Keep up to date with all the latest news happening in school at the moment.
Dear Parent/Carer
We have today sent out by e-mail to all parents our end of term March 2021 Newsletter. This can also be accessed by clicking on the "News & Events" tab and then by further clicking on our "Newsletters" tab.
Wishing everyone a lovely Easter
Kind regards
MR S K GARDNER
Dear Parent/Carer
Red Nose Day is back on Friday the 19th March 2021 and the excitement is building. We have so much to share with you, including loads of fun ideas to get involved with us here at our school.
This Friday, to celebrate the event pupils can wear wacky clothes and/or hair for the day. Pupils can be wacky by mismatching clothes, colours - anything really with a little bit of madness!
Please could any donations be made on line via the official website as no money can be brought into school.
Thank you
Dear Parent/Carer
Following a number of concerns from Parents on Friday regarding the application process/result of applications made to secure a place in Breakfast Club after the Easter break, we e-mailed Catering Services to make further enquiries and address the concerns raised,
We have this morning, received a reply to our e-mail and Catering Services have informed us that they have been advised by the RCT web team that a problem arose when a large number of parents were trying to submit their applications at exactly the same time. In addition, they are aware that some parents have received duplicate emails. If an email has been received stating the application was successful, the child’s place has been secured and all other emails can be ignored.
At the moment, Catering Services are now working through reserve lists and will be in touch with parents/carers to confirm places if they become available via the on-line process.
They have also informed us that unfortunately, the current legislative framework does not allow Catering Services to prioritise key workers or vulnerable learners. The Breakfast Club provision was established to provide children with the opportunity of having a healthy breakfast before school and as a consequence provides open access to all pupils. Catering Services are unable to prioritise pupils on the basis of their individual needs or parents/carers’ work status
They have also advised us that should parents wish to make a complaint to e-mail them directly at schoolplanning@rctcbc.gov.uk.
Unfortunately, we have no control over who is granted or refused a place as this decisions are not made by the school but by Catering Services and in addition, we have not control or input into the application process.
As you know we are always willing to help parents if we can but unfortunately, are not able to assist parents with regard to Breakfast Club at this time.
Kind regards
MR S K GARDNER
Headteacher
11th March 2021
Dear Parents/Carers,
I hope that you are all well and keeping safe.
Car Park
With KS2 returning to school, we will have a greater capacity of pupils and parents on the school premises. I would ask that parents do not use the school car park for dropping their children off at school. The car park is purely for staff to park their vehicle in order to start work. Already, having limited space the added congestion of parental vehicles is preventing staff from doing this.
We would also ask that parents do not park outside of the school gates, as this too hinders staff/parents from accessing the school site.
The school car park cannot be used by parents. As we are only using one gate due to Covid19, it means that pupils and parents can only enter and exit via School Street. Under Health and Safety, we ask that driving vehicles onto the site is refrained from.
Breakfast Club
Breakfast club will be between 8.30am and 8.45am. Pupils are asked to walk around the one way system to their classroom doors. Please do not enter the school before 8.25am. Parents and pupils will not be able to gain access to the school until this time as the gates will be locked and opened at 8.25am.
Thank you for your continued support in these matters.
Kind regards,
S Gardner (Headteacher)
Dear Parents/Carer
As you will recall, Friday 26th March was designated as a training day but we would now like to postpone this training day to further in the year.
As a staff, we feel that as your children have been off for such a long period, now is not the time to further disrupt their education. We want to get the children back into a routine.
In the circumstances, Friday 26th March, we will be open as normal for all children
This message has also been sent to all parents/carers via Parentmail and text message this morning.
Thank you for your understanding at this difficult time.
Kind regards
MR S.K. GARDNER
Dear Parent/Carer
We have been asked by RCT to inform all parents that if your child requires a place in the summer term breakfast club (12th April – 20th July) you must complete an application form using the following link https://www.rctcbc.gov.uk/breakfastclubform.
The form will be available for completion from 7am, on Friday 12th March to 5pm until Friday 19th March.
The number of places due to Covid restrictions will be limited to ensure that social distancing and effective hygiene and preventative measures can be maintained.
Places will be prioritised based on the time of application and you will be notified by RCT at the end of the application if you are successful or unsuccessful.
Unsuccessful applicants will be placed on a reserve list and non-attendance will result in places being reallocated. Please note that in light of the current legislation in relation to breakfast clubs, prioritisation cannot be given to specific groups (e.g. previously unsuccessful applicants, vulnerable groups or key workers) as this provision is intended to provide a healthy breakfast to all learners.
If your child requires a place in the summer term breakfast club (12th April – 20th July) please complete an application form using the following link https://www.rctcbc.gov.uk/breakfastclubform.
The form will be available for completion from 7am, Friday 12th March to 5pm, Friday 19th March. The number of places due to Covid restrictions will be limited to ensure that social distancing and effective hygiene and preventative measures can be maintained. Places will be prioritised based on the time of application and you will be notified at the end of the application if you are successful or unsuccessful. Unsuccessful applicants will be placed on a reserve list and non-attendance will result in places being reallocated. Please note that in light of the current legislation in relation to breakfast clubs, prioritisation cannot be given to specific groups (e.g. previously unsuccessful applicants, vulnerable groups or key workers) as this provision is intended to provide a healthy breakfast to all learners. As places are restricted, please only apply if your child requires access to a free, healthy breakfast before the start of the school
The breakfast club summer term information will also be shared via the RCT website and social media channels.
As places are restricted, please only apply if your child requires access to a free, healthy breakfast before the start of the school day.
The breakfast club summer term information will also be shared via the RCT website and social media channels.
Dear Parent/Carer
We have today received an e-mail from the Director of Education asking us to distribute a letter that they have received from Public Health Wales regarding measures to take to control the spread of the Virus on the childrens return to school
The letter contains important information regarding what parents and carers can do to control the spread of the virus and ensure a successful return to the school setting.
We have also sent this letter to all parents by way of e-mail this morning via Parentmail.
The letter can be accessed in the usual way by clicking on the "News & Events" tab and then by clicking on the "Newsletters" tab.
MR S K GARDNER
Dear Parent/Carer
We have today sent out by e-mail and by way of Class Dojo to all parents our March 2021 Newsletter. This can also be accessed by clicking on the "News & Events" tab and then by further clicking on our "Newsletters" tab.
Looking forward to seeing our Key Stage 2 children (Year 3-6) again when they return on 15th February 2021.
Kind regards
MR S K GARDNER
3rd March 2021
Dear Parent/Carer,
As you will be aware the Education Minister confirmed on 5 February 2021 that foundation phase learners should return to school from 22 February.
All learners in the foundation phase have now successfully returned to our schools in Rhondda Cynon Taf. As the number of coronavirus cases in our communities has continued to fall new plans have been announced by our Education Minister today.
From the 15 March primary, secondary, all-through schools, special schools and PRUs will provide onsite education provision for:
• All primary aged learners
• Vulnerable learners
• Critical worker’s children
• Learners undertaking essential exams or assessments
• Learners in Years 11 and 13.
Flexibility will also be offered to secondary schools, all-through schools and PRUs to provide access to the onsite education provision for other learners, including those in Years 10 and 12, who may also have been entered for qualifications this summer. In addition to this, arrangements will also be made to enable learners from Years 7, 8 and 9 to attend schools for face-to-face check-ins prior to the Easter break where at all possible. The opportunity to check-in will be focused on support for wellbeing and readiness for return to school after Easter.
It is anticipated that there will be a full return of learners to school following the Easter break and these plans will be informed by the most current medical advice available, at this time. Schools will have a degree of flexibility to develop a plan for the phased return of learners back into schools, and they will be in contact with you shortly to confirm arrangements for your child’s setting. Their plans will be guided by the school facilities, the sizes of year groups and their detailed risk assessments. However, the following arrangements will apply to all schools in Rhondda Cynon Taf:
• All foundation phase learners will continue to attend school throughout the phased introduction of new year groups back in to school.
• Arrangements for the phased return of learners in key stage 2, and Years 11 and 13 will commence on the 15 March 2021.
• Learners in Years 7, 8 and 9 will have accessed at least one check-in on school premises prior to the Easter break, where at all possible
• Vulnerable learners and the children of critical workers will continue to access face to face education in school until their year group has returned to school.
• Remote learning will continue to be provided for self-isolating learners and those year groups not accessing face to face learning in school.
At secondary level, significant focus will be placed on ensuring appropriate assessment of learners in Years 11 and 13 for qualification purposes. Remote learning will continue for those learners and year groups not engaged in face to face learning, with an acknowledgment that this poses specific challenges as face to face learning in school increases. Remote learning will also continue for self-isolating learners that are unable to attend school due to shielding, close contact with a confirmed case or a Covid diagnosis.
From the 15 March 2021, the number of places for Breakfast Club will continue to be limited to ensure that social distancing and effective hygiene and preventative measures can be maintained. Therefore, the parents/children that have previously successfully applied and secured a placement for breakfast club in December 2020 will be able to access this provision. A new application process will commence on 12 March 2021 for summer term breakfast club provision from (12 April 2021–20 July 2021). Further information will follow in due course.
All Covid risk assessments will be updated by our school leaders to reflect current Welsh Government and local authority guidance on the phased return of learners to school. All staff have the option of participating in twice weekly lateral flow tests to keep everyone in the school community safe. There will be an opportunity for young people in Year 10 and above to also undertake twice weekly lateral flow testing in the home context. Further information and detailed guidance on this will follow as soon as this is made available by Welsh Government.
Staggered start and finish times will be maximised and schools will continue to have robust plans and a range of measures in place to mitigate any identified risks in a school setting. All secondary school aged learners will continue to require a face covering for use in school where social distancing cannot be maintained (including within the classroom).
I am sure that you are all delighted that your children are returning to school after many months of significant restrictions. These restrictions remain of course, and your continued support in adhering to these in our communities is hugely appreciated.
Many thanks for continuing to support you child with their learning.
With best wishes.
Gaynor Davies
Director of Education and Inclusion Services