Blaendulais Primary School is in Seven Sisters, near Neath, in the local authority of Neath Port Talbot. The school has around 115 pupils on roll, aged from 3 to 11, including 15 nursery children who attend part-time. There are four mixed-age classes in the school. The school also has a resourced provision comprising two classes for up to 17 pupils with additional learning needs, aged between 3 and 11 years. Many of these pupils travel from outside the school’s normal catchment area. The 3-year rolling average of pupils who are eligible for free school meals is 41%. This is well above the national average of 18%. Around six per cent of pupils are in the care of the local authority. Nearly all pupils are of white British ethnicity. A very few pupils speak Welsh at home. The school identifies around 38% of pupils with additional learning needs. This is much higher than the national average of 21%. All pupils in the resourced provision have statements of special educational need. The headteacher took up his post in January 2017. The school’s last inspection was in May 2012. Further information is available from the Welsh Government My Local School website at the link below. http://mylocalschool.wales.gov.uk/Schools/SchoolSearch?lang=en 1 A report on Blaendulais Primary School November 2018 Summary The school is a safe learning environment where pupils feel happy and well cared for. The behaviour of nearly all pupils is good and they work hard and enjoy their learning. During their time at school, nearly all pupils, including those in the learning resource centre, develop their literacy, numeracy and information and technology (ICT) skills well. They make strong progress towards their individual targets. Most teachers have high expectations and provide well for pupils’ needs and interests. The curriculum is broad, balanced and engages pupils’ curiosity well. Arrangements for supporting pupils with additional learning needs are a strength of the school. The headteacher provides effective leadership and has a clear strategic vision for the future of the school. He is thorough in his research as to how the school operates and how it can improve. He is supported well by a strong team of teachers and teaching assistants and by a diligent governing body. Inspection area Judgement Standards Good Wellbeing and attitudes to learning Good Teaching and learning experiences Good Care, support and guidance Good Leadership and management Good 2 A report on Blaendulais Primary School November 2018 Recommendations R1 Improve the accuracy of pupils’ reading and handwriting in key stage 2 R2 Ensure that all pupils’ basic numeracy skills are more secure in key stage 2 R3 Improve the effectiveness of teachers’ written feedback, so that pupils know how to improve their work What happens next The school will draw up an action plan to address the recommendations from the inspection.