We have been fortunate to secure some funding to support an exciting project that enables parents/ carers to learn new skills and support the school and its pupils at the same time.

In brief, the project will be to build some raised beds within the school so that children can experience growing their own vegetables and fruit.  This produce can be used within the school or even donated to Perthcelyn Community Centre for the whole community to enjoy.

The project will take place over 8 weeks, starting on Wednesday 10^th April, starting at 10am and running for 2 hours per week.

The project will be led by the Cambrian Village Trust who built our raised beds in Dosbarth Pinc.

This project funding is based on adults improving numeracy skills in everyday life and will involve the use of tools, measuring devices, and a little manual work.

Numbers are limited so would you please call in to school to collect a registration form from the school office as soon as possible.  If you have any questions then just contact the school.

Many thanks - Mr A. D. James

Dear Parent/Carer

As you will be aware, the Council had planned to introduce a charge for the childcare provided in advance of free breakfast clubs. These proposed charges did not include learners eligible to free school meals, and free breakfast clubs would continue to be offered.

Whilst the implementation date for these changes was intended to be the summer term 2024, plans have been temporarily paused. The childcare and breakfast club provision in your school will remain unchanged for now and will continue to be delivered as normal.

Further information will follow next term.    

Many thanks

Gaynor Davies
Director of Education and Inclusion Services

Cyfarwyddwr Addysg a Gwasanaethau Cynhwysiant

Fun, Fitness and Family Class

Families can get fit and have fun together, thanks to a brand-new weekend class launching at Abercynon Leisure Centre.

• Sport RCT and Leisure for Life have joined forces to deliver new sessions that take place between 11am and 12pm on Saturdays.
•  Importantly, the circuit-style classes are offered at a reduced price and enable each paying adult to bring up to two children, aged six-18, plus another adult, with them for free!
•  Suitable for all ages and fitness levels, the classes will give families the chance to spend quality time together, while also having fun at the bright, modern leisure centre.
•  Often, childcare can be a barrier for accessing Leisure for Life opportunities, so the classes are a great way for everyone to get involved!
•  Led by a qualified instructor, the classes will be run in a circuit format, but will use a wide variety of equipment to suit everyone’s needs and abilities.
•  Because there is such a mix of ages and abilities in the classes, everyone can get involved and support and motivate each other – perfect for beginners and those who don’t feel really confident in a Leisure for Life setting.
•  The weekly classes start on Saturday, February 3 at Abercynon Leisure Centre and you can book via the Leisure for Life APP now.
•  Entry is £3.80 per adult and you can bring up to two children (aged six-18) and one other adult with you, as long as the second adult has not been a Leisure for Life member in the last 18 months.

WEAR RED FOR WALES AND VELINDRE ON FRIDAY 2ND FEBRUARY 2024!

The annual Wear Red For Wales And Velindre campaign returns on Friday 2^nd February, the eve of the 2024 Six Nations tournament, and we would love you to join in and help us Paint Wales Red!

All you need to do is Wear Red Clothes to School next Friday and bring along a donation of £1.

Last year’s Wear Red For Wales And Velindre campaign raised a staggering £75,000! This is enough to fund approximately 3,000 hours of Specialist Nursing care for our patients.

Our incredible Patron and former Velindre patient Rhod Gilbert talks about his experience of receiving support from one of our specialist nurses:

“Money raised from Wear Red for Wales and Velindre makes a huge difference, I know it helped pay for the specialist nurse that helped me through my journey, who was on the end of the phone when I was scared or didn’t understand something.” – Rhod Gilbert

Funds raised from this campaign really does make a huge difference at Velindre. It allows us to fund projects and services that are fundamental to improving our patients experience such as our specialist cancer nurses, psychology services and complimentary therapies. It enables us to offer complex treatment pathways, earlier access to cutting edge treatments, research into new treatments, purchase specialist equipment and so much more.

We really hope you can join us on Friday 2^nd February as we get behind our Rugby teams in the Six Nations and help make a difference to cancer patients and their families in Wales.

With cancer affecting 1 in 2 of us, your support is needed now more than ever.

Wear Red. Donate £1. Make a Difference.

We really hope you can get involved and help us make the 2024 campaign the best yet!

Dear Parent/ Carer

I  am writing to inform you that at the Cabinet Meeting on 20th November 2023,  the Council agreed to carry out a consultation to review its current Home to School Transport (HTS) provision  for children and young people in Rhondda Cynon Taf. The proposal sets out a new Home to School Transport Policy, which primarily maintains the generous discretionary transport and providing mainstream English, Welsh and Faith primary school, secondary school and college transport in line with relevant statutory distance criteria, which would be implemented from the start of the 2025/2026 academic year.

The details of the proposal and the opportunity to respond to the consultation can be found at: Consultation on the Council's Home to School Transport Policy | Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council (rctcbc.gov.uk)

Please note that the consultation starts on 27th November 2023 and will end at 5pm on 8th January 2024.

Kind Regards

 Stephen Williams

Director for Highways, Streetcare and Transportation Services

School Essentials Grant

The School Essentials Grant is available to children and young people eligible for means-tested free school meals, Children Looked After and those who are classed as No Recourse to Public Funds in year groups Reception to Year 11.

Some families may not be aware that financial support is available to help with the cost of school essentials like uniform (including coat and shoes), PE kit, and stationery.

Eligible families can apply for a grant of:

• £125 per learner
• £200 for learners entering year 7 (to help with increased costs associated with starting secondary school)

Families are only entitled to claim once per child, per school year.

The 2023 to 2024 scheme will remain open until 31 May 2024. Please check your eligibility for this support and apply via this link.

If you have any issues with the application process, please email:  SchoolEssentialsGrant@rctcbc.gov.uk

Please read below a safeguarding message from RCT Council:

It has come to the attention of the Local Authority that there are significant safeguarding concerns in respect of the Omegle.com website/app due to its harmful sexual content and access to personal data including locations. Children, young people and their parents/carers are advised to delete this app.

If you believe a child/young person has been a victim of online harm/exploitation then you should report this to 101 and where required appropriate safeguarding referrals should be made. If it is believed a child is at immediate risk then emergency services should be contacted by ringing 999.

Further information on the risks associated with this website can be found at the following links:

https://oursaferschools.co.uk/2022/09/30/dangerous-chat-rooms-alert/

https://saferinternet.org.uk/blog/what-is-omegle-key-things-parents-and-carers-need-to-know

Please follow the link below for the council statement.

https://www.rctcbc.gov.uk/EN/Newsroom/PressReleases/2023/September/CouncilstatementonRAACconcreteinvestigations.aspx

Click on the link for a Wales online article featuring our school. 

https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/welsh-village-half-kids-grow-16354999