Work completed so far includes the re-modelling of the main hall and transforming a void area and adjacent changing rooms into a community room for use by parents, staff and local organisations.
The new hall will enhance the pupils’ curriculum in terms of drama and physical education provision is improved in respect of drama and physical education. The area also benefits from a new heating and ventilation system along with flooring, lighting and acoustics. The new community space will be used to create a links between parents and families and local support organisations will also be able to provide family activities and training courses.
Headteacher at Ystruth Primary School, Gail Watkins says:
“This is a wonderful facility which offers lots of potential for future activities and is a very exciting development to our school building. I am sure the new hall will support and enhance the ways that our youngsters can contribute to and benefit from being part of their community.
“I would like to thank our parents, pupils, staff (particularly our caretaker and cleaners), Governors, Local Authority officers and builders for their patience, support and cooperation during the project.”
The Council’s Executive Member for Education, Cllr Clive Meredith says:
“Our children and young people deserve the best learning environments and thanks to partnership working with the Welsh Government on its flagship school improvement programme we have been able to bring some real positive changes to the school estate here in Blaenau Gwent and with it many added benefits.
“I was delighted to see for myself today the first phase of the Ystruth Primary remodelling and hear all about the positive impact this work will have on not only the pupils and staff using these new facilities daily but also the parents, families and the wider community who will be encouraged to forge closer links with the school.”
The remaining phases include the re-modelling of the Additional Learning Needs (ALN) resource base, both the classrooms and the outdoor learning/play areas in the Foundation Phase and Key Stage 2. This work will help to meet the developing needs of pupils presenting with ALN and bring the school up to standard with other resource base provision throughout schools in Blaenau Gwent. There is also re-modelling of toilets to better meet the needs of staff and pupils.