Croeso i Dosbarth Elwy – Derbyn a Blwyddyn Un

“Every day is a chance to learn something new.”

Meet the staff

Croeso cynnes i Dosbarth Derbyn a Blwyddyn Un. My name is Miss Barry, and I am absolutely delighted to be your child’s class teacher this year! In Dosbarth Elwy, we are supported by a fantastic team; working alongside me are our dedicated teaching assistants, Miss Mytton, Mrs. Davies who works in our class each morning, and in the afternoons we are joined by Miss Parr. On Monday and Thursday afternoons, Mrs. Johnson leads our Forest School and P.E. sessions.

We strive to ensure that every child’s journey in Dosbarth Elwy is a resounding success, filled with meaningful and “hands-on” experiences. Every milestone your child reaches from the fine motor skills of holding a pencil to the curiosity of exploring our “Mini Zoo” is a vital building block for their future. Our mission is to nurture ambitious, capable learners who are eager to achieve high standards, while encouraging them to be enterprising, creative contributors who can solve problems and share their unique ideas.

Through our outdoor adventures and classroom investigations, we support the children in becoming healthy, confident individuals who lead fulfilling lives, as well as ethical, informed citizens who show kindness to others and respect for the world around them. By immersing our pupils in creative and physical challenges, we ensure they leave our classroom with the skills, character, and confidence to embrace the world.

If you would like more information on how you can support your child at home please see below.

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.

Sneak peak inside Dosbarth Elwy!

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.

🛒 Dosbarth Elwy Class – Summer 2 INSPIRE Inquiry: Supermarket 🍎🥕

This term in Elwy class, our learning journey is centred around the topic Supermarket. Through stories, play, investigation and real‑life experiences, the children will be exploring where food comes from, how it travels to our local shop, and how our food choices help our bodies.

We will begin by using the story Supertato to spark curiosity and imagination, helping the children develop confidence in listening, talking and storytelling. As the term progresses, the children will explore real foods, role‑play supermarkets, build and design shops and delivery vehicles, and take part in a visit to our local shop in Bangor‑on‑Dee to see food systems in action within our community.

Through hands‑on experiences, discussion and play, children will begin to understand that food comes from plants and animals, that it travels using different vehicles, and that people play important roles in getting food from farms and factories to shops. We will also explore how different foods help our bodies to grow, stay healthy and have energy.

This topic supports children to become curious, confident and thoughtful learners, making sense of the world around them through meaningful, real‑life contexts.

🌱 What skills will children be developing?

Throughout this period of learning, children will be making progress in:

🔬 Science and Technology

Children will explore where food comes from, how it grows and how it travels from farms and factories to shops. They will investigate food journeys, learn about different vehicles and jobs, and design and build models such as shops and delivery vehicles. Children will be encouraged to ask questions, observe carefully and explain their thinking.

🗣 Languages, Literacy and Communication

Children will develop confidence in listening and talking through stories, discussion, role play and explanation. They will retell and adapt familiar stories, explain ideas using pictures and words, and use language to persuade, describe and share opinions. Welsh language will be used naturally through everyday routines and play.

🧮 Mathematics and Numeracy

Children will practise sorting, counting, comparing and sequencing through supermarket‑themed activities such as shopping lists, pricing items, exchanging money and ordering events. They will use mathematical language to explain their thinking and solve simple, real‑life problems.

❤️ Health and Well‑being

Children will explore how different foods help their bodies to grow, stay healthy and have energy. They will share preferences respectfully, try new foods, work together, take turns and make simple choices, supporting confidence, well‑being and positive relationships.

🌍 Humanities

Children will learn about their local community through a visit to the local shop, exploring people’s roles and how the supermarket is part of everyday life. They will begin to understand how places, people and systems are connected.

🎨 Expressive Arts

Children will use art, craft, malleable materials, role play and design to express ideas linked to food, shops and stories. They will create models, artwork and performances, using imagination and creativity to communicate meaning.

🏠 Optional Home Learning Ideas

These activities are optional and designed to encourage talk and curiosity at home:

• 🕵️ Food Detective – Look at food at home or in the shop. Where does it come from? Is it from a plant or an animal?
• 🛍 Shopping Helper – Help write or draw a shopping list and talk about why items are needed.
• 🚚 Food Journey Talk – Choose one food and talk about how it might have travelled to the shop.
• 🍽 Healthy Choices Chat – Talk about which foods help our bodies grow, give energy or keep us healthy.
• 🎭 Role‑Play Shop – Set up a shop at home using toys or food packets and take turns being customer and shopkeeper.
• 📖 Story Talk – Retell Supertato or make up a new supermarket hero story.

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: