It’s just before 9am and taxis are lined up outside The Court School. One door opens at a time and as the children step out each receives a personal welcome and walks in with a member of staff.
This is the way every morning starts for children at the Cardiff special school in Llanishen catering for primary aged pupils who couldn’t cope in mainstream. The boys (there are no girls at The Court School, but more of that later), walk in to a chorus of “hello mates” “good mornings” and “how are yous?” from staff.
It’s civilised, polite, calm and safe - only when all are inside do the taxis pull away one by one. The morning ritual is important to help children feel welcomed, seen and safe, says headteacher Jamyn Beesley. Join our WhatsApp news community here for the latest breaking news.
Jamyn, who arrived at the school more than 20 years ago as a newly qualified teacher describes his job as "a calling". Many of his pupils have been kicked out of other schools and some had been out of school for months before arriving.
Jamyn says many of the children had “negative experiences” at previous schools and some have hard home lives. Seeing each as they arrive gives staff an immediate sense of whether any are having a bad day and what mood they’re in so that they can respond.
Jamyn says he and his staff must meet the complex emotional, social and sensory needs of their pupils. It’s only by being hyper vigilant and aware that they can do this and it wouldn’t take much misunderstanding to erode the calm. For the latest Welsh news delivered to your inbox sign up to our newsletter
Sitting in his bright office, full of games and toys for any child who comes in, Jamyn doesn't want to criticise mainstream schools but says: "The children that come to us have had a very poor experience of school. School was a very anxious experience for them.
“It’s about relationships, relationships, relationships here. We are a trauma informed provision, have all done the training and are over subscribed."
He says the complexity of pupils coming through has changed in the last few years and trauma means different things to different people. Some of the boys in his care have suffered "serious neglect" or experiences at their last school felt "traumatic".
The staff at The Court School know they must build relationships with families and all have Jamyn's telephone number so that any issues can be dealt with as they arise. There are meetings with parents and carers and there's an in-house psychotherapist two days a week who works with the children, families and staff.
Jamyn cannot reveal details of individual children's home lives, but he says some have had a very hard time. He said: "It’s an all consuming job and we hear and see things that really affect us, so there’s a strong focus on staff wellbeing too.
"The children coming through used to be more street wise, now it’s a lot with ADHD, ASD, mental health issues and sensory needs. I think we are better at understanding what trauma does to children and the need to be playful and empathetic and build relationships - we have moved from chances and consequences to something more empathetic.
"We create the emphasis on reducing anxiety and playing and then education. Pupils need to be regulated before they can learn. We care here to keep everyone calm and feeling good about themselves.
"We look at what’s caused theis behaviour and what does this child need? It could be food, drink or a need to chat or move. There is a difficulty in mainstream with 30 in a class and high levels of need - that model does not work for all children. A lot of children here had a lot of negativity in their previous schools."
Jan Harries, the longest serving member of staff, has been at The Court School for 35 years and says she loves it. "The pupils and staff are lovely here. You feel you are doing good, there are tough days, but it is rewarding," she said.
“When I started here 35 years ago the kids needed help with clothing and cleanliness, now there are more specialist needs like autism. Since Covid the baseline children arrive with is also lower. We have children in year three (aged eight) who can’t hold a pen and need help playing and sharing and with social skills.
"I think we are more knowledgable and trained than we were when I started. It is challenging but rewarding and the school is a community.
Jamyn stresses that although this is a school where children who have been excluded from other schools come that's "not the end of their story".
Although there is "no magic pill" there are six small classes of no more than seven or eight children, and some learn one to one, meaning there is more individual attention.
"A lot of pupils have difficult home environments and a lot are not ready to sit down and learn in the morning," explains Jamyn, "some may just play and talk together until they are feeling they can work."
Ten year-old Ryan, who is in year six, enjoys playing the guitar and asked what he likes about the school says simply: "I just like school” - although that was not always the case and is a huge achievement.
Alfie, who is nearly 11, has been at The Court for five years after being unable to get on in his last school. He's keen to chat, cheerful and happy to have his photos taken.
Asked about school he says: "I like football and maths. I am good at maths. This is a good school. There’s nothing I don’t like about school. I have loads of teachers, but the food is not that good so I bring a packed lunch."
Alfie and Ryan will both be heading on to secondary next year, with most pupils going to Greenhill special secondary, and some go to mainstream. Changing schools, they will be taught with girls - it's not by design but for now there are only boys at The Court.
This will change when the 70 year-old school gets two new purpose built sites and is re-named Ysgol Cynefin - a project scheduled to open in 2027 with spaces for 72 pupils - 36 on each site . Current staff have been involved in the design and as well as boys and girls there will be lots of outdoor and safe spaces at the sites in Fairwater and Llanrumney.
The £23m project is being delivered under Cardiff Council and Welsh Government's Sustainable Communities for Learning Rolling Programme. One site will be built on land to the south of Fairwater Primary School on Wellwright Road,the other will be south of Pen Y Bryn Primary School at Dunster Road in Llanrumney - this will use land at the current St Mellons Church in Wales Primary, following its relocation to new build accommodation located at the St Edeyrns development.
Jamyn will be head for both sites and is determined that the new schools will follow the same ethos. The council should see no reason to change that as The Court has just had a glowing report from education inspectorate, Estyn.
Inspectors recently praised the school for its nurturing and inclusive learning environment. Staff were commended for their dedication and commitment to wellbeing.
Parents Laura Talbot-Boyd and Tanya Griffiths, who both have boys in year six about to leave The Court, say their children have done well here after bad experiences in mainstream. Both are a bit worried about what comes next at secondary.
Laura's son Louis came to The Court not long after his dad Anthony Price died from a heart atack aged just 31 while out fishing during the pandemic. The death hit the whole family hard, says Laura..
“Louis was eight when he came here from maintsream. His old school couldn’t cater for his needs. He was destructive and couldn’t learn. Here he is in a safe space and has learned.
"When he came here from mainstream aged eight he could not read and write, but he can now. We had lts of trauma in out family and issues with school before.
"There is a calm down room here and Louis realised he’s not on his own. I used to have to force him to go to school, but I don't know and he’s still behind. But not as much."
Tanya says 10 year-old Archie was doing "fine" at mainstream before schools shut in the pandemic in 2020. After that he didn't want to go back.
"Archie was in mainstream and then Covid happened and it was really difficult for him to go back He went in until 10.30am on reduced timetable. Here he comes in for three and a half hours a day and likes reading and football. The teachers here are very good at communicating. "
Both mothers are worried that the move to high school will disrupt their children again, but Jamyn reassures them that whatever school is recommended for them will be the right choice. It's clear they trust his judgement after seeing their boys do better at his school.
And they agree that the morning welcome is a good way to start the day. Who, after all, would want to go to a workplace where no one wished you good morning?
The mad rush of the start of the day at most mainstream schools is a negative experience for many, says Jamyn as his teachers and other staff line up on a chilly December morning to greet their pupils.
“That start to the day is really important. You can tell straight away if a child isn’t happy. You’ve got to get it right." he says as he heads off for another busy day."
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