Latest News

Resilient Families

Tue 29 Sep 2020

Update on the support Resilient Families can offer at present. Depending on what support your family needs Resilient Families are working closely with:

•   Housing
•   CAB / Finance
•   Health
•   Education
•   Women’s Aid
•   Youth Offending Service
•   YEPS
•   RCT Parenting

The support they offer is short term up to 12 weeks but is designed to provide practical help to manage the challenges a family may face by focusing on the strengths of the family. This may include:

•   Developing confidence and skills to deal with everyday parenting challenges
•   Housing issues
•   Help with family finances
•   Family relationships
•   Early language and communication skills
•   Help with routines
•   Building emotional resilience for both parents and child
•   Education issues
•   Accessing employment and training

Referrals can be made on a C1 via the IAA Team. An assessor will then be offered to your family either by a face to face assessment or if preferred over the phone. Once allocated to a team your family can expect support from the Intervention Worker via telephone contact, virtual groups/meetings, online resources and practical activities.

If you need any further information please do not hesitate to contact me Rachel Millard on 07385 375586

Rachel Millard
Swyddog Broceriaeth ac Adolygu / Brokerage and Review Officer
Y Gwasanaeth Teuluoedd Cydnerth / Resilient Families Service
Tŷ Trevithick
Abercynon
R.C.T.
CF45 4UQ

Ffôn: Tel: 01443 744120

ON LINE PAYMENT OF DINNER MONEY

Thu 17 Sep 2020

Links to the online payment system for dinners is below for ease of access.

www.rctcbc.gov.uk/schoolpayments

If you have any queries regarding this please email bankrec@rctcbc.gov.uk or ring 01443 680744/578/595/352 and we will be able to assist you.

On behalf of Councillor Andrew Morgan, Leader of Rhondda Cynon Taf Council

Thu 17 Sep 2020

Due to the significant increase and spread of Covid-19 in RCT, from tonight, the new enhanced measures introduced by the Welsh Government will come into effect across RCT. To help minimise any possible transmission, please observe social distancing outside of the school grounds and wear a face mask if possible, in line with the Council’s advice to residents issued on Thursday, Sept 10^th. If your children are out playing during the evenings or weekends, please be mindful of who they are with and what they are doing. Restricting the number of social contacts, maintaining social distancing and promoting effective hygiene are essential to reducing the risk of transmission. The next review of the Welsh Government restrictions will be in 2 weeks’ time and, if we are to see these measures reduced or even removed, then we all need to play our part in minimising the spread of coronavirus in our communities and keeping everyone safe.

COVID testing

Tue 15 Sep 2020

https://gov.wales/apply-coronavirus-covid-19-test

URGENT INFORMATION- Relocation of Temporary Testing Centre RCT

Sat 12 Sep 2020

The temporary COVID testing centre in Porth will be RELOCATED to Rhondda Cynon Taf Council offices at The Pavilions, Clydach Vale, CF40 2XX, with IMMEDIATE EFFECT.

Due to the high level of engagement from the community at the temporary test centre in Porth, the decision has been taken by Cwm Taf Morgannwg UHB to relocate the test centre to allow this process to be undertaken more efficiently.

The test centre in Clydach Vale will be a DRIVE IN test centre, meaning that visitors will attend in their vehicles, keeping a safe distance from others in the process and allowing people to head immediately home to self- isolate until test result received. People who test positive for COVID-19 should continue to self- isolate for 10 days.

You MUST book at test before attending the test centre. You should only book a test if you CURRENTLY HAVE coronavirus symptoms:
• New continuous cough
• High Temperature
• Loss/change of taste/smell

This testing centre is only available to residents of RCT. To book a test please follow the link - https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/testing-and-tracing/get-a-test-to-check-if-you-have-coronavirus/

*Please note, the testing centre will be open from 10.30am-4.30pm on Friday 11 September, 9.30am thereafter.

AUTUMN TERM PROVISION BREAKFAST CLUBS

Thu 10 Sep 2020

AUTUMN TERM PROVISION BREAKFAST CLUBS

As you will be aware, schools within Rhondda Cynon Taf were intending to re-establish breakfast club provision from Monday 14th September. I am writing to inform you that regrettably, following health and safety reviews, it is not possible to safely re-open breakfast club provision on this date against a backdrop of recent rising COVID-19 cases within our community.

Following the receipt of extremely high level of applications for breakfast club provision and an assessment of school hall sizes, it is not going to be possible to safely ensure that children remain within their contact groups when attending breakfast club. The Council is keen to ensure that the provision of education is not compromised by potentially having large numbers of children needing to self-isolate due to contact groups not being maintained when attending breakfast club provision. We are planning to re-open provision on 28th September 2020 with a significantly reduced capacity. Places will be allocated on a ‘first come - first served’ basis based on the submitted applications and unsuccessful applicants will be notified by 5pm on 18th September 2020. Successful applicants will not be notified as places have been automatically reserved.

A further application process will be undertaken for the new Spring Term and parents will receive further details at the end of November 2020 of how to reapply on-line.

I am sure you will understand that the safety of your child is paramount in this decision. The position will be kept under review and I will write to you again with a further update in due course.

Thank you in anticipation of your continued support.

Yours sincerely,

Director of Education and Inclusion Services

Breakfast Club

Thu 10 Sep 2020

Following a health and safety review, including a review of the size of school and dining halls, staffing provision and extremely high numbers of applications for breakfast club provision, along with concerns expressed in relation to the additional challenges of keeping children safe in their contact group and the significant rise of COVID-19 cases within Rhondda Cynon Taf, the Council has concluded that it is not possible to safely re-open breakfast club provision from next Monday (14^thSeptember) as originally intended.

The provision of education and safety of all pupils and staff is of paramount importance. It is likely that this position will remain unchanged for the next two weeks and that restricted provision will re-open on the 28^th of September. The position will be kept under review and further information will be provided going forward as circumstances change.

Thank you for your continued support.

Mobile COVID test centre PORTH

Wed 09 Sep 2020

Here's the link to book an appointment at the mobile test centre in Porth: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/testing-and-tracing/get-a-test-to-check-if-you-have-coronavirus/?utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=SocialSignIn&utm_content=Coronavirus

RCT Testing

Tue 08 Sep 2020

⚠️ URGENT ANNOUNCEMENT - Temporary Testing Centre to open in Lower Rhondda on Thursday 10 September⚠️

Due to the recent rise in the number of cases of Coronavirus in the Lower Rhondda area, Rhondda Cynon Taf Council, working in partnership with Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board will be setting up a temporary testing centre at Oldway House car park, Porth, CF39 9ST from Thursday 10 September.

The testing facility is intended for people living in the Rhondda Cynon Taf area only.

It is important that you only attend if you have Covid symptoms:
❗ New continuous cough
❗High temperature
❗Loss of or change to your normal sense of smell or taste

Symptom checker:
Check for Coronavirus symptoms: http://orlo.uk/NTFWE

Self- isolation:
If you have Coronavirus symptoms, you and all members of your household must remain self- isolating until you have received the result of your COVID test, and should only go out to have your COVID test.

To book a test:
Appointments will need to be made in advance via an online portal – details of how to book a test will be shared on Wednesday.

There are also other testing facilities available in the Cwm Taf Morgannwg Area. You can book a test at one of these facilities either by calling 119 or online here:http://orlo.uk/52R18

If you are visiting the temporary centre, it is essential that you maintain social distancing by staying 2 metres apart from others while you wait to be seen, and before and after you have been tested.

Coronavirus is very easy to catch and can be fatal, particularly for vulnerable people.

We all have a part to play in keeping our communities safe.

#KeepWalesSafe #KeepRCTSafe