An Ammanford primary school is to be monitored by inspectors after it was revealed that less than half of it’s Foundation Phase pupils are meeting the Welsh language requirements.

Ysgol Gymraeg Rhydaman’s recent Estyn inspection labelled the Welsh-medium school’s current performance as “adequate” and concluded that prospects for improvement were also “adequate”.

The report appeared online last week, following an inspection which took place in June.

In its summary, the report stated that “pupils’ ability to work independently and make choices in relation to their work has not been developed robustly enough” and that pupils “do not always make the best possible progress from their starting points, particularly those who are more able”.

The report also slams the school’s overuse of worksheets and “unnecessary” re-drafting of activities which limits pupils’ to achieve to the best of their ability and to develop as independent learners.

While care, structure and guidance and wellbeing were deemed as good, the improving quality section of the report was classed as unsatisfactory.

Adequate is the last but one judgement on a four-point scale used by inspectors.

The commentary on the performance data results states that in 2016 only 48 per cent of pupils in the Foundation Phase achieved the expected outcome in Welsh language, literacy and communication skills - 11 per cent less last year.

The statistics also highlighted that just 51 per cent of pupils’ in the Foundation Phase reached the expected outcome in mathematical development.

The report states that the self-evaluation report provided by the governing body “is not detailed enough” and that “leaders do not use the information effectively enough to feed into reports to show that they know the school rigorously enough”.

Adding: “The school’s self-evaluation report includes many statements of excellence without providing any basis for the evaluations and do not provide a clear picture of pupils’ achievements nor whether provision and teaching are effective enough to meet the needs of the pupils’ abilities.”

Inspectors have put together a series of recommendations in which the school can improve.

The list includes ensuring the accuracy of assessments of pupils’ work, strengthening the strategic role of all leaders in order to improve the quality of self-evaluation processes and the accuracy of reports to identify all strengths and areas for improvement.

The school has now been asked to produce an action plan to show how it will address the recommendations and Estyn will then review the school’s progress.

County Councillor and  school governor Deian Harries said: “The Estyn result is very disappointing for the school, after the glowing reports it has achieved over the years.

“When the school restarts in September, the governing body will need to work closely with the staff to ensure that the school returns quickly to the standards we expect.”

The Estyn report is availale here