Keep up to date with all the latest news happening in school at the moment.
It's not just the staff that have missed you all - the building has too and we can't wait to be welcoming you back over the next few weeks. We have made a little film to remind you of everything in the school and we hope you enjoy trying to spot your classroom! Over the next few days there will be another video appearing that will explain the ways different groups of pupils will need to enter the school so keep an eye out. We are all missing you lots! see you soon!
Click the link to view the film
Dear parent/carer
I would like to provide you with a further update in respect of the rest of this term’s emergency childcare and ‘Check in, Catch up and Prepare’ arrangements.
In order to provide appropriate school-based support for a considerably greater number of children, all local authorities have established alternative arrangements to ensure all eligible children are able to access safe and manageable school-based supervision.
Summer term school-based support arrangements
Due to potential staffing issues in many schools during the week commencing Monday 20 July, all Bridgend schools will close on Friday 17 July.
Bridgend has not taken this decision lightly. However, the safety of our learners and staff is our top priority and I am satisfied that this decision is in the best interests of both groups.
I have asked schools to reconsider their ‘Check in, Catch up and Prepare’ plans and to reorganise school-based provision into a three-week timetable. Schools will aim to ensure that all pupils still receive the two full days’ school-based support we originally envisaged.
I must reiterate that it is for parents/carers to decide if their children attend school during June and July and there will be no sanctions for non-attendance.
Your child’s school will contact you shortly to confirm arrangements.
Summer holiday childcare arrangements
From today, Monday 22 June, many of the 3000 school-based staff in Bridgend will be asked to provide emergency childcare for the pupils of key workers (including school staff) in their own schools.
Please be advised that there are no plans to provide emergency childcare for the children of key workers in Bridgend during the summer break (ie from Monday 20 July to Monday 31 August inclusive).
It is important, therefore, that parents/carers who are key workers make alternative childcare arrangements for their children from Monday 20 July.
Similarly, and as previously advised, parents/carers are reminded that emergency childcare provision for eligible families only is available between 8.30am and 4.30pm, in their child’s own school, from Monday 22 June (to Friday 17 July).
Check in, Catch up and Prepare’ provision for nursery pupils
From Monday 29 June, schools will also be providing school-based ‘Check in, Catch up and Prepare’ support for learners.
You will be aware that, in Bridgend, we have taken the decision to offer two full days of ‘Check in, Catch up and Prepare’ provision for all learners, with the exception of the ‘rising 3s’ (those nursery pupils who traditionally attend part time in their first year of nursery).
While this may be disappointing to some of you, I am sure you will understand that in making these arrangements at such a challenging time, the local authority must take into consideration the potential limited availability of school staff and therefore the risk of schools not being able to provide safe staffing levels.
In the meantime, individual schools will communicate opportunities for school visits for full-time nursery pupils who have recently been offered places for September 2020, where safe to do so.
I continue to be grateful for your support and patience.
Lindsay
Lindsay Iorwerth Harvey (Mr)
Corporate Director – Education and Family Support
Annwyl riant/gofalwr
Hoffwn roi rhagor o wybodaeth i chi am y trefniadau gofal plant brys dros weddill y tymor hwn a’r trefniadau ar gyfer ‘Dal fyny, dal ati i ddysgu a pharatoi’.
Er mwyn darparu ar gyfer cynifer o blant yn yr ysgolion, mae’r holl awdurdodau lleol wedi rhoi trefniadau newydd ar waith i wneud yn siŵr bod goruchwyliaeth briodol ar gael i’r holl blant cymwys yn yr ysgol.
Trefniadau yn yr ysgolion dros dymor yr haf
Oherwydd problemau staffio posibl mewn nifer o ysgolion yn ystod yr wythnos yn dechrau ddydd Mawrth 20 Gorffennaf, bydd holl ysgolion Pen-y-bont ar Ogwr yn cau ddydd Gwener 17 Gorffennaf.
Nid oedd hwn yn benderfyniad hawdd i Ben-y-bont ar Ogwr. Fodd bynnag, diogelwch ein disgyblion a’n staff yw’n prif flaenoriaeth ac rwyf wedi fy narbwyllo mai dyma’r penderfyniad gorau o safbwynt lles y ddau grŵp.
Rwyf wedi gofyn i ysgolion ailystyried eu cynlluniau ar gyfer ‘Dal fyny, dal ati i ddysgu a pharatoi’ ac i ad-drefnu eu darpariaeth ar eu safleoedd i gyd-fynd ag amserlen tair wythnos. Bydd yr ysgolion yn ceisio sicrhau bod pob disgybl yn cael dau ddiwrnod llawn yn yr ysgol, yn unol â’r bwriad gwreiddiol.
Rhaid i mi danlinellu mai’r rhieni/gofalwyr sydd i benderfynu a ddylai eu plant ddod i’r ysgol yn ystod mis Mehefin a Gorffennaf ac na chânt eu cosbi os bydd eu plant yn absennol.
Bydd ysgol eich plentyn yn cysylltu â chi cyn bo hir i gadarnhau’r trefniadau.
Trefniadau gofal plant dros wyliau’r haf
O heddiw, ddydd Llun 22 Mehefin ymlaen, byddwn yn gofyn i nifer o’r 3000 o staff ysgolion Pen-y-bont ar Ogwr ddarparu gofal plant brys i blant gweithwyr allweddol (gan gynnwys staff ysgolion) a hynny yn eu hysgolion eu hunain.
Sylwch nad oes cynlluniau i ddarparu gofal plant brys i blant gweithwyr allweddol ym Mhen-y-bont ar Ogwr yn ystod gwyliau’r haf (hy rhwng dydd Llun 20 Gorffennaf a dydd Llun 31 Awst, gan gynnwys y ddau ddyddiad hynny).
Mae’n bwysig, felly, fod rhieni/gofalwyr sy’n weithwyr allweddol yn gwneud trefniadau gofal plant gwahanol i’w plant eraill o ddydd Llun 20 Gorffennaf ymlaen.
Hefyd, fel y dywedwyd eisoes, mae angen i rieni/gofalwyr gofio mai dim ond rhwng 8.30am a 4.30pm y bydd gofal plant brys ar gael i deuluoedd cymwys, a hynny yn eu hysgolion eu hunain, rhwng dydd Llun 22 Mehefin (tan ddydd Gwener 17 Gorffennaf).
Darpariaeth ‘Dal fyny, dal ati i ddysgu a pharatoi’ i ddisgyblion meithrin
O ddydd Llun 29 Mehefin ymlaen, bydd ysgolion hefyd yn trefnu sesiynau ‘Dal fyny, dal ati i ddysgu a pharatoi’ i’w dysgwyr.
Fe wyddoch ein bod ni ym Mhen-y-bont ar Ogwr wedi penderfynu cynnig dau ddiwrnod llawn i bob disgybl ‘‘Dal fyny, dal ati i ddysgu a pharatoi,’ ac eithrio plant sy’n codi’n tair oed (yn eu blwyddyn gyntaf yn y dosbarth meithrin).
Er y bydd hyn yn siom i rai, rwy’n siŵr y byddwch yn deall bod yn rhaid i’r awdurdod lleol, yn ystod cyfnod mor anodd, ystyried y posibilrwydd y bydd prinder staff yn yr ysgolion ac, felly, na fyddai modd sicrhau lefelau staffio diogel.
Yn y cyfamser, bydd y plant hynny sydd wedi cael cynnig lle amser llawn mewn dosbarth meithrin ym mis Medi 2020 yn cael cyfle i ymweld â’u hysgolion os bydd yn ddiogel gwneud hynny.
Rwy’n parhau i fod yn ddiolchgar i chi am eich cefnogaeth a’ch amynedd.
Lindsay
Lindsay Iorwerth Harvey (Mr)
Cyfarwyddwr Corfforaethol – Addysg a Chymorth i Deuluoedd
Friday 19th June 2020
Dear Parents and Carers,
I am writing to update you on Ysgol Bryn Castell’s progress towards the ‘Check in, Catch up and Prepare’ provision for pupils to reconnect with education and learning from Monday 29th June. The staff team are working exceptionally hard to develop our plans whilst still awaiting final, definitive, guidance from the Welsh Government; you may have seen reports in the media that there still remains some debate over whether schools are open from week commencing 20th July which makes planning quite challenging.
In preparation for the re-opening of the school we are in the process of collecting information and carrying out thorough risk assessments, in-line with both Welsh Government and Local Authority guidance, to identify how we can best-manage and reduce potential risks in order to prioritise the safety, health and wellbeing of our pupils and staff.
The ‘Check in, Catch up and Prepare’ provision for pupils at YBC will be tailored to individual pupil needs and is based on the following key principles;
Pupils who are unable to or would prefer not to attend ‘Check in, Catch up and Prepare’ provision on-site will continue to be supported at home through our distance learning package.
For those pupils who will be attending ‘Check in, Catch up and Prepare’ sessions at the school there will be new routines, more frequent hand washing, hand sanitising and social distancing. As you will also appreciate, some staff will be unable to physically return to the school site which may also mean that preferred staff are not available to support your child with this reconnection. In preparation for this we will be working with Parents and Carers to identify the best way to support and prepare pupils for this.
We recognise that this is a worrying time for pupils and Parents/Carers and could well be overwhelming for a number of our pupils. The school will share individual plans for pupils early next week and will also be facilitating a number of virtual meetings with Parents/Carer to try to answer some of your concerns and queries.
A reminder that YBC’s childcare hub provision will operate as normal alongside the check in and catch up sessions. However, access will be limited to those pupils who have accessed the childcare hub in weeks 1 to 13 of lockdown. For children of keyworkers who have been accessing the hub provision at YBC, arrangements will be made on a case-by-case basis.
Lastly, our biggest priority remains as the health and wellbeing of our pupils and staff and we will continue to act in the best interests of your children as we move forward, together. Thank you for your support, encouragement and feedback.
Stay safe and best wishes,
Mrs Helen Ridout and all at Ysgol Bryn Castell
Dear parent/carer
Thank you for your support, understanding and patience over the past three months. I am grateful to you all for everything you have done to assist your child’s learning, your child’s school and the local authority at this difficult time.
This letter will provide you with further information in respect of the recommencement of school-based learning for all pupils and emergency childcare provision for eligible children available in Bridgend for the rest of the summer term (until Friday 24 July).
Check in, Catch up and Prepare
As a result of the Minister for Education’s recent announcement in respect of the reopening of schools, the local authority is keen to work with schools and parents/carers to ensure all pupils benefit from an opportunity to check in with their schools, catch up with their peers and teachers, and prepare for the next school year.
From Monday 29 June, Bridgend schools will start to accept their own pupils to attend identified sessions at their own school.
However, not all learners will return at once and, when they do return, the school day might start and end at different times for different learners. This may include different arrangements for siblings of different ages, attending the same school.
Welsh Government ministers have stated that the total number of pupils in any school at any one time will not exceed one third of the total number of pupils who would normally attend that school. To accommodate this requirement, during the period Monday 29 June to Friday 24 July, your child will only be invited into their school on two occasions (unless they are eligible for emergency childcare at their individual school’s childcare hub).
It is important to note that, during this period, parents and carers are free to decide whether to send their children to school. Should parents/carers decide not to send their children to school during this summer term, they will not be penalised. If you choose not to send your children to school, they will continue to receive the same home-to-school support they have received so far.
When your child returns to school, there will be a focus upon pupil wellbeing and on an enjoyment of outdoor learning, where and when this is practical, in their particular learning environment.
In secondary schools, there may be a greater focus, in some year groups, on supporting pupils’ learning, in anticipation of the academic demands of the forthcoming school year.
To assist individual schools with their own planning arrangements, it would be hugely beneficial for them to know whether parents and carers are anticipating sending their children into school when invited to do so.
I know that school teachers, school leaders and school support staff would be delighted to see their pupils on both occasions.
To establish the likely ‘take-up’ of offered provision at your school, your school would like you to complete the following survey by Wednesday 17 June at 13:30: https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=Ug4_TzS3ZEGUCRtgHRR5k5M3UuT5QPtDqH7M8FK_HLVURFlQV1FLTkdJUlRaQUlLVjNWSElSS000UC4u
Once again, I am keen to do everything possible to reassure you of the local authority’s efforts in supporting the emotional and physical wellbeing of learners. The local authority is working closely with schools and its partners to ensure that guidance and support is in place to assist your child’s return to school.
Emergency childcare support for key workers and vulnerable learners who have been accessing the hub throughout weeks 1 to 13 of lockdown only
YBC’s childcare hub provision will operate as normal alongside the school-based provision. However access will be limited to those pupils who have accessed the childcare hub in weeks 1 to 13 of lockdown and for children of keyworkers on a case-by-case basis. To-date, the childcare hub provision has been for vulnerable learners and has operated from 09:30 to 11:30 daily; should key worker provision be required then bespoke packages of support will be considered on an individual basis.
In order to apply for these emergency childcare places, parents/carers will need to discuss during home-school communication.
As individual schools will also be accommodating other children on site (on a rota basis as advised by your child’s own school), places will be limited and will be capped to comply with social distancing requirements.
Parents/carers are advised that, currently, the local authority is not in a position to confirm whether emergency childcare provision will be available during the school summer holiday period (ie between Monday 27 July and Tuesday 1 September).
Further information in respect of emergency childcare provision during the school summer holiday period will be provided shortly.
In conclusion, I would like to thank you all, once again, for your continuing support at a very difficult time.
Sincerely
Lindsay Iorwerth Harvey (Mr)
Corporate Director – Education and Family Support
Bridgend County Borough Council
Wednesday 10th June 2020
Dear Parents and Carers,
Further to the letter sent by Mr Lindsay Harvey (Corporate Director – Education and Family Support) on June 4th 2020, I wanted to reassure you that Ysgol Bryn Castell are working closely with the Local Authority and other professionals to develop a consistent and safe approach to welcoming your children back to school.
Ysgol Bryn Castell’s priority remains the health and wellbeing of everyone in our school community, and this will not change going forwards. Preparations have already begun around the reopening of our school but this is dependent upon the further guidance issued this afternoon from Welsh Government and from the Local Authority in due course. We will share further details with you over the coming weeks as this develops.
It is likely that this approach to welcoming pupils back will be on a limited basis and will provide an opportunity for children to have some face to face interaction with their teachers, support staff and friends. This may look different for different groups of learners dependent upon their individual needs and will be balanced with the very different school environment which pupils are returning to, where social distancing, very small class groups, regular hand-washing and one-way systems are in place, with pupils encouraged to follow these to promote safety for all. We recognise that this may be very challenging for our young people at YBC and are already developing resources to support the re-engagement and reconnection with education and learning for all learners.
The school will continue to offer the small hub provision for our most vulnerable pupils which has been in-place for the last 12 weeks and will continue to prepare and upload a range of activities for pupils to access and complete online through both the school website and Hwb alongside support through regular communications with school staff.
Ysgol Bryn Castell recognises that this period of school closure has been very challenging and continue to offer support to try to minimise the impact of this as much as possible on you and your family. During this time, the school will continue to offer telephone support for behaviour and families in crisis from Monday to Friday (including bank holidays); please call 01656 815595 and leave a message and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
Lastly, our staff have been working tirelessly to ensure provision has been available during this difficult time and we will continue to act in the best interests of your children as we move forward, together. Thank you for your patience and understanding and for all you have done at home in what has been the most challenging of times.
Stay safe and best wishes,
Mrs Helen Ridout and all at Ysgol Bryn Castell
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Dyddiad/Date: 4 June 2020
Dear Parent/Carer
I would like to begin my note by thanking you for your support and patience over the past ten weeks. I am also grateful to you all for the work you have done to support your child’s learning at home since schools closed in March.
Following the Minister for Education’s announcement yesterday, and although local authorities in Wales are awaiting further detail, I am sure that you are keen to know what the next few weeks will look like as far as schools in Bridgend are concerned.
We now know that some learners will be back in schools from 29 June and the school term will be extended by one week until 27 July. The Minister also announced that the autumn half-term break (October holidays) will be extended to two weeks. Whether this extra week will be the week commencing 19 October or 2 November is yet to be determined.
When schools reopen, they will not operate in the same way as they have done in the past. There will be far fewer learners in each classroom and, much in the same way as your child has accessed work over the past few months, schools will continue to provide personalised online learning opportunities for all learners.
Over the next two weeks, your child’s school will contact you to let you know how learners will return to school. It is important to note that learners will return to school on a ‘phased return’. This means that not all learners will return at once and, when they do return, the school day might start and end at different times for different learners. This may include different arrangements for siblings of different ages, attending the same school.
I appreciate that the thought of returning to school and the preparation required might be challenging for learners and parents alike. I anticipate that many parents and learners will be anxious. Please be assured that this is an entirely natural reaction to the current situation. With this in mind, I am keen to do everything possible to assure you of the local authority’s support in ensuring the emotional and physical wellbeing of learners is prioritised. Therefore, please be reassured that the local authority is working closely with schools and its partners to ensure that support is in place to assist your child’s return to school.
Thank you, once again, for your patience and support at this challenging time.
Best wishes
Lindsay Iorwerth Harvey (Mr)
Corporate Director – Education and Family Support/Cyfarwyddwr Corfforaethol – Addysg a Chymorth i Deuluoedd
Bridgend County Borough Council
Dyddiad/Date: 4 June 2020
Annwyl Rieni/Gofalwyr
Hoffwn ddechrau fy neges drwy ddiolch ichi am eich cefnogaeth a’ch amynedd dros y deg wythnos diwethaf. Rwyf hefyd yn ddiolchgar i chi am yr holl waith rydych chi wedi’i wneud i helpu’ch plentyn ddysgu gartref ers i’r ysgolion gau ym mis Mawrth.
Yn dilyn cyhoeddiad y Gweinidog Addysg ddoe, ac er bod awdurdodau lleol Cymru yn aros am ragor o fanylion, rwy’n siŵr eich bod yn awyddus i wybod beth fydd yn digwydd yn ystod yr wythnosau nesaf mewn perthynas ag ysgolion Pen-y-bont ar Ogwr.
Gwyddom yn awr y bydd nifer o ddisgyblion yn dychwelyd i’r ysgolion o 29 Mehefin ymlaen ac y bydd tymor yr haf yn para wythnos ychwanegol, tan 27 Gorffennaf. Cyhoeddodd y Gweinidog hefyd y bydd pythefnos o wyliau yn ystod hanner tymor yr hydref (gwyliau mis Hydref). Nid ydym yn gwybod eto ai’r wythnos yn dechrau ar 19 Hydref ynteu’r wythnos yn dechrau ar 2 Tachwedd fydd yr wythnos ychwanegol.
Pan fydd ysgolion yn ailagor, ni fyddant yn gweithredu fel o’r blaen. Bydd llai o ddisgyblion ym mhob ystafell ddosbarth ac, fel sydd wedi bod yn digwydd dros y misoedd diwethaf, bydd yr ysgolion yn parhau i baratoi cyfleoedd dysgu personol ar-lein i’r holl ddisgyblion.
Dros y bythefnos nesaf, bydd ysgol eich plentyn yn cysylltu â chi i ddweud sut y bydd dysgwyr yn dychwelyd i’r ysgol. Mae’n bwysig nodi y bydd dysgwyr yn dychwelyd i’r ysgol yn raddol. Hynny yw, ni fydd yr holl ddysgwyr yn dychwelyd yr un pryd a, phan fyddant yn dychwelyd, gall y diwrnod ysgol ddechrau a gorffen ar amseroedd gwahanol i ddysgwyr gwahanol. Gall hyn gynnwys trefniadau gwahanol i frodyr a chwiorydd o wahanol oed sy’n mynd i’r un ysgol.
Rwy’n sylweddoli y gall y syniad o ddychwelyd i’r ysgol a pharatoi i wneud hynny fod yn anodd i rai dysgwyr a rhieni. Rwy’n rhagweld y bydd nifer o rieni a dysgwyr yn bryderus. Hoffwn eich sicrhau bod hyn yn ymateb gwbl naturiol i’r sefyllfa bresennol. O gofio hyn, rwy’n awyddus i wneud popeth i’ch sicrhau y bydd yr awdurdod lleol yn eich helpu i sicrhau mai lles emosiynol a chorfforol y dysgwyr fydd yn cael blaenoriaeth. Gan hynny, cofiwch fod yr awdurdod lleol yn gweithio’n agos gydag ysgolion a’i bartneriaid i wneud yn siŵr bod mesurau ar waith i helpu’ch plentyn ddychwelyd i’r ysgol.
Diolch, unwaith eto, am eich amynedd a’ch cefnogaeth yn ystod y cyfnod anodd hwn.
Cofion gorau
Lindsay Iorwerth Harvey (Mr)
Corporate Director – Education and Family Support/Cyfarwyddwr Corfforaethol – Addysg a Chymorth i Deuluoedd
Bridgend County Borough Council
Please find below a link to the Snap Parent/Carer survey.
Please note the deadline for completion of this survey is Friday 5 June at 3pm.
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