TWO new classrooms and improved staff facilities are in the pipeline for Ysgol y Ddwylan at Newcastle Emlyn to help combat large class sizes.

Carmarthenshire County Council has secured £2m grant funding from the Welsh Government to reduce infant class sizes for four schools within the county, one being Ysgol Y Ddwylan and plans have been drawn up for the new buildings.

This is due to classes in the school having 29 or more pupils.

The planning application states: “The proposed development is for the construction of two separate single storey extensions and it is anticipated this will facilitate further development and extension of the existing teaching provision, providing a quality learning environment.

“Due to the restrictions on site the two additional classrooms will be in two separate extensions, one off Block 1 and the other in-between two wings of Block 2. The location of the extension off block 2 current compromises of two small conservatories which are used as office and meeting rooms.

“By demolishing these it will allow to develop the facilities and improve provision for the staff in the new building.

“Carmarthenshire County Council propose the construction of two separate single storey extensions to be built on the existing playground. The extensions will provide two additional classrooms enabling the school to reconfigure their current classroom structure to ensure that the class sizes are reduced to below 29 pupils. Also it will provide adequate intervention/office/meeting rooms for the staff to utilise.”

Executive board member for education Cllr Glynog Davies said: “Carmarthenshire has secured a Welsh Government Grant of £2million to build two additional classrooms to deliver the Foundation Phase in four primary schools within the county, Y Ddwylan being one of the schools.

"The additional accommodation will provide more space for the schools to 'breathe' in terms of the capacity and allow them to re-organise activity, classroom and resource space in the Foundation Phase. The project is in its infancy, currently in the planning stage and is due to be completed in 2021.”