The impact of the work of the Well-being Centre on pupils, staff and families.
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Information about the school
Ysgol Hen Felin is a maintained Rhondda Cynon Taf local authority special school for pupils with severe learning difficulties, autistic spectrum disorders, profound and multiple learning difficulties and complex medical needs.
The school is located in a residential area of Ystrad Rhondda. Nearly all pupils are based on the main site. The school has three classes based at a satellite provision in Coleg Y Cymoedd Rhondda Campus for pupils aged 16-19yrs.
The school provides for 237 pupils aged from 3 to 19, nearly all with statements of special educational needs, individual development plans (IDPs) or equivalent. Pupils’ needs include, severe learning difficulties (SLD), profound and multiple learning difficulties (PMLD), autistic spectrum disorders (ASD) or visual impairment (VI).
Pupils are taught in 22 classes. There are 22 full time teachers and 75 learning support assistants.
The headteacher was appointed in January 2018.
Ysgol Hen Felin is a school that encourages all pupils to believe in their ability to achieve. Their aim is to develop all pupils to their full potential, both educationally and socially in a safe and purposeful environment.
Context and background to the effective or innovative practice
The school established a Well-being Centre on site in 2018 and subsequently appointed a full-time well-being officer to lead and manage the provision. Through rigorous self-evaluation, the school identified a number of priorities that could be addressed via the Well-being Centre. These included increasing parental engagement and skills, developing community links, and enhancing staff well-being.
Description of nature of strategy or activity and impact has this work had on provision and learners’ standards.
The Well-being Centre has emerged as a crucial hub for enhancing community engagement and promoting overall well-being of pupils, parents and staff. Among its various initiatives, the ‘Little Rainbows’ pre-diagnosis parent and toddler group supports families with young children facing developmental challenges. This provides a vital space for parents to share experiences, gain insights, and access early intervention resources.
Training and workshops organised by the Well-being Centre play an important role in equipping parents with the tools they need to navigate the complexities of raising children with specific or complex needs. These sessions cover a range of topics, from supporting pupils with sensory needs, toileting and sleep, and behaviour management. These sessions provide practical guidance with the aim of enhancing parental confidence and competence.
The Well-being Centre also offers a range of educational opportunities for families, aiming to empower them with knowledge and skills. For example, sessions focus on developing reading, maths, numeracy and online learning.
The Well-being Centre provides a range of support for current pupils, for example hairdressing sessions, after-school clubs and introducing emotional well-being initiatives.
Parent coffee mornings provide a casual and valuable forum for parents to meet and share their experiences. The informality of these sessions fosters open communication and allows parents to discuss challenges they may face, thus building a strong sense of community.
Staff well-being sessions are integral to maintaining a supportive and effective workforce, for example through Well-being Centre led social opportunities and celebration of staff achievements.
How have you shared your good practice?
- The provision offered through the Well-being Centre is shared with new pupils and parents during admissions meetings, the school website, social media, school newsletters and via the school prospectus.
- External agencies are invited to deliver training via the Well-being Centre.
- Posters / flyers are shared with parents and the community inviting them to events.