Review
.
| Ysgol / School | YSGOL EYTON |
| Dyddiad / Date | Gorffennaf 7fed / July 7th 2024 |
| Swyddog / Officer | Buddug Selway-Jones Athrawes Ymgynghorol y Gymraeg Sir Wrecsam . Dwynwen Jones Athrawes Ymgynghorol y Gymraeg Sir Wrecsam . |
As stated in the Welsh Government’s Siarter Iaith: National Framework,
‘The Welsh Government recognises the importance of the Siarter Iaith programme as a key resource for increasing children and young peoples’ use of Welsh.(Page 2).
The Siarter Iaith is a programme for everyone; every member of a school community has a role to play…. Together we can increase the social use of Welsh by children and young people.(Page 4).
The Siarter Iaith programme focuses on increasing learners’ use of Welsh within their educational institutions (for 3-18 year olds) and in social contexts… To encourage progress schools work towards incremental awards, bronze, silver and gold. (Page7).`
The aim of the Siarter Iaith, Cymraeg Campus is to promote a strong Welsh ethos in the school, increase the use of Welsh by both learners and staff and provide a range of enrichment activities that propel all involved to enjoy learning Welsh.
The results of the latest questionnaire are positive. Data shows that learners enjoy learning and speaking Welsh, that Welsh is heard during assembly and that it is also visible on signage and displays around the school. Data also shows that learners believe that learning Welsh is important and that they understand the benefits of being able to speak Welsh. Reading, the use of Apps and use of Welsh inside and outside of the classroom and in other lessons are slightly less developed.
There is a visual Welsh ethos in the school. The majority of areas inside and outside of the school have Welsh / Bilingual signage, the hall and reception area reflect a contemporary vision of Wales and Welsh, at an appropriate level, is visible on displays. The Criw Cymraeg share information about activities/ initiatives in ‘gwasanaeth’ and on the school’s social media platforms.
Cynefin, and the Welsh Dimension is planned for. Learners are introduced to traditional Welsh tales such as Stori Gelert and Santes Dwynwen (re-telling the story Pie Corbett style) and the 7 Wonders of Wales. Learners have studied the local area, studied family trees of families local to Eyton and wrote a letter to the council appealing for a playground in Eyton.
Leaners are taught the benefits of learning Welsh, have created posters to encourage others to speak Welsh (which are displayed around the school) and enjoy writing about their adventures with the take home mascot, ‘Dilys y Ddraig’. The school celebrates important dates in the Welsh calendar such as Dydd Gŵyl Dewi, Dydd Miwisg Cymru and Diwrnod Santes Dwynwen and attend the Jambori.
Each class has established Helpwr Heddiw and the Criw noted that they enjoyed the various activities in these sessions. The date is written in Welsh in workbooks, on the whiteboard and some general marking comments are written in Welsh.
Learners are able to use basic Welsh to greet, express needs and respond to basic Welsh questions and commands inside and outside of the classroom. Teaching and support staff use basic Welsh to communicate with learners throughout the day.
To develop the use of Cymraeg outside the classroom the school has purchased colourful interactive games displays for the playground / yard including an interactive Wal Graffiti where learners have an opportunity to write yn Gymraeg or respond to a question posted by teachers or the Criw Cymraeg. To promote the use of Cymraeg on the playground the Criw Cymraeg has been involved in introducing games such as ‘Faint o’r gloch Mr Blaidd?’ and Nofio, Pysgodyn, Nofio.
A Welsh assembly is held on a regular basis and the Criw Cymraeg greet learners and staff as they enter the gwasanaeth. Welsh songs are sung and the Headteacher and teaching staff use Welsh during the assembly. Criw Cymraeg introduce the focus phrase, on this occasion, ‘Ga i…? and whilst celebrating pupils’ birthdays members of the Criw asked the question ‘faint ydy dy oed di?’. In order to develop the use of the ‘focus phrase’ consider asking the Criw Cymraeg to demonstrate how a question such as, ‘Ga i…? can be used in different situations e.g.in the classroom, on the playground and at lunch time. The Criw Cymraeg hand out ‘Seren yr Wythnos’ certificates and the house points’ are said in Welsh.
A list of Welsh apps is on the school’s website and has been shared with parents / guardians in a newsletter. Learners use digital resources and software to complete and show case spoken and written tasks such, See Saw (QR codes), Adobe Express (word sync) and Chatterpix.
Teachers make good use of resources and programmes such as Fflic a Fflac, and the county’s schemes of work to enhance teaching.
Welsh is included on bilingual posters to promote school events such as on the leaver’s celebration and Welsh is included on produce created by
pupils e.g. Christmas and mother’s day / father’s day cards.
The school organises an annual school Eisteddfod where all performances are through the medium of Welsh and the homework tasks have a Welsh theme.
As part of the School’s efforts to meet the Targed 8 Bronze Award, reading material is available in each classroom. Try to ensure that the reading material is at an appropriate linguistic level for pupils and include familiar language patterns. It’s important to evaluate the level of words/ text in the reading material. For example in KS2, these could include, books / texts that have been previously read to the class’, books from the Fflic a Fflac and Pod Antur Schemes, extracts from ‘Bore Da’ magazines, ‘conversations, diary extracts from the schemes of work. This would ensure that learners are able to understand, enjoy and read Welsh books more independently. The school is beginning to create a rich reading environment with headings such as Llyfr, Stori, Cymeriad Awdur, Beth ydy enw’r awdur ? displayed. Learners are encouraged to discuss and express their opinion simply on what they have read using language such as ‘ Dw i’n hoffi …. achos …’ Pupils are learning the Welsh alphabet, older learners read simple stories to younger pupils and Welsh literature such as Stori Gelert, Santes Dwynwen and the story about the origins of the dragon, have been introduced.
Welsh is beginning to be used in other AoLE: counting and naming shapes in Maths, warm ups in P.E, writing place names on a map of Wales, writing personal profiles of characters/ people linked to topic (KS2), expressing opinion on colours ‘Dw i’n hoffi ….,and labelling flowers (F.L).
The questionnaire results show that learners enjoy learning Welsh. The Head teacher and staff show a commitment to developing Cymraeg at Ysgol Eyton. Since implementing the Siarter iaith – Cymraeg Campus, the Criw Cymraeg under, the guidance of Mr Pugh, all agree that Cymraeg Campus has had a positive impact on Welsh at their school. They all feel that Welsh is more prominent in the school and that they see, hear and speak more Welsh. This, they feel, is largely due to the fact that, as one of the Criw Cymraeg stated, “ we do more fun things in Welsh now”.
The Criw Cymraeg has played an instrumental part in the school’s journey to achieve the Gwobr Efydd. Llongyfarchiadau!
| Wedi llwyddo / Passed | √ |
Bronze Award Achieved
Our Criw Cymraeg team of 2024
