More Able and Talented (MAT) Provision at Llangan

In Wales, the term more able and talented (MAT) refers to around 20% of pupils who require enriched and extended opportunities to develop their abilities or talents in one or more areas. At Llangan Primary School, we are committed to recognising and nurturing these abilities so that every child is challenged, inspired, and supported to reach their full potential.

What do we mean by More Able and Talented?

MAT learners include:

• Pupils who are capable of achieving above the expected level across the curriculum.

• Pupils who demonstrate particular strengths or talents in specific areas, such as music, drama, art, or sport.

• Learners who show advanced academic, practical, creative, or artistic abilities for their age and stage.

How are MAT learners identified?

At Llangan, MAT learners are identified through:

• Teacher assessment and classroom observations.

• Standardised test data and school tracking systems.

• Consultation with pupils and their families.

A list of identified MAT pupils is updated annually by the school ALNCo and shared with all staff to ensure progress is carefully monitored and opportunities are tailored to individual needs.

Our Approach

The Welsh Government guidance A Curriculum for All Learners reminds us that:

“The best provision for more able and talented learners is made by extending that which is available to all learners.”

With this in mind, we enrich and extend opportunities for MAT learners in the following ways:

• Challenging teaching and learning: Differentiated planning, challenge task boxes, and use of levelling placemats in core subjects.

• Celebrating talents: Talent logs are kept by all teachers to record and celebrate achievements both in and outside school.

• Extended learning: Home learning projects encourage pupils to research, create, and present work beyond classroom expectations.

• Leadership opportunities: MAT pupils are encouraged to lead whole-school projects, developing confidence and responsibility.

• Thinking skills: Higher-order questioning, class debates, and Philosophy for Children approaches build critical and creative thinking, underpinned by our Growth Mindset ethos.

• Digital learning: Technology is used to support independent research, extension tasks, and the development of key skills.

• Enrichment activities: A wide range of extra-curricular clubs, including those specifically for MAT pupils, provide opportunities beyond the classroom.

Working in Partnership with NACE

We are proud to be working with NACE (National Association for Able Children in Education) to further develop our MAT provision. Through this partnership, we are strengthening our strategies, embedding best practice, and ensuring our provision is benchmarked against national standards so that our most able learners thrive.

Working Together

We work closely with families to ensure that MAT learners are supported both in school and at home. Together, we celebrate achievements and plan the next steps in each child’s learning journey.

For further detail, please see our More Able and Talented Policy