Keep up to date with all the latest news happening in school and our community at the moment.

• After School Provision from September 2024 - Please read

  Fri 19 Jul 2024

  Further to my ParentMail last week the Governing body have agreed to allow Playworks to facilitate an after school club on our school premises between 4pm and 6pm for those parents choosing to use the club, from September 2024.

  There was a great expression of interest from parents and Playworks will now send a registration form to all those parents who replied, so that you can book your child's space in preparation for the Autumn term, dealing directly with them.

  The school will provide a light sports/recreation club for all pupils registered with Playworks. This will run from 3.15pm (infants) and 3.30pm (juniors) till 4pm when Playworks will take over the supervision of pupils. Children in Reception through to Year 3 will be escorted to the main hall for the activity club and children in Year 4/5 & 6, will be directed to the main hall. There is no additional cost for this club whilst CIW registration takes place.

  At 4pm, they will then be escorted to the Infant hall, where Playworks will provide them with a light buffet style snack and then supervise them in their after school club until 6pm.

  If you did not initially express an interest directly with Playworks and now wish to do so, please click on the link below or you can contact them directly on enquiries@playworks-childcare.co.uk.

  https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfsmorwxWkqa1oN_eOtA5wJqzuHdDQBgobTgpVPwa96oGgfpQ/viewform

  During the Summer holidays Playworks would like to invite parents/carers to a "meet the staff" open day at 'The Meadows Farm Village' in Nantgarw, with which they are associated. The date of this will be Friday 30th August and further details will be sent out from Playworks or via ParentMail.

  Thank you very much

  Mr H Roberts

• End of Year Newsletter

  Fri 19 Jul 2024

  As we reach the end of the academic year, may I take this opportunity to wish our wonderful year 6 pupils good luck and best wishes for your continued success as you leave us for pastures new. I am sure you will continue to flourish and we look forward to hearing of all your successes in the future.

  We are also saying goodbye to three staff members. Mrs B Davies, Mrs A Shenton and Mrs K Bray. May we thank them for their service, their commitment to the pupils of Pontyclun Primary School and for all the wonderful opportunities and experiences you have provided over the years. You leave with the gratitude and respect of so many parents, pupils and staff both past and present. We wish you every success for what the future brings.

  A quick update regarding Miss Harwood. Miss Harwood remains absent on compassionate leave, we will see where we are in September.

  Can I on behalf of all the staff thank you all for your support and understanding this year, your gifts have been very gratefully received, they’re never expected but always appreciated.

  We wish you a wonderful summer break and look forward to welcoming you back in September.

  Kind regards

  Mr H Roberts

• Important Breakfast Club Information - Please Read

  Fri 19 Jul 2024

  On behalf of the school may I apologise again, for the upset and anxiety caused by the new arrangements for breakfast club.

  The issue was not of the schools making, rather it has occurred because the Local Authority (LA) informed all schools that breakfast clubs were moving to an electronic registration rather than the paper approach we had successfully been using.

  The registration process was instigated by and imposed upon us by the LA, and, after this;

  1. Did not inform schools that caps were to be placed on numbers or what the cap was
  2. Failed to let schools or parents know it was a first come first served registration process
  3. Did not allow for single day registration
  4. Did not inform schools that when the breakfast club was full, parents/carers were to direct concerns to the school.

  We have managed to persuade the LA to raise our cap to 142 pupils. However, we still have a waiting list for 47 pupils that has been compiled as requests have come in.

  As a school we have never had more than 140 pupils on any given day. Unfortunately, due to many parents feeling they need to secure a place in breakfast club, should they need one, the school has seen an unprecedented surge in registrations resulting in numbers that cannot be managed.

  Breakfast club is staffed by the LA and the school provides the venue. We are charged by the LA to ensure the venue is fully safe. We do not set the cap on pupil numbers, rather this is determined by the number of staff the LA employ for our breakfast club. Additional staff are being sourced but at present there are none available. Should additional staff be secured the school will work with the LA to raise the cap.

  May I ask parents that in the spirit of fairness, if you do not need breakfast club regularly to consider relinquishing your secured place for a parent with greater need. Places not used for three weeks will be cancelled and offered to the next on the waiting list.

  If your child has not been successful then they will not be permitted into breakfast club. Parents MUST accompany their child to the front door and hand them over to staff to ensure registration is confirmed.

  Confirmation of registration as well as those on the waiting list will be sent today.

  All concerns have been relayed to the LA and hopefully the system will be clearer, fairer and better communicated for Spring term registration.

  I hope you appreciate the situation the school has found itself put in and thank you for your understanding in this matter.

  Kind regards,

  Mr H Roberts

• Urgent Breakfast Club Information - Action Required

  Mon 15 Jul 2024

  Further to the ParentMail sent out last Friday, we are still trying to increase the current cap on pupil numbers, with RCT Catering Services. We cannot raise the limit ourselves.

  At present the club has a limit of 130 pupils based on staffing ratio’s for safeguarding and health and safety reasons and we are trying to raise this to 140 which is the maximum number of pupils we can safely manage.

  The staff/ pupils ratio’s differ for the ages of children with 5’s and under requiring a higher ratio.

  If the Local authority agrees to raise the cap we will be able to accommodate more pupils but this might not meet everyone’s needs as more staff would be required and the LA are unable to recruit staff in this area. They are constantly trying but are constantly unsuccessful.

  What we would like to ask is for clarification on the following - A ParentMail form will follow shortly to allow you to answer these points.

  PLEASE CAN ALL PARENTS REQUIRING BREAKFAST CLUB COMPLETE THE FORM by the end of Tuesday 16th July, thank you.

  • Which days you need for breakfast club
  • Is your application for every week
  • Is your application an ad hoc just in case application

  For those of you that have already applied, you will have received an email from RCT confirming your child's place.

  If you were not successful in booking a place and have emailed and/or left a message on the answer phone, your child's name has been placed on the waiting list that we have here in school and we appreciate you advising us of any specific needs, if any.

  This will probably reduce the numbers as some parents don’t need every day but the original application form didn’t allow for the specific day option. Some parents have applied just in case they might need it.

  Any parent not using the club for 3 weeks will be removed and their place allocated to any on the waiting list.

  We have received many e-mails relating to breakfast club but do not have the capacity to reply individually to each one. At present we are waiting on a response from the LA and will let you know once we have heard what the outcome is.

  I appreciate that this is a testing time for many parents but we are working hard on your behalf to address the issue with the LA.

  Thank you for your understanding with this situation.

  Mr H Roberts

• Proposed After School Provision - Please read

  Fri 12 Jul 2024

  I appreciate the last few days have been difficult and stressful in relation to the news, (relayed by parents to us), that the present after school provision in the village, is to close at the end of the academic year.

  Whilst we are an educational setting and not a childcare provider, I appreciate the impact that the lack of after school childcare facilities has on families in the community and the difficulties that it will cause. To that end we as a school, have been in discussion with Playworks, an organisation that operates 17 afterschool clubs across 4 different local authorities to see if they can provide a manageable service for the school.

  In the first instance, we would like to gather from parents an expression of interest as to whether you would use an after school facility situated on the school site starting in September 2024.

  Below is a link to a Playworks form for you to complete. Once we have an indication of numbers we will be able to ascertain whether the school is able to offer Playworks the choice to run a club from our school. If it is possible then further details and arrangements will be forwarded.

  Please click here - After School Care at Pontyclun - Expression of Interest Form

  The link will close on Sunday night and a decision will then be able to be made, hopefully bringing parents good news next week.

  You will appreciate that this is not a decision that can be made overnight and that whatever is organised, has to be a viable and sustainable solution for the long term.

  Kind regards

  Mr H Roberts

• Breakfast Club Information - Please read

  Fri 12 Jul 2024

  We are continuing to work with the Local Authority to address your issues in relation to breakfast club applications.

  Can we re-iterate that we as a school were not aware

  • that the club would be capped
  • that the club application process would direct issues back to the school
  • that the process would not allow for opting for specific day or an ad hoc basis.
  • that the club would allocate on a first come first served basis.

  We also do not run the breakfast club. We facilitate the club by providing a venue and have to ensure the safe running of the club but the club and the staff are the responsibility of the local authority.

  At present the club has a limit of 130 pupils based on staffing ratio’s for safeguarding and health and safety reasons and we are trying to increase this to 140 which is the maximum number of pupils we can safely manage.

  The staff/ pupils ratio’s differ for the ages of children with 5’s and under requiring a higher ratio.

  We currently have 5 staff working in breakfast club supervising pupils and 1 staff member in the kitchen. These provide the appropriate ratio’s based on the requirements shared with us.

  If the Local authority agrees to raise the cap we will be able to accommodate more pupils but this might not meet everyone’s needs as more staff would be required and the LA are unable to recruit staff in this area. They are constantly trying but are constantly unsuccessful.

  We will send a ParentMail out to parents early next week asking them for clarification on

  • Which days they need for breakfast club
  • Is their application for every week
  • Is their application an ad hoc just in case application

  This will probably reduce the numbers as some parents don’t need every day but the application form didn’t allow for the specific day option. Some parents have applied just in case they might need it.

  Any parent not using the club for 3 weeks will be removed and their place allocated to any on the waiting list.

  We have received many e-mails relating to breakfast club but do not have the capacity to reply individually to each one. At present we are waiting on a response from the LA and will let you know once we have heard what the outcome is.

  I appreciate that this is a testing time for many parents but we are working hard on your behalf to address the issue with the LA.

  Thank you for your understanding with this situation.

  Mr H Roberts

• Breakfast Club Booking System - Please read

  Fri 12 Jul 2024

  Further to the issues surrounding Breakfast Club provision from the Autumn term, the decision to cap the pupil numbers has been decided by Catering Services and is based on health and safety risk assessments, space and available staffing.

  We were not aware of any cap being imposed on our school.

  Please can we remind you that Breakfast Club is still not able to accommodate any Nursery pupils.

  Could we also ask parents to be mindful of booking a place 'just in case' and then not using it and/or duplicating bookings for their children when booked separately by both parents. There have been a few places that have been duplicated and we are waiting for them to be released.

  Any families that have been unsuccessful in securing a place will be placed on a school held waiting list and a place provided as and when one becomes available.

  Please bear with us as we work on your behalf to address your concerns.

  Kind regards

  Mr H Roberts

• Nursery Breakfast Club - September 2024

  Mon 08 Jul 2024

  Unfortunately Catering Direct still have staffing problems within Breakfast club and therefore with regret are unable to accommodate any Nursery Pupils for at least the Autumn term. The situation is changeable and will be reviewed again before the Spring term 2025.

  This is for the health and safety of all concerned and do appreciate your support and understanding

  Kind regards

  Mr H Roberts

• Dietary/Medical record updates - Please read

  Mon 08 Jul 2024

  REMINDER

  If your child has a medical/dietary need/requirement please can you ensure that their records are kept up to date should any changes arise. If there are any changes please can you complete a new medical/dietary form, attached below, and return it to the main school office, thank you. 

  If they also attend breakfast club and/or have school dinners (even if only in the event of an emergency meal/pack lunch) then you need inform Catering Direct so that they are also aware and can cater accordingly - Unless you have already completed a dietary disclaimer with them previously.

  This can be done by clicking on the following link.

  https://www.rctcbc.gov.uk/EN/Resident/SchoolsandLearning/Schoolcatering/MedicallyPrescribedDietaryRequirementRequestaSpecialDietMenu.aspx

  Thank you for your continued cooperation

• Reports and New Classes for September 2024

  Fri 05 Jul 2024

  You will receive today your child’s end of year school report and your child’s new class teacher for next year, please see attachment below

  There is also a attachment below explaining how you can access your child’s national test data on-line.

  This year due to financial constraint placed on schools funding, as was the case last year, we are having to run some mixed age classes. As a result of this, the school has needed to make some redundancies in its teaching compliment.

  I appreciate that some parents may find this a bit disconcerting, but can I assure all parents that your child will continue to make the progress they are capable of regardless of single or mixed aged classes.

  We are running mixed age classes for a number of reasons. These being

  1. Pupil numbers across the authority are dropping and we, like other schools have lower school starters than previous year. This year we have 64 pupils leaving in year 6 and 32 pupils coming into Nursery. This has led to a reduction in the number of teachers we are funded for.
  2. Education funding is lower than it used to be. Whilst RCT have tried to provide schools with a reasonable budget, public finance constraints have impacted greatly on schools both in teaching and support provision and we at Pontyclun are no different.
  3. Class sizes have needed to be balanced so each class is roughly the same size.

  You will notice that 1 class is a year 2 and 3 mix. This is because with the new curriculum for Wales pupils in the primary sector fall into 3 phases or steps.

  Provision step 1 is Nursery and Reception

  Provision step 2 is Year 1- year 3

  Provision step 3 is Year 4- Year 6.

  Teachers will plan together across these steps ensuring the pupils are taught the appropriate skills in a progressive way. This has been our approach this year and we feel it has been very successful.

  Class splits have been made based on age. Other ways we could split, might be ability or friendship groups. However, these approaches create far too many tangibles that we are unable to address.

  Where classes have been historically split, a very small number of parents have queried the classes and requested changes. We are unable to set a precedent with this but we do say that if by October half term, once the class has settled in, there are serious concern, please do come and speak to us.

  Thank you for your understanding and appreciation in this matter and please be aware, your child’s welfare and development is very important to us.