Lessons in money at Llwynhendy school

Pupils at Ysgol Bryn Teg in Llwynhendy, Llanelli, have been taught not to have more money than sense.
And other schools are being urged to give their pupils the chance to learn the same lesson.
A new financial literacy initiative, Synnwyr Arian, Money Sense, was taken to the school by Carmarthenshire County Council’s Trading Standards Service.
The programme consists of a series of six one-hour lessons aimed at years five and six pupils who are sequentially taken through the "concept of money".
Pupils are initially taught about the actual source of money, focussing upon different forms of employment, and payslips etc.
Further sessions focus upon budgeting, the different methods of borrowing money, and the associated risks, finally finishing with information on consumers’ rights when purchasing faulty goods or services and how to get ‘value for money’.
Fair Trading Officer Heidi Neil said: “The third lesson introduces pupils to concepts including income, outgoings, debt, and balancing money. It also demonstrates how difficult it can be to balance your money.
“Pupils are given a range of income amounts and outgoing amounts, which they have to allocate to different months. The challenge is to avoid going into debt in any one month and to break even at the end of the third month.”
Comments from pupils who have done the course include: ‘I have learned that you can’t keep all the money you earn. And always level it out because the world isn’t cheap at all,’ ‘I have learned to balance money and not to waste it,’ and ‘I will make a money chart to keep track of my money’.
Ysgol Bryn Teg year six class teacher Richard Knight said: “The Synnwyr Arian - Money Sense programme has been hugely successful at Ysgol Bryn Teg.
“It has provided the pupils with an invaluable insight into the importance of financial planning in an informative but enjoyable way; one parent even noted that their child has learnt to value money more.”
The programme has recently been completed at Ysgol Brynteg and is currently being taught in the Welsh language at Ysgol Teilo Sant, Llandeilo, following a good response from teachers and pupils to the pilot last spring in Five Roads Primary School.
Executive board member for housing and public protection Cllr Pam Palmer said: “It is an excellent scheme. It teaches children how to handle money and will also help to improve their saving habits later in life.”
For further information contact Jan Cole or Heidi Neil on 01554 742249.

Carmarthenshire County Council Trading Standards Service officer Heidi Neil providing financial literacy advice to pupils at Ysgol Bryn Teg as part of the Synnwyr Arian Money Sense scheme.
Pic Jeff Connell

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