed
by the Junior Department in January 1980.
This was the site of the school for the next 29
years as the school grew to two classes per
year.

In 2009, the whole school was moved
to the new site on Pantyffin Road in
Twynyrodyn. The building is eco-
friendly with solar panels, a rainwater
recycling system and a ground-based
heating system. There are currently
471 pupils on roll as part of 16
classes. The school continues to grow
with the completion of a new two-
room building in 2020.

Contact Details

SCHOOL ADDRESS

Ysgol Santes Tudful
Heol Pantyffin
Mountain Hare
Twynyrodyn
Merthyr Tudful
CF47 0HU

Phone number:- 01685 351815
E-mail:- [email protected]

SCHOOL WEBSITE
www.santestudful.merthyr.sch.uk

TWITTER
@santestudful
FACEBOOK
Ysgol Santes Tudful - Parents and Friends (Private Group)

HEADTEACHER
Mr Gwyndaf Jones
[email protected]

CHAIR OF GOVERNORS
Mr T. Lancaster

TYPE OF SCHOOL
Designated Welsh Primary School 3-11 years of age.

NUMBER ON ROLL 480

Term Dates

The School Day



Admissions

The entry of children to schools is controlled and administered by an ʻAdmissions Authorityʼ.
Ysgol Santes Tudfulʼs admissions authority is Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council.
An application for a place at a particular school must be made officially via the On-Line
portal to the local authority.The local authority offers admission places during the term before
a child is due to start school. Once the application has been received, the authority will inform
parents/carers whether or not it is possible for your child to attend the preferred school.
Parents/carers should notify the local authority in advance if they have a child, who will reach
the age of 4 years by 31st August, 2022. If you need to discuss your request with the school,
you can speak with the Headteacher and if appropriate, a school visit can be arranged.
Pre-nursery Admissions (Rising 3s)
Children who turn 3 during the academic year (Rising 3ʼs) are eligible to apply for a pre-
nursery place to commence the term after their third birthday i.e. in the Spring and Summer
Terms each year. Pre-nursery places are provided subject to availability and cannot be
guaranteed at any school. Once the nursery accommodation is deemed to be full, no further
pre-nursery pupils may be admitted.
Children are admitted into the Nursery on a full time basis during the year following their third
birthday. Parents will be invited to the school before their child/children begin school and will
meet with the Nursery staff. They will have time to view the Nursery facilities and meet with
the staff. A starter pack is also provided which includes all the necessary information.
On-line admissions (http://merthyr.gov.uk/ApplyForASchoolPlace) will be open for all
relevant parents/carers from September 2021. Hard copy applications will be available upon
request and will need to be returned to,

School Admissions Team,
Schools Department, Unit 5,

Triangle Business Park,
Pentrebach, Merthyr Tydfil,

CF48 4TQ
School Admissions Team (for advice) 01685 725000
Pupils with additional learning needs but without statements
Admission arrangements for children with additional learning needs but without statements are treated
on the same basis as other applicants. Applications in respect of such children are considered on the
basis of the local authorityʼs admission criteria.
Pupils with statements of additional learning needs
If a child has a statement of additional learning needs maintained by the local authority, the local
authority will be responsible for advising on special educational provision to be made by the school,
and for considering the schoolʼs suitability when either finalising the statement or following an annual
review.
All schools are appropriately resourced to meet additional learning needs through their own budgets.
Some schools are further resourced with integral units addressing certain additional learning needs.
Pupils attending Welsh-medium primary schools will be able to continue their education in Welsh
medium secondary schools outside the County Borough. The local authority has a successful
partnership with Ysgol Gyfun Rhydywaun in Rhondda Cynon Taf.

Santes Tudful's Successes

Eco-Schools

Eco-Schools is a global program that engages 19.5million children across 68
countries, making it the largest educational program on the planet. It was
developed by the Institute of Environmental Education (FEE) in 1994 and is
run in Wales by Keep Wales Tidy.

It is designed to empower and inspire young people to make positive
environmental changes to their school and the wider community, while
developing their key skills, including numeracy and literacy, and combining
Education for Sustainable Development and Global Citizenship.

Ysgol Santes Tudful has worked with Eco-Schools for many years and has
now achieved and since re-verified the Platinum award. As a school, we are
eco-friendly and develop our pupils as eco-friendly, conscientious and
responsible members of the community.

Welsh Language Charter

We are a school that prides itself on our use of our mother tongue and
Welshness. Various opportunities are offered weekly for our children to enjoy
Welshness, understand their heritage and feel the strength of belonging to a
Welsh community. The work of the Government's Welsh Language Charter
is now an integral part of school life and the characters of Sbarc and
Seren are a part of the Santes Tudful family.

We won the Bronze Language Charter award in 2019 by trying to broaden
our learners' enthusiasm for Welshness and speaking Welsh beyond the
classroom. We introduced more S4C television programming to our learners
and shared, experienced and enjoyed various Welsh music. Contemporary
Welsh, Welsh FM Welsh music is now playing in our outside areas through playtime
and lunch as children play.

The school won the Silver award in 2020, with the school's 'Criw Cymraeg'
leading the way, by sharing their expertise about the Welsh language with
other schools, local businesses and Merthyr College. We are very proud of
our work in the community and local area.

It's now the Gold Award at stake! Our learners and the 'Criw Cymraeg'
are busy working on creating a weekly Welsh podcast and a weekly
newsletter for the school and the community. Our school coat of arms is the
"Flame of the Language in the Town of the Furnace" (Fflam yr Iaith yn Nhref y
Ffwrnais) - and our learners and staff are working hard to maintain this on a
daily basis.

Healthy Schools
The School has already promoted the importance of keeping healthy and has actively
promoted, safeguarded and incorporated physical, mental and social health and wellbeing
through positive action. We have adopted effective policies, strategic planning for success
and staff development. Our most recent campaign is to provide a purposeful physical

environment that develops our pupils' outdoor education.

To achieve the National Quality Award the school must have followed the Healthy Schools
scheme and developed the seven different health topics: -
Food and Fitness
Mental and Emotional Health and Well-being
Personal Development and Relationships
Substance Use and Misuse
Environment
Safety
Hygiene

We pride ourselves on the fact that Santes Tudful is a healthy school that has excelled in all
7 areas of health. We have won the National Quality Award and have continued to
maintain and revalidate the award.
.

Curriculum and Education

New Curriculum for Wales

It's an exciting time within education. Like all schools, Ysgol Santes Tudful is able to design its
own Curriculum. That is, what the children should learn, how they should learn and the reasons
why they should learn. From September 2022, children and young people will learn through
the New Curriculum.

The creation of The New Curriculum for Wales began with Professor Donaldson's report,
'Successful Futures'. A document that asks for a Curriculum with a shared vision for the children
and young people of Wales. A vision that has the same starting point and aspirations for all
children and young people in Wales to achieve the Four Purposes.

The Four Purposes: -

• ambitious, capable learners, ready to learn throughout their lives

• enterprising, creative contributors, ready to play a full part in life and work

• ethical, informed citizens of Wales and the world

• healthy, confident individuals, ready to lead fulfilling lives as valued members
of society.

The Four Purposes are the starting point of everything to do with childrenʼs education. Every
pupil is at the centre of the Curriculum. Overarching the Curriculum in a cross-curricular way
will be the 'Literacy and Numeracy Framework, the ʻDigital Competency Frameworkʼ and 'The
Foundation Phase Framework'.

The frameworks need to be embedded and run alongside all ʻAreas of Learning and
Experienceʼ.

There are 6 Areas of Learning and Experience: -

Expressive Arts

Health and Well-being

Humanities

Languages and Literacy

Mathematics and Numeracy

Science and Technology

Within each Area of Learning and Experience there are statements of 'What Matters'. These
provide a focus for the continuum of learning for all learners. Each 'What Matters' includes
learning descriptions. Each learning description is designed to support the increasing depth and
sophistication of learning over time.

The pace of a child's progress may vary throughout his or her learning journey but the New
Curriculum is broadly organized into stages of progress- Steps 1,2,3,4 and 5. A child is
expected to complete Stage 1 at age 5, Stage 2 by 8 years old and stage 3 by 11.



Expressive Arts

The Expressive Arts Area of Learning and Experience (Area) spans five disciplines: art, dance,
drama, film and digital media and music. Although each discipline has its own discrete body of
knowledge and body of skills, it is recognised that together they share the creative process.
Whether as creators or as audience, through engaging with the expressive arts, learners can gain an
understanding and an appreciation of cultures and societies in Wales and in the world. Such
engagement can equip learners with the skills to explore cultural differences through time and place.

Health and Wellbeing

The Health and Well-being Area of Learning and Experience (Area) provides a holistic structure for
understanding health and well-being. It is concerned with developing the capacity of learners to
navigate life's opportunities and challenges. The fundamental components of this Area are physical
health and development, mental health, and emotional and social well-being. It will support learners
to understand and appreciate how the different components of health and well-being are
interconnected, and it recognises that good health and well-being are important to enable
successful learning.

Humanities

The Area encompasses geography; history; religion, values and ethics; business studies and social
studies. These disciplines share many common themes, concepts and transferable skills, while having
their own discrete body of knowledge and skills. Humanities is central to learners becoming ethical,
informed citizens of Wales and the world. In contemporary and historical contexts, investigation and
exploration of the human experience in their own localities and elsewhere in Wales, as well as in the
wider world, can help learners discover their heritage and develop a sense of place and cynefin. It
can also promote an understanding of how the people of Wales, its communities, history, culture,
landscape, resources and industries, interrelate with the rest of the world.

Language, Literacy and Communication

The Languages, Literacy and Communication Area of Learning and Experience (Area) addresses
fundamental aspects of human communication. It aims to support learning across the whole curriculum
and to enable learners to gain knowledge and skills in Welsh, English and international languages as
well as in literature.

Mathematics and Numeracy

Progression in the Mathematics and Numeracy Area of Learning and Experience (Area) involves the
development of five connected and interdependent proficiencies which have no hierarchy. These are
crucial considerations for schools when designing their curriculum to ensure the progression of learners;
Conceptual understanding, Communication using symbols, Fluency, Logical reasoning, Strategic
competence.

Science and Technology

This Area draws on the disciplines of biology, chemistry, computer science, design and technology,
and physics to enhance learnersʼ knowledge and understanding of the world.

Ambitious, capable learners, ready to learn throughout their lives should engage with scientific and
technological change. The knowledge and deep understanding gained through experiencing what
matters in science and technology can help learners live independent and fulfilling lives that sees
them contributing to society and culture in a variety of ways.



Religious Education and Worship

Religious Education, including moral discussion, is taught at all
levels to all pupils at the school as part of the curriculum. The
School is not affiliated with any particular religious
denomination, but Religious Education will be predominantly
Christian. In addition, the customs and traditions of other major
world religions are studied in order to foster religious tolerance
in our pupils. Short daily assemblies are held in the School -
whole school, department or class assemblies. Occasionally,
local ministers are invited to address the children in school
assemblies. A parent has the right to withdraw a child from
Religious Education lessons and / or collective worship at the
School for religious reasons. Parents wishing to do this should
contact the School's Headteacher to discuss alternative arrangements
for their child for these religious periods.

Sex Education

Ysgol Santes Tudful has adopted the Scheme written by Cwm Taf- Healthy Schools
Personal Development and Relationships. The plan provides a series of Personal
Development and Relationships lesson plans that have been developed to help teachers
deliver high quality healthy relationships education in primary schools. The knowledge
and skills that our pupils will gain from this series of lessons will develop their resilience,
confidence and self-esteem to empower them to develop and maintain healthy
relationships as they move through childhood into adolescence.

Personal Development and Relationships education is a term used to describe the range of
learning and support experiences that schools provide for pupils to develop safe and
respectful personal relationships. This includes taking responsibility for their behaviour in
personal relationships and how to identify inappropriate behaviour.

By the end of year 2 pupils should be able to: Identify what qualities make a
good friend, know how to keep it clean and take care of their bodies, express and convey
different feelings, use the correct anatomical names for parts of the body to tell the
difference between male and female, tell the difference between appropriate and
inappropriate touch.

By the end of years 3 and 4 pupils should be able to: Understand the
importance of keeping themselves safe and know the difference between appropriate and
inappropriate touching, understand what to do or to whom to go when feeling unsafe,
understanding the concept of being safe online, taking more responsibility for keeping the
mind and body safe and healthy, valuing family and friends as a source of mutual support,
developing respect for self and others, understand how cultural and religious beliefs can
affect the way people think, respect differences and recognize the importance of equal
opportunities and recognize the different types of bullying.

By the end of year 5 and / or year 6 pupils should: Know the names, positions,
functions and relative sizes of the main human organs, understand the reasons for the
physical and emotional changes that occur during the age of maturity, understand how
babies are conceived, know how a baby develops during pregnancy and how it is born
understand the range of their and others' feelings and emotions and know what to do or
to whom they turn to when they do not feel safe.

Race Equality
We are committed to:

1. Promoting equality of opportunity.

2. Promote good relations between members of different racial,

cultural and groups and religious communities.

3. Eliminate unlawful discrimination.

Celebrating Diversity and Promoting Inclusion
Staff carry out activities that challenge pupils from nursery onwards to appreciate and think
carefully about the views of others, even if they do not agree with them. We carry out
discussions about differences in ethnicity, disability, and sexual orientation. Through these
conversations our pupils celebrate diversity and develop their empathy for others. Within
our school Curriculum we ensure that we promote inclusion and challenge stereotyping in a
natural and appropriate way and through the wider curriculum.
The content of the Curriculum develops as the children progress through the school.
Activities, stories, discussions and events are organized around the following topics: -
Different relationships in the home

Family relationships + family structures
The role of women

Black history + Racism
LGBT

Disability
Ethnicity
Religion and Beliefs

Age
Marriage and Civil Partnerships

We teach pupils about discrimination against LGBT people as part of their general approach
against bullying. We aim to develop their understanding that LGBT people exist in all types
of families and within all roles in society.

Assessment and Feedback

The teaching staff at the school observe and assess their pupils continuously in all areas of the
curriculum throughout the year, and they adapt the short term planning as necessary for
groups of pupils or individual pupils. In addition, differentiated work is prepared on two or
three levels, or individual work for a small number of pupils in the school according to their
needs. Standardised tests are administered at specific times during the year, mainly to pupils
in Year 2 to Year 6. The data informs staff of any pupils with various difficulties. Additional
language support is offered to pupils from Year 2 to Year 6 with difficulties developing
reading and / or writing skills by the schoolʼs language support teacher, and an individual
education plan is prepared for the individual pupil in question. The support staff at the school
are also able to offer support to individual pupils across the school with difficulties in other
curriculum areas e.g. ʻnumberʼ work.

Assessment for Learning

Children are encouraged to evaluate their understanding independently as often as possible.
As the children progress through school they take on a greater role in their self-assessment
and peer assessment. The variety of approaches provided enables the children to evaluate
how they learned, what worked best and understand the strategies that would be useful for
future tasks and problem-solving. The process also helps their mindset by showing them that
misconceptions and improvements are a natural process of learning.

Cwricwlwm Cymreig

Our Welsh Curriculum helps pupils to understand and celebrate the particular quality of living
and learning in 21st century Wales, to identify their own sense of Welshness and to feel that

they belong to their local community and country. It also helps pupils develop their
understanding of an outward-looking international Wales, promoting global citizenship and an

interest in sustainable development.
The Common Requirements statement sets out the five aspects of the Curriculum Cymreig -

cultural, economic, environmental, historical and linguistic.
We ensure opportunities for children to meet the needs of its neighbourhood and local

community.
Teachers and the school: -
plan relevant and meaningful opportunities to place pupils' studies in a Welsh
context whenever it is desirable, possible and productive.
Provide opportunities for children to use the language to extend their
understanding of global issues.
educate about the past, and ensure that pupils question and evaluate past
events and attitudes in order to assess its relevance to the present and future.
Ensure that pupils learn about the cultures of Wales, beginning with their own

traditions.
explore the creative and expressive arts in Wales, from the local to the

national, traditional and contemporary.
study specific artefacts, into more abstract concepts about the position and

influence of Wales in Europe and the wider world
Extra-curricular activities are organized for pupils, such as the Urdd, Eisteddfodau and
residential experiences in camps such as Llangrannog help them develop their language and

realise Welsh is important and relevant in their daily lives.

Reward and Discipline

How do pupils at Ysgol Santes Tudful know how to behave?
All pupils are aware of ʻSantes Tudfulʼs Way (Ffordd Santes Tudful) - a clear code of conduct
that sets behavioural expectations for every child. Our pupils understand that they are
responsible for their behaviour, how to behave respectfully and in the Santes Tudful way. Why
this is important is discussed and children understand how not behaving respectfully affects the
feelings of others and goes against the ethos of the school.

What does 'Santes Tudful's Norms' (Normau Santes Tudful) mean?
Santes Tudful's norms are the daily rules that need to be followed daily.
What happens if my child doesn't follow Santes Tudful’s Way?
When responding to unacceptable behaviour that does not follow 'Santes Tudfulʼs
Way', all staff respond with the 5 Disciplinary Steps.
Caution for unwanted behaviour.
Specific talk- second warning in the form of a conversation.
Penalty by a member of staff and a record of the conduct on Class Charts.
Penalty by Head of School or Head of Department plus an entry on Class
Charts.
Call home for parents or guardians.

Who will use Class Charts?
Years 3-6 will use Class Charts. The Foundation Phase will also follow Santes Tudfulʼs Way and
use the Disciplinary Steps but will not record points on Class Charts. Ysgol Rhydywaun also
use Class Charts so you will be very familiar with the system before they attend Year 7.
What is Class Charts?
Class Charts is a digital platform that enables staff to record and reward achievements and
good behaviours such as being respectful, trying their best, speaking Welsh and treating
others with kindness.
Class Charts is also a place to identify behaviours that do not fit with 'Santes Tudfulʼs Way'.
Through an online platform, parents are informed of their child's positive and negative
behaviours via messages and notifications from teachers and school. A reward is noted as a
green point on their Class Charts profile and negative behaviours are recorded in red. Each
child begins a new school week with a clean slate but a historical record of all behaviours is
kept.
Why use Class Charts?
Class Charts is a great way for parents to have an insight of how your child is behaving and
how your child is working at school. The platform is also a great way for teachers to keep in
touch. Class Charts is also used to share messages and letters.



Curriculum Enrichment

Outdoor Learning
All children have a day fortnightly of outdoor learning where they thrive
from learning within the inspiring environment of our natural world. The
children benefit from adventurous experiences that help them discover,
experiment and connect with the local area outside the four walls of the
classroom. They also have the opportunity to deepen understanding of their skills
but within a different context and setting, eg. Outdoor measurement and numeracy work.
Outdoor learning is very beneficial to a child's personal and social development. Studies show that
being outdoors helps people to reflect, learn, take positive risks and better remember. This connection
with nature also leads to lifelong participation and outdoor competence.

"Purposeful experiences in the outdoors can be a powerful catalyst for memorable
learning"

Institute of Outdoor Learning
Y Cwtsh

We are very fortunate to be able to provide a whole school nurture class, 'The
Cwtsh'. Some children go through difficult times in their lives or need ongoing
provision to cope with learning and general life. The nurture class is here to
support the children and teach them the strategies needed to succeed and deal
with life's challenges. ELSA activities, growth mindset, the sensory tent, Lego
therapy and the Good Morning Group support our pupils' development.
Welfare provision is developed around six principles of nurture (Eva Holmes
and Eve Boyd (1999):
Learning is understood to be developmental
The classroom is a place of safety
Nurturing is important for developing an individual's well-being
Language is an essential means of communication
Every behaviour is a form of communication
Dealing with changes is important

Entrepeneurship
Entrepreneurship weeks are held where the children collaborate on a class
project to sell an object at the school fairs The projects are cross-curricular and
provide a variety of rich tasks that develop a large number of skills Children
have the opportunity to think creatively, innovatively, take initiative with ideas
and work together for a specific purpose Children enjoy ownership of the
task and benefit from a successful outcome of their perseverance and

preparation.
Area of Learning and Experience Weeks
This is an opportunity to celebrate our children's work on the school
stage with work coming from a fun from a whole school initiative.
These weeks give status to the area of learning and experience and
gain the respect of the learners. It gives our pupils focused time for
projects, competitions and STEM work. Itʼs also an opportunity to see

what is happening in other classes, acknowledge the work of others,
and extend their understanding of the field.

Growth Mindset
A growth mindset is the belief that intelligence improves through study and
practice. People who think the brain can grow, do better at school because
they focus on getting better. They see effort as a way to improve their
abilities. They see failure as a natural part of the learning process.
We promote the principles and practices of growth mindset within Ysgol
Santes Tudful to encourage and develop pupils to be ambitious,
enterprising, confident, able and creative.

Independence
It is essential for children to have opportunities to make decisions and
choices independently. Within the school, we teach the pupils techniques
to solve problems and persevere when dealing with difficulties. We
promote the 'Five Steps' within the class which gives them clear steps to
follow in order to solve a problem. Within the class we question them in a way
that makes them think of a solution rather than waiting for someone to provide the
answer. All pupils have responsibility for their behaviour and learning. They are given daily
opportunities to discuss what they have learned through self-assessment methods.

Homework
Tasks are planned to reinforce learning within the school and also to prepare for future
learning. The tasks will be completed within a homework book and online through a digital
platform such as Seesaw or Google Classroom.
Darllen
Every child is expected to practice reading as often as possible at home. Foundation Phase
children change books within the week and take home a reading book every weekend. The
Juniors take home their reading books (English and Welsh) every night and if they are ready to
change the book they change their Welsh and English books every other week. Comments and
targets will be set within a reading record and parents will be expected to respond to these and
indicate how much practice is taking place at home. * Due to our risk assessment Covid
prevention guidelines, the reading process will take place through Seesaw.

National Book Quiz
The school regularly competes in the Welsh Books Council Book Quiz competition. We have

been very successful over the years with our teams of years 3 & 4 and 5 & 6 children. If
the team reaches the final, they are expected to be able to discuss a book
thoroughly and then perform a dramatic presentation of a book on the stage of
Aberystwyth University's Arts Centre.

Mini Police-Safer Roads Merthyr
Police Officers train Year 5 members to be part of the community's Mini
Police Force.

The Mini Police scheme is an interactive volunteering opportunity for 9-
11 year olds, which follows a 3-step approach, Education, Community
and Reward. The aim is to introduce the children to a positive policing
experience and get them involved in the local community.
PCSOs provide education on police priorities which is then cascaded down
to the rest of the school by the Small Police Force. The children then take
part in community activities to improve community confidence and pride such
as litter picking, road safety and opportunities with different generations.

Llangrannog
Ysgol Santes Tudful has been visiting Llangrannog since 1976. Years 5 and 6 will visit
Llangrannog every September to take part in lots of fun and adventurous activities. They are
immersed in the Welsh language throughout their time there and have the opportunity to
develop their relationships after the summer holidays.
In the future, we also hope to use the Urdd camp in Cardiff bay and Margam Park.

Year 6 Skills Week
As part of their education and experience year 6 pupils take part in a
'Skills Week'. A cross-curricular week focused on life experiences. Children
benefit from learning about first aid, safe road biking, orienteering, wall
climbing, cooking, sewing, tent building, kayaking, how to maintain a car,
how to start a bank account, climbing Pen y-Fan and much more.

Instrumental Lessons
Trombone, harp and violin lessons are provided for groups of Junior children by
peripatetic teachers from the Authority. The school pays for this service.

Eisteddfod

The school has competed in Urdd competitions for many years. In addition to the
traditional recitals and solo and choir competitions, the school competes in
creative dance, mixed media dance, folk dancing, arts and crafts and harp
competitions. All children at the age of the categories practice with school
staff and have the opportunity to try out for the competitions. The next
stage is the School Eisteddfod where external judges select the winning
candidates who go on to the Local Eisteddfod and then hopefully to the
National Eisteddfod.
Bikes

Year 6 children receive training to achieve Levels 1 and 2 of the National
Cycle Standard. Children who reach level 2 experience (guided) cycling
along the local roads.

Schools Clubs
A variety of clubs are provided for our pupils. These mainly occur after school hours but some
occur during staff lunchtimes. Some clubs / exercise sessions are dependent on the time of year
and special events, eg. the Eisteddfod and the Book Quiz.

Foundation Phase Clubs Junior Department
• Gardening • Football
• Arts and Crafts
• Fitness • Cooking • Rugby

• Netball

• Coding

• Cross Country

Visitors and Visits
We take every opportunity to enhance children's learning with visits or visits from specialists.
These experiences provide memorable opportunities for hands-on learning and the
opportunity to meet and interact with people, places and buildings in new ways. Throughout
the year many visitors are invited to offer shows, workshops and discussions.
-Reverend Rushton and Reverend Coleman.
- Community Police Officer PC Lloyd
- School Nurse
- Various drama companies eg Theatr Na'Nog and The Sunflower Company.
-Techno Camps
--Children's Bard of Wales
-Poetry workshops
-Rainforest Roadshow
-St John's Ambulance
-Ebbw Vale Owl Sanctuary
-Merthyr College Outdoor Services
-Artists
-Authors
-Theatr Na 'Nog Workshops

Educational Visits

Out of School educational trips and visits are arranged for pupils on a termly basis, and
occasionally for Nursery children. These visits usually promote class work and help broaden
the experiences of pupils. Classes will visit various places throughout their time at Santes
Tudful. We will aim to use local attractions but will also look further afield e.g. Sain Ffagan
Roman Baths, museums, shows, nature reserves. Experts are also invited to the school to
perform, share experiences, knowledge and artefacts.

These visits are considered an important part of the curriculum and all pupils are encouraged
to attend. Sometimes the trips bring a half-termʼs work to a close and are a celebration of
skills and newly acquired knowledge. These trips will change to suit the themes of the school
year.

The School will kindly request a financial contribution towards the costs of these visits.

The School Educational Visits Leader and / or class teacher will undertake a 'risk assessment'
prior to any out-of-School visit.

Parents are usually given two weeks notice of visits. All visits will be insured and with more
than adequate levels of supervision following the guidelines and advice of the Local
Authority.

Charging and Remissions

Educational visits are arranged termly for pupils. We make
sure that every visit is value for money by researching
transport costs and entry costs. We ask parents for a
contribution towards these visits.

We encourage all pupils at the School to join the Urdd
annually (approximately £8.00 per annum to be paid in
September).

Years 5 and 6 pupils go to Llangrannog in September (costs
approx £ 150 excluding pocket money). You can start
paying this in the summer term and through the summer
holidays through Parent Pay.

Before Christmas and sometimes at the end of the academic
year, concerts are held by Foundation Phase and Key Stage
2. We will charge tickets for parents and other relatives to
see these concerts.

The profits made are used for the benefit of all the children ~
perhaps to buy more equipment for school and / or to pay
for buses for outings during the year.
The school will not charge for taking pupils by bus to sports
against other schools or championships.
From time to time, we may ask for contributions towards
performances at the School from occasional theater
companies, puppet theater or Technology or Science
workshops etc.

We advise any families who have problems with contributing
towards visits and other costs associated with the School to
contact the Headteacher to discuss.

Additional Learning Needs

At Ysgol Santes Tudful we have a fully inclusive ethos, and firmly believe that all children deserve
to have the very best opportunities to achieve their full potential. All staff encourage and support
pupils to reach their full potential and promote positive self-esteem and success.

Many children, at some time in their school career, will have an additional learning need of some
kind. Some children will need help and support for all of their time at school, whilst others will
need support for a short time.

We follow a Graduated Response approach to support all children, and work closely with
parents/carers and outside agencies to maximize learning.

Pupils who meet our criteria for having ALN will be supported by class teachers, teaching
assistants, other adults and their learning environment. As a school we identify support for Pupils
under the following areas:

School Action (SA) - Support for Pupils identified as School Action lies within our School. This
may be in the form of school based interventions or differentiated tasks in class. There would be
no involvement or support from any external agencies

School Action Plus (SA+) - Those who are identified as School Action Plus will have the
additional support and/or advice of external agencies such as Speech and Language, Behavioural
Support or Educational Psychologist.

Statement - Pupils with statements are provided with provision to meet their needs by the Local
Authority, who take responsibility for this Statement. The school will fully engage with the
statement process.

Individual Education Plans (IEPs) are written and reviewed with children on a termly basis,
looking at individual targets and needs, and are shared with parents/carers. One Page Profiles
and Team Around the Child meetings are used to support Person Centred Planning (PCP).

Children who have an IEP are put on our SEN register, this is a flexible register and the number of
children on it fluctuates according to needs.

Some of our children have a statement of special educational need. These children have full access
to the National Curriculum within their own class and where necessary through individual and
small group support.

We have many types of interventions to support children's needs, including:

Catch up

Dyfal Donc (Welsh version of Catch Up)

Dyfal Donc Rhifedd (Catch Up Numeracy)

ELSA

Tric a chlic

Read, Write Inc

Nessy (Dyslexia)

Person Centred Practices. (PCP)

At Ysgol Santes Tudful aim to be person centred in the way we think and teach. We believe that each
child is an individual and that learning should be personalised. We use a range of person centred
thinking tools during circle time and wellbeing sessions. These tools help staff get to know the children
on a deeper level and understand their needs. PCP Tools includes;

Relationship circle

What's working/not working

Good day/bad day

4 plus 1 question

Using these tools helps form a One Page Profile.

One Page Profiles.

A One Page Profile captures all the important information about a person on a single sheet of paper
under three simple headings: what people appreciate about me, whatʼs important to me and how
best to support me. Each child will have a One Page Profile.

Cwtsh (Nurture Class)

The wellbeing provision is developed around six principles of nurture:

Learning is understood developmentally

The classroom offers a safe base

The importance of nurture for the development of wellbeing

Language is a vital means of communication

All behaviour is communication

The importance of transition in the lives of children and young people.

Children who are eligible for access to the Cwtsh will have weekly sessions. The aim of The Cwtsh is
to encourage each child to be the best version of themselves. We aim to give the children the skills to
do well at school, make friends and deal more confidently and calmly with the trials and tribulations
of life. The wellbeing and mental health of all children who attend The Cwtsh is monitored and
discussed frequently with the mainstream class.

New Additional Learning Needs Code

The new ALN Code will ensure that every school delivers a fully inclusive education system for
learners
in Wales. A system where needs are identified early and addressed quickly, and where all learners
are supported to reach their potential. Around 22 per cent of all learners at maintained schools in
Wales have SEN. Under the new system, planning will be flexible and responsive, all professionals
will be skilled and confident in identifying needs and deploying strategies to help learners overcome
their barriers to learning, and the learner will be at the centre of everything.

When will the new bill come into effect?

The new ALN system is expected to go live in January 2022. The implementation period will last
three years until summer 2024, during which time existing statements of SEN, individual education
plans, and learning and skills plans will be converted into individual development plans (IDPs). This
will be done in a mandatory phased approach on the basis of particular age-based cohorts. During
this time, the ALN system will operate in parallel to the SEN system.

"Logic will get you
from A to B.
Imagination will

take you
everywhere" Einstein

Health, Wellbeing and Physical Education

The school has a long history of success in this area and we take
pride in all the activities offered to each child. We seek to improve
each child's self-confidence, awareness and importance of health
and body control through individual and group activities. We
provide lessons that enhance knowledge, skills, understanding and
ability in gymnastics, games, athletics, dance, swimming and
adventure and outdoor activities.
Every pupil receives a physical education lesson a week. The content
of these varies throughout the year to develop a cross section of skills
and to provide a variety of experiences. As well as sports specific
lessons, health and wellbeing aspects are included in cross-curricular
lessons. The following thinking underpins every lesson:-
Developing physical health and well-being is beneficial throughout
our lives.
How we process and respond to our experiences has an impact on
our mental health and emotional well-being.
Our decisions affect the quality of our lives and those of others.
How we respond to different social influences shapes who we are
and our health and well-being.
Healthy relationships are fundamental to our sense of belonging and
well-being.
When possible, we provide opportunities for children to represent
the school in Urdd sports competitions such as swimming, football,
rugby, athletics and gymnastics. Children also attend various Urdd
sports days throughout the year.
Swimming
Years 3 and 5 receive two weeks of lessons within the year. The
children are assessed at the beginning of the fortnight and again at
the end to measure progress. By having a series of daily lessons from
experts, the children develop their skills quickly, with some starting
with the fear of the water and then finishing enjoying the water and
being able to swim. Lessons are organised according to ability and
lessons are planned according to the requirements of the 'School
Swimming for Wales' scheme. At the end of the period each child
receives a certificate.
Cycling
For two weeks during the summer term Year 6 has cycle lessons. The
children are assessed and work towards levels 1 and 2. The training
is conducted by at least two trainers in accordance with the
recognized standards of cycle training. Level 1 takes place in the
school grounds and focuses on management skills. Level 2 takes
place on the local roads. The overall aim is to equip pupils with the
skills to cycle more safely. The course also raises general road
awareness.
Clubs
The school is very fortunate to have skilled staff who run clubs during
their lunchtimes and after school. A variety of clubs are provided for
our pupils. Some clubs / exercise sessions are dependent on time of
year and special events.

Mental Health Week
Following the theme of 'Place2be' Child Mental Health Week the
school holds a week of activities focusing on Child Mental Health.
Well-being lessons are still taught in school but children's mental
health is receiving a specific focus within this week. The whole school
plans purposeful tasks for each year so that there is a suitable cross
section of activities. A whole school approach to the mental health
and well-being of children and young people is crucial and ensures
that children understand all the factors that can affect a person's
mental health from time to time. One aim is that the children will
have a collection of strategies to help them deal with personal
challenges.
Anti-Bullying Week
A week is held each year where the whole school discusses bullying
issues and completes activities. Throughout the year we promote the
anti-bullying message through circle time and our health and
wellbeing curriculum. As a school we feel that anti-bullying week is
an opportunity to work together as a whole school towards the
same message and then share this message with the wider
community. We work on all sorts of topics related to anti-bullying,
for example, promoting equality and diversity, discussing what
bullying is online and how to deal with it, practicing social skills and
children's rights.
Internet Safety Week
Every opportunity is taken to teach the children how to be safe
when using the internet and digital technology. There is a unit within
our school curriculum plan that focuses heavily on digital literacy
and how to be a responsible digital citizen. Our activities are based
on what to trust online, what to do if something seems wrong and
how to support the children in questioning, challenging and
changing the online world.
Mile a Day During the school day teachers take advantage of
opportunities for short outdoor exercise sessions. The children walk
or jog in the school grounds with the intention of achieving one mile
a day and then 5, 10 and 20 miles over the year.
Sports All summer both key stages are involved in school sports
day. A carousel of fun activities is organised and all classes have the
opportunity to compete and participate to earn points for their
school houses.
ELSA
ELSA stands for Emotional Literacy Support Assistant. Many of our
staff have received ELSA training where they have learned how to
offer support to help children with their social skills, emotions,
bereavement, anger and self-esteem. Staff also gain some
counselling skills and learn how to use social and therapeutic stories
to aid children's understanding. ELSA is very successful within the
school and then in helping any child who needs a little help in their
lives. We do not start ELSA sessions without parental consent.
Person Centered Practice (PCP- Person Centred Practices)
The school practices person centered and person centered
approaches. All children have a 1 Page Profile. Person-centered
thinking is a rigorous way of ensuring that education meets the
needs of each child or young person, recognizing that each has a
unique style of learning, communication, relationship building and
decision making.

Outdoor Education
Outdoor learning days are provided, where all pupils benefit from learning within the inspiring
environment of our natural world. The children have lots of fun with adventurous experiences that help
them discover, experiment and connect with the outdoors. They also have the opportunity to deepen
understanding of their classroom based skills but within a different context and setting, eg. Outdoor
measurement and numeracy work.
Nurse
The community nurse visits the school regularly to teach important messages about relevant health
issues - germs, smoking, healthy eating, personal hygiene etc.
Positive Behavior Support
We have ensured that many of our staff have received Positive Behavior Support training. A person
centered approach to dealing with learning difficulties and challenging behaviours. The intention is to
provide tailored support to the individual based on inclusion, choice, participation and equality of
opportunity.
Growth Mindset
A growth mindset is the belief that intelligence improves through study and practice. People who think
the brain can grow, do better at school because they focus on getting better. They see effort as a way
to improve their abilities. They see failure as a natural part of the learning process.
We promote the principles and practices of growth mindset within our school to develop the pupils to
be ambitious, enterprising, confident, able and creative. More than ever resilience, perseverance and
self-worth are vitally important.



Pupil Voice

Evidence shows that the more pupils participate in the learning process, the more effective their
learning is. As a result, pupils are aware of the factors that help them to learn and can identify the
barriers to learning. Sharing these in an open discussion results in the school responding to the needs
of the pupils. A key role of the school councils is to observe lessons and be part of our monitoring
cycle within the school. This provides another valuable perspective.

"I noticed that everyone feels confident and willing to talk and share opinions"

Year 6 Ambassador

The strategies for collecting the pupil's voice happen on a regular basis within each class when
planning their tasks. All pupils discuss the theme of the term and jointly plan what they want to learn.

School Council

A representative from each class (Year 2 upwards) is elected to sit on the School Council. Children
hold meetings to discuss events and to hear about developments affecting the school and pupils. They
also help to make decisions about some aspects of school life. They have an important role to play as
they also have to report back to their classes and the whole school after the meetings. Occasionally
the School Council will also discuss elements of school life with visitors.

School Ambassadors

Our ambassadors promote the values and ethos of our school. They were chosen
because they are passionate about the well-being of the children in our school
and they want to support the school moving forward. Children are special
role models and show how to treat others with respect and kindness.

Their responsibilities include:-

• Meet and greet visitors

• Lead fundraising events

• Carry out pupil surveys

• Observe classroom learning and playground behaviour

• Meet with the School Council

• Write the 'Seren Santes' ambassadors newsletter.

• Hold a discussion with the individuals that have forgotten how to treat others in a polite, respectful
and kind way.

Digital Crew

The Digital Crew learn specific skills relating to digital technologies and then visit the school's
classrooms to share their expertise with pupils and staff. They also help the community and have
visited the local residential home and helped show the residents how to use the internet. The group
will be very busy next year helping to prepare the school for the New Curriculum.

Criw Cymraeg

Our Welsh Crew do a fantastic job encouraging children to use Welsh when playing in the
playground. They are there to praise and reward their peers for using Welsh in a social setting. They
set a good example for everyone and are a great help to school staff. As part of their services, they
deliver important messages and help us celebrate the Welsh speakers of the week. The crew share
news with the community and contribute to the school newsletter, 'Seren Santes'.

We are extremely proud to have won the Platinum Welsh Charter Award and thank the crew for
representing the school so well.

Eco Council

Our school's Eco Council was established with representatives from every class from year two to six.
The school's Eco Council meets regularly to draw up and then implement a school action plan for
improving the environment. Children discuss ways to improve their school environment and discuss
pupils' health and wellbeing needs. They are also very active around the school collecting litter,
monitoring our water usage, establishing ways to save energy at school and sharing important
messages in our assemblies.

Equal Opportunities

We have a Strategic Equality Plan that ensures equality of education and opportunity for all pupils,
staff, parents and carers who receive services from the school, regardless of disability, race, gender,
age, sexual orientation , religion or belief, gender reassignment, pregnancy and maternity, marriage
and civil partnership. We seek to develop a culture of inclusion and diversity that enables everyone
associated with the school to feel proud of its identity, and to participate fully in the life of the school.

Pupil achievement will be monitored and we will use this data to support pupils, raise standards and
ensure inclusive teaching. We will tackle discrimination by positively promoting equality, challenging
bullying and stereotypes and creating an environment that promotes respect for all. At Ysgol Santes
Tudful we believe that diversity is a strength that should be respected and celebrated by everyone
who teaches, teaches and visits here.

Transition to Secondary School

Ysgol Santes Tudful has a good link with Ysgol Rhydywaun.
They have a thorough transition program which prepares them
for their new start in year 7.

During their time in Year 4 the children get a taste of
Rhydywaun life and visit the school for half a day.

In Year 5 they would go for a full day and experience lessons.

An open evening is held for parents of Year 6 children where
Rhydywaun staff give a presentation about the school and
answer questions. This happens in the Autumn term.

Throughout the year in Year 6, the children get to know Rhydywaun teachers during their
visits to Santes Tudful to teach lessons. These lessons are fun and enjoyable and a great
opportunity to build relationships.

In the summer term, Year 6 teachers take the children to Rhydywaun for two days. They have
the opportunity to meet their fellow pupils from other primary schools and enjoy a variety of
lessons with them. During these two days they would get to know their registration teacher.
This is the teacher who will register them every morning in Year 7.

Hawl i holi! (Right to ask!)

Twice during Year 6, Rhydywaun's senior pupils hold a question and answer session for the
children - Hawl i holi. Hearing directly from Rhydywaun pupils is invaluable and gives
children an opportunity to discuss Rhydywaun's life from a child's perspective.

For the latest information and to view various videos, visit the Year 6 page of the Ysgol
Rhydywaun website.

https://sites.google.com/rhydywaun.org/ysgolgyfunrhydywaun/blwyddyn-6

Parental and Guardian Involvement

Children learn best when the important adults in their lives - parents, teachers, and other
family and community members - work together to encourage and support them. Schools
alone cannot address all the developmental needs of a child: Parental involvement and
community support are essential.

We hope that parents support the schoolʼs discipline systems, rules and ensure that similar
messages are shared at home. Our joint mission is to raise responsible, healthy, happy and
moral children. It is vital that parents and guardians help their children practice their reading
and support them to complete homework tasks. Parents are expected to contact the school
with information relevant to their child's education and well-being. Parents must read all
means of communication from the school and attend all parents meetings and evenings.

Our Home School Agreement

Parents and Friends'Association

A committee of parents and teachers meets frequently during the year. Anyone with an interest
is welcome to attend these meetings. Parents are informed by email or letter of the meetings. A
wide range of activities are organized to promote the social life of the School and its families
as well as raising profits to purchase equipment for the School. This is also an opportunity for
new parents to get to know other parents at the School.

We are a small and friendly group of parents and teaching staff who organize a number of
social events during the year to raise money for the school. Money raised will be used to
support the children and to buy resources for them to use at school.

We are passionate about our school and help the children to be the best they can be. Over
the years we have raised money to help the school in many ways.

We are always looking for new fundraising ideas and opportunities, but we usually raise
money through fun events and initiatives such as :-

• Cinema Nights

• School Discos

• Christmas Raffles

• Easter Raffles

• Summer Fayre

• Christmas Fayre

• Welly Walks

• Sponsored Readathon



Working with the Commnunity

Choir in the Community

The school choir has been invited to numerous events in the
community. Being able to share the Welsh language by singing
songs is a privilege. They have recently sung at Merthyr
College for the Mayor, at the home of the elderly Ty Cwm and
Theatr Soar. Their audiences love hearing Welsh being sung in
their community.

Road Safety

The school works with the community by sharing road safety messages within the local area.
Our 'Parking Buddies' have been very successful this year and as a result the school is safer.
We also communicate with the Local Authority and Police to secure their support.

Seren Santes

The School's Ambassadors write a monthly newsletter that shares the Welsh language with the
community. We share this on the school website and on the school's digital platform.

Governors

Governors work as a team. They are responsible for ensuring that the school provides a good
quality education for all pupils. Governors support and challenge headteachers by gathering
views, asking questions and discussing what is best for the school. The Governors of Ysgol
Santes Tudful meet regularly to discuss school issues and plan to ensure the best for our pupils.

Charitable Work

As a school we support a large number of charities, both locally and nationally.

Supporting charities as a whole school promotes a sense of citizenship and a sense of social
responsibility in our pupils.

Annually the school collects for Children in Need, Red Nose Day, Merthyr Food Bank, Cancer
Research and Macmillan Cancer Support.

Occasionally, we also raise awareness and collect towards charities
that are relevant to members of our school community.

Working in partnership

Local businesses are invited to the School Christmas Fair
and Summer Fair. Their products are sold and the event
gives the businesses the opportunity to develop Welsh
items.

We also take every opportunity to use a local business to
help maintain and develop the school.

Police

PCSOs train Year 5 members to be part of the Mini Community Police Force.

The Mini Police scheme is an interactive volunteering opportunity for 9-11 year olds, which
follows a 3-step approach, Education, Community and Reward. The aim is to introduce the
children to a positive policing experience and get them involved in the local community.
PCSOs provide education on police priorities which is then cascaded down to the rest of the
school by the Mini Police Force. The children take part in community activities to improve
community confidence and pride such as litter picking, road safety and opportunities with
different generations.

The school also works closely with our Community Police Officer. He is a visible member of
the school which provides a valuable service to our pupils.

Jobs
The Kickstart Scheme provides funding to create new jobs for 16 to 24-year-olds on Universal
Credit who are at risk of long-term unemployment. The £2 billion fund is focused on creating
hundreds of thousands of high quality 6 month work placements for young people.
As part of a Merthyr-wide initiative, Ysgol Santes Tudful is working with Merthyr Employment
Center to create work opportunities at the school. This means that we will be able to provide
a young person with work experience as a classroom learning assistant, to work alongside
our experienced staff.

Merthyr College
The School works closely with Merthyr College's Welsh Language Officer. College students
come to school to collaborate and educate pupils. The content of the sessions ranges from
arts and crafts to sports and everyone involved in the initiative enjoys and develops valuable
skills.
The School also collaborates with the Council's Outdoor and Public Service Department
where our pupils have experienced adventurous activities such as wall climbing and camping.

Tŷ Cwm
The local assisted living and support facility is very close to the school and we are pleased to
have developed a close relationship with the home. The choir enjoys performing for the
residents and in addition groups of children have visited to teach ICT skills and play board
games. Our pupils fulfil these duties with maturity and respect and both generations benefit
greatly from interacting with one another.

Keeping in Touch

The School believes strongly in fostering close links with parents as well as the community to
promote pupils' development and to share information. We contact parents in a number of
ways during the year eg: -
• Regular letters informing parents
• Text messages
• Open evenings to discuss pupils' progress
• Homework or home / school tasks
• Monthly newsletter sharing news with our parents
• Communication via Seesaw + Dojo
• Emails with teachers
• Messages and reward/behaviour updates through Class Charts
• Written reports on the child's progress
• Christmas concerts
• School fairs
• School prospectus
• School website - www.santestudful.merthyr.sch.uk
• Nursery Handbook
• Twitter @santestudful
• Private School Facebook page- Ysgol Santes Tudful's Parents and Friends.
The School is also supported by a number of agencies - South Wales Police, Fire Service,
Health Service, Dental Service, etc.

Child Protection

All members of staff at this school are responsible for safeguarding and protecting the children
who attend. If there are concerns about neglect, physical, emotional or sexual abuse, then it is
incumbent on staff, in accordance with the All Wales Child Protection Guidelines 2008, to
report the matter to the School ‟s Child Protection Co-ordinator.
The school Co-ordinator may consult with professional colleagues as well as
relevant agencies such as Health and Social Services. Following these discussions, the School
co-ordinator may have to officially refer the child to the Social Services Department, in
accordance with the county guidelines and protocol. It is for the Social Services Department to
decide whether or not to take action.
Due to the nature of the allegations, it will not always be appropriate to discuss issues with
parents before referring the child. Social Services and the Police are responsible for
investigating allegations.

Designated Safeguarding and Child Protection Officer: Mr G Jones (Headteacher)
Designated Deputy Child Protection and Safeguarding Officer: Mrs L Rose-Jones
Governor for Safeguarding and Child Protection: Mrs Brown

Health and Safety

This is the responsibility of the Headteacher, School Staff, Governors and Caretaker of the
school. These members carry out an annual audit and risk assessment of the school and the
Caretaker draws the attention of the Headteacher to any day-to-day maintenance. A
comprehensive Health and Safety Policy covering all aspects of school activities is available
to read in the School office. The school also has an E-safety policy which ensures the
safety of pupils as they use ICT throughout the school. It is not possible for anyone to gain
access to the building without permission as all doors and gates are locked during the day.

Sickness and Accidents

If your child does not feel well, we will do our best to contact you. If they suffer badly as a
result of an accident, we will contact you as soon as possible after giving First Aid. In an
emergency, a member of staff will contact 999 before contacting you.

If your child does suffer any type of head injury, we will contact you immediately and you can
come to school to collect him /her.

Medication

If your child needs medication, you should talk to your child's teacher to discuss this. The school
has a Health Care policy which is available in the school or in the Parents area on the school
website. This policy outlines the steps and procedures to follow if a pupil needs to take
medication. You will need to complete a form granting permission for the school to administer
medication.

Attendance

In order to improve educational standards and attainment, school attendance in Wales is a

local and national priority. The Welsh Government has set an attendance target of at least

95% per pupil. We believe that regular school attendance is essential if children are to reach

their potential and we work very hard supporting families to ensure that as many children as

possible achieve this target. For more information about attendance, please visit our page on

the School website. School
Uniform
School uniform contributes to building a sense of pride, community and
belonging among students, staff and parents as well as the local
community. We see that students are proud to represent Ysgol Santes
Tudful in public by wearing our school uniform. We believe that
dressing appropriately contributes to self-discipline and improved
concentration. Wearing a school uniform also helps to put pupils in a
'work environment' mindset and helps them separate their home and
school life. All children are equal and there is no pressure to wear the
latest fashionable brands.

Ysgol Santes Tudful School uniform consists of:

• Pair of black shoes or plain black trainers.

• Sandals need to be of the closed toe variety

• White/red plain polo shirt / white blouse / button-up shirt. (Tie
optional)

• Red sweatshirt (logo optional) cardigan or hoodie.

• Black or dark grey ʻschool-typeʼ trousers, skirt or tailored shorts

• No joggers or leggings (except for nursery and reception)

• Plain tights (black/ grey/red or white/grey socks)

• A ʻginghamʼ red/white summer dress or grey pinafore dress.

• A coat or waterproof jacket

• No jewellery is permitted at school at any time.

Complaints

The School has adopted the Welsh Government policy regarding
procedures for complaints. The purpose of this procedure is to
ensure that everyone with an interest in the school can raise a
concern with confidence that it will be heard and if well founded,
addressed in an appropriate and timely fashion.
Any parent, pupil, member of staff or governor can raise
concern. Concerns fall into three types or “stages”:
Stage One: Normally a complaint at this stage will be made
orally but can be in writing. It can be made to any member of
staff, deputy head or head teacher. It may be referred to the
schools designated complaints officer, however, every effort will
be made to resolve the concern at this stage. It is likely that in
many cases this will be possible.
Stage Two: Any concern not resolved at stage one will usually move to
stage two. If considered appropriate, the head teacher may proceed
immediately to stage two on first learning of a concern. At this stage the
concern should be presented in writing to ensure all the facts are clear. The
head teacher will acknowledge the complaint in writing and provide a target date
for providing a response to the concern.
Stage Three: Any concerns not resolved at stage two will be referred to the Governing
Body. If you have any concerns about your childʼs education, please inform the Headteacher
at once.
We also appreciate letters of thanks and complements for the things that you feel we do well.

Transport

If a child lives more than one and a half miles from the school, transport will be provided. If
there is a question or complaint about transport, parents should contact the Authority's
Department of Transportation, 01685 726288. The best possible behaviour is expected at all
times by every pupil traveling by bus to school.

Visiting the School

We welcome visits from parents to the School to discuss any concerns about their child /
children or to inquire or discuss another matter. It is advisable to contact the School by
telephone to make an appointment with the appropriate person. For safety reasons, all
visitors to the school are asked to enter the School Main Entrance. *Please note that due to
Covid Regulations, we are currently not able to welcome visits.

"Happiness is seeing the smile on a child's
face as they learn"