A Guide to Improvement Resources

About our improvement resources
Here you’ll find resources to support those working in education and training in raising standards for learners.
Our resources consist of thematic reports, effective practice, additional resources, as well as our annual reports.

Effective practice
When we see interesting and innovative practice during an inspection, we’re always keen to share it. We invite schools and other providers to write case studies when we think they have something important to share.

Improving teaching & learning through empowering professional learning
Information about the school/provider The College Merthyr Tydfil is a general further education college offering a wide range of vocational and general education programmes. The college’s campus at Ynysfach in Merthyr Tydfil town centre opened in September 2013 following a tertiary reorganisation within the local authority. The college is a subsidiary of the University of … Continued

Gentle with the children, firm with the boundaries: The positive effect of placing wellbeing at the centre in the context of developing learners’ language within late immersion provision in Wrexham.
Information about the local authority A latecomers to the Welsh language support service in the primary sector was established by Wrexham local authority in 2018 with weekly outreach support for primary latecomers. In 2021, the secondary immersion unit came under the care of the local authority and in 2023 a primary language centre, ‘Cynefin’, was … Continued

Effective cooperation to promote the Welsh language in Ceredigion
Information about the school / provider Ceredigion County Council has a total population of around 71,500. A significant proportion of the County’s population, 45.6%, were born outside Wales with 37.3% born in England and 8.3% born outside England and Wales. According to the 2021 Census, 45.3% of the population of Ceredigion speak Welsh. 71.8% of … Continued

Strong self-evaluation based on the effect of teaching on pupils’ learning and well-being
Information about the school Ysgol Gyfun Cwm Rhymni is the only Welsh-medium secondary school in the county of Caerphilly. The school is located on two sites, namely the Gellihaf site near the village of Fleur de Lys and the Gwyndy site in the town of Caerphilly. There are 1,764 pupils on roll, including 196 pupils … Continued

‘Relationships are everything’: promoting pupils’ good attendance and well-being
Information about the school Ysgol Gyfun Cwm Rhymni is the only Welsh-medium secondary school in the county of Caerphilly. The school is located on two sites, namely the Gellihaf site near the village of Fleur de Lys and the Gwyndy site in the town of Caerphilly. There are 1,771 pupils on roll, including 196 pupils … Continued

Strong community links and the impact on pupils’ experiences, progress and wellbeing.
Information about the setting Cylch Meithrin Y Drenewydd is a voluntary-managed setting providing early years education and childcare. The setting, located in the town of Newtown on the Ysgol Dafydd Llwyd site, is registered for up to 56 children aged two to five years. The setting caters for a range of children from diverse backgrounds. … Continued

Developing effective questioning techniques
Information about the school/provider Associated Community Training (ACT )are an independent training provider, delivering apprenticeships, employability programmes, and skills development training across a wide range of sectors in Wales. ACT works closely with 12 partner providers through the ACT Network to support learners in achieving qualifications and progressing in their careers. Context and background to … Continued

Tracking the progression of adult learning in the community learners
About the partnership The Conwy and Denbighshire adult learning in the community partnership is chaired by Grŵp Llandrillo Menai and consists of: During the 2023-2024 academic year, the partnership had 474 learners who engaged in classes funded using the Community Learning Grant issued to Conwy and Denbighshire local authorities by the Welsh Government. Many of … Continued

Effective use of digital technology to support engagement and progress in adult learning in the community
About the partnership The Conwy and Denbighshire adult learning in the community partnership is chaired by Grŵp Llandrillo Menai and consists of: During the 2023-2024 academic year, the partnership had 474 learners who engaged in classes funded using the Community Learning Grant issued to Conwy and Denbighshire local authorities by the Welsh Government. Many of … Continued

The effect of leadership on provision for children
Information about the setting Cylch Meithrin Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant is a Welsh medium setting providing early years education and childcare hours for 3 and 4yr olds. It is situated in the small village of Llanrhaeadr ym Mochnant at Ysgol Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant School. The setting is a registered charity and is managed by a voluntary management committee and has … Continued
Thematic reports
Each year, the Cabinet Secretary for Education asks our Chief Inspector for advice on a range of themes in relation to education and training. Our thematic reports help to inform policy development and to monitor progress.

Learner Behaviour in Further Education Colleges
To turn on English subtitles, click the CC button Executive summary This report examines learner behaviour within further education (FE) colleges across Wales. It focuses on the factors that influence positive and negative behaviours, as well as the variations in behaviour across different learner groups and learning programmes. The report considers how colleges promote positive … Continued

Thematic report – The additional learning needs system
To turn on English subtitles, click the CC button Executive summary This report considers how well the funded non-maintained settings, maintained primary, secondary and all-age schools that participated in the review are implementing and embedding aspects of the Additional Learning Needs and Education Tribunal (Wales) Act 2018 (ALNET) and the accompanying Additional Learning Needs (ALN) … Continued

Thematic Report: Impact of poverty on educational attainment, support, provision and transition for early education
Executive Summary This report considers how effective the support and provision provided by early years education providers is at addressing the adverse effects of poverty and disadvantage on early years children. It focuses on how well local authorities and school improvement services support these providers in early years pedagogical approaches and how best to support … Continued

Thematic Report: Transition and pupil progression
To turn on English subtitles, click the CC button Executive summary This report considers how well schools work together to support pupils’ transition from primary into secondary school. It focuses on how well schools work together to ensure that their curricula and teaching develop pupils’ knowledge, skills, understanding and learning behaviours effectively across transition. It … Continued

Thematic Report: Developing pupils’ Welsh reading skills from 10-14 years of age
To turn on English subtitles, click the CC button Executive summary Following the publication of a report on pupils’ English reading skills from 10-14 years of age by Estyn in May 2023, we set out to produce a report on how Welsh and bilingual schools develop pupils’ Welsh reading skills across the curriculum. In autumn … Continued

Improving attendance in secondary schools
This report focuses on the strategies and actions that secondary schools were employing in order to improve pupils’ attendance. It also considers the support provided by local authorities. The report identifies strengths and areas for improvement in practice and the barriers school leaders identified to pupils attending school and therefore improving attendance. It also includes cameos and case studies of effective practice.

Improving attendance in secondary schools – training materials
This PowerPoint is a way for providers to share the main findings of the report and review their own performance in a particular thematic area. The presentations summarise the report and include questions which providers can consider when looking to improve.

Delivery of Essential Skills Wales qualifications in apprenticeship programmes
This report considers the delivery of Essential Skills Wales (ESW) qualifications in Welsh Government-funded apprenticeships in Wales. Essential Skills Wales are a suite of qualifications intended to develop and confirm learners’ communication, application of number and digital literacy skills. Apprentices – unless they already have certain qualifications which allow exemption – are required to attain specified ESW qualifications to achieve their full apprenticeship framework.

Jobs Growth Wales+ youth programme: Autumn 2023 insights
This report summarises the findings from four regional Jobs Growth Wales+ monitoring visits conducted between October 2022 and June 2023. The report is based on the information gathered from the Welsh Government, lead and sub-contractor providers, participants, employers, Working Wales, and key staff in local authorities.

The new Additional Learning Needs system
This thematic report is written in response to a request for advice from the Minister for Education and the Welsh Language in his remit letter to Estyn for 2022-2023. It is the first of at least two reports. The report provides an overview of how well the maintained primary and secondary schools that participated in the review are implementing key aspects of the Additional Learning Needs and Education Tribunal (Wales) Act 2018 (ALNET) and the accompanying ALN Code. It also considers how well participating local authorities have supported schools.
Additional resources
We also publish additional resources to support the work of education professionals.
