The Dinosaur School Programme in Gwynedd schools

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The Dinosaur School Programme in Gwynedd schools
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Gwynedd Education Authority recognised the need
to

• Establish a project steering group.
• Train teachers in the necessary skills to deliver
  the programme.
• Train other school staff in the key principles of
  labelled praise, proximal praise, praise for
  friendly behaviours.
• Equip teachers with resources to deliver
  programme.
• Provide ongoing supervision and support for
  teachers.
• Ensure support for schools that are delivering
  the programme.

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Funding

• First 3 years funded by National Assembly of
  Wales
• funding then transferred to the responsibility of
  the Local Education Authority.
• Funding included the secondment of the
  headteacher (Rhiain Gwyn) who first introduced
  the programme at Ysgol Coedmawr.
• 2002/03 further teachers trained in 9 schools
  programmes running for both reception and year
  one classes.
• July 2008 Gwynedd LEA achieved its goal to
  deliver Dinosaur Schools as a three year
  programme for reception, year one and year 2, in
  all 106 primary schools.
• Project cost over 3 years
• 2005/2006 95,000
• 2006/2007 91,000
• 2007/2008 107,000

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Conclusion

• Evaluation by Bangor University of the
  effectiveness of this programme provided evidence
  of improvements in child behaviours and
  demonstrated that, with the commitment of
  teachers and other school staff, it has the
  potential to change the culture within the
  school.
• The programme has worked well because Gwynedd
  have done what is required to implement it in an
  evidence based way.
• Funding has been used to provide further
  training, to translate materials into Welsh, and
  second Rhiain Gwyn (the headteacher from the
  first school) to support and supervise the staff
  for every school joining the scheme.
• The plan has evolved with the inclusion of the
  teacher classroom and parenting programmes.