Pupils from Llangan Primary School have been educated about the importance of looking after themselves as the school hosted its ‘Wellbeing Week’.
All 124 pupils were treated to a week-long calendar of activities designed to open their minds to the importance of both physical and mental wellbeing. As part of the activities, its community partner Tarmac hosted ‘Wellbeing Wednesday’, which allowed all pupils to take part in events situated in the school’s outdoor learning space. They included a sensory walk, seed planting, making dream-catchers and story-telling.
Four volunteers from Tarmac’s Aberthaw plant spent the day working with pupils through a range of activities designed to take them away from the classroom environment.
Sue Stevens, outdoor learning co-ordinator at Llangan Primary School, said:
“Wellbeing is so important to our pupils and Tarmac has a history of working with us to develop our outdoor learning space and, so, it seems like the perfect match to host ‘Wellbeing Wednesday’.
“Our pupils, from nursery through to year six, spent time in the garden carrying out a range of activities working alongside colleagues from Tarmac and the response was fantastic. We are incredibly lucky to have such a fantastic outdoor learning space and through Tarmac’s support we are continuing to develop this to its full potential.”
Tarmac has a history of partnering with Llangan Primary which involves employees from the company’s Aberthaw plant volunteering at the school and working with pupils and staff to enhance both the facilities and learning opportunities. Last summer the company donated a shed and worked to carry out further improvements to the eco-garden, including building raised beds and cutting back vegetation.
The events on ‘Wellbeing Wednesday’ saw pupils finish painting the blue circle raised bed, which has been built in recognition of Tarmac’s continued support.
Sue added:
“We are so grateful for the continued support provided to us by Tarmac and the children get such a huge amount from it. Outdoor learning is synonymous with wellbeing and we hope that the summer months will allow all pupils to benefit further.”
Kara Bennett, Tarmac Aberthaw’s environmental co-ordinator was one of the volunteers and said:
“We were delighted to put on ‘Wellbeing Wednesday’ and it was great to spend time with pupils at Llangan to hear first-hand of the benefits they get from having such a well-developed outdoor learning space.”
Other events during the week included tai-chi and yoga sessions, visits from dentists and nurses, as well as classroom activities designed to get pupils to recognise improvements they can make to their wellbeing.
Aberthaw Cement Plant is the only cement works in south Wales. Cement made at Aberthaw has contributed to some of Wales’ most significant construction projects of recent time, including Pembroke Power Station, The Millennium Centre and home of the Welsh Government – The Senedd, both in Cardiff Bay.