A SMALL village school in Flintshire has received a glowing report from inspectors.

Ysgol Y Foel in Cilcain, near Mold, was visited by education watchdog Estyn in June.

And the primary school is celebrating having scored 'Good' across the five remits of assessment - which included Standards, Wellbeing and attitudes to learning, Teaching and learning experiences, Care support and guidance and Leadership and management.

The subsequent report said that Ysgol Y Foel is a nurturing environment for its pupils and that the positive relationships between pupils and between pupils and adults are a real strength of the school.

As well as this, the report states all pupils behave very well and show fairness, respect and tolerance to others. It said teachers use a variety of stimulating activities to capture the interest of the pupils successfully. They monitor pupil progress closely and provide valuable additional support to pupils when needed.

The school had just four recommendations which they had already begun to work on.

These include an increase in pupil's use of spoken Welsh in and outside lessons and an extension on the range of opportunities for outdoor learning.

And the latter the school is already working on, with news that the school has been successful in its application to the Welsh Governments Sustainable Development Fund.

Ysgol y Foel will receive a significant investment, approximately £55,000 from the Welsh Government and potentially more from other sources.

This investment will expand the learning offer provided to pupils, enhance the well being of pupils, improve the environmental sustainability of the school and importantly improve the schools long term economic resilience.

In October construction will begin on an outdoor eco classroom and enhanced outdoor learning facilities.

Headteacher Emma O’Neill said: "We are all extremely proud of our inspection report. It reflects what a happy, united school we are.

"The new funding is a really exciting initiative and will bring massive benefits to the school and it's pupils."

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