Canolfan Bro Tywi Behaviour Support Service, Carmarthen

Canolfan Bro Tywi Behaviour Support Service is a school in Wales. Welsh schools are inspected by Estyn rather than Ofsted, and its latest report is published on Estyn's website.

Estyn's report on its November 2024 inspection summarises Canolfan Bro Tywi Behaviour Support Service like this:

"Leaders have established a clear vision for the PRU, which supports pupils to ‘have success today and be prepared for tomorrow’. They have successfully developed a caring community where nearly all pupils feel safe and build positive working relationships with their staff and peers. Leaders have developed meaningful relationships with a wide range of stakeholders, including strong links between the PRU and the pupils’ families. Daily check-in ensures that any important information is communicated from the pupils’ home to staff successfully. Home visits take place where there is a concern around attendance due to anxiety or other issues. A committed team of teachers and teaching assistants work together effectively to adapt their approaches and the curriculum to meet the needs of their pupils well. The curriculum balances independent and collaborative work and successfully encourages pupils to engage in challenging activities that develop practical skills while fostering communication, independence, team work, responsibility, and confidence. Outdoor learning is a strong feature of the PRU and successfully enhances many pupils’ engagement."

"Equally, the provision of Welsh is a strength of the PRU. Staff through a range of assessments know the needs of the pupils well. Regular pupil progress monitoring ensures that staff adjust interventions effectively, ensuring that nearly all pupils receive the support necessary to achieve their learning and behaviour targets. However, a very few pupils frequently disrupt classroom activities, exhibiting behaviours that interrupt the flow of lessons and create a challenging environment for both staff and peers. Well-being interventions are a strong feature of the provision and nearly all members of staff have received relevant training in supporting pupils’ needs through trauma approaches. As a result, staff respond effectively to behavioural challenges with patience, calmness, empathy, and constructive strategies. This responsive approach ensures that pupils feel understood and respected, even during difficult moments. Leaders have developed a range of effective interventions which are supporting nearly all pupils to make positive progress in improving their attendance."

"Whilst this represents significant progress from their previous placements, the overall attendance still remains at 73%. Pupils are well supported with transition into their next specialist placements, however very few pupils move on to mainstream schools at the end of Year 6 or back into mainstream schools during their time in the PRU. The PRU benefits from the helpful support of local authority officers. Overall, the management committee discharge their required roles and responsibilities suitably. However, there are limited opportunities to evaluate the work of the PRU through first hand experiences. As a result, opportunities to effectively challenge and support PRU leaders are underdeveloped."

Estyn made 3 recommendations: (1) Leaders together with the local authority and management committee clarify the role of the PRU as a short-term provision; (2) Formalise the role of middle leaders, to drive improvement in the quality and consistency of teaching and learning; (3) Strengthen the involvement of the management committee to challenge and support leaders at the PRU effectively.

The nearest railway station is Carmarthen Rail Station, about 0.8 miles away in a straight line.

10 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Queen Elizabeth High School, 120 metres away.