15th July 2026  

Dear Parents   

  

It is hard to believe that the school year is almost to an end with Friday 17th of July our last day. It feels like only last week we started the school year! Here is some information for you about the upcoming school year.    

  

The classes that we formed last year, moving away from the traditional year groups, will continue as we found the structure has supported our pupils’ learning and development and allowed our teachers to tailor teaching more effectively to developmental stages and learning needs, whilst also fostering a nurturing and collaborative environment.  In keeping with our Catholic identify and values, we will continue to use the acronym C.H.R.I.S.T., for our class names, reflecting our commitment to Christ-centred education and community.  The classes will be led by the following teachers:  

  

• C  Mrs Imogen Smith    (Nursery and Reception)  
• H  Mrs Lisa Penn-Dalling   (Y1 and Y2)  
• R  Mr Christopher Williams  (Y3)  
• I   Mrs Victoria Upton    (Y4)  
• S  Mr Rhys Gill      (Y5)  
• T  Mrs Rhianon Evans     (Y6)  (nee Miss Healy)   

  

As you can see from the staffing list, we will sadly be saying goodbye to Miss Nicole Clark who will be joining the Additional Learning Department at the City and County of Swansea. Miss Clark for this year, has been the teacher of Dosbarth C, after spending the previous year teaching in the Year 5 class. We wish Miss Clark every success in her new career and new chapter of her life.   

  

From September, we welcome, Mrs Imogen Smith, who joins us from Ysgol Llandeilo. She will be teaching Dosbarth C - Nursery and Reception. We extend Mrs Smith a very warm welcome to our school.   

  

Before we close on Friday, there are several items of lost clothing and water bottles left at school. Please check in with your class teachers for any items that may belong to your child.   

  

For September: Uniform is to be worn by all pupils from Nursery to Year 6.  Before you buy anything, please pop in to Reception as we have a range of uniform at school that has been donated or left in lost and found over the past few years (all have been washed). In addition, our PE t-shirt is changing for September, it is available on Picton Sports and is a royal blue sports fabric crew neck t-shirt with St Mary’s on the back 

https://www.pictonsports.co.uk/?estore&cat=Education|Primary%20Schools|St%20Marys%20Primary%2 

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In addition, children who are joining Y6 in September can purchase and wear their Leavers Hoodies from the very start of the school year (also available on Picton – Leavers 2027).  

 

For pupils in the Junior department (Dosbarth R,I,S and T), pencil cases are required daily. They should include black pens, pencil, rubber, sharpener and a small ruler. Pencil cases can stay at school but will need to be refilled by parents throughout the year as items are used up.   

  

Water bottles are required daily and can be refilled at the water fountain. Please write your child’s name on them.  We have recently sourced St Mary’s branded water bottles which are on sale at school. They are £5. If you’d like to buy one, please send in £5 cash with your child to the school office.   

  

School starts at 9:10am when class teachers take the register. If you arrive after this time, your child will be marked in as late. If you arrive after the gates have been locked, please bring your child to the main Reception via the electronic entrance gate to sign them in.  A child who is 10minutes late per day, misses 32.5hours of education in a school year. We ask you to arrive early to school to minimise the disruption to their learning and the learning of those who are already in class. Persistent lateness may result in a referral to the Education Welfare Department.    

  

Attendance is compulsory at school for pupils over the age of 5. To maximise progress with learning, we expect our pupils to attend school regularly and for at least 95% of the year. This percentage is in line with the Welsh Government target figure for learners. Pupil absences are carefully monitored by the local authority. If you child is absent, the procedure that all parents are to follow is to phone school on 01554759178 or email admin@stmarysllanelli.ysgolccc.cymru to advise the reason on the first day of any absence. If no contact is received regarding a pupil absence, parents will receive a text or an email alerting them to the absence and request that parents contact the school to explain the absence. Any unexplained absences will be recorded as ‘unauthorised’. Medical and dental appointments should, as far as possible, be arranged out of school hours. Permission to take pupils on holiday during term time must be requested in writing from the Headteacher and will only be authorised if overall attendance is very good.    

  

After school clubs will not be available until week the 14th of September. Further information regarding the new clubs will be issued during the first week back.    

  

For the new Y6 class – just a reminder that the full payment for the residential trip in October, is due by the 4th of September.   

  

As we come to the end of another successful school year, I would like to express my heartfelt thanks for your continued support, encouragement and partnership. The achievements of our children are made possible through the strong relationship between home and school, and we are truly grateful for the trust you place in us each day. On behalf of all the staff, thank you for being such an important part of our school community. I wish you and your families a happy, restful and enjoyable summer break, and we look forward to welcoming everyone back in the new academic year on the 2nd of September.  

  

Yours Sincerely  

  

Mrs Alison Howells  

Headteacher