Latest News

• Changes to Free School Meal collection times

  Tue 24 Mar 2020 C Swann

  Collection times for free school meals take away lunch is between 12:00 and 1:00 pm (not 12-2 pm).

  The collection point is situated in the car park by the front entrace 

  Enjoy!

• Key Worker and Hub information from MCC

  Tue 24 Mar 2020 C. Swann

   

  Monmouthshire County Council PO Box 106,  Caldicot, NP26 9AN Cyngor Sir Fynwy Blwch SP106,  Cil-y-Coed NP26 9AN

  Tel/Ffôn: 01633 644644 Fax/Ffacs: 01633 644666  E-Mail/Ebost: Web/Gwefan: www.monmouthshire.gov.uk

   

  Dear Parents and Carers,

   

  Changes to the provision of childcare to support key workers

   

  These are unprecedented times for all of us and as a consequence we have had to make some changes to the operation of the childcare hubs that I wrote to you about on Friday.  This has been caused by the significant government regulations announced by the Prime Minister and First Minister of Wales last night.  These focus on a need to rigorously enforce social distancing regulations and eliminate all unnecessary time away from home. 

   

  To that end we are proposing some changes to the provision of childcare for critical workers:

  1. From Wednesday 25th March both parents in a family (where there are two parents) must be critical workers to access the childcare offer.
  2. We will continue to have two Hubs in Caldicot, pupils from Dewstow, Durand, Castle Park, Archbishop Rowan Williams and Ysgol Y Ffin should continue to attend Dewstow Childcare Hub
  3. Pupils from Rogiet, Undy and Magor Primary Schools should continue to attend Rogiet Childcare Hub.

   

  We have to remember that the teachers and support staff who are working in our hubs are a vital part of the response to COVID-19 and keeping everyone in our Hubs safe is critical.  Each of the Hubs are developing very clear regulations and rules to ensure that the highest standards of cleanliness, I would ask that you remind your children of the importance of this. 

   

  Also please note that:

  • Children need to be at the Hub by 9.30
  • Children need to be collected on time, 3.30pm.
  • Please can children just to bring in water bottle / sandwiches (we have our disposable bags to take home and bring back) and any home learning rather than rucksacks.

   

  Pupils eligible for FSM

  From Wednesday 25 March 2020, we will be able to provide a hot lunch option to all of our children who are eligible for a free school meal.  This will be made available from either of the school based childcare hubs (Dewstow or Rogiet Childcare Hub).  This will be available between 12pm and 2pm. 

   

  Secondary aged pupils who are eligible for free school meals and are not in one of the hub school based childcare schools should collect their lunch from their normal school at the normal time.

   

  We will be launching a new registration form at the end of this week.  Please check www.monmouthshire.gov.uk on Thursday.

   

  Yours sincerely

   

   

   

  Will McLean

  Chief Officer

  Children and Young People

   

   

   

   

• Lunchtime arrangements

  Mon 23 Mar 2020 C Swann

  Just to confirm that a hot meal or jacket potato is available to all children who attend, free of charge for this week. 

  For children who usually have a free school meal, but not attending the Hub School, a pack lunch is available to pick up and take away.

• Important information when accessing Hub Schools

  Sun 22 Mar 2020 C Swann

  Children of key workers attending the Hub School will not need to wear uniform.

  Please can children wear practical, comfortable clothes and shoes so that they don't worry if we do 'messy' activities and can participate in physical activities safely.

  Also, please can each child bring their own water bottle which is clearly labelled. 

  We are looking forward to welcoming your children, but please ensure that using the Hub School is a last resort, as isolation is the ideal scenario.

• Home Learning

  Sat 21 Mar 2020 C Swann

  Dear Parents/carers,

  I will outline some guidelines to provide clarity regarding home learning expectations for both staff and families.

  Teachers: will provide a range of learning experiences for children and families to choose from. These will be refreshed each week wherever possible. Staff will aim to give feedback to each pupil once a week, and for this to be possible, children will need to share their completed work by using the ‘turn it in’ icon. This may fluctuate according to staff availability, which will be impacted by the ‘shifts’ we cover working in the hub school and personal circumstances.

  Pupils and parents/carers: Where circumstances allow, please aim to engage in a literacy, mathematical and physical learning opportunity each day.

  For Foundation Phase pupils there are additional areas of learning e.g. Creative, Health and Wellbeing activities available which can be enjoyed over the week.

   For KS2 pupils (year 3,4,5 and 6), staff have requested that children also complete the more ‘chunky’ piece of topic work over the week, in order to apply skills through a cross curricular approach.

  PLEASE be mindful that if you or your child use the ‘stream’ facility for shared conversations, shared means that the teachers and whole class can read the same message so conversations must reflect this and be appropriate.

   

  For any curriculum queries, please contact us on arwhomelearning@arwprimary.net

  Happy learning…we are going to miss being with your children!

• Key worker application form

  Sat 21 Mar 2020 C Swann

  Dear Parents/carers,

  I will outline some guidelines to provide clarity regarding home learning expectations for both staff and families.

  Teachers: will provide a range of learning experiences for children and families to choose from. Staff will aim to give feedback

   

  Dear Key Workers:

  Below is the link to the application form. Please complete if you have no other option for childcare as we are still trying to avoid large groups in line with government guidelines.

  Provision for vulnerable learners are still being discussed and will not be available on Monday. MCC continue to organise this provision and I will update you as soon as I have any news.

  Proof of key worker role will need to be presented in order for your child to be accepted in the childcare provision.

  I will be at Dewstow Primary School on Monday from 8:00 am in order to welcome any of our children, be a familiar face, and to support both MCC and the Hub school, and will remain on site until our children are settled. 

   

  Please see the link to the registration form for childcare for key workers:

  Please check your eligibility before completing the application form

   

   

  https://t.co/UG1LwLX2OZ

   

  PLease take care

• Information regarding Key Wokers

  Fri 20 Mar 2020 C Swann

  Dear Parents and Carers,

   

  Preparations to support key workers through the provision of childcare:

   

  At the end of the school day on Friday 20 March 2020, all schools in Monmouthshire will close for the near future; we do not know when the return to school will be.

   

  The Government has stated in its latest advice:

              ‘If children can stay safely at home, they should, to limit the chance    of the virus spreading. That is why the government has asked parents   to keep their children at home, wherever possible, and asked schools to            remain open only for those children who absolutely need to attend.’

   

  From Monday 23 March 2020, we are establishing nine provisions across the county that will enable us to provide support and care for the children of key workers across the county. 

   

  This will enable those workers to continue to make their key contribution in the fight against COVID-19 and is in line with the strategic objectives of our response to the emergency.  We have chosen this scope of provision because it maintains the key objective of school closures i.e. reducing the transmission of the virus.

  The nine schools (selected for their size and location) will be:

   

  • Deri View Primary School (Abergavenny)
  • Llanfoist Fawr Primary School (Abergavenny)
  • Dewstow Primary School (Caldicot)
  • Rogiet Primary School (Caldicot)

  • Overmonnow Primary School (Monmouth)
  • Kymin View Primary School Monmouth

  • Thornwell Primary School (Chepstow)
  • Pembroke Primary School (Chepstow)
  • Raglan Church in Wales Primary School (Raglan)

   

  Monmouthshire will follow the UK Government’s definition of ‘key’ workers – this can be found here.  MCC will be sharing a registration form online this afternoon and all parents presenting on Monday morning are expected to present an id of a relevant service or industry sector.

   

  The provision will be available for children in the following school years: reception to year 8 and will be open from 8.00 (breakfast club) – 3.30.

   

  Members of staff from all of Monmouthshire’s schools will work in these settings not only the ‘host’ school.  The aim is to ensure that there is familiar face for all pupils.  It is our intention, through working with the schools to establish a shift pattern to ensure that there can be a continuity of provision capable of withstanding increasing illness and self-isolation.  Members of the CYP Directorate will also support these provisions and we will review our capacity and potentially look to utilise the skills and talents of our youth service.

   

  Pupils eligible for FSM

  From Monday 23 March 2020, we will also be able to provide a lunch to all of our children who are eligible for a free school meal.  This will be made available from each of the schools above and will be either a hot meal or a packed lunch on a ‘grab and go’ basis.  This will be available between 12pm and 2pm. 

   

  Secondary aged pupils who are eligible for free school meals and are not in one of the hub schools should collect their lunch from their normal school at the normal time.

   

  The situation we face is challenging and dynamic, these plans, as set out above, are in place for the first week.  At all times we will be reviewing the capacity of this offer to ensure that it remains suitable to meet its objectives.  We have additional schools on standby to augment the service.

   

  All schools across Monmouthshire have made proactive plans to identify all vulnerable learners and staff who are not working at these hubs will be responsible for maintaining contact with these learners during the time of school closures.

   

  Please refer to www.monmouthshire.gov.uk for details of registration, these will be available later this afternoon.

   

  Thank you for your patience as we have worked to develop these contingencies, as I have said we will keep them continually under review and we can develop this offer is necessary.

   

   

  Yours sincerely

   

   

   

  Will McLean

  Chief Officer

  Children and Young People

   

• Key Workers

  Fri 20 Mar 2020 C Swann
  We are currently waiting for clarification regarding who is on the Key Worker list from the Local Authority. Once we know this we will advise you of what to do next. Watch this space!

• Update

  Fri 20 Mar 2020 C Swann

  Good morning everyone! I hope that you are all well.

  For your information:

  Today at 5.30pm - The Minister for Education will hold a Q&A session for children and young people on twitter   Today is our last day in Archbishop Rowan Williams Primary School until further notice. It is a sad but necessary step for us all, and we will miss our children and families greatly. During this time of separation, we will endeavour to remain in touch with you as regularly as we can, but this may fluctuate according to any duties that we are required to fulfil for the Local Authority, as well as any changes in our own circumstances.   I will use our 'Latest News' section of the website to post any information that I know but please continue to email via the school website for general queries and the website set up to support learning via the google classroom. Staff are required to work as usual but this may not be at our school. I will provide further information later regarding provision for the children of Key Workers.       Latest advice on Coronavirus from Welsh Government: https://gov.wales/coronavirus

• Home Learning

  Wed 18 Mar 2020

  Using Google Classroom at home - click here

  Using Purple Mash at home - click here