With trees around Hay-on-Wye CP School glowing with autumn colours and the reception class baking hedgehog bread rolls, Friday, October 17 was the perfect day for harvest festivals held in the school hall.

As Cymraeg is a priority on the School Development Plan this year, each class either sang or recited in Welsh, and the whole school joined together to sing harvest songs in Cymraeg. Both the morning and afternoon services ended with a new whole-school song of thanks in Cymraeg with Makaton.

The school has praised the wonderful PTFhAy (Friends of the School) which welcomed parents before both services with warming mugs of tea, coffee and homemade cakes. They explained how generous donations and funds raised are being used to enrich pupils’ learning experiences.

This year, the PTFhAy are again providing financial support to help deliver weekly drama lessons for Years 3–6, taught by experienced drama teacher Mrs Helen East. They are also supporting the school’s venture to develop and upskill staff in outdoor learning - another key priority on the School Development Plan this year.

As parents, friends and governors arrived at the hall, they kindly donated much-needed items for Brecon Food Bank, placing them in a straw-lined wheelbarrow. The school is very pleased that the school council chose to support this worthwhile local charity again this year.

As ever, the pupils performed with passion and enthusiasm, while the Year 6 narrators led the bilingual services with natural confidence and fluency.

A spokesperson for the school told the Brecon & Radnor Express: “Diolch to all staff for working with the pupils for ensuring heartwarming performances and to all who came to enjoy some time with us.”

“The whole school team would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a happy half term break,” they added.