SCHOOL OF THE WEEK: Tredegar Park Primary School treasures links with community

AT TREDEGAR Park Primary School in Newport, the teachers believe the best life preparation for pupils is found both inside and outside the classroom.

The school’s vision, headteacher Jenny Thomas explains, is “to open up a world of opportunities” for each and every pupil.

“We want the children to understand there are many areas they can explore in life,” she said, adding that this goes beyond encouraging children to aspire to academic excellence and a university degree.

Heddlu Bach handing out parking warning tickets at Tredegar Park Primary who are school of the week. All pictures: www.christinsleyphotography.co.uk

“This isn’t the only route into a successful career – there are a lot of ways to access employment, but it’s important to develop [the children] early on.”

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This vision is based on the belief that a child’s school years should be about giving them the best education, but also the best start in life.

It’s no surprise, then, that one of the school’s most popular projects is titled Building Blocks.

Maths Rock for year 5 at Tredegar Park Primary who are school of the week.

Here, every Tuesday, groups of children from across the school are taught basic woodworking skills by a local carpenter.

They then get the chance to use those skills to make things that benefit them and their school, from desk caddies and Christmas decorations to hedgehog and bird boxes for the school grounds.

Through Building Blocks, Ms Thomas said, the pupils at Tredegar Park Primary are able to discover new talents, as well as new enthusiasm for a particular job in later life.

Year 2 turn their hands to carpentry at Tredegar Park Primary who are school of the week.

What starts out as an enjoyable series of woodworking lessons in primary school could spark a career in carpentry or engineering.

The Building Blocks scheme is just one of the ways Tredegar Park Primary is promoting links between the school and the wider community.

“It’s a big thing for us to engage with a lot of different agencies, and to get parents involved with their shared experiences,” Ms Thomas said.

Criw Cymraeg at Tredegar Park Primary who are school of the week.

Parents, governors, and other local residents have visited the school to talk about their work, including an officer in the Marines, a pharmacist, and a midwife.

“It’s absolutely fantastic to get not only the parents, but the governors, involved,” Ms Thomas said.

Grants have also helped teachers invite other special guests into classrooms to enrich pupils’ learning.

Maes Ebbw school join in at Tredegar Park Primary’s Forest School

This week, local artist Andy O’Rourke was showing Year 3 students how to create ‘augmented reality’ works of art.

But as well as preparing pupils for their futures, the school also recognises the importance of building them a safe, fun, and healthy social environment in which they can grow up.

“As a school we’re widening our approach – we’ve made connections with youth workers and set up more youth clubs outside the school,” Ms Thomas said. “To have somebody to speak to develops their confidence. We’re really please with the connections we’re making.”

Building Blocks pupils developing their building skills.

For the past six months, Mel Aver, a senior youth worker with Duffryn Community Link, has been working closely with pupils at Tredegar Park Primary, putting on youth sessions in the school and youth nights in the community.

“We’re strengthening the support for the children and the relationship between the school and the community,” Ms Aver said, adding that her work also involves teaching pupils about important topics like knife crime, healthy relationships, and social media awareness.

“These are things young people need extra education on,” she said.

Jenson and Keila, both six, on the Lego wall.

Work with the local Community Action Group has cemented links between the school and the local area – though in the early stages, the group has proposed projects such as a uniform swap shop, a lonely mothers’ group, fun days, and weekend cookery clubs as ways to improve engagement.

The school also has two dedicated family and community engagement (FACE) officers, Joanne Short and Lucy Beecher, who have worked in the Duffryn area for many years.

“We build relationships and trust, which are important in this community,” Ms Short said. “We’re here to help and support children and their families – our door is always open.”

FACE officers Lucy Beecher (back, left) and Joanne Short cooking with (L-R) Caius, Mia, Kaitlyn and Brandon.

The FACE officers provide children with a safe place where they can talk about problems they may be having, in school or at home.

“The needs of the whole family need to be met – we recognise the need for all-round holistic support,” Ms Short added.

The FACE scheme also helps pupils get involved in sports and other activities outside school, as a way of encouraging positive links, and also helps Year 6 pupils prepare for the often daunting transition to secondary school.

Artist Andy O'Rourke working with year 3 at Tredegar Park Primary who are school of the week.

The school also promotes local landmarks – Year 5 pupils recently took part in a spoken word poetry project based on a trip to the nearby Tredegar House, and the school works in partnership with Maes Ebbw School, based in Maesglas, on its Forest School project.

“We know the Forest School is a brilliant resource,” Ms Thomas said. “The children can learn woodwork, safe fire-building, and understand science. It’s also about the expressive arts, and learning through nature. Story-time around the campfire is seen as special.

“We really believe children need opportunities to learn outside.”

A small group of pupils is currently developing a business, too. At Duffryn Community Link’s Forest Family Centre, they spend the last Friday of each month setting up a café and selling treats to the public.

The business – Tredegar Park Treats – has been getting tips and support from local firms like Logo Go Go and Tiny Rebel.

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It’s clear the staff at Tredegar Park Primary are passionate about the school’s pupils getting the best possible learning experiences, and Ms Thomas said that vision has rubbed off on the teachers, too.

“[Opportunities] have led to the teachers wanting more – they’ve inspired the children but also the teachers,” she said. “We’re constantly thinking about the opportunities we’ve been given, and the new curriculum has made teachers think outside the box.

“We are all lifelong learners, and the teachers are showing the children that they are lifelong learners as well.”

She added: “With all the support and partnerships we have, it’s a great time and you can feel the buzz from the teachers.”

FACT FILE

• LOCATION: Duffryn, Newport
• NUMBER OF PUPILS: 460 including nursery
• HEAD TEACHER: Jenny Thomas (pictured above, right)
• MOTTO: Believe and Achieve