Bryn Collen teacher completes intensive Welsh learning course

* Bryn Collen teacher Claire Paton.

A primary school teacher from Llangollen who took up an intensive Welsh learning course has returned to the classroom to share her newfound knowledge and skills.   

Claire Paton, a teacher at Ysgol Bryn Collen, Llangollen was one of only 14 teachers selected in North Wales to join the Welsh Government’s Welsh In A Year course, run by Bangor University – a sabbatical where teachers are taught consistently through the medium of Welsh from day one by Welsh language tutors. 

The initiative is part of the Welsh Government’s agenda to gain one million Welsh speakers by 2050. 

 

Her application was supported by Ysgol Bryn Collen headteacher, Lisa Howden, in line with the school’s development plan to increase the use of Welsh, particularly in Nursery, through to Year Two.  

 

During the course, Claire had to submerse herself in written and oral Welsh practice and take exams. 

Alongside her fellow students, Claire attended conferences, explored areas of Wales to develop confidence in the language and trained in a Welsh-medium school. 

Each week the group met in person at the Welsh Language Unit in St Asaph. After five months Claire went back into the classroom one day a week to develop the use of Welsh around the school. 

 

Claire is delighted to be back in Ysgol Bryn Collen sharing her knowledge. She said: “It’s wonderful to be back in school and share my new skills to help the school develop, particularly with our focus on Welsh reading.  

 

“I have gained confidence and knowledge that has given me an excellent foundation to build on. I can converse with my Welsh speaking colleagues and contribute to us gaining the Silver Award of Cymraeg Campus.” 

 

Following Ysgol Bryn Collen’s positive Estyn Inspection earlier this year, the staff and governors have prioritised the development of Welsh language skills. 

 

Headteacher Lisa Howden said: “We are incredibly proud of Claire’s achievements during the last twelve months and it’s wonderful to see her sharing her experiences and language skills across the school. Following our excellent Estyn Inspection our school is working hard towards achieving our Silver Award through Cymraeg Campus and strengthening the Welsh Language across the primary year groups.” 

 

Claire continues to improve her skills and attends Welsh meetings twice a month run by Lucy Cowley, in Gales Wine Bar, Llangollen, and keeps in touch with her fellow students. She is also able to converse in Welsh with the other proficient Welsh teachers within the school environment. 

 

She will graduate from Bangor University, alongside her fellow students in June 2025.  

 

Funding earmarked for Wrexham metastatic cancer nurse, MS told

A Member of the Senedd has repeated his calls for a ‘crucial’ cancer nurse to remain at Wrexham Maelor Hospital on a permanent basis. 

Clwyd South MS Ken Skates raised the issue with Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB) earlier this year and was told the Welsh Government had provided funding to ensure the Metastatic Cancer Nurse Specialist role was preserved for the current financial year. 

The Maelor is the only North Wales hospital where the position is temporary, and concerns have once again been raised about its future. 

But Mr Skates has been told the Welsh Government has earmarked further funding. 

He said: “This is a crucial role with a caseload – as I understand it – of around 200 patients, all of whom value it extremely highly. Clearly, the continuing uncertainty about the future of the role is detrimental to all concerned, and my constituents who are regular visitors to the oncology department are asking why it’s only Wrexham where the position isn’t permanent. 

“The Welsh Government has indicated that there is funding in place for this essential role, so I hope the health board is able to take it up.” 

Mr Skates wrote to the health board’s senior management with his concerns earlier this month. 

In his response, BCUHB chair Dyfed Edwards said: “The Metastatic Cancer Nurse Specialist is one of a number of roles and schemes that are being funded on a non-recurrent basis, using temporary funding provided by Welsh Government to support enhanced performance and transformation. 

“Since you last wrote to us, we have provided the necessary assurance to Welsh Government about the impact of this temporary funding. Securing this funding from Welsh Government on a recurrent basis is now contingent on the Health Board meeting its financial targets for the current year. 

“A significant amount of hard work is taking place across the Health Board to achieve this, in order to ensure that this valuable additional resource remains within the health service in North Wales.However, we do not expect to be in a position to agree recurrent funding for any of these schemes until the 2024/25 financial allocation is made available to the Health Board in early 2025.” 

He added: “It is very clear from the representations made by individual patients, patient representative groups and colleagues working within our cancer services that the care and support provided by the current postholder is highly valued. As such, I am very sorry for any anxiety caused by our inability to confirm permanent funding for this post at this stage, although I hope that this response helps to clarify the Health Board’s current position and next steps.”

County Council completes works on Four Great Highways project

* New steps and signage at Lower Dee Mill Park completed as part of the project.

Denbighshire County Council has completed works on the Four Great Highways project in Llangollen. 

The project was part of investment by the UK Government that was secured through a joint application between Denbighshire County Council and Wrexham County Borough Council for the former Clwyd South Constituency, in which £3.8 million was allocated to Denbighshire to invest in the communities of Llangollen, Llantysilio, Corwen and surrounding areas.

 

The intention of the work was to promote and enhance the Four Great Highways of Llangollen, by providing landscape and engineering improvements that would improve accessibility and visibility of attractions within the town through enhanced signage and wayfinding.

 

OBR Construction, who completed this project, were also responsible for the completion of another UK Government funded project in Wenffrwd Nature Reserve.

 

Barry Mellor, Leader Member for Environment and Transport said: “I am happy to hear that works to complete the Four Great Highways project has now come to an end. We hope that these improvements to accessibility, interpretation and signage will help promote Llangollen’s historical sites and encourage more residents and visitors to spend more time there."

* The new play area at Lower Dee Mill Park.

Latest roadworks update from county council

Latest roadworks update from Denbighshire County Council is: 

LLANDDYN HALL FARM

A539 LLANGOLLEN ROAD

18/10/2024

24/10/2024

Gwaith Dwr / Water Works HAFREN DYFRDWY (DCC)

A539

OUTSIDE PROPERTY KNOWN AS 'GLANRAFON' ON ABBEY ROAD

ABBEY ROAD

23/10/2024

29/10/2024

Gwaith Dwr / Water Works HAFREN DYFRDWY

A539, Ponsonby Arms, Mill Street, Llangollen

MILL STREET

11/11/2024

15/11/2024

Goleuadau traffig i reoli traffig y gwyriad / Traffic

signals to control diverted traffic

A539

O/S PROPERTY KNOWN AS PENRHOS

DINBREN ROAD

30/10/2024

01/11/2024

Gwaith Dwr / Water Works HAFREN

LLANDDYN HALL FARM

A539 LLANGOLLEN ROAD

21/10/2024

24/10/2024

Gwaith Dwr / Water Works HAFREN DYFRDWY

A539

Hill Street, Pengwern, Llangollen, Denbighshire, LL20 8EU

HILL STREET

27/10/2024

27/10/2024

remedial DEFECT TAR (DCC)

OUTSIDE 13

WEST STREET

13/11/2024

14/11/2024

Gwaith Dwr / Water Works HAFREN DYFRDWY (DCC)

Contractors give update on Newbridge Road landslip repairs

Contractors have given an update on repairs to the Newbridge Road landslip which has frequently led to heavy traffic being diverted through Llangollen. 

* For the full story in the Leader, see: Jones Bros provide latest update on works at Newbridge Road | The Leader

New digital resources for primary schools to discover Dee Valley landscape

* Pupils learn about invasive species in an interactive PE lesson. 

Free education resources are now available to support schools in learning about the history of the Dee Valley.

Our Picturesque Landscape is a National Lottery Heritage Funded Project that has been working in the landscape of the Dee Valley and the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and Canal World Heritage Site since 2018.

Over the six years the project has delivered 28 school projects, and engaged over 2,400 pupils with the heritage and environment of this very special place.

As part of the legacy of the project, the Our Picturesque Landscape team have developed an exciting new suite of digital education resources which are free for schools to request from the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley National Landscape.

The new educational resources have been developed by working alongside artists, writers and historians, as well as teachers and pupils from the school sessions delivered by the project team over the years. 

The resources are most suitable for Key Stage 2 learners, and are linked to the Curriculum for Wales framework. 

They will enable young people to discover the heritage of the landscape and stories of the influential characters and events which have shaped the area over the last 400 years. Supporting teachers to confidently lead outdoor learning sessions and opportunities to discover the Dee Valley in a plethora of ways including through the medium of dance, art, creative writing, natural history, science and physical education. 

There are exciting films, virtual reality, a board game to learn about an underappreciated habitat that is rarer than rainforest, and a new Top Trumps game to discover the people that have shaped the area in the past and present.

Any educators or school staff interested in the resources can email our.picturesque.landscape@denbighshire.gov.uk to request digital copies.

Sallyanne Hall, Our Picturesque Landscape Community Engagement Officer, said: “Although the end of the Our Picturesque Landscape project in November will mean that the team are no longer available to go into schools and lead activities we hope that these exciting new resources will support teachers to deliver high quality outdoor learning opportunities themselves and enable pupils to continue to discover the fascinating stories of the Dee Valley in the future."

Councillor Alan James, Denbighshire Cabinet Lead Member for Local Development and Planning, said: “These resources are fantastic for helping pupils learn about the rich history that the Dee Valley has to offer and for keeping the stories of the area alive for generations to come.”

 

 

Early tickets for Llangollen's own Pantomime Group's 2025 show going fast - so be quick!

The first allocation of Early Bird Tickets for Llangollen Pantomime Group 2025 show, Beauty and the Beast, having sold out, they've now released another batch.

But the group says you only have until October 31 to take advantage of the offer.

Hope House Children's Hospices and the Llangollen Parks community group will both benefit from Beauty and the Beast which the group will stage at Llangollen Town Hall from Thursday-Sunday, January 16-19 next year.

Cast and crew are already busy rehearsing for their own version of the classical panto which they promise will be an hilarious fun show with fantastic music and songs.

From its 2024 show, Jack and the Beanstalk, the group was able to donate £1,500 to Nightingale House Hospice and is aiming to make similarly successful donations in January.

A group spokesperson said: "Due to the success of the last panto we are now raising funds for two local charities, Hope House and Llangollen Parks Community Group, who help fundraising to support local parks and outdoor spaces."

* To take advantage of the Early Bird ticket offer for Beauty and the Beast, just scan the QR code in the poster above or book online at: www.ticketsource.co.uk/llangollenpanto/