We are very excited to be planning and delivering our new Welsh Curriculum. Our learners are actively involved in the development of how and what they want to learn.

Our characters to the Four Purposes are integral to our week and how we celebrate learning achievements…

Our school have created a rationale for how the Curriculum will work for our pupils.

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The National Literacy and Numeracy Framework (LNF) is designed to help teachers embed literacy and numeracy into all subjects for learners aged 5 to 14

The Digital Competence Framework encapsulates the skills that will help learners thrive in an increasingly digital world.

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Mathematics and Numeracy / Mathemateg a Rhifedd

All pupils are give opportunities to develop their own knowledge and understanding of Mathematics through practical activity, exploration and discussion. They are given access to the Mathematical vocabulary to enable them to apply Mathematics in practical tasks, in real life and in the context in all work on number, data, measures and shape.

Languages Literacy and Communication / Ieithoedd Llythrennedd a Chyfathrebu

Children are immersed in various language experiences and activities to allow them to build on skills, knowledge and understanding to progress and develop their Speaking and Listening, Reading and Writing throughout the school.
To promote pupils enjoyment of books the school library is open to children every day.

All children are immersed daily in Welsh language experiences and activities to develop their skills in talking, listening, reading and writing. They develop their awareness of Wales as a country with two languages and are given opportunities to experience activities in both English and Welsh.

The curriculum is further enriched by celebrations of traditional Welsh cultural events.

Science and Technology / Gwyddoniaeth a Thechnoleg

Throughout the Science curriculum, children experience the familiar world, investigating the indoor and outdoor environment in a safe and systematic way. Our teaching encourages pupils to manage and develop their own learning and thinking strategies to solve problems.

Design and Technology in Ysgol Ffordd Dyffryn prepares children to take part in the development to tomorrow’s rapidly changing world. Creative thinking encourages children to make changes to their quality of life. The subject encourages children to become problem solvers both as individuals and as part of a team. It helps all children to become discriminating and informed consumers and potential innovators.

Ysgol Ffordd Dyffryn views ICT as an integral component of the curriculum. We enhance learning through using ICT by providing greater access to ICT resources and raising the competence and confidence of staff, pupils and parents within the wider community.
All classes have an interactive white board and class computers and a set of ipads. The school also offers a trolley of Apple Mac laptops that can be used throughout the school.

Humanities / Y Dyniaethau

History in Ysgol Ffordd Dyffryn focuses on the study of characteristic features of particular periods, societies and situations. It also includes the social, cultural, religious and ethnic diversity of the societies studied.

In Geography, pupils learn about real places and an environment at all scales from local to global. We ensure that our pupils have a proper understanding of Wales within Britain and the World. They learn to use a wide variety of skills including collating evidence, data handling, analysis and the communication of findings.

Expressive Arts / Y Celfyddydau Mynegiannol

At Ysgol Ffordd Dyffryn we believe that Art stimulates creativity and imagination. It enables children to communicate what they see, feel and think through the use of colour, texture, form, pattern and different materials and processes. Children become involved in shaping their environments through art and practical decisions. They explore ideas and meanings through the work of artists. Through learning about the roles and functions of art, they can explore the impact it has had on contemporary life and that of different times and cultures. The appreciation and enjoyment of the visual arts enriches all our lives.

Music is a unique way of communicating that can inspire and motivate children. It is a vehicle for personal expression and it can play an important part in the personal development of people. We provide opportunities for all children to create, play, perform and enjoy music, to develop the skills to appreciate a wide variety of musical forms, and to begin to make judgements about the quality of music.
All children are offered the opportunity to study a musical instrument with peripatetic teachers.

Health and Well-being

Physical Education at Ysgol Ffordd Dyffryn develops the children’s knowledge, skills and understanding, so that they can perform with increasing competence and confidence in a range of physical activities. By including dance, games, gymnastics, swimming and water safety, athletics, health, fitness and well-being activities and adventurous activities in our curriculum, we ensure that all the needs of the National Curriculum are met. Physical Education promotes an understanding in children of their bodies in action. It involves thinking, communication, selecting and applying skills and promotes positive attitudes towards a healthy lifestyle. Thus we enable them to make informed choices about physical activity throughout their lives.

At Ysgol Ffordd Dyffryn through weekly Physical Education lessons extra curricular activities and links with sports clubs, such as Llandudno Football Club , our sporting aim is to provide opportunities for pupils within school and in the community to develop a love of sport and the opportunities that it brings to our lives. These include appreciation of a healthy lifestyle, sportsmanship and working as part of a team. We pride ourselves on our commitment to Physical literacy and have two members of staff who are mentors in this area for Conwy.

Religious Education

Religious Education enables children to investigate and reflect on some of the most fundamental asked by people. We develop the children’s knowledge and understanding of Christianity and up to two other world faiths as required by the Agreed Syllabus for R.E in Conwy. We address the fundamental questions in life, for example the meaning of life and the existence of a divine spirit. We enable the children to develop a sound knowledge of Christianity, Judaism and Islam, in compliance with statutory requirements. Parents are able to withdraw their child from religious education classes if they so wish, following consultation with the Headteacher.

Collective Worship

The Education Reform Act requires all maintained schools to ensure that all pupils should take part in an act of collective worship every day. The majority of acts of collective worship will be mainly Christian. Parents are able to withdraw their child from Collective Worship if they so wish, following consultation with the Headteacher.

Homework

Homework can add much to a child’s development, but we also acknowledge the important role of play and free time in a child’s growth and development. We increase the homework that we give the children as they move through the school, however, we try to ensure that there is always a work/play balance.

We set a variety of homework activities:

1. Encouraging the child to read by giving them books to take home
2. Asking children to collect things from home.
3. Encouraging the child to research a topic further by using the local library or Internet.

Parents have a vital role to play in their child’s education, and homework is an important part of this process. We ask parents to encourage their children to complete the homework tasks that are set. We invite them to help their children as they feel necessary and provide them with the sort of environment that allows children to do their best. Parents can support their child by providing a good working space at home, by enabling their child to visit the library regularly, and by discussing the work that their child is doing.