SAUNDERSFOOT C.P. School has been praised by Estyn for its nurturing culture, strong staff teamwork and clear focus on pupil wellbeing.

The school received positive recognition following an inspection in March 2026, with inspectors highlighting effective leadership, high-quality support for pupils and a calm, inclusive learning environment.

The report describes Saundersfoot C.P. School as “an inclusive and nurturing community where pupils feel valued and supported”.

Inspectors said pupils benefit from safe, calm classrooms and strong, trusting relationships with staff.

Wellbeing at the heart

Estyn praised the school’s emphasis on wellbeing, noting that leaders place pupils’ emotional and social development at the centre of school life.

The report also recognised the dedication and professionalism of staff, highlighting effective collaboration between teachers and support staff.

Teaching assistants were described as “highly skilled”, with inspectors noting their important role in helping pupils, including those with additional learning needs, receive targeted support and make good progress.

The school was also commended for its strong culture of care, robust safeguarding arrangements and effective partnerships with parents, governors and external agencies.

Areas for development identified by the school and Estyn include outdoor learning and attendance. However, the report confirms that Saundersfoot C.P. School has a secure foundation built on positive relationships, committed staff and a wellbeing-led ethos.

Headteacher Nick Allan said: “At Saundersfoot C.P. School, wellbeing is central to everything we do. We are proud that Estyn has recognised the calm, nurturing environment our staff create, where children feel safe, confident and ready to learn.

“Strong relationships sit at the heart of our school. Knowing our pupils well as individuals enables us to support not just their academic progress, but their emotional and social development too.

“This is integral to the school’s ethos and values. I am proud to lead such a dedicated team that provides a meaningful difference to pupils’ learning and wellbeing here in Saundersfoot.”

Cllr Guy Woodham, Cabinet Member for Education and Welsh Language, said: “It is always immensely pleasing when one of our schools receives positive recognition from Estyn. Such recognition does not happen easily and is the culmination of months and years of hard work by everyone involved with the school.

“My thanks and congratulations therefore go to the headteacher, staff and all those who have made this success possible — well done all.”

Ysgol Gynradd Abertieifi has launched a major fund raising initiative in a bid to develop what they have described as ‘an exciting new adventure playground’ for Cardigan primary schoolchildren.

The project is aimed at providing children with a safe and engaging space in which they can climb, build and explore with confidence.  As well as supporting the children’s physical development, the playground will also boost their creativity, friendship and wellbeing.

The co-ordinators are now aiming to raise £15,000 to make their vision a reality.

“Every contribution, no matter how big or small, will bring us one step close to giving the children a space they’ll be able to enjoy for years to come,” said Alahna Kindred, the associate communications manager.

“Together, I know we can create something truly special for our school community.”

Donations to the new Ysgol Gynradd Aberteifi playground can be made via the gofund me page.

SCHOOL leaders have urged Wales’ new Plaid Cymru government to make school funding an urgent priority, after a union survey found more than half of respondents had buildings or areas closed or unfit for purpose.

NAHT Cymru said Welsh schools were facing “demoralising choices” between cuts to staffing, provision and essential repairs.

The school leaders’ union said 51% of Welsh members who responded to its latest survey reported buildings or areas that were either out of use or not fit for purpose.

More than nine in ten leaders, 91%, said they did not receive enough funding to maintain their school buildings and estate.

Laura Doel, national secretary of NAHT Cymru, said schools were under severe pressure, with some struggling with growing deficits.

She said: “There are many pressures contributing to this, from the increasing numbers of pupils with additional learning needs, a funding postcode lottery, rising costs, and the extra demands landing with schools after investment in health and social care failed to keep pace with demand.

“Many are facing demoralising choices between cutting teachers and teaching assistants, or wider educational provision — and between spending money on books or bricks.

“The simple truth is that schools are not getting the money they need to consistently deliver for pupils or even to maintain a safe and inspiring learning environment in some cases.”

Ms Doel said Plaid Cymru had spoken at its spring conference about “getting back to basics” in education.

She added: “What could be more basic than ensuring schools have sufficient funding?

“Now they have a golden opportunity to do the right thing and provide the urgent investment schools and children need.”

Call for fair funding

NAHT Cymru said the new administration would face competing demands, but argued there was a clear opportunity to “right a wrong” after it was confirmed last month that Wales would receive a further £555m in consequential funding from the UK Government over the next three years.

The union said the additional money was partly driven by significant increases in funding for pupils with additional needs in England.

Ms Doel said that during the 2026/27 budget process, the outgoing Welsh Government had failed to give schools their fair share of consequential funding.

She said an extra £113m had been offered to councils, but there were no guarantees it would reach schools, which face a £137m budget shortfall this financial year, according to the Welsh Local Government Association.

She added: “The additional consequential funding announced means Plaid now have an open goal to deliver a quick win for schools and right the wrong which saw them fail to receive anywhere near enough of the extra funding which previously came to Wales.

“We know the new Welsh Government will face difficult financial decisions, but little is more important than children’s learning and wellbeing, and the life chances that flow from those.”

Buildings concern

NAHT Cymru said Plaid’s manifesto had promised to survey the condition of the school estate.

Ms Doel said such a survey might provide a fuller picture, but added: “Ultimately it will only tell us what we already know from our own conversations with school leaders — that new funding is needed to better maintain, refurbish and rebuild schools.

“No child should have to learn in some of the conditions laid bare in our survey. It really is appalling.”

Among leaders who reported areas closed or unfit for purpose, 93% said basic building infrastructure such as windows, roofs and doors was not fit for purpose, while 2% said such facilities were out of use.

Toilet blocks were reported as not fit for purpose by 70%, with a further 2% saying they were closed.

Classrooms were reported as unfit by 64% of affected leaders, while 63% raised concerns about specialist facilities for additional learning needs, including dedicated classrooms, sensory rooms and outdoor spaces. A further 3% said ALN facilities were out of use.

Playgrounds were the area most likely to be reported as closed, with 8% of affected leaders saying they had playgrounds out of use.

One Welsh school leader told the union: “Our school is slowly but surely rotting away. With every passing winter — every storm, every period of wet and rainy weather — the leaks are getting bigger and more numerous, the drains are overflowing, the playgrounds, pavements and road surfaces on site are crumbling beneath our feet.

“We now have broken buildings for forgotten children. This is no way to raise and educate our most cherished resource in the 21st century.”

Another said their school had been in a six-figure deficit for three years and now had just £1,000 left in its repairs and maintenance budget.

They said: “We are a large school with over 400 pupils — £1,000 won’t cover an inch of the site.”

NAHT’s capital funding survey was carried out between February 2 and February 16 this year and was completed by 127 school leaders in Wales. Of those asked whether they had received enough capital funding over the last three years to develop their buildings and estate to meet pupils’ needs, 98% said they had not.