TWO Powys primary schools, plus a nursery, have received glowing praise from inspectors Estyn for their exceptional efforts to support children during the coronavirus pandemic.

Chief inspector Claire Morgan on Wednesday praised the “remarkable resilience” of educators in her 2020-21 annual report, with three Powys settings being singled out for special mention.

Llanwrtyd Wells primary school Ysgol Dolafon were praised for addressing pupil engagement throughout the early parts of the pandemic, with engagement rising from a lowly 10 per cent during the first lockdown to an inspired 90 per cent during the second lockdown. The school had also dealt with an outbreak of the virus.

Llanidloes-based Croco-DocoDile Playgroup, meanwhile, made a positive impact in supporting children’s literacy skills and wellbeing, as well as providing parents with useful opportunities and help to support their children at home.

Elsewhere in Powys, Mount Street Infant and Nursery School, in Brecon, were commended for the support they offered new pupils and their families who do not speak English as a first language. There is a large Nepalese population in the south Powys town due to the proximity to the Infantry Battle School where many Gurkha soldiers serve.

During the pandemic, the school employed a Nepalese teaching assistant who was able to help with communication.

In her report on primary schools, under the ‘Adapting approaches to remote learning’, Ms Morgan said of Ysgol Dolafon: “The headteacher worked with staff to devise effective ways to improve pupil engagement. During the first national lockdown, only a very few pupils regularly engaged with the tasks set for them.

The headteacher understood that several factors contributed to this, including the school’s rural location, with many pupils living and helping out on their family farm or having parents who were busy with their own work.

“During the autumn term, the school had to close for a short period due to an outbreak of Covid-19. During this time, the headteacher introduced regular, live wellbeing sessions that gave the staff confidence in the use of remote learning technology.

“As a result, staff were ready to include live sessions in the provision offered to all pupils during the second national lockdown period in spring 2021. The headteacher devised a weekly tracking form for each class where staff recorded pupil engagement and intervened as necessary.

“The headteacher introduced a staff evaluation form where staff recorded weekly what went well and what could have gone better.

“These changes helped improve pupil engagement from 10 per cent during the first lockdown to 90 per cent during the second lockdown.”

Addressing the achievements of the Croco-DocoDile Playgroup under the ‘Effective use of the Early Years Development Grant (EYDG)’, Ms Morgan said: “Leaders used the grant to meet the needs of the children.

“The setting identified the need to focus on children’s wellbeing and language skills, including the use of the outdoors. Initially, leaders provided home learning packs, which included books to help develop children’s literacy and communication skills, and to promote the joy of reading.

“Leaders invested in their outdoor provision, for example purchasing a wooden tepee for reading and fire-pit for outdoor cooking activities. Staff received appropriate support and training to assess and develop children’s communication skills, as well as time to share information with parents on how they could help their children to practise their skills at home.

“In addition, leaders employed additional staff to focus more on children’s wellbeing and helping them to settle in and to talk about feelings and emotions. Leaders have shared these initiatives with other leaders and practitioners throughout Powys using virtual technology.

“The use of the EYDG grant by the setting leaders has had a positive impact to support children’s literacy skills and wellbeing, as well as providing parents with useful opportunities and help to support their children at home.”

You can read the full report to see how schools and providers across Wales have continually adapted during the pandemic.