Croeso i Dosbarth Elwy – Derbyn a Blwyddyn 1
“Every day is a chance to learn something new.”
Meet the staff
Croeso cynnes i Dosbarth Derbyn a Blwyddyn 1 – Dosbarth Elwy. My name is Miss Barry and I am really looking forward to being your class teacher this year! This year, Miss Mytton and Mrs. Davies are our class teaching assistants. On a Monday and Wednesday afternoon, Mrs. Johnson (Level 4 teaching assistant) teaches Forest School Skills and P.E.
I hope that your year in Dosbarth Elwy will not only be a happy one, but also a huge success. We aim to ensure that your child has a happy time in school, learning through meaningful and fun experiences. Every experience your child has, from learning to hold a pencil, playing a musical instrument, counting to 20 and beyond – ensures that they are building on skills for the future. Pupils are immersed in creative, practical and physical skills to ensure they remain engaged as ambitious and capable learners.
Homework
At Ysgol Sant Dunawd, we believe in a little and often and that practice makes progress! The children will be sent home frequently with Phonics Sounds practise sheets, and when they have progressed through their initial sounds and are blending appropriately, pupils will have a reading book and diary. We encourage the children to read a few pages of their reading book each night, aloud to an adult. Adults are encouraged to sign the diary and write a brief comment.
Our INSPIRE Inquiries
Read Write Inc Phonics
Your child will be learning to recognise letters and sounds before gradually progressing to blending sounds together to make words. Following this stage, pupils will then learn to recognise words and start to read whole sentences. It is important to note, that every pupil will progress at different times throughout the Foundation years.
For more information about Read Write Inc, and to find out how you can help at home, please click here or visit our dedicated Read Write Inc. page.
I have attached below a short video link for parents to be able to use the same correct sounds that we use with our Read, Write Inc scheme in school, I hope you find this useful.
Our INSPIRE Inquiry Spring 1 2026
🌍 Big Wide World
This term, Dosbarth Elwy will be learning all about the Big Wide World, with Humanities (Geography) as our driver subject. We will be encouraging the children to be curious about where they live, the world around them, and the people and communities that make it such a special place.
The children will explore the Earth and different places around the world, including a focus on Africa and our local community. Through stories, songs, movement, role play and hands-on activities, they will learn that people may live in different places, celebrate in different ways and value different things – but that we all have families, friends, needs and rights.
We will spend lots of time talking, listening and sharing ideas. Children will build their vocabulary and confidence as they describe objects, places and events, ask questions, and talk about their own experiences. They will explore position, movement and direction through play, outdoor learning and real-life experiences such as local walks.
Creative and sensory activities will be at the heart of our learning. Children will enjoy making and exploring globes, maps and models, using materials they already love such as playdough, paint, collage and construction. These activities help them to understand the world in a meaningful, practical way.
We will also use technology to support learning, for example by looking at maps and images of the world, creating simple digital work and discovering how technology helps us find information and communicate.
Throughout the topic, children will be encouraged to work together, follow rules, show kindness and respect, and celebrate the similarities and differences between themselves and others. Our aim is to help every child feel confident, valued and excited about learning as they discover their place in the Big Wide World.
🌍 Big Wide World – What This Topic Helps Children Develop
Through our Big Wide World topic, children will be developing:
💛 Awareness of needs, rights and belonging
🌍 An understanding of the world around them, near and far
🗣️ Confidence in talking, listening and asking questions
📍 Knowledge of position, movement and direction
🎨 Creativity through hands-on, sensory activities, crafts, arts and dance
💻 Early digital skills, including using technology to find information
🤝 Respect for others, different families and communities
Did you know…? The River Elwy (Afon Elwy in Welsh) is a river in Wales forming a tributary to the River Clwyd. The river can be found in North Wales, not far from our school:
