Keep up to date with all the latest news happening in school at the moment.

• Letter from CSC and Education Directors from across the region to parents and carers

  Wed 06 May 2020

   

  Dear parents and carers,

  We have taken the unusual step of writing to you directly in order to thank you for the fantastic work you are doing to support distance learning with your children. It has been a privilege to see some wonderfully positive examples of the way young people of our region have approached the current situation, despite its complexities. Please remember that distance learning cannot be expected to mirror the school experience – to try would be detrimental to yourselves!

  We want to take this opportunity to reassure you that we are working hard in collaboration with schools and organisations across Wales, to support yourselves as parents. There is a growing area of supporting materials for parents and carers hosted on the Hwb website. To make it easier for parents to find all of the advice and guidance we have created a Parent area on the CSC website. All of the information can be found here.

  You will find advice and guidance on how to access and support learning. Additionally, you will find guidance around online safety and a range of additional learning materials which are freely available. Communications for parents and carers have already been released by Welsh Government and will supplemented over the coming weeks. Parents are also able to download a range of software for free via the Hwb platform, follow the links in the parent area.

  As you are aware your school and indeed schools throughout the region are working tirelessly to ensure your children have access to distance learning materials. Our education professionals are, as always, endeavouring to ensure the wellbeing of each and every pupil is at the forefront of the response to Covid-19. We also know that schools are maintaining contact with children and young people across the region, this will be carried out in a variety of ways. Please remember that it is likely the phone number will be withheld, so please make sure you know the arrangements for your school.

  Once again, we would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your continued support. Please stay safe and well at this difficult time.

  Best wishes

• Stay Safe, Stay Home

  Sun 03 May 2020
  🌈 We are all so proud of you! We will get through this together, take care -  we MISS you🌈 

  

• emergency childcare for the week commencing 11th May

  Sun 03 May 2020

  Good morning,

   

  Applications for emergency childcare for the week commencing 11^th May will be live on the Council’s website from 8.00 a.m. this morning (Sunday 3^rdMay). 

   

  Parents/carers have until 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday 5^th May to apply.  

   

  Nb.     People who must apply:

   

  ·Key/essential workers must re-apply weekly, as requirements/shift patterns, etc. change regularly and we need to ensure the numbers of applications/hub attendees are as accurate as possible so that the hubs can be staffed appropriately.

   

  ·Parents/carers of vulnerable learners and parents/carers of special school pupilswho have already applied for a place and are already attending an emergency childcare setting do not need to re-apply on a weekly basis.  Their attendance will be ongoing, but they must e-mailschoolplanning@rctcbc.gov.uk if they no longer require a place.

   

  ·Any parents/carers of vulnerable learnersand parents carers of special school pupils who are not currently attendingone of the hubs must make an initial application for a place and complete the appropriate registration documents.

   

  Many thanks,

  

• Subject: parent portal from speechlink

  Tue 28 Apr 2020

   

   

  You do not need  to subscribe to the packages to use these resources. The site can be found at https://speechandlanguage.info/parents

   

   

• Update on paediatric speech and language therapy service:

  Mon 27 Apr 2020

  Update on paediatric speech and language therapy service:

   

  We have redesigned our service to children and families with speech, language, communication and dysphagia needs to reduce the risk of harm during the ongoing crisis. Our service is based on the reduction of harm and management of risk .Our paediatric therapists will continue to:

   

  •           Manage new referrals of children triaged as in urgent need of support

  •           Offer support to families for both dysphagia and communication based on their level of risk

  •           Offer advice and support to professionals.

   

  Almost all our work is currently through telephone consultation using a hub model.

   

  We would welcome telephone contact from anyone with a concern.

   

  Please encourage families to phone for support as required.

   

  If you wish to speak to a speech and language therapist please phone 01685 351300. If you leave a message with our admin team, the appropriate therapist will get back with you.

   

  Thank you

   

  Chris Dowle.

  Head of Paediatric SLT services.

• emergency childcare for the week commencing 4th May

  Sun 26 Apr 2020

  Applications for emergency childcare for the week commencing 4^th May is live on the Council’s website from 8.00 a.m. Sunday 26^th April.

   

  Parents/carers have until 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday 28th April to apply. 

   

  Nb.     People who must apply:

   

  ·Key/essential workers must re-apply weekly, as requirements/shift patterns, etc. change regularly and we need to ensure the numbers of applications/hub attendees are as accurate as possible so that the hubs can be staffed appropriately.

   

  ·Parents/carers of vulnerable learners and parents/carers of special school pupilswho have already applied for a place and are already attending an emergency childcare setting do not need to re-apply on a weekly basis.  Their attendance will be ongoing, but they must e-mailschoolplanning@rctcbc.gov.uk if they no longer require a place.

   

  ·Any parents/carers of vulnerable learnersand parents carers of special school pupils who are not currently attendingone of the hubs must make an initial application for a place and complete the appropriate registration documents.

   

  Many thanks,

• Emergency child care

  Fri 24 Apr 2020

  There is no longer a requirement for parents/carers of vulnerable  pupils to apply for emergency childcare on a weekly basis.

   

  If a vulnerable child is currently registered and attending an emergency hub or a special school, their place will continue to be allocated for as long as it is required.

   

  However, if a place is no longer required, they must e-mail schoolplanning@rctcbc.gov.uk so that hub lists can be kept up to date and staffed accordingly, and any associated transport (if applicable) can be cancelled.

   

  The vulnerable learner/special school application form will remain on the RCT website for any new applications – i.e. for any vulnerable learner or special school child not currently accessing the emergency childcare provision, as new applicants need to go through an initial application and registration process.

   

  Any new applicants who miss the online window for applying can e-mail schoolplanning@rctcbc.gov.uk

   

   

   

  

• Latest information

  Tue 21 Apr 2020

  further information
  New guidance will help Wales stay safe and stay learning while dealing coronavirus impact
  Stay Safe. Stay Learning: continuity of learning policy statement
  Video message
  Five ways Wales is leading the way in delivering digital education services

  Update on ongoing work to support higher
  Education and Childcare: Coronavirus FAQs
  Lots of information and guidance covering education and childcare settings, but if you can't find what you're looking for here, contact us at Covid19Education@gov.wales
  Jobs, skills and financial support
  Latest advice on Coronavirus from Welsh Government: https://gov.wales/coronavirus

• Emergency Childcare commencing 27th April

  Mon 20 Apr 2020

  Applications for emergency childcare for the week commencing 27^th April will be going live on the Council’s website from 9am this morning(Monday 20^th April). 

   

  Parents/carers have until midday on Wednesday 22^nd April to apply.

   

  Please would you use your school messaging system to inform eligible parents/carers.

   

  Many thanks.

  

• Click on the links below for further information

  Wed 15 Apr 2020

  Urgent Appeal to download the COVID Symptom Tracker app   Notification to HEFCW of provisional funding allocation - Letter from the Minister for Education, Kirsty Williams   Higher education and student support: coronavirus     Education and Childcare: Coronavirus FAQs Lots of information and guidance covering education and childcare settings, but if you can't find what you're looking for here, contact us atCovid19Education@gov.wales   Vulnerable children and safeguarding: coronavirus     Education safeguarding guidance: coronavirus   Jobs, skills and financial support   If you would also like to sign up to a weekly Welsh Government COVID-19 bulletin, please sign up here      Latest advice on Coronavirus from Welsh Government: https://gov.wales/coronavirus