Weekly Newsletter 25.09.26

School News

Dear Parents, Carers and Friends,

An Exciting Year Ahead at Derwendeg Primary School

As we begin another school year at Derwendeg Primary School, we wanted to share with you some of the exciting developments we have planned for 2026–27.

Over the past year, our staff, pupils and wider school community have worked incredibly hard to continue moving Derwendeg forward. We are very proud of the progress being made and, as we look ahead, our School Development Plan gives us an ambitious and exciting programme for the next stage of our journey. At the heart of everything we do is a simple belief: our children deserve the very best.

Our message to every child remains: Be kind. Be ambitious. Be the best you can be.

Exciting New STEM Learning

One of the developments we are particularly excited about this year is the further development of STEM – Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. We are developing two dedicated STEM rooms, one supporting our younger learners and another for our older children.

These spaces will give pupils opportunities to design, build, investigate, experiment and solve problems. We want children to experience science and technology rather than simply learn about them. Alongside our STEM rooms, pupils will have opportunities to take part in practical activities involving design and technology, construction, woodwork, gardening and outdoor learning. Our new gardening and allotment areas will also help children understand where food comes from and experience growing, preparing and cooking food themselves.

Developing a Love of Reading

Reading will be one of our biggest priorities this year.

We want every child at Derwendeg to become a confident reader, but we also want them to discover the genuine enjoyment that comes from books.

During 2026–27, we will continue to strengthen the teaching of reading throughout the school, provide children with high-quality and engaging texts and develop environments where books and reading are highly visible.

Our aim is simple: every child a reader and every child given the opportunity to experience the joy of a great book. We will work closely with families because we know that the partnership between home and school can make an enormous difference to children’s reading success.

A Fantastic Start in Early Years

We are also continuing to invest in our Early Years provision.

Our Early Years team is committed to giving our youngest children the very best possible start to school. Children will learn through carefully planned opportunities to explore, investigate, play, create and develop their independence. We are continuing to develop both our indoor and outdoor learning environments so that children have opportunities to follow their curiosity, develop confidence and learn through meaningful first-hand experiences. We want our youngest children to come through the doors each morning excited about what they might discover that day.

Sport, Health and Wellbeing

Sport and physical activity will continue to have a high profile at Derwendeg. We want our pupils to be active, healthy and confident, with opportunities to experience different sports and physical activities. We will continue to develop sporting opportunities and partnerships, alongside outdoor learning and activities that encourage children to enjoy being active. However, wellbeing is about much more than sport. We want Derwendeg to be a school where children feel safe, Bheakpipnyd,; vbae laumedbitiaonuds; lbisettehneebdestot .yoOuucrawn obrek on wellbeing, relationships and restorative approaches will continue to help children develop resilience, empathy and the skills they need to manage relationships positively.

Celebrating Wales and Our Welsh Language

We are also strengthening Welsh and Curriculum Cymreig across Derwendeg. Children will hear and use more everyday Welsh throughout the school, in classrooms, around the building and on the playground. We will continue to celebrate our Welsh identity, culture and heritage and introduce children to high-quality Welsh texts, stories and experiences. We want Welshness to be something that children don’t simply learn about – we want them to experience and celebrate it as part of everyday life at Derwendeg.

Learning Beyond the Classroom

Some of the most memorable learning does not happen sitting behind a desk. Our curriculum will increasingly provide children with authentic experiences through STEM, outdoor learning, gardening and allotments, enrichment activities, sport and our developing Radio Derwendeg. We also want children to learn about the wider world and the possibilities available to them. Through visitors, community partnerships and experiences linked to different careers and professions, we want our children to think ambitiously about their futures. Most importantly, we want pupils to become increasingly independent, curious and confident learners who are prepared to ask questions, solve problems, work with others and have a go. A School Moving Forward Together There is a great deal to look forward to at Derwendeg during 2026–27. Our School Development Plan is ambitious because we are ambitious for our children. We will continue to focus strongly on the important foundations of reading, writing and mathematics while also ensuring that children experience a broad, exciting curriculum filled with opportunities to discover their talents and interests. None of this happens without the commitment of our staff, the enthusiasm of our pupils and the support of our parents and carers.

We are enormously excited about the year ahead and look forward to sharing these developments with you as they grow and, most importantly, seeing the difference they make to our children.

Thank you, as always, for your continued support of Derwendeg Primary School.

Mr Lloyd, Mrs Lloyd and the Team at Derwendeg Primary School Be kind. Be ambitious. Be the best you can be.

Important Dates

Key Dates for 2026-27 – Term Dates

Autumn Term: Tuesday 1 Sept – Friday 18 December 2026
Half Term: Monday 26 Oct – Friday 30 Oct 2026
Spring Term: Monday 4 January – Friday 19 March 2027
Half Term: Monday 8 February – Friday 12 February 2027
Summer Term: Monday 5 April – Tuesday 20 July 2027
Half Term: Monday 31 May – Friday 4 June 2027

Please remember these are the dates of the school year, but below are the dates for the Insets to reflect when the children are in school.

INSET Dates
Tuesday 1^st September
Friday 2^nd October
Friday 5^th February
Monday 5^th April
Monday 19^th July
Tuesday 20^th July

September
Monday 28^th September – Harvest Festival Celebrations

October
Thursday 1^st Oct – Y3-6 Caerphilly School’s cross country event
Friday 2^nd Oct – Inset Day
Wednesday 7th October 9:00am – Early years phonic workshop
Monday 12th-14^th October – Parent consultations.
Friday 16^th October – Wear it Red – Show Racism the red card.
Friday 23^rd Oct – Flu Spray for whole school
Friday 23^rd Oct – Break up for half term

November
Mon 2^nd Nov – Children return to school
Wednesday 11^th November – Year 5/6 Remebrance Service – Dosbarth Porffor.
Friday 13^th November – Children in Need
Friday 13^th November – Anti-bullying Assembly – Dosbarth Glas.
Thursday 19^th November – ALN Coffee afternoon
Mon 23^rd Nov – Snow White Pantomime in School

December
Christmas events TBC
Monday 14^th December – Christmas party week
Friday 18^th December – Pupils finish for Christmas

School Menu

Click here to see the school menu .

Week beginning Mon 28th Sept will be Week 2

Attendance Matters
The United Nation Article 28 states ‘every child has the right to have a primary education’. We are linking our attendance performance to this article.

We want our children to have the best possible education to give them the best chance in life. If your children aren’t in school we can’t give them this opportunity and can’t give them the opportunity to ‘be the best they can be.’

School target: 93%
Annual % to date: 93%

Weekly total
(Week ending 18th Sep): 92%

Dosbarth Oren: 97%
Dosbarth Melyn: 83%
Dosbarth Gwyrdd: 93%
Dosbarth Glas: 90%
Dosbarth Porffor: 95%
Dosbarth Enfys: 98%

It is important all of the children are in school every day to ensure they aren’t missing out on important learning.

Heroes of the Week

Dosbarth Melyn: Marli T & Isla T
Dosbarth Gwyrdd: Fletcher T & Freya G
Dosbarth Glas: Primrose D & Osian B
Dosbarth Porffor: Jenson BD & Oscar McJ
Dosbarth Enfys: Ava W & Daniella J
Dosbarth Seren: Scarlett-Rose N