A Guide to Improvement Resources
![A group of young children sitting together, wearing red school uniforms, with one child raising their hands and looking excited.](https://estyn.gov.wales/app/uploads/2024/06/5.jpg)
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.
![Two young children wearing red hoodies playing on a wooden climbing frame in a playground.](https://estyn.gov.wales/app/uploads/2024/06/6.jpg)
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.
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Our journey developing Curriculum for Wales
Information about the setting Meadowbank Day Nursery is a privately owned day nursery, established in September 2016. In a short space of time the nursery has built up an excellent reputation. It is managed by a former teacher and nursery nurse with over 15 years teaching experience in Early Years education and staffed by highly … Continued
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The impact of working in partnership to support children’s development and well-being.
Information about the setting Little Lambs Emmanuel is a privately owned setting based in Ysgol Emmanuel primary school in the seaside town of Rhyl. We aim to provide a homely, loving, and nurturing environment where each child is encouraged to develop to their full potential. We are registered with Care Inspectorate Wales (CIW) to care … Continued
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Developing leadership and supportive relationships to enhance staff wellbeing and children’s outcomes
Information about the setting Little Ferns Ferndale Nursery is part of The Fern partnership established in 2014. It has been providing high quality childcare at several Little Ferns childcare settings around Rhondda Cynon Taf, consisting of day nurseries, holiday schemes, wrap around and Welsh Government initiatives including flying start and 30-hour childcare. Context and background … Continued
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Using effective assessment strategies to improve pupils’ engagement, outcomes and understanding of how they learn.
Information about the school Plasmarl Primary School is situated approximately two miles east of Swansea City Centre. There are 230 pupils on roll, including 47 nursery pupils. 25% of pupils speak English as an additional language (EAL). Around 42% of pupils qualify for free school meals and 25% have additional learning needs (ALN). Context and … Continued
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The impact of cross directorate working on education services in the Vale of Glamorgan
Context and background to the effective or innovative practice Embedding a strong ethos for cross-directorate working has underpinned the Local Authority’s work in driving improvement across education services and securing positive outcomes for its learners. The Wellbeing of Future Generations Act, provided a helpful platform for the local authority to put a strong focus on … Continued
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‘Literally everything’ – realising the full potential of a school’s library.
Information about the school Haberdashers’ Monmouth School for Boys is an independent day and boarding school situated in the Wye Valley, with a rich history extending over 400 years. There are currently 472 pupils on roll, which includes 126 boarders and 171 in its co-ed Sixth Form. A number of scholarships and bursaries are available for pupils … Continued
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Reducing inequalities caused by poverty through strong community partnerships
Information about the school Cwmaman Primary School is an English-medium primary school situated in the village of Cwmaman, near Aberdare, in the Rhondda Cynon Taf local authority. The school has 214 pupils from the ages of 3 to 11 organised into 8 classes. The school provides part-time nursery provision from the term following the child’s … Continued
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Building bridges: using employer boards to develop innovative apprenticeship provision.
Information about the school/provider Gower College Swansea works in partnership with seven subcontractors to deliver apprenticeship programmes at levels 2 to 5 across Wales. Approximately 85% of its apprenticeship provision is delivered directly by the college with the remaining 15% delivered through its subcontractor network. Apprenticeship provision has grown substantially since 2016, from around 250 … Continued
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Providing effective support for apprentices with additional learning needs
Information about the school/provider Gower College Swansea works in partnership with seven subcontractors to deliver apprenticeship programmes at levels 2 to 5 across Wales. The college directly delivers approximately 85% of its apprenticeship provision, with subcontractors delivering 15%. Apprenticeship provision has grown substantially since 2016, from around 250 learners to approximately 3,000 in 2022-2023. The … Continued
![](https://estyn.gov.wales/app/uploads/2024/08/adamsdown-primary-school-case-study-1-1.jpg)
How Adamsdown Primary designed a curriculum to meet the needs of its learners.
Information about the school or provider Adamsdown Primary School is situated in the inner-city area of Adamsdown in Cardiff. The vast majority of the catchment area falls within the 10% most deprived areas in Wales. Many children have barriers to learning in the form of English as an additional language (72%) additional learning needs (9%), … 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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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The new additional learning needs system – 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.
![](https://estyn.gov.wales/app/uploads/2024/05/Support-for-Welsh-in-Initial-Teacher-Education-Document-Thumbnail.png)
Support for Welsh in Initial Teacher Education: How initial teacher education partnerships support student teachers to improve their Welsh language skills, including teaching through the medium of Welsh
This report is written in response to a request for advice from the Minister for Welsh Language and Education in his annual remit letter to Estyn for 2022-2023. The report aims to provide an overview of how initial teacher education (ITE) partnerships support student teachers to develop their Welsh language skills and those of pupils, including teaching through the medium of Welsh. This review was postponed from the Minister of Education's remit letter for 2020-2021 due to the pandemic.
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Equity of curriculum experiences for pupils who are educated other than at school (EOTAS)
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 2022/23. The report provides an overview of the curriculum experiences for pupils attending EOTAS providers across Wales. It evaluates the equity of the curriculum offer for pupils placed in EOTAS provisions, including their access to a full-time or part-time curriculum offer. It also considers how well local authorities evaluate and improve the quality and impact of provision and reports on transition between EOTAS and schools or post-16 provision. We highlight examples of good practice in local authorities where the quality of the curriculum offer supports the needs of pupils successfully and effectively supports their return to mainstream education, further education, training, or employment.
![](https://estyn.gov.wales/app/uploads/2024/05/inspection-docs-thumb.png)
Equity of curriculum experiences for pupils who are educated other than at school (EOTAS) – 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.
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Rapid review of child protection arrangements – Interim findings
In response to a number of tragic child deaths across England and Wales, the Welsh Government asked Care Inspectorate Wales (CIW) to lead on a multi-agency rapid review of decision-making in relation to child protection. The purpose of this review is to determine to what extent the current structures and processes in Wales ensure that children's names are appropriately placed on, and removed from, the Child Protection Register when sufficient evidence indicates that it is safe to do so. A multi-agency team with representation from Healthcare Inspectorate Wales (HIW) and Estyn was established in December 2022 to ensure a consistent and rigorous approach to this important piece of work. His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) also contributed to aspects of this review.
Additional resources
We also publish additional resources to support the work of education professionals.
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