Schools praised for adaptability during pandemic
FROM an online wellbeing alert button to lessons for parents in how to help their children use online classrooms – these are just some of the ways schools responded when they had to shut down temporarily or teach remotely during the pandemic.
A number of schools in West Wales are highlighted in the Chief Inspector’s Report out today from education watchdog Estyn.
Chief Inspector Claire Morgan praised educators for their adaptability and work in what has been a disrupted time. These are some of the schools that have been highlighted for their response in the pandemic in her report.
Ysgol Gyfun y Strade, Llanelli The school has added a ‘Botwm Becso’ (Concern Button) to its website for pupils to use at any time of day or night to report their concerns or worries. The information is confidential and goes straight to the assistant headteacher responsible for wellbeing who then contacts the pupil and decides how best to support them.
Coedcae Comprehensive School, Llanelli
Established a successful partnership with the local authority to support vulnerable families. The school identified vulnerable families, who were not on the free school meals register but were facing increasing financial pressures due to job losses or because of the furlough scheme.
With a weekly grant of £250, the school delivered hygiene packs to those families to help financial pressures where money had to be spent mostly on essentials like food rather than hygiene products. As a result, the school built solid relationships with pupils and their families and helped with the issues and struggles of their school community.
Ysgol Dyffryn Aman, Ammanford Started an online parental involvement programme. The programme focused on working with parents to identify strengths and gaps in provision and to plan improvement priorities to support parents.
Ceredigion PRU
Made frequent contact with pupils that were not attending the PRU, door step visits and remote wellbeing activities, followed by structured wellbeing sessions when pupils attended the PRU.