Working in partnership with a range of agencies to support families and promote pupils’ well-being
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Information about the school
Ysgol Golwg Y Cwm is a community focused school, which serves the village of Penrhos and part of the town of Ystradgynlais in Powys. The school currently has 187 pupils on roll between four and eleven years. In addition to six mixed aged mainstream classes the school also has two cluster based Specialist Teaching Facilities for pupils with ALN and hosts a Flying Start Setting and a 3+ setting.
The school serves an area of high deprivation being placed in one of the top 10% of wards in Wales and the highest in Powys. Thirty-four per cent of pupils are eligible for free school meals and 40% have identified ALN.
Context and background to the effective or innovative practice
Golwg Y Cwm serves many families affected by poverty and who have experienced significant trauma in their lives. Following consultation with stakeholders, it became evident that for pupils to have high aspirations for themselves, become independent, lifelong learners and to ultimately reach their potential, the school would need to work closely with parents, external agencies and the community. The school’s approach is to consider pupils’ individual needs to help them achieve the best possible outcomes. Leaders believe that the school’s aim to support their families and immediate networks ensures that pupils succeed.
Description of nature of strategy or activity
The school takes a three-pronged approach, which includes family support, partnership working and multi-agency relationships. All three elements are equally important and firmly embedded in a critical whole school mindset and approach. The approach requires all involved in “Teulu GYC” to be fully committed to the focus on equity, with everyone having the opportunity to reach their potential. The school has high expectations for pupils and staff and offers an accessible package of intervention and support around families and pupils based on crisis, medium and long term offers.
Family Support
The school offers a range of support to families and welcomes them into all aspects of school life as part of Teulu GYC. Staff welcome parents into the school daily and provide time for them to share any concerns or worries. The school runs a FACT (Families and Community Together) project which offers a range of opportunities for parents to visit both formally and informally, including regular coffee mornings, attendance workshops, money handling advice, savings clubs, sewing and cooking groups, nurture sessions and learning opportunities. Parents are also an integral part of the pupils’ learning experiences and the school supports them to share their child’s work and view their progress each term during “Sharing Learning Days”. In addition, parents have access to crisis support through the school’s family liaison officer and senior leaders. Staff signpost, advise and offer practical help, for example through access to a food bank, uniform bank, baby bank, Big Book Library and local business support.
Partnership working
Partnership working is crucial and the school has forged purposeful relationships with a wide range of community groups and organisations who support the children and families. For example, a local charity organisation offers access to services such as haircuts, food vouchers, clothes vouchers and experiences for families. The school’s partnership with a local football club has enabled the schools to share a 3G football pitch on the school site, access to out of school activities in the immediate community and access to enhanced coaching opportunities for pupils. Partnerships with third sector agencies and local further education settings allows the school to offer parents learning opportunities which help them back into the world of work. For example, the school has held numeracy classes for parents, weekly basic literacy classes, food hygiene and cookery classes.
Multi agency relationships and support
The school has developed strong relationships with a range of outside agencies. Local health visitors and a school nurse are based at the school and work alongside staff in ensuring best outcomes for families. In addition, the school has established a positive relationship with Calan DVS who offer immediate support and advice and a seamless pathway into the service in a supportive environment. The school hosts a Flying Start and consequently welcomes a host of multi-agency professionals who use the school as a base to offer support, training opportunities and signposting to parents who may have children both in the setting and the school. For example courses such as Incredible Years, Baby Massage and Yoga, Let’s talk to your baby and ELKLAN are held for parents on a regular, rolling programme by the speech and language therapist and the Flying Start community nursery nurse. These opportunities are essential to forging early relationships with parents and in ensuring they have the support they need at the earliest stage. Most importantly safeguarding is a primary concern for the school and its relationships with Children’s Services are crucial, strong and well established. All agencies involved with the school and with families share the core aim of ensuring best outcomes for all pupils.
What impact has this work had on provision and learners’ standards?
Pupils’ well-being is the school’s primary concern and underpins practice. In working together with parents, partners and multi agencies, leaders have ensured that pupils and families are supported, happy, safe and well-prepared for learning. The school’s approach ensures that staff meet the needs of all of pupils. As a result, the experiences and opportunities, both in and out of school, have a positive impact on pupils’ and families’ well-being and learning. The school’s work to reduce the impact of any barriers to well-being and learning enables pupils to develop socially and emotionally, and to make good progress during their time at the school.
How have you shared your good practice?
Ysgol Golwg Y Cwm regularly receives visits from schools in the local authority and in other authorities. The school has shared its practice with Welsh Government officers and members of the British Council. The headteacher has presented the school’s practice in conferences attended by schools and partner agencies across Wales.