These are the pages, or sections, of our Prospectus, in Welsh and English.

You are on the page outlined in red. To move to another page, just click on it.

Dim tudalen cyfwerth yng Nghymraeg

No equivalent page in Welsh

To return to
the main site
for Ysgol Carno,
close this tab
or window.

Sept
2009

ANY QUESTIONS?

If you’ve read this far you probably have a real interest in Ysgol Carno, in which case you will probably have questions in mind. Here are answers to a number of obvious ones.

What if my child doesn’t speak Welsh?

Before- and after-school clubs?

How can parents support the school?

School’s attitude towards religion?

Admission arrangements?

Does the school have a future?

School Council?

School rules?

How will I know how my child is doing?

School uniform?

What will I have to pay for?

What is taught in the school, and how?

What’s school policy on sex education?

How’s the school avoid discrimination?

What about school security?

What if I have a concern or complaint?

Anything else?

What if my child doesn’t speak Welsh?

This school is in a traditionally Welsh area and in accordance with the Local Education Authority’s policy, Welsh is the main teaching medium used in the Infant class; Welsh and English in the Junior class. It is intended that all pupils will be bilingual by 11 years of age.

When children from English-speaking homes come to the school, the first priority is to ensure that they have settled down and then every effort is made to enable them to learn Welsh as soon as possible, so that they can take a natural place in the life of the school and the community. A specialist Welsh teacher visits the school to help with this task. Most children adapt quickly, especially the young ones, and meanwhile English is used as much as is necessary to ensure the child’s welfare and learning.

For more information please refer to the topic Language and the page Why a Welsh School?

We have not yet had any pupils whose English is poor or non-existent but we are aware that this may only be a matter of time and we are sure we will be able to rise to the challenge, just as we deal successfully with other children who are ‘different’.

What about before- and after-school clubs?

A Breakfast Club accepts children at 8.15. There are plans for an after-school club, subject to there being sufficient demand.

How can parents support the school?

Parents of children at the school are automatically members of the Friends of the School and are encouraged to attend the periodic meetings at which fund-raising and social activities are arranged.

Although there is an Annual General Meeting which takes place during September, the Friends operate on a very informal basis.

The money which the Friends raise each year enables the children to take part in trips and activities which would be beyond the school’s means, and relieves the very considerable pressure on the school budget.

There are also opportunities for parents to help with transport, trips, events, swimming and so on, help which is much appreciated.

What is the school’s attitude towards religion?

The school’s attitude is, these days, determined largely by legislation.

The school has an act of collective worship at 9 am daily which is mainly Christian in character but does not relate to any particular denomination. Assemblies are taken by staff, by clergy from various denominations and by guest speakers from other organisations.

Religious Education includes study of Christian and other world religions and culture.

Parents can request that their child be withdrawn from religious activities, but this request must be put in writing.

The school also liaises with church and chapel in the village for special occasions, such as Thanksgiving and Remembrance Day.

What are the admission arrangements?

Admissions are administered by Powys County Council, who have written:

“Unless other acceptable arrangements are made a child is required to attend school full-time from the beginning of the term following the fifth birthday. In Powys a child may be admitted to school, at the parents’ request, on either a full- or part-time basis at the beginning of the term following the child’s fourth birthday provided that the school has sufficient resources of staff, accommodation and equipment. This means that:

If your child is 4 between 1 January and 31 March they can start school in the Summer Term.

If your child is 4 between 1 April and 31 August they can start school in the Autumn Term.

If your child is 4 between 1 September and 31 December they can start school in the Spring Term.”

Application for admission to the school should be made to the Headteacher, who will be able to advise concerning the possible date of admission, transport provision, and so on.

Does the school have a future?

As is the case with small schools almost everywhere these days, the future of Ysgol Carno is regularly reviewed by the authorities. However, we have survived threats in the past and we work hard to ensure that we will continue to serve the community here for many years yet.

Although classed as ‘temporary’ our building should continue to serve us well until 2030 and beyond.

Is there a School Council?

Yes, the School Council gives children valuable experience of democratic processes such as elections, representation and planning and running meetings. It also provides an opportunity for children to raise issues that interest or concern them. The School Council has been known to send members to make a case at a meeting of the governing body.

What are the school rules?

The following are the school rules, set out more fully in the Behaviour Policy (available in the Document Library in the main site):

• Children should always behave in a considerate manner towards each another. Bullying will not be tolerated.
• Children should give of their best at all times.
• No bad language.
• Children may not leave the school grounds in school hours without permission.
• Children must respect others’ property.
• Keep the school neat and tidy; no litter.
• No sweets.

Children or their parents will be responsible for paying for any deliberate act of vandalism in school, or damage to school property or someone else’s property.

How will I know how my child is doing?

As explained elsewhere, one of the advantages of a small, local school is the extent of informal contact between parents and staff. The school encourages parents to take a close interest in their child’s schooling and to ask about anything they are unsure about.

Pupils’ progress is kept under review at all times, but formal testing (SATs) is now a thing of the past. As well as informal contact between parent and teacher:

• Pupils have individual targets, agreed termly between teacher, parent and pupil and reviewed regularly.
• Parents are invited to see and discuss their child’s progress at least twice during the school year at Parents’ Evenings.
• School reports are issued at the end of each school year.
• If parents are concerned about their child’s progress, they can contact the Headteacher to arrange a meeting.
• If teachers are concerned about a pupil’s progress or behaviour, parents will be contacted to discuss how to improve the situation.

Is there a school uniform?

A few years ago, parents decided to adopt a simple uniform. It consists of an Ysgol Carno sweatshirt or polo shirt plus a navy skirt or trousers. Navy leggings or jogging suits or shorts can also be worn.

The school requires the uniform to be worn on special occasions, such as educational visits, and encourages its use on a daily basis.

What will I have to pay for?

There is a standard charge for school dinners, unless you are eligible for free school meals. Children are also welcome to bring sandwiches.

There is no charge for the Breakfast Club but there is likely to be for an after-school club, if established.

Items of uniform are ordered from our suppliers, but clean second-hand items are often available.

In line with the policy of the Local Education Authority, the school asks for voluntary contributions to cover the costs of some activities, such as swimming, theatre visits, and many educational trips. No child will be excluded from an activity because his or her parent is unable or unwilling to make a contribution.

Anything Else?

If you have any other questions or doubts, particularly about language, please do not hesitate to talk to any of the school contacts: see the Contacts section of the main site. Mr Astley has many years experience as headteacher of the school and the parent governors have each had more than one child there.

What is taught in the school, and how?

In September 2008 the school began to implement the Welsh Assembly Government’s Foundation Phase, a new approach to learning for children up to the age of 7, based around structured play. The learning environment consists of both the indoor classroom and immediate outdoor areas in order to promote exploration through first-hand experiences introduced by the teacher and two part-time classroom assistants. There are seven Areas of Learning: personal and social development, well-being and cultural diversity; language, literacy and communication skills; mathematical development; Welsh language development (which occurs automatically since Welsh is the medium of instruction throughout the school); knowledge and understanding of the world; physical development; and creative development.

Children in the Junior class, aged 7 to 11, are taught the National Curriculum by the class teacher and assistant teacher. The core subjects are English, mathematics, science and Welsh, the remaining subjects being: art, design and technology, geography, history, information and communication technology, music, personal and social education, physical education and religious eduation. Emphasis is given to developing skills: basic skills, life skills and generic skills such as thinking and problem-solving.

As explained elsewhere, all teaching (except for English language) is in the medium of Welsh, with particular help being given to those with an insuffient grasp of the language.

What’s the school’s policy on sex education?

We provide sex education within the framework of personal and social education. We have a well thought-out policy for Sex and Relationship Education which states that “It should enable pupils to develop the attitudes, values and skills which will enable them to form good mature relationships.” Parents are very welcome to familiarise themselves with the policy and with the methods and resources used in teaching. They also have the right to withdraw children from sex education.

How does the school avoid discrimination?

The school is very aware of its obligations, both legal and moral, to avoid discrimination. We have a strong Equal Opportunities Policy and we are working on specific disability issues in line with recent legislation.

However, we do not need laws to tell us how to treat children, as our ethos has always been to regard every child as an individual –regardless of age, sex, race, disability or any other label – and to help them achieve their full potential by giving them appropriate support.

The school building is wheelchair-friendly and the school is committed to taking all reasonable steps to support pupils with disabilities.

What about school security?

When the school is in use, it is policy to keep the front door locked and the gates to the grounds closed. Pupils are not allowed outside the grounds unsupervised. When the school is not in use, the alarm is armed.

What if I have a concern or complaint?

The school welcomes the involvement and views of parents. Staff and governors are easily accessible and will be happy to listen and help, and issues can almost always be dealt with quickly and informally. Concerns can also be raised at the Annual Parents Meeting. As a last resort, a formal written complaint can be addressed to either the Headteacher or Chairman of Governors, as appropriate, and will be handled in accordance with the school’s Complaints Policy.