Duffryn Community Link is working in different areas with the schools in Duffryn. These are:
Forest School
The Forest School is one of about ten across Wales that uses the environment as an outdoor classroom where the emphasis is on small achievable tasks and where no one fails, thus building self-esteem and confidence and a culture of can do. This is very much integrated into the mainstream curriculum and the Link, the Infant School and the Junior School work very closely with the Forest Education Initiative to develop and support this project
Duffryn Community Link recently took part in a Woodlands for Learning conference called from Denmark to Duffryn held at University of Wales College Newport.
Nurture Group
The nurture group is run at both Duffryn Infant and Junior schools and works to support those children displaying severe emotional and behavioural needs. Although based at the school the project recognises the need to support children with their emotional needs in order for them to be able to achieve in school.
The projects focus on socialisation and each session at the Infant school begins with breakfast and talking, allowing children to explore their inner feelings in order for them to be able to deal with them in an appropriate way. The project is run using the Boxall profile from Cambridge University.
Duffryn Community Link employs one full time child support office and this has been matched by the LEA who has also provided one full time teacher. The class operates with no more than twelve children per term and is full time in the Infants. The Junior project runs every day for half a day in the afternoons We are currently awaiting news with regard to funding from the Welsh assembly.
Playgroup, Breakfast and After School Club
Duffryn Community Link was successful in securing nearly £80,000 of funding over three years to develop Breakfast, Morning, Lunch, Afternoon and After School clubs. These clubs are delivered at Duffryn Infant School, have been running for a year and a half and are listed below:
All part time members of staff are employed at one or several of these clubs and many of the employees are from the local community. Several members of staff are working towards NVQ’s from level one to level three.
Young People
Young People are very much at the forefront of work that takes place in Duffryn, whether delivering, participating or producing work. The youth club runs on a Monday and Tuesday evening, various sports activities are delivered there as well as art and awareness raising. The Duffryn Youth Forum holds their weekly meetings at this venue. More information can be found here.