Family Friendly Primary School Wins Award

A Neath Port Talbot school has been rewarded for putting families first. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Coedffranc Primary School in Skewen has been presented with the Family Information Friendly award which recognises how the school has engaged successfully with families to improve outcomes for children. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

To win the award, the school had to meet certain requirements such as providing parents and guardians with family related information, making sure staff are aware of the award and publicising the support available at school events. The award aims to ensure families at the school are better informed to make decisions on the well-being of their children. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

To help reach these requirements, the school has set up a dedicated ‘Family Room’ where pupils, parents and teachers can meet within a friendly, relaxed atmosphere. Working alongside partner organisations, the ‘Family Room’ has helped to improve the link between the school and home life by hosting parenting courses and family activity sessions. The ‘Family Room’ is also a place where parents can go to collect information about local family services and child friendly activities. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The award is administered by the Council’s Family Information Service, a dedicated service to supporting families in Neath Port Talbot to access information on childcare, learning, well-being and lots more. In addition to primary and secondary schools, the award is also available to childcare settings such as playgroups and childminders. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Leader of Neath Port Talbot Council, Councillor Ali Thomas OBE presented the award to the school. Councillor Thomas said: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“It is encouraging to see families taking part in school life to support their child’s development. Engaging with parents and guardians through the ‘Family Room’ is a great way to ensure they are aware of the information and services available to them in Neath Port Talbot.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Headteacher of Ceodffranc Primary School, Mr Geraint Jones said: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“We are delighted to win the Family Information Friendly award as a lot of hard work has gone towards it.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“At Coedffranc Primary our families are very important to us, we want them to be happy, feel part of the school and able to thrive. The ‘Family Room’ has been a real boost for helping us to engage with families and the award has reinforced our assertion that we are heading in the right direction.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Schools or childcare settings in the Neath Port Talbot interested in applying to achieve the Award should contact the Family Information Service on 01639 873018 or email fis@npt.gov.uk . ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​