Latest News
Keep up to date with all the latest news happening in school and our community at the moment.
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IMPORTANT Return to School Information
Tue 16 Jun 2020I hope you are all keeping well during these difficult times. Thank you to all of you who have been engaging in the home learning tasks and also thank you for the kind words and messages many of you have shared with us in relation to the work that staff have been undertaking, and I do fully agree, they have been amazing.
Following the Minister for Education’s announcement that schools are to open we have been busy getting the school ready for the partial return of your child/ren after June 29th.
Welsh government and the local authority have provided detailed advice and guidance for the safe return of pupils and staff and we are following this advice fully.
Due to the present conditions school will be a very different place from before the ‘lock down.’ In order to assist you in making a decision on whether you wish your child to attend I have listed a number of different principles that we will need to adhere to. These are accurate at present but maybe subject to change.
While we would encourage you to send your child to school, there is no requirement for you to do so and we will fully support whichever decision you choose to make.
Alongside pupils partial return to school we will also be running a school hub providing emergency childcare for pupils of key workers as well as vulnerable pupils. For those of you wishing to make use of the hub provision you will need to apply via the council’s website and a place will be provided if you meet the local authorities’ criteria. The requirement to run the hub does impact on the school’s capacity for teaching time as it will need both classroom space and staff to supervise. At present we have 30 pupils attending the hub so we need to ensure we have 4 classrooms available. Staff pupil ratios of 1-8 will need to be maintained and if numbers go up we will need to provide further classroom space and staff. Please do consider, when applying for a hub place that it is for emergency child care and no other option is available to yourself.
In undertaking the partial re-opening of our school;
1. Pupils will be taught in groups of a maximum of 8 pupils.
2. Where possible these groups of up to 8 will be consistent throughout the 4 weeks.
3. Where possible teachers/ learning support staff will teach/support the same groups over the 4 weeks.
4. Pupils will all have access to two full day sessions over the 4 weeks.
5. There is a maximum of a third of the school allowed in at any one time but this will need to be built up to and is dependent upon staff availability, classroom space and hub constraints.
6. As nursery pupils are not of statutory school age, nursery pupils will not attend over the four week period.
7. Social distancing of 2 meters will be adhered to within the class setting and around the school by all, wherever possible, however we cannot guarantee this will be possible at all times for all pupils.
8. There will be staggered start and end times and staggered play and dinner breaks.
9. The school will not be open for teaching on Wednesday to provide time for deep cleaning and PPA for teaching staff, it will however still be open for emergency hub provision.
10. School policies will be adapted to take into account health and safety guidelines for keeping all persons safe from Covid 19.
11. The school will run the hub for emergency childcare and vulnerable provision on a daily basis.
12. The hub will run from 8am-5pm Monday – Friday
13. The hub is to be separate from the children’s teaching groups to reduce the possibility of cross contamination.
14. On days when hub children attend their teaching groups they cannot access the hub provision either before the teaching day starts or after the teaching day ends.
15. The school timings will be 8.50- 3.15 for pupils in the Foundation Phase and 9am-3.30pm for pupils in KS2
16. All children will bring a packed lunch. If a child is eligible for free school meals a packed lunch will be provided. All rubbish from packed lunches is to go home with the child.
17. Dinners will be eaten in the class setting to minimise contact between the different teaching groups
18. Pupils will be constantly reminded to wash hands and appropriate cleaning facilities will be provided along with hand sanitisers.
19. The school will operate a one way system for dropping off and collecting pupils as well as for pupils use during the day.
20. A detailed risk assessment will be completed and signed off by the health and safety committee, the chair of governors and the LA by Friday 19th June.
It is important that we know which children will definitely be attending. Thank you to those parents / carers who have informed us of their decision on the parentmail survey. If you have not let the school know, please can you email admin.pontyclunprimary@rctcbc.gov.uk with your child(rens) name(s). If you DO NOT respond we will assume that your child will NOT be attending during the 4 week period and will NOT be allocated a teaching group.
We also need to know if you will be applying for a place in the hub as those numbers will impact on the schools teaching provision. Again, please email this information to admin.pontyclunprimary@rctcbc.gov.uk . Please note that you will still have to apply for your hub place in the usual way.
Please can you respond by Friday 19th June 2020.
We have attached a proposed teaching plan for your information. We will notify you of individual teaching groups in due course.
I do not envy your decision making and I am sure you will have many more questions. We are presently working on a FAQ’s sheet to be sent out but for us, like yourselves, your child safety is always our main priority.
Take care and stay safe
Pontyclun Primary
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Cwm Taf Morgannwg Safeguarding Board News Release
Wed 13 May 2020Cwm Taf Morgannwg Safeguarding Board News Release (please click below)
"Cwm Taf Morgannwg News release"
Help us to keep our children safe.
Due to the lockdown caused by the Coronavirus Pandemic, thousands of children within Rhondda Cynon Taf, Merthyr Tydfil and Bridgend, are remaining at home, which unfortunately is not always the safest place for some. There is a hidden group of children potentially at risk of abuse or neglect who are having much less interaction with statutory services.
It is for this reason that the Chairs of the Cwm Taf Morgannwg Safeguarding Board are urging the public to help our children to stay safe during the Covid-19 Pandemic, by being vigilant and looking out for any signs that a child may be experiencing abuse or neglect.
If anyone does have concerns, please do not turn the other way. We all have a duty to report and it's easy to do so. Simply contact your local Safeguarding Team on one of the numbers below:
Rhondda Cynon Taf (Children)- 01443 425006
Merthyr Tydfil - 01685 725000
Bridgend (Children) - 01656 642320Opening Hours:
Monday - Thursday: 8.30am - 5.00pm
Friday: 8.30am - 4.30pm
Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holidays: ClosedOut of Hours Emergencies
To contact social care services outside office hours, at weekends and bank holidays, contact the Cwm Taf Morgannwg Emergency Duty Team on 01443 743665 (this covers RCT, Merthyr Tydfil and Bridgend).
If you suspect a child is at immediate risk of harm call 999 and speak to the Police.
Safeguarding is everyone’s business!
Cwm Taf Morgannwg Safeguarding BoardPlease click link below for further information.
Many thanks
Stay safe
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The Hay Literature Festival
Wed 13 May 2020The Hay Literature Festival has gone digital this year and have set up a programme for schools created especially for learning at home, bringing authors straight from their house to yours from Monday 18 – Friday 22 May.
Each day, from 8am onwards, you can see two primary (years 3-6) authors introduced by Konnie Huq and two secondary (years 7-10) authors introduced by Jenny Valentine. These events will be available to watch again on Hay Player and you can access teaching materials to support learning before, during and after the festival.
This digital programme for schools has been kindly funded by Welsh Government.
Please click on this link to access
Hay Festival programme for schools
Stay safe
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Joy of Moving Home School Festival - Tuesday 19th May 2020
Sun 10 May 2020Joy of Moving Home School Festival - Tuesday 19th May 2020
The Cardiff City FC Foundation will be providing the 'Joy of Moving Home School Festival' national initiative for all KS2 pupils between Monday 18th - Friday 22nd May, with Pontyclun Primary School participating on Tuesday 19th May. It includes half a day of exciting activities for KS2 pupils, so join us in staying active at home and give it a go if you have the time. A digital pack will be sent out to you via Parentmail nearer the time with all of the information you need to know, so keep a look out for it.
Cardiff City have set up a social media hub at www.joyofmovingresourcehub.co.uk, so that families can post pictures, on the day, of their event if they so wish.
More details to follow.......
Stay Safe
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Home Schooling Summer term week 4
Sun 10 May 2020Home Schooling Summer term week 4
Just a reminder that new working grids and any accompanying activities will be posted on your child’s Hwb classroom shortly. They will also be sent out via ParentMail and uploaded to our “home school learning” pages on our website https://www.pontyclunprimary.org.uk/home-school-learning/. Nursery, Reception and Year One are working on a two weekly grid so they will have new activities next Monday 18th May.
Where parents have had difficulty with internet accessible devices, hard packs are available to collect from the school. These hard copies of the home working grids and activities will be available for collection from outside the main school foyer on Monday 11th May, in the morning ONLY, between 9 am and 10 am. This will then continue every Monday until further notice.
If you were isolating during the last final full week of school and have not yet picked up your child’s original home learning pack (Nursery, Reception and Year 1), these will also be available for pick up from the school on Monday 11th May between 9 am & 10 am.
Teachers will be available again from Monday, to view the work your child uploads and provide feedback directly to the child.
Any other work that your teacher has planned will be posted on to your child’s Hwb class pages, along with any discussions and announcements.
Stay safe
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Urdd Peace and Goodwill Message, 18 May 2020 – Stop the Clock and Start Again
Mon 04 May 2020On the 18th May 2020 there will be an Urdd Peace and Goodwill message "Stop the clock and start again" posted on the Urdd Gobaith Cymru social accounts. This message is unique to Wales and has been sent annually for 98 years. The Urdd are asking for our support in making this the biggest message in history. Please read the message below to find out ways in which we can help contribute towards this.
Hope you are all keeping safe and well,
Rhian Maidment and Rhian Bishop
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Urdd Peace and Goodwill Message, 18 May 2020 – Stop the Clock and Start Again
The Peace and Goodwill Message is unique to Wales and has been sent annually for 98 years – this is the only message of its kind in the world.
The theme of the Message this year reflects the feelings and desires of the young people of Wales who want the world listening and learning from the Covid-19 virus emergency.
We are asking for your support on the 18th of May to help the young people of Wales make this the biggest message in history.
The message will be announced on the Urdd Gobaith Cymru social accounts on Monday 18th of May and we are asking you to do at least 1 of 3 things:
1. Re-Tweet / Post the message on your social media accounts on the 18th of May with an emoji banner for your country / world emoji / your favourite emoji and #heddwch2020
2. Prepare a response to our message – this could be an image/words/message of support/photos/video/song using #heddwch2020 or emailing it at heddwch@urdd.org
3. Encourage your friends and contacts around the world to respond
Help the Urdd
Help Wales
Help our young people ................... to reach 15 million people in 50 countries around the world in 2020!
For more details please email - heddwch@urdd.org
With thanks for your help and support
Rhian
Rhian Iolo Brewster
Prif Swyddog Gweithredol Neges Heddwch ac Ewyllys Da yr Urdd / Senior Executive Officer Urdd Peace and Goodwill Message
Cyfeiriad / Address: Swyddfa’r Urdd, Canolfan Mileniwm Cymru, Plas Bute, Caerdydd, CF10 5AL
Ffôn / Office: 07855 453409
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Coronavirus through storytelling for children aged 5 - 9 years
Fri 24 Apr 2020WHAT IS CORONAVIRUS?
The link below is suitable for children aged 5 – 9 years and helps them to make sense in a friendly way of the coronavirus through storytelling. Available as a kindle read for free here.
Coronavirus: A Book for Children by [Kate Wilson, Elizabeth Jenner, Nia Roberts, Axel Scheffler]Suitable for children and young people, Cardiff and the Vale University Health Board have come up with two friendly videos that help explain the coronavirus. Follow the link and then search their videos section on social media here.
Facebook page - Cardiff and Vale University Health Board
Stay Safe
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Earth day 2020
Wed 22 Apr 2020Today 22nd April, is the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day!
Earth Day is an annual event celebrated around the world on April 22nd to show support for the protection of the environment.
What can you do at home?
- Turn off lights when not needed
- Switch off and unplug at night
- Don't keep the tap running when brushing your teeth
- Use the Eco wash setting on your washing machine
- Dry clothes outside
- Walk/bike whenever you can
- Cut back on food waste
- Avoid plastic where you can
- Plant a tree
- Reduce, reuse and recycle
Start today and create a habit for tomorrow!
Why not have a go at this quiz?
The History of Our Planet - What do you know?
Many Thanks and Keep Safe!
The Eco Council
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Home learning week commencing 20th April
Fri 17 Apr 2020We hope that everyone has had a nice Easter and managed to enjoy some of the sunshine.
We will be continuing with online home learning again from Monday 20th April and new working grids and any accompanying activities will be posted on your child’s Hwb classroom shortly. They will also be sent out via ParentMail and uploaded to our “home school learning” pages on our website https://www.pontyclunprimary.org.uk/home-school-learning/
Where parents have had difficulty with internet accessible devices hard packs can be made available to collect from the school. These hard copies of the home working grids will be available for collection from outside the main school foyer on Monday 20thApril, in the morning ONLY, between 9 am and 10 am. This will then continue every Monday until further notice.
If you were isolating during the last final full week of school and have not yet picked up your child’s original home learning pack (Nursery, Reception and Year 1), these will also be available for pick up from the school on Monday 20th April between 9 am & 10 am.
Teachers will be available again from Monday, to view the work your child uploads and provide feedback directly to the child.
Any other work that your teacher has planned will be posted on to your child’s Hwb class pages, along with any discussions and announcements.
Again, activities are across the whole curriculum and your child can decide which activities they wish to complete every day. Obviously, your child does not work continuously in school throughout the day as there are opportunities for play and breaks. Please ensure your child still has opportunities for a break from their work. We appreciate that a lot of families circumstances have changed and people may be working from home and caring for others. Please do not worry if your child does not complete all activities on the grid as long as they are engaging in some home learning and keeping active. The main priority is that everyone continues to keep safe and well.
If you wish to contact staff if you have questions regarding the work, being able to access the learning, requiring hard copies of work, then please do so via their Hwbmail accounts. Teachers will respond at their earliest convenience.
If you have a technical issue or problems accessing the learning, can you please cc Mrs Hancock ( woollsS2@Hwbcymru.net) or Mrs Keeler ( Rutl-KeelC@Hwbcymru.net ) as well as they will be providing technical support.
Please continue to be aware that staff may become ill or have family members that require nursing and during these times may not be available for contact. Also, there is a very strong possibility that staff may be re-deployed to other front-line services and this too will impact on their availability. Where a member of staff is absent the other teacher in their year group will post the work to be completed but will not be able to mark the completed work. Under normal circumstances with staff absence, we would employ a supply teacher but this facility is not available under these circumstances.We would like to thank you again for your continued patience and support at this difficult time.
Stay safe and well
Kind regards
Pontyclun staff
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Celebrity video messages for school children video
Mon 13 Apr 2020Lord Andrew Lord Webber, Dame Kelly Holmes, Twist and Pulse, Sir Ben Ainslie, David Suchet and Paul O'Grady giving advice on how to find inspiration and confidence during this time spent at home. There are some great resources mentioned which promote development in both STEM and Arts subjects and Paul O'Grady has a puppy - what more does anyone need?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCOT5eSYuqI&feature=youtu.be
