Improving Reading Strategies by AR and JS
Evaluation
“GRaSP has improved using LUA questions. Reading behaviours like summarising and questioning has helped us to be more independent. We haven’t observed many pupils choosing to read in their spare time but pupils enjoyed the book sale. More pupils are reading at home and bringing in their reading journals. Reading for research has improved and more pupils are picking out the important information and using their own words. Also pupils are using bigger words by using the dictionaries and thesaurus, and are improving their vocabulary.”
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What we need to do next
"Keep giving pupils lots of fun reading activities."
Improve Computational Thinking by AL, ID and RA
Evaluation
“We have been doing more computational thinking and the teachers are miles better at teaching it. We are using more technologies like microbits, scratch, Mokibands and collecting data to create spreadsheets. We have been to technocamp and they showed us how to code an eco-system and how to use a cipher. Younger children are coding caterpillars and Beebots. J2E is helping younger children to code. We have also used computational coding skills to create top trump cards and create a database."
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What we need to do next
"We could use more coding in other areas of learning like Science and we think teachers still need more training because some are not as good as others."
Develop Choice & Challenge by AR and JS
Evaluation
“We are getting really independent when doing our choice and challenge and we don’t need to ask as many questions. In Pod Pengwin the teachers think it is really, really good and happens all of the time. Its starts as soon as they come in and then pupils are called to do spotlight tasks in small groups. There are no books but paintings go straight on the wall. Choice and Challenge happens inside and outside. In Pod Pysgodyn, the pupils really like choice and challenge and the place mats help the children to complete their tasks independently. They do not use books but create posters instead and make and create eg lifeboats for RNLI. In Pod PryCop we use books to record our work and we plan our own learning and can choose how to use our literacy, DCF, numeracy and creative skills. We try to apply what we have learnt in other areas of learning to our choice and challenge work. We think Choice and Challenge is important as it allows us to be independent and not rely on teachers. It has improved a lot from last year when we felt a bit confused!”
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What we need to do next
"We would like to be able to access all the resources we need to help us be independent when doing choice and challenge."
Develop Calculation Skills by SL, SR and EB
Evaluation
“We have seen less pupils needing equipment and we have been made to use more written methods in all areas of Maths eg fractions and perimeter. Songs have helped drill number facts into our heads. We have looked at books across the pods and the written work has definitely increased. Programmes like TTRS has really helped with our multiplication skills for the older pupils and numbots are helping the younger pupils with their adding and subtracting."
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What we need to do next
"We need to improve our work by showing our methods more. We also think we need more challenge with division. We also think that we can do more challenging maths in our IQ, Choice and Challenge and science.”
Improve Clubs AL, ID and RA
Evaluation
“Clubs have improved as it was just sports before, but now there is a range of activities like cooking, expressive arts and dance. More people are attending, especially now there is cricket, rounders and Caffi Cynefin. Clwb Hwyl teaches us a range of skills like resilience, strength, good sportsman, communication, kindness, organisation and improves our wellbeing. Some pupils are attending an athletics competition with sprint, 800m, relay, shot put, long jump and high jump.”
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What we need to do next
"We definitely want to play against more schools and in a range of sports."
Improve Opportunities for Play by SL, SR and EB
Evaluation:
"Before this year Pod Pry Cop did not have the equipment that we do now. Since Autumn we have had big polydron, marble run, stepping stones and mini skateboards. These gave us a focus on playing together and having more fun. Our teachers taught us some cool new games too which helped us to get along. We agreed a timetable for the equipment and the sports ambassadors helped to get these out. When the marquee was up we had daily sensory circuits which was fun and kept us fit. When the marquee came down, we shared the equipment across the school to use. Now it is dryer we can use the field more and we have timetabled the pitches. We have a wider range of equipment to use eg tennis, cricket and football. We think that the pupils generally get on much better. There are less quarrels, less injuries and we are having more fun. The amser tost and the music outside has made a big difference to our moods, and everyone feels included. The Wednesday Welsh music is fun!"
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What we need to do next
"All these opportunities for play need to continue next year."