Pontrhondda Primary School
Y Bont i Lwyddiant / The Bridge to Success
Welcome
Noticeboard
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Welsh Government COVID-19 survey on children’s mental health and well-being
Wed 02 Dec 2020Dear parent,
The Welsh Government is funding a survey to understand the effects of COVID-19 on children’s mental health and well-being, as well as their physical activity levels. If you agree, your child will be asked to complete an online questionnaire (should take 10-15 minutes) and some children will be selected to wear an activity monitor (like a FitBit) for a week. Both will be repeated at a second time point a few months later.
Please click on this link (English version) to read more about the survey. If you are happy for your child(ren) to participate, please complete the parental consent form which you will find in the same link.
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
Cofion cynnes
Liezel Hurter (PhD)
Email: Liezel.hurter@swansea.ac.uk
Telephone number: 077 097 09630
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Christmas Card update
Wed 02 Dec 2020CHRISTMAS 2020
Following a meeting with the Director of Education last week it has been decided that in order to minimise risks of spreading COVID in schools we will not be able to share things as we usually might do:
Children will not be allowed to bring in any Christmas Cards or presents for friends or staff.
This will be disappointing for everyone; we are just following RCT guidelines.
On a brighter note, please make sure you check out our Countdown to Christmas at
https://www.pontrhondda.co.uk/news/detail/countdown-to-christmas-day-1/
Please stay safe.
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Countdown to Christmas Day 1
Tue 01 Dec 2020 -
Welsh Government updated guidance regarding the use of face coverings in schools
Wed 25 Nov 2020
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Save the Children
Wed 25 Nov 2020Hello,
Pontrhondda Primary School is fundraising for Save the Children and we would really appreciate your support.
You can donate to our JustGiving page by clicking here: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/cjd200006825?utm_source=Sharethis&utm_medium=fundraising&utm_content=cjd200006825&utm_campaign=pfp-email&utm_term=0f5fa7f65e8548b7b3f572a13c33d187.
Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to Save the Children, so it's the most efficient way to give - saving time and cutting costs for the charity.
Thank you,
Pontrhondda Primary School.
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Breakfast club
Fri 20 Nov 2020If your child requires a place in the spring term breakfast club (4th Jan – 26th Mar) 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 27th November to 5pm, Friday 4th December. The number of places 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 day.
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Children In Need
Fri 13 Nov 2020Dear Parents/ Carers,
We know what a tough year this has been and things probably feel a bit different at school. We also know how important it is to look after ourselves and each other. Children in Need day will be on Friday 13th November. There is no theme this year we just ask pupils to come to school on this day wearing non-school uniform or pyjamas. Unfortunately we are unable to accept money in school.
If you wish to donate you can do so online at https://donate.bbcchildreninneed.co.uk.
Thank you for your continued support.
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Remembrance Day display at Pontrhondda Primary School.
Wed 11 Nov 2020
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letter from the Director of Education
Tue 20 Oct 2020To: Parent/Carer
Fy nghyf: GD/TM Eich Cyf:Your Ref: Dyddiad:Date: 15/10/20
My Ref:
Dear Parent/Carer,
I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for supporting your child’s learning and attendance in school, and for supporting your school to keep children and staff safe.
Our school staff have done tremendously well to keep transmission rates in our schools low, against a backdrop of rising community rates of Covid-19. To date, we’ve had 178 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in 60 of our schools and in recent weeks we’ve seen a significant reduction in the number of confirmed cases in our schools. This suggests that control measures in our schools are effective and responses to confirmed cases in schools are measured and proportionate. However, we need your continued support to ensure that effective transmission control measures continue in our schools.Use of face coverings by pupils using home-to-school transport
I would be grateful you could ensure that secondary school age children using local authority provided school transport wears a suitable face covering. This requirement does not apply to pupils with additional learning needs or relevant medical conditions which constitute an exemption. This requirement does not apply to primary school-age pupils, unless of course you wish for your child to wear a face covering and they are able to do so safely.
Some children may be exempt from wearing a face covering due to a disability or impairment. A pupil who is not exempt from wearing a face covering but who refuses to wear one, or removes the covering while on board school transport, may be refused onward travel and have their entitlement to free transport removed.
In order to mitigate risks further, can you please encourage your child to sit next to other children in the same year. Younger children should sit close in the front, with progressively older children sitting from the front to the back.
Please make every effort to ensure your child adheres to this requirement.
Use of face coverings by pupils in schools
Any child of secondary school age is recommended to wear a suitable face covering in communal areas in schools including corridors, halls and toilets. This requirement does not apply to pupils with additional learning needs, relevant medical conditions which constitute an exemption or to pupils with disabilities. This requirement does not apply to primary school-age pupils.
Individual schools are responsible for identifying these communal areas and parents/carers are therefore advised to ensure that their child is following the requirements in place in each school.
Parents/carers communicating with schools
If your child receives a positive test for Covid-19, it is important that you contact your child’s school and notify them immediately.
Schools and the Test, Trace and Protect Service need to identify close contacts of positive cases as soon as possible to reduce the risk of further infection. Your support in informing the school if your child is tested positive would be greatly appreciated.
It is important to note that local authorities have a duty to support the management of the Covid19 outbreak by processing and sharing information with bodies engaged in disease surveillance in order to protect public health, provide healthcare services to the public, monitoring and managing the Covid-19 outbreak.
Self-isolation
If your child is asked to self-isolate by their school, this is following an assessment approved by Public Health and Protection colleagues and therefore needs to be strictly adhered to.
Self-isolation means that the person does not leave the home and that no one who is not part of the household enters that premises. If a pupil is in school when they are identified as a contact of a positive case of Covid-19 (either another pupil or staff member), you will be contacted immediately by the school to arrange for the collection of your child. It is therefore recommended that you make the necessary arrangements in advance in case of this eventuality. Even if your child is eligible for free home-to-school transport, guidance from Welsh Government is that this should not be used in such a situation.
Anyone who lives with someone displaying Covid-19 symptoms, or is in an extended household arrangement (where they had contact in the two days before the person had symptoms) with someone displaying symptoms must stay at home for 14 days from the day the first person became ill or until the outcome of the Covid-19 test is known. Individuals who are isolating because they have been contacted as part of the Test, Trace and Protect must continue to self-isolate for 14 days even if a negative test result is received. The same applies for individuals who have to quarantine after returning from abroad.
School contact groups or ‘bubble’ arrangements and self-isolation requirements
Schools are working hard to reduce the chances of Covid-19 spreading. In order to restrict the number of contacts, pupils are being kept with their own year groups and/or classes to form a discrete contact group or ‘bubble’ which will be kept apart, wherever possible. At primary level this will be class level. In key stage 3 (years 7-9) discrete contact groups will be class, half year group or whole year group size. In key stages 4 and 5 (years 10-13) the contact group or ‘bubble’ will be year group size.
Maintaining distinct groups or bubbles that do not mix makes it quicker and easier in the event of a confirmed positive case to identify those who are close contacts and may need to self-isolate.
In the event of a positive test being confirmed, those who have had close contact with the case are required to self-isolate in line with national guidance, for 14 days after their last known contact with the positive case. This will include close contacts only to prevent further transmission of the virus; ensuring that if pupils (or staff) are carrying the virus (even without symptoms), they do not come into contact with others and potentially spread the virus further.
Breakfast club provision
The safety of pupils and staff is of the utmost consideration at this time. In view of this, the number of places in breakfast club provision will remain capped based on capacity calculations in each setting. Applications for spring time applications will become live in November. Further information will follow closer to the time. For parents/carer that require more stability in their childcare arrangements, please contact Denise.Humphries@rctcbc.gov.uk.
While the local authority and schools acknowledge that breakfast provision is important, the reinstatement of breakfast provision at schools must not compromise the safety of children and staff in our schools and increase the risk of the transmission of Covid-19.
Free school meals
The Education Minister, Kirsty Williams announced on 15th October that the Welsh Government will guarantee free school meal provision for eligible pupils for all school holiday periods, up to and including Easter 2021. Provision in Rhondda Cynon Taf will be by means of a BACs payment to parents/carers of eligible pupils, as has previously been undertaken.
Social distancing
All schools have undertaken risk assessments and follow Welsh Government, local authority and Public Health Wales guidance relating to the management of Covid-19. While every effort is being made in and around each school, it is critical that families assist schools to mitigate risks by maintaining social distances outside of the school gates, ensuring that drop-off and pick-ups from the school gates happen very swiftly, ideally whilst wearing a face covering. This is important as we are aware that Covid-19 is circulating within the community and we must all play our part in making the school community as safe as possible.
School attendance if your child is showing symptoms
If your child is unwell at home with any of the symptoms of Covid-19 listed below please do not send them to school. Symptoms include:
- a high temperature - chest or back feels hot to the touch;
- a new, continuous cough – this means coughing a lot, for more than an hour, or 3 or more coughing episodes in 24 hours; and/or
- a loss or change to sense of smell or taste – this means they cannot smell or taste anything, or things smell or taste different to normal.
If your child has any of the main symptoms of coronavirus:
- get a test to check if they have coronavirus as soon as possible; and
- stay at home and do not have visitors until you get the test result.
Please be sure to follow the self-isolation stay at home guidance from Welsh Government.
If, however, your child does not have symptoms of Covid-19 but has other cold-like symptoms, such as a runny nose, they do not need to be tested and they, and you, do not need to self-isolate.
Your child should attend school if fit to do so. If they are required to self-isolate, your support in ensuring continuity in learning will be critical and we require your support for your child to engage in home learning.
Parking outside/on school premises
Pick-up and drop-off times can be very busy around the school due to the numbers of children on site, therefore, it is essential that parents/carers consider the safety of children when driving and parking in the proximity of our schools. Inconsiderate driving and parking can present a significant risk of harm to both pedestrians and other road users, and can result in complaints being received by the school and the local authority from both residents and other parents alike.
It is important that when driving within the vicinity of any school, you do so with due care and attention and do not put others at risk, or inconvenience residents around schools. Please ensure that you drive and park safely in appropriate areas, even if this means a longer walk to the school gates. South Wales Police, residents, school leaders and health and safety colleagues have recently identified significant numbers of pupils and their parents/carers gathering on narrow footpaths outside of schools, particularly at the beginning and end of the school day. In some instances, these gatherings are forcing other pedestrians into the road in order to maintain a two-metre distance and this practice is potentially placing children and their parents and carers in danger. Parents/carers are therefore respectfully requested not to form small groups outside schools and to limit the time spent outside school premises. This is essential and requires your immediate support.
The local authority is working closely with the leadership teams in all schools in order for them to remain open to provide your child with invaluable educational opportunities. Your support is essential in ensuring that risks are mitigated so that we can keep your child and our school communities safe. This cannot be achieved without you help and support and it is imperative that we help our schools. Thank you for your assistance in this matter.
Yours sincerely,
Director of Education and Inclusion Services
