News Update – 25th October ’24

25 Oct 2024

We have reached the end of a really busy half term. The children have been immersed in our whole school project, Cynefin, developing their sense of belonging through their engagement in a variety of authentic, cross-curricular learning opportunities. It has been wonderful to see the children settle into their new year groups, developing confidence and enthusiasm for learning. We have also been pleased to see so many children showing kindness and respect towards others – well done everyone!

NURSERY VISIT TO HEAD OVER HEELS

This week our Nursery had a fantastic time at Head Over Heels Gymnastics at Trinity Church. The children enjoyed playing games and moving to music, developing their balance and co-ordination. They also had the opportunity to use the apparatus to develop their gymnastics skills. Everyone had a brilliant time! Diolch Head over Heels!

YEAR 6 VISIT TO CRUCIAL CREW

Also this week, Year 6 have been to visit Raglan Barracks, taking part in a Crucial Crew workshop. They learnt all about keeping safe and making sensible choices. Da iawn!

YEAR 4 DRAGONS RUGBY

Year 4 have been enjoying their rugby sessions with the Dragons community rugby coach Steve Lewis – the children are having a fantastic time learning new skills.

THRIVE WELLBEING ASSESSMENTS

Our children from Reception to Year 6 will be completing their wellbeing THRIVE assessments when we return to school; these are based on their own thoughts and feelings towards different aspects of school life. This information is personal and child-led and ensures that we can appropriately support individuals and helps us see what is working well.

LEARNER PROGRESSION

Thank you to all parents who have attended parental consultations this week – almost 100% attendance! If you haven’t had an opportunity to meet with your child’s teacher please contact school to arrange a mutually convenient time.

Please refer to our Learner Progression Model which illustrates how we work in partnership with parents/carers, throughout the academic year, to support each child’s progress in learning. It is vital that we work together, with the children, to identify the progress they are making, their general well-being in school, their future learning needs and how these can be supported at home.

SENEDD GLASLLWCH

Pupil voice and our pupil groups have always been a huge part of life at Glasllwch. The importance we place on pupil voice is clear from our vision statement, ‘…where the natural curiosity and voice of each individual is valued, nurtured and encouraged to flourish…’

Our pupil groups represent their peers across school, ensuring they have a say in our learning environment, aspects of teaching and learning, resources and many aspects of our wider curriculum. Our groups and their focus areas are as follows:

Community Committee – community links, charity fundraising

Eco Champions – environment, travel, recycling

Well – being Ambassadors – nutrition, UNCRC, health and fitness

Digital Leaders – ICT, Digital Competency

Criw Cymraeg – Welsh language, culture and heritage

Resolution Role Models – mediation, behaviour, positive play

Learning Squad – learning, curriculum, research and enquiry

Each pupil group meet on a regular basis and contribute to a Senedd Glasllwch action plan which feeds into our whole School Development Plan.

Two children from each of these groups represent their group in Senedd Glasllwch. Senedd Glasllwch meet with Mrs King and Mrs Munslow every half term to: discuss what they have been working on; request funding for specific projects; bring to the forefront issues or concerns they may have.

HOME / SCHOOL AGREEMENT

When children join Glasllwch we ask all parents and children to join us and sign up to our Home / School Agreement. We pride ourselves on having high academic achievement as well as ensuring high levels of wellbeing and high standards of behaviour, attendance and teaching and learning. The partnership we have with parents is an integral part of our success and vital if pupils are to flourish and reach their full potential.

Class specific home learning is shared each week, via our learning platforms, to consolidate learning that has taken place in school. We ask that you read with your child every day at home and support them in practising spellings and tables each day. Thank you for your ongoing support.

SAFEGUARDING

The safety and protection of children is of paramount importance to everyone associated with our school. At Glasllwch Primary School we have in place robust procedures to ensure that we meet our responsibilities for safeguarding children from abuse.

As part of our curriculum children have opportunities to develop the skills they need to recognise and stay safe from abuse. Children know that they can approach any of the adults in our school if they are worried about anything at all. All staff and governors have annual update safeguarding training.

The school designated person responsible for safeguarding is Mrs J Munslow

The school deputy designated person responsible for safeguarding is Mrs R Cornelius-Zahr

Our school governor responsible for safeguarding is Mrs Gill Hyland

Our Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy can be found within the Policies section of our school website Online Office.

SCHOOL MEALS

The new menu is now available on Parentpay. Please book meals by this Sunday 27th October, ready for our return to school on Monday 4th November.

SCHOOL PLACE APPLICATIONS

Year 7 – Secondary School Applications

A letter has been emailed home to all current Year 6 Parents/Guardians with information on how to apply for a place at Secondary School for your child. Applications for places are open from 25th September to 13th November 2024, places allocated will be issued on 1st March 2025. Please make sure you put down more than one school choice, as in the past when only one school is applied for – if there is no availability or you do not meet the criteria you will not be offered another school. This causes unnecessary distress to your child and yourselves. Please apply within the application window to – www.newport.gov.uk/schooladmissions

Reception – Primary School Applications

Applications for Reception places starting September 2025 open on 6th November 2024 and close on 9th January 2025 at 5pm. It is vital that you apply between these dates. Apply on-line via www.newport.gov.uk/schooladmissions Decisions are issued on 16th April 2025.

Should you wish to look around Glasllwch School before making your application we have set the following dates for prospective parents/carers to look around: Thursday 21st November at 4:30pm and Thursday 12th December at 4:30pm. To attend you would need to book a place – please phone the school office: 01633 266398.

ATTENDANCE

Attendance figures this year so far are as follows. Well done to Year 4 for having the highest attendance so far this academic year. A HUGE well done everyone – we are on track to achieve our school attendance target of 96%.

Year Group	Attendance
Nursery	92.3%
Reception	94.3%
Year 1	96.8%
Year 2	97.3%
Year 3	95.0%
Year 4	97.6%
Year 5	95.4%
Year 6	96.1%
Whole School	96.0%

Good attendance at school is vital if your child is to achieve their full potential. We monitor individual pupil attendance on a regular basis and will contact you if your child’s attendance dips below our target of 96%.

All holidays should be taken during the school holidays and not in term time. Any planned absence from school must be requested in writing. Such requests will be considered on an individual basis.

It is vital that all children are in school and ready to learn by 9am. The school doors are open from 8.50am for the children to filter into classrooms. The teachers start lessons promptly, as soon as the register has been called. Children arriving late are missing out on vital learning opportunities. Once again thank you for your continued support.