Latest News
Keep up to date with all the latest news happening in school and our community at the moment.
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Process map for confirmed cases
Mon 28 Sep 2020 -
Letter to Parents re self-isolation
Mon 28 Sep 2020Please see letter from Director of Education and Inclusion services -
Covid-19 Related Pupil Absence - A Quick Reference Guide for Parents
Mon 28 Sep 2020Please below information from RCT -
Schools and COVID-19 – Public Health Wales - Information for Parents
Thu 17 Sep 2020We have been asked by RCT to send out the information below on behalf of Public Health Wales. -
Quick reference guide for parents on Covid 19 related pupil absences
Wed 16 Sep 2020Please see below a quick reference guide to help you decide the correct course of action with regards to Covid 19 symptoms, testing and isolation.
For more information please refer to either gov.wales or Public Health Wales websites.
Stay safe
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Dates for the year
Tue 15 Sep 2020Due to the current situation we are unable to plan any events for the school year, however there are still a few dates for your diary. Please see below RCT's school term dates.
The school allocated INSET days are as follows:
INSET DAYS
Thursday 8th October 2020
Friday 9th October 2020
Monday 4th January 2021
Friday 26th March 2021
The only other date for your diary at the moment is:
NASAL FLU - whole school
Wednesday 7th October 2020
** ALL DATES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE **
Stay safe
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RCT information - Getting back to school and the school run
Thu 10 Sep 2020Rhondda Cynon Taf have asked us to pass on the following tips to help keep your children safe and free from Coronavirus whilst getting back to school and undertaking the school run.
Primary Schools
Getting back to school and the school run
To keep your children safe and free from Coronavirus, schools have been making some important changes. Families can also play a part in keeping everyone safe.
Here are some tips on how to stay safe whilst at school.
Getting to and from school
- If children are able walk or cycle to school, this is a great option.
- If travelling by car, to avoid crowding at the school gates, park further away from the school and then walk. This also helps you to stay active.
- If you transport children outside of your extended household (children under 11 only), make sure:
- everyone washes or sanitises their hands before getting in the car
- windows are kept open
- only the same group of children travel in your car.
- If you use public transport, parents and children need to wash or sanitise their hands before and after travel. Try to keep at least 2 metres apart from other passengers. Parents and children over the age of 11 also need to wear a three-layer face covering.
At the school gate
- Keep your 2 metre distance from others who are dropping off and try not to stay too long in the playground. This will help to reduce queues and allow other parents to drop off their children safely.
- Don’t arrive at school too early to pick up and don’t stay too long in the playground.
In school
- Talk to your child about handwashing including how to wash their hands thoroughly with warm water and soap (for at least 20 seconds) and explain they will need to wash their hands regularly throughout the day.
Staying away from school
- Do not attend school and self-isolate if you or your child:
- have any symptoms of Coronavirus (self-isolate for 10 days)
- live in a household with a person who has tested positive for Coronavirus (self-isolate for 14 days)
- have been contacted by a contact tracer and told that you must self-isolate (self-isolate for 14 days)
- Arrange a test for anyone who has any of the following symptoms by going to www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test or dialling the free number 119:
- new continuous cough
- high temperature (above 37.8ºC)
- reduced taste or smell (anosmia)
- If your child has symptoms and you are waiting for their test results they must not attend schooland must self-isolate.
- If your child is a contact of a case, they must self-isolate for the full 14 days even if they have a negative test result.
Thank you – If we all do our bit to stop the spread of coronavirus, the sooner we can all get back to normal.
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Pick up arrangements
Tue 08 Sep 2020Pick up arrangements
We would like to thank all parents and carers who have been working with us to follow the COVID-19 pick up arrangements. We appreciate that this is a confusing time for everyone as we learn new routines and tweak processes. Therefore, we would like to reiterate the new pick up arrangements.
Infants
The main gates (Palalwyf Avenue) will be open from 3pm for children from Reception, Year 1 and Year 2. The one way system and 'pick up & go' is still in operation and parents / carers are to maintain social distancing whilst making their way around the building. Please continue around the building following the yellow arrows and other signage to exit the premises.
Siblings
If you need to then pick up in the Juniors, you can make your way from the Infants building across the yard past the fort and out to the staff car park, exiting the premises through the double drive in gates. You will then be able to gain access to the Junior one way system through the pedestrian gate (see below).
Juniors
The Maes y Felin pedestrian gate (by the Library) will be open from 3.20pm for children from Year 3, Year 4, Year 5 and Year 6. The one way system and 'pick & go' is still in operation and parents / carers are to maintain social distancing whilst making their way around the building. Please queue, using the arrows as a social distancing guide, while we bring all children out onto the yard for the end of the school day at 3.20pm. Once all the pupils are on the yard, you will be directed to approach your child's class line and your child's class teacher will call your child forward for you. Please then continue around the building following the yellow arrows and other signage back through the staff car park to exit the premises again, via the double drive through gates.
Many thanks
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Arrangements for w/c Monday 7th September 2020
Fri 04 Sep 2020Drop off arrangements
Infants
The main gates (Palalwyf Avenue) will be open from 8.40am until 9am for children from Reception, Year 1 and Year 2. The one way system and 'drop & go' is still in operation and parents / carers are to maintain social distancing whilst making their way around the building. Please take your child to their class and continue around the building following the yellow arrows and other signage to exit the premises.
Siblings
If you need to then drop off in the Juniors, you can make your way from the Infants building across the yard past the fort and out to the staff car park. You will then be able to gain access to the Junior one way system through the pedestrian gate.
Juniors
The Maes y Felin pedestrian gate (by the Library) will be open from 8.40m until 9am for children from Year 3, Year 4, Year 5 and Year 6. The one way system and 'drop & go' is still in operation and parents / carers are to maintain social distancing whilst making their way around the building. Your child will then enter the building and go straight to their class and you can continue around the building following the yellow arrows and other signage to exit the premises.
School Dinners
School dinners are being served across the school from Monday 7th September 2020. Please note that there is only one hot option and one cold option and that the published menu is not being followed until further notice. Dinners will be issued in take-away cartons with disposable cutlery. Pupils will collect them and return to their classes to eat them.
Sickness Absences
When leaving a message to report a pupil absence it is important that you leave the reason, IE: sore throat, asthma, eczema flare up etc. Leaving 'not well' or 'ill' does not comply with Attendance and Wellbeing guidelines and will result in an unauthorised absence being recorded.
Medical Information
For those children that have particular medical needs ie: Epi - pens etc, please notify the school if their care advice has altered in any way.
Health and Safety
No bikes, scooters, heelys, skateboards etc are to be used or ridden on the school grounds, especially at drop off or pick up as they pose a health and safety risk.
Uniform
We do still have our 50p rail of uniform in the school office. If you wish to come and purchase uniform or look at the rail, please let us know, either by email or phone, and we can arrange to have your order ready for you to collect.
Thank you for your continued co-operation and patience, it is much appreciated.
We look forward to welcoming you all.
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September start information
Wed 02 Sep 2020We look forward to welcoming you back for the start of the Autumn Term. We hope you've all had a lovely and restful summer break. We have been working hard at ensuring the school is safe and ready for your children to return to school as normal.
The Welsh Government and the Local Authority have provided all schools with explicit guidance and expectations for the return to school for all pupils in September and we have been working on turning these into a manageable plan.
Thursday September 3rd and Friday September 4th; only pupils in Reception, Year 3 and Year 6 will return.
Pupils in Year 6 can arrive in school from 8.40am and they will go straight to their classes with parents/carers following the same drop and go procedure we have used for the last 3 weeks of the summer term.
Pupils in Reception can arrive in school from 8.40am and they will be met by the staff from Nursery who taught them last year and staff from Reception as they arrive, to help settle them into school. Unfortunately parents/carers are not permitted into the school buildings so you will need to pass your children onto the staff and they will take your child into class.
Pupils in Year 3 are to arrive at 9.10am entering the school site by the Maesyfelin entrance (by the library). They will be met by staff from Year 2 who taught them last year, along with their Year 3 teachers, who will take them into their new classes and help them settle.
Unfortunately parents/carers are not permitted into the school buildings so you will need to pass your children onto the staff and follow the one way system off the school site.
Where you are dropping a child in either Reception or Year 6 as well as Year 3, please do this for all siblings at 9.10am.
If you are dropping in Reception first, please can you go across the year 2 yard to join the one way system around the Juniors by the library. Please do not come across the front of the building by the school office.
Monday September 7th pupils in Reception and Years 1,2,3,4,5 and 6 will return full time. Pupils in these years can arrive in school from 8.40am and they will go straight to their classes with parents/carers following the same drop and go procedure we have used for the last 3 weeks.
Tuesday September 8th Nursery pupils will begin their staggered entry to school with Group A attending on Tuesday, Group B attending on Wednesday, Group C attending on Thursday and Group D attending on Friday.
Nursery pupils are to arrive via the Palalwyf Avenue entrance for a 9.10am start. You will be directed to where your child can come into the school building. Finishing times are as per the nursery booklet and a reminder will be sent out by the end of the week.
At the end of the school day the Palalwyf Avenue school gates will open at 3pm for parents/carers of pupils from Reception to Year 2 to start collecting pupils.
The junior gates will open at 3.20 pm allowing parents / carers onto the school site to prevent congestion by the library. Parents / carers may wait on the school premises alongside the bike shelter but not past the white line to the playground, maintaining social distancing etiquette as far as possible.
Junior pupils will be brought out onto the yard at 3.30pm and parents/ carers can collect their children following the same system we have followed for the last three weeks of the summer term.
We will still be operating the one way systems around the buildings.
If parents/carers are collecting pupils in the foundation phase and the juniors can parents / carers please pick up from the foundation phase first and then go across the Year 2 yard by the fort and join the one-way system by the library for junior collection.
PLEASE BE AWARE THERE IS NO BREAKFAST CLUB FACILITY AVAILABLE AT PRESENT FOR THE START OF THE ACADEMIC YEAR.
These arrangements are subject to change. Should there be changes to the current advice and guidance, we will keep parents updated and let you know of any adjustments made by Parentmail.
Communication
As parents / carers will not be allowed into the school building, please could any issues, concerns or communications be first sent via email to your child's class teacher. Please see the attached document with a full list of teacher email addresses.
Should you need to speak to the school office, please email in the first instance to admin.pontyclunprimary@rctcbc.gov.uk or call the office on (01443) 237833. Please make use of the answer phone service if there is no-one available to take your call.
Lunches
Thursday and Friday this week will be packed lunches for all children. Pupils in receipt of free school meals will be catered for. We will notify you shortly regarding the provision of a hot lunch.
Equipment
We will provide pupils with all stationery equipment that they will need for the school day and therefore we would ask that pupils do not bring in pencil cases, books or other items from home. Pupils will leave their bags and coats in their classrooms as the cloakrooms are not being used. Pupils will only need to bring in their packed lunch, a refillable water bottle and a healthy snack should they wish. Please remember no sugary treats or drinks as we are a healthy school. Fruit, vegetables or cheese would be preferable.
Clothing
As we will be trying to utilize the outdoor environment as much as possible can children please ensure they bring a weatherproof coat daily and sensible shoes.
On PE days ( you will be notified of these shortly) can children come dressed ready for outdoor PE.
Extra -Curricular Clubs
At present the school will not be running extra-curricular clubs due to the current restrictions.
We as a school would like to thank all parents/carers for your continued support and understanding as we adapt to the ongoing situation.