A WELSH-language primary school in Newport and a nursery in the city have been held up as examples of how unique approaches to education can benefit youngsters.

Ysgol Gymraeg Casnewydd and Sunflower Tots have been listed among examples of 'best practice' by schools inspector Estyn. Both are detailed on the organisation's website as examples for other schools to learn from.

According to the website, Ysgol Gymraeg Casnewydd in Hartridge Farm Road, which has 353 pupils aged from three to 11, has been developing youngsters' thinking skills through philosophy while using improvised drama activities to encourage creativity .

A statement on the website says: "The staff weave a combination of creative strategies skilfully into planning and teaching across the school.

"They nurture and promote pupils’ thinking skills effectively by using activities based on the philosophy for children.

"This challenges their metacognition and allows them to question, discuss and write about intense experiences maturely and very fluently.

"By combining the use of improvised drama strategies, creativity is promoted in all areas of learning.

"This combination stimulates pupils’ appetite to write to a very high standard."

The website also says, as a result of the teaching methods, achievement is consistently higher than the Welsh average in key stage two.

Meanwhile Sunflower Tots, which is based at the Forest Family Centre in Partridge Way and run by Duffryn Community Link has been held up as an example of how robust planning and management can benefit youngsters.

The website praises staff at the nursery, which has 50 youngsters aged between two and four on its roll, for "high quality planning" and "very good provision".

"There is a strong focus on raising children’s outcomes and delivering high quality learning experiences," it said.

"Leaders are always looking for ways to improve their practice as well as sharing what they do well with other childcare settings."

It also said employees are monitored closely and are encouraged to observe each other to improve their own work.

"Although this was not easy to start with, practitioners appreciate the opportunity this gives to learn from one another and to reflect on the standard of their own work," it said.

"All practitioners discuss progress towards achieving the setting’s improvement targets at every staff meeting. They are also fully involved in planning learning experiences.

"As a result, all practitioners are confident in their roles, support each other effectively and are able to offer high quality learning experiences.

"This has a positive impact on children’s learning."

The website also said staff "feel highly valued" and "have high expectations of themselves and do their best at work".

"Practitioners work together as a strong team and this enables them to provide an interesting range of stimulating activities that support children’s learning well," it said.

For more information visit estyn.gov.wales