Here you will find the latest news and information about school events. Please subscribe to the calendar to keep fully informed.
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School Blog Friday 26th February
Fri 26 Feb 2021Dear Parents,
This week we have some very important information to share with you. Please share this with your key family members.
Change to School Week
It has been wonderful to welcome back Foundation Phase pupils to school this week, and we are looking forward to the time when we can see all children back in the school. To prepare for this staff and governors have been working hard to make sure we can welcome back everyone as safely as possible. I am therefore writing to inform you of a decision made by staff and governors, to change the school week, during the current Covid19 restrictions.
The advice to schools is very clear. The latest Welsh Government Operational Guidance for Schools states that schools need to minimise contact between individuals. As you are already aware we do this by not mixing our “Podlets”. However, managing the staffing has become increasingly difficult and we are advised that staff should only move between groups in “unforeseen” circumstances.
It is a statutory right of all teachers to receive “Planning, Preparation and Assessment” time (PPA) within the school week. For half a day a week the teachers are not in class and the school has to make arrangements to cover the staff member. This has become increasing difficult given that staff members should not move between classes. We feel strongly that we should reduce the need to bring in supply teachers, unless there is a staffing emergency, as these staff members are likely to have visited other school settings during the week.
As a result I am writing to inform you that Governors have unanimously agreed to closing the school to nearly all pupils on a Friday afternoon. This will mean staff can have their PPA without the need for supply teachers. This will take effect from when Y3 to Y6 return. (Currently the proposed date for this is March 15th).
As well as reducing risk of transmitting the virus, this arrangement will have the following positive effects:-
- Pupil Well being: The wellbeing of learners can be more effectively addressed with consistency of staff within the podlets. Pupils will be spending their time with familiar adults who they already know well.
- Standards: Pupils will have a consistent Monday to Friday (am) approach to their learning with their class teacher. Staff will have effective planning time to prepare creative and appropriate lessons and experiences.
- Statutory entitlement: The statutory entitlement of hours will be maintained. Llanrhidian has always delivered well over this entitlement. This means your children will not miss out on any learning time.
- Health & Safety: We can maintain our podlets safely with minimal movement of staff.
- Staff Well Being: Staff views have been considered in this process, and they are happy with this plan. In particular they feel it is less disruptive to the continuity of learning throughout the week.
- Transport: We will be contacting transport to request bus collects at 1pm. We will communicate the new timetable with relevant parents
- Nursery: We will continue with afternoon nursery on a Friday afternoon as normal.
- Distanced learning: The school will continue to provide 24/7 access to the Pod Pages and all the existing activities and programmes eg Reading Eggs, My Maths, TTRS etc.
- Emergency Childcare: We will have limited spaces in each podlet for childcare on a Friday afternoon. To maintain bubbles, childcare will be delivered in the podlet by one teaching assistant. As always, please contact the office for more information.
We will, of course, review this situation regularly.
Lateral Flow Tests for Staff
As you may know from the media. staff are being asked to take Lateral Flow Tests for Covid19, twice weekly. Staff will be completing these at home and all results recorded. Should a member of staff display a positive result, the school will be informed immediately, and Public Health Wales Advice will be followed.
In the event of a staff member displaying a positive lateral flow test:
- The staff member will need to immediately self-isolate with their family members.
- If the staff member has been in the class/podlet within 48 hours, the class will be asked to self-isolate (but not pupils' family members).
- If the class does not need to self-isolate, the school will need to assess its staffing capabilities to continue face to face learning
- The staff member will need to take a full PCR test. If positive the above applies. If negative, the class can return to face to face teaching.
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Return to School Update
Tue 23 Feb 2021Dear Parents/Carers,
We are so excited to be starting our journey back to face to face teaching. From tomorrow we will be welcoming back pupils from Nursery to Year 2. Our older pupils will continue with home/distanced learning for the time being, but we will continue to check in with them.
Welsh Fortnight has started across all Pods, so look out for exciting information from your Pod Staff.
Please can I apologise for all the correspondence that we have had to send out during these times. However, with things changing so fast we need to keep you fully informed. For this reason, we ensure that all letters are kept on the website for your convenience. (So you do not have to trawl back through emails). This term's letters can be accessed here, but we will continue to email as well in an attempt to suit all preferences.
If you have any questions about returning to school, please look at the latest letter in the first instance. If your question is not answered, please email the office.
These are hard times for us all, none of us would choose this situation, but let's hope for a light at the end of this "very long" tunnel. As always keep in touch, and if we can help we will help!
Kindest Regards
Mrs Caswell
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School Blog Friday 12th February 2021
Fri 12 Feb 2021Dear Parents/Carers,
I know I am repeating myself, but I want to again express my thanks to #TeamLlanrhidian (Parents, pupils, staff & governors). Together we have been on an unprecedented journey that has tested the strength of us all. We have steered our way through this for the past year, and although very difficult at times, we are still striving forward.
Seeing the daffodils peeping through the frozen soil this week has certainly given me some confidence of better days ahead, and I really hope you are starting to feel that too.
Usually we would now be planning Easter, and it really saddens us that so many of our annual traditions cannot go ahead. But we need to stay positive and dream of that sunny day on the school field, with the smell of Mrs Williams' burnt burgers; the sound of our children laughing and the chatter of parents enjoying a moment when we come together. It will happen!
Please read the two very important letters that have been sent to you this week, or click here to access these via our website.
Next week is half term. Have a relaxing week; switch off from distance learning; enjoy your family and be kind to yourself. If there is a Covid related emergency, you can use the contact form on the website.
On behalf of all the staff, have a restful week and we will be in touch after half term when we will be planning a fortnight of "Welsh Fun".
Kindest Regards
Mrs Caswell
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Update - Return to School February 2021
Tue 09 Feb 2021Dear Parents/Carers,
Our intention is to get full details of the planned partial return to school by Thursday. The reason for the delay is that we are still waiting for key pieces of information and guidance from Welsh Government and the Local Authority. Once we have this information, governors and I will ensure that the plans for re-opening will be shared with you.
In the meantime we are able to communicate the following:-
- Half Term 15th to 19th February – The school will not be open to any pupils during this week. As this is a school holiday, no distanced learning will be planned.
- School Closure Monday 22nd Feb – The school will be closed to ALL pupils on Monday 22nd February. This is a Swansea directive to enable all schools to prepare for its partial re-opening.
- Partial Re-opening - Pupils from Nursery to Y2 will be returning to school from February 23rd. We are unclear whether this will be on a full time or part time basis.
- Breakfast Club – There will be no breakfast club until further notice.
- Lunches – Packed lunches will be needed initially, however it is hoped that hot lunches will resume on March 1st
As soon as we are able, we will send out a more detailed plan.
Keep Safe
Mrs Caswell
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School Blog Friday 5th February
Fri 05 Feb 2021This Week's Headlines:
Return to School: We are very excited to hear today's announcement from Welsh Government confirming that there will be a start to return to school for nursery, reception, year 1 and year 2 from after half term. Year 3, 4, 5 and 6 will continue to learn remotely and teachers will continue with the learning offer currently available.
Please understand that if teachers are delivering face to face lessons, they cannot be preparing online learning. We will continue to place resources on the website, but if you choose not to send your child into school, the teachers cannot provide the same online learning support as when the school was closed.
Community Transmission: The Welsh Government has made it very clear that although there is some headroom to allow some pupils to return to school, it is imperative that mixing does not occur outside school. There is no justification to assume that because these pupils are mixing together in school, that they can have play dates, sleep overs or parties with other households. This is likely to contribute to the community transmission rates again rising.
Further Information: The school now needs to liaise with the local authority, the cluster and the governors to put a return plan in place. More details will follow next week.