Welsh-medium playgroup praised for “warm and welcoming” environment

A Welsh-medium playgroup in Wrexham has been praised for its “high-quality environment that is warm and welcoming” for children.

Cylch Meithrin a Ti a Fi Llan-y-pwll, based at Llan-y-Pwll school on Borras Park Road, was visited by Care Inspectorate Wales (CIW) and Estyn, His Majesty’s Inspectorate for Education and Training in Wales, earlier this summer.

It was the playgroup’s first inspection since the Welsh-medium primary school opened in September 2022.

During its visit Estyn focused on six areas – Wellbeing, Learning, Care and Development, Teaching and Assessment, Environment and Leadership and Management – all of which were found to be ‘Good’.

The inspectorate praised the positive atmosphere of the provision, stating: “Nearly all children are happy and enjoy the company of their friends and practitioners as they socialise with each other.

“They make choices confidently and enjoy the freedom to move around the learning areas, for example when choosing if they would like to play indoors or outdoors.

“As a result, children help themselves to all the resources available, including choosing to experiment with dough, painting a wall with large brushes and riding bikes and scooters.

“They are confident and comfortable when asking for help, such as help to put on a rainsuit or to fill a jug from a water barrel.

“Nearly all children interact well and develop their social skills successfully. They enjoy the company of friends and learn to work together and take turns.

“For example, children observe and support each other when learning how to use knives and share comments when cutting fruit and vegetables. Nearly all children are willing to support each other.”

In terms of learning (which applies to three- or four-year-old children who do not receive education in a maintained setting), the inspectorate found that “nearly all children, including those with additional learning needs, make sound progress from their starting points.”

The inspectorate continues onto say: “Most children listen attentively to each other and follow instructions successfully.

“They join in enthusiastically with songs and nursery rhymes and a very few children begin to use some songs they have learned in their play.

“Considering that most children are new to the Welsh language, around half develop sound communication skills in the home language.

“The numeracy skills of a minority of children develop appropriately. They count orally up to ten in their first language. With support, a few children count to five in Welsh.”

There is also praise for the staff at Cylch Meithrin a Ti a Fi Llan-y-pwll.

Practitioners were found to “have a fond relationship with children and treat them with care and respect.”

Estyn state: “They are kind and model respectful and warm interactions while teaching children to share and take turns. They take their time to listen and explain in a caring and gentle manner, which creates a sense of belonging.

“Practitioners praise children regularly and support them to persevere with their activities, for example by supporting children to master skills such as cutting fruit and rolling dough.Practitioners talk to the children constantly, which offers reassurance and a happy atmosphere.

“They sit with children during snack times, lunchtimes and activities such as spontaneous story times to support them to think and expand their understanding and skills.

“Practitioners know the children very well and have a clear understanding of their individual needs and interests. They are on hand to offer support when children ask, for example when they use the water barrel tap, change clothes or practise yoga movements outdoors.

“Practitioners cater well for children with additional learning needs by taking advantage of effective networks and implementing purposeful procedures.”

Three recommendations for the playgroup to focus on where put forward by the inspectorate, including:

• Improve children’s spoken Welsh skills to increase their confidence to start using the Welsh language with practitioners and their peers
• Improve children’s mathematical understanding and skills
• Strengthen the use of observations and assessments to plan the next steps in each child’s learning and development effectively

The setting will now produce an action plan that shows how it will address the recommendations.