Latest News

Latest information and news!

• Letter from the Director of Education re returning in January 2021

  Fri 18 Dec 2020 Mrs Cox-Wall

  Please note, Ty Gwyn is closed to pupils Monday 4th January and Tuesday 5th January 2021.

  Ty Gwyn is open to all learners on Wednesday 6th January 2021.

  Transport is in place.

  Larger schools will be phasing pupils in over the first week, should there be any change to the circumstances in Ty Gwyn, we will contact you immediately.

  If your child has any symptoms or you have been advised by TTP to isolate, please contact school and do not attend. 

  We have been asked to share this letter with you but please be aware Ty Gwyn will be open to all from 6th January.

   

  Dear Parent/Carer,
  With transmission levels continuing to increase across Wales, and uncertainty over the potential impact on school staffing levels over the Christmas break, I am writing to advise you that there is a need to build some flexibility into the start of spring term arrangements.
  Schools will be closed to learners on the 4th and 5th of January, when there will be an opportunity to assess staffing levels and plan for the transition of learners back into school. All schools will plan to get priority learners back to school from the 6th onwards, with the expectation that all schools will be providing face to face learning for the majority of their pupils by 11th January, leading to a full return in the days before 18th January at the latest.
  Where a school has moved to remote learning because of exceptional and specific local circumstances, schools will be expected to make special arrangements for vulnerable learners
  and the children of critical workers to attend.
  In these circumstances, vulnerable learner provision will be made in all schools for high priority children:
   that have additional learning needs;
   are looked after;
   are young carers;
   are in need of care and support; or
   with child protection needs.
  Critical worker provision for will only be made available in primary schools, special schools or PRUs when a setting is not open to all year groups. Your child’s school will notify you on Monday the 4th if this offer is available to the following eligible workers:
   Blue light workers, including NHS, Police, Ambulance and Fire Service staff;
   Healthcare workers; and
   Childcare or education staff

  The plan to return to schools in January will give some certainty, whilst also allowing for flexibility to take account of local circumstances. These measures are required to protect our children, staff and communities and to ensure that we minimise disruption to our children’s education.
  Teachers, school staff, learners, parents and carers’ response has been remarkable throughout this pandemic and I thank you for your continued patience and support.
  Best wishes for safe Christmas.
  Yours sincerely,

  Gaynor Davies
  Director of Education and Inclusion Services

   

• End of Autumn term 2020 and beginning of Spring term 2021

  Wed 16 Dec 2020 Mrs Cox-Wall

  Just a reminder that Ty Gwyn is closed for INSET on Friday 18th December.

  We re-open on 4th January 2021 and this is a Progress Day where we will be reviewing individual progress with parents and carers via phone call, as per the letter sent yesterday. 

  Myself and the staff of Ty Gwyn wish you all a safe and healthy Christmas break, please use the Parents/Children's sections of our website for sources of help and support as holiday times can be pressured.

  Best wishes to you all for Christmas, Nadolig Llawen!

  Mrs Cox-Wall

• Sale of Christmas items from our Enterprise, Arts and Crafts Club

  Fri 11 Dec 2020 Mrs Cox-Wall

  Please see the attached photos of items for sale for Christmas. These have been made by children and young people in our Wednesday Enterprise, Arts and Crafts Club with Mr Bright, Mrs Elston and Mrs Pennington.

  As we are not able to have a Christmas Sale in school, we are going virtual!

  Please email admin.tygwyn@rctcbc.gov.uk or ring school (01685 652525) if you would like to purchase an item (before Friday 18th December 2020). We are asking you donate an amount of your choosing with proceeds being split between Teenage Cancer Trust and school funds. 
  UPDATE - We raised over £130! This is going to be split as above, thanks everyone who contributed 🎅🏼 🤶🏼

  

• Letter from the Education Minister re the closing of schools early

  Thu 10 Dec 2020 Welsh Government

  Secondary schools and colleges in Wales will move to online learning from Monday as part of ‘national effort to reduce coronavirus transmission’

   

  *As a specialist provision, Ty Gwyn remains open until Thursday 17th December 2020, as normal.

   

  Secondary schools and colleges in Wales will move to online learning from Monday, December 14 as part of a ‘national effort to reduce transmission of coronavirus’ Education Minister Kirsty Williams confirmed today.

   

  The Minister made it clear that, thanks to the efforts of education staff across the country, schools and colleges are safe and secure environments, with almost half of all Welsh schools having had zero covid cases since September.

   

  However, it is also recognised that education settings being open can contribute to wider social mixing outside the school and college environment.

   

  By making this decision, the Minister felt it was important to make a ‘clear, national direction’ to take pressure off individual schools, colleges, local authorities, parents and carers.

   

  The Minister said her decision followed expert advice from Wales’s Chief Medical Officer showing that the public health situation in Wales was deteriorating.

   

  The latest TTP data shows that rates of Covid-19 have further increased across Wales and have now exceeded 370/100k with a test positivity of 17%.

   

  The R rate in Wales has increased to 1.27 with a doubling time of just 11.7 days.

   

  As during the firebreak, local authorities and schools will be expected to consider what provision is suitable for vulnerable learners and this could include ‘on- premises’ learning.

   

  Education Minister Kirsty Williams said: “Every day, we are seeing more and more people admitted to hospital with coronavirus symptoms.

   

  “The virus is putting our health service under significant and sustained pressure and it is important we all make a contribution to reduce its transmission.

   

  “In his advice to me today, the CMO recommends that a move to online learning should be implemented for secondary school pupils as soon as is practicable.

   

  “I can therefore confirm that a move to online learning should be implemented for secondary school pupils and college students from Monday next week.

   

  “We recognise, as we did during the firebreak, that it is more difficult for primary and special school age children to undertake self-directed learning.

   

  “That is why we are encouraging primary and special schools to continue to stay open.

   

   

  “Having spoken to local education leaders, I am confident that schools and colleges have online learning provision in place.

   

  “This will also be important in ensuring that students are at home during this time, learning and staying safe.

   

  “Critically, and this is very important, children should be at home.

   

  “This is not an early Christmas holiday, please do everything you can to minimise your contact with others.”

   

  “The education family in Wales has pulled together so many times this year to make a real difference to the course of this virus and ultimately to save lives and I know we can do the same again.

   

  “Together we will keep Wales safe.”

• CORONAVIRUS/COVID-19 TESTING INFORMATION NOTE FOR PARENTS/CARERS OF PUPILS ATTENDING SECONDARY SCHOOLS

  Mon 07 Dec 2020 RCT Council

  
  CORONAVIRUS/COVID-19 TESTING
  INFORMATION NOTE FOR PARENTS/CARERS OF PUPILS 
  ATTENDING SECONDARY SCHOOLS 

  
  Parents/carers who are resident in the lower Cynon Valley area who have children aged 11 and above attending college or secondary schools other than Mountain Ash Comprehensive School are encouraged to get their children, themselves and other family members tested by visiting the Testing Centres at Abercynon Leisure Centre, Mountain Ash Bowls Club or another pop up test centre.  Full details about all the Test Centres and opening times is available at:
   www.rctcbc.gov.uk/MassTesting

  •    Only individuals with no symptoms should attend these Community Testing Centres.
    
  •    No appointment is necessary. 

  
  THIS IS A BRIEF INFORMATION NOTE TO OUTLINE THE PROCESSES TO BE FOLLOWED IN RELATION TO THE TESTING BEING UNDERTAKEN AT THE COMMUNITY TESTING CENTRES AND THE ACTIONS TO BE TAKEN ONCE THE RESULT OF THE TEST IS KNOWN.

  TEST PROCESS

  •    The initial test will be a lateral flow test.  The test involves your child taking a swab from the back of their throat and the inside of their nose using a long cotton bud.  This process does not hurt and only takes a couple of minutes.  The result from the test will be back within approximately 30 minutes, during which time you will be asked to remain on the testing site (in a safe place, away from others).

  POSITIVE TEST

  •    Anyone who tests positive will be requested to immediately undertake a full follow up confirmatory PCR test.  Details of how to access this test will be provided by the Testing Centre.

  •    Whilst awaiting the result of the PCR test (results usually take approximately 24 hours), your child must self-isolate immediately, along with their household. They must not go to school and household members should not go to work.  Do not use public transport or visit any shops or public buildings on the way home and limit contact with others.

  •    Close contacts will also be traced and must self-isolate whilst the result of the follow up PCR test is awaited.

  •    If the result of the follow up PCR test is negative, self-isolation for the child, close contacts and household members can end and your child can return to school.  

  •    If the PCR follow up test is also positive, Track and Trace will be in touch to provide further information regarding self-isolation periods for your child, household and other close contacts.  

  (Your child will need to self-isolate for 10 days from the date of their initial lateral flow test.
  Household members and close contacts of your child will need to self-isolate for 14 days from the date of your child’s initial lateral flow test).

  Please notify the school of the result of the initial lateral flow test and the follow-up PCR test.   

  CLOSE CONTACTS OF POSITIVE CASES

  •    Close contacts of a child who received a positive lateral test flow result will be traced and must self-isolate immediately.  If your child is identified as a close contact of a confirmed case, you will be contacted.  Your child will need to self-isolate, although members of your household will not need to self-isolate, unless your child becomes symptomatic or has a positive test themselves.

  •    If the follow up PCR test is negative, your child (as a close contact) can end their self- isolation and return to school.  

  •    If a child has a positive follow up PCR test, close contacts must self-isolate for 14 days from the date of the last contact with the confirmed case.  If your child is identified as a close contact, they must not attend school for 14 days.  The rest of your household do not need to self-isolate unless your child becomes symptomatic or has a positive test themselves.

  NEGATIVE TEST

  •    Those who test negative to the initial lateral flow test will need to continue to follow current national guidance on social distancing and other preventative measures.

  •    Please attend Abercynon Leisure Centre or Mountain Ash Bowls Club or another pop up test centre after 7 days to retake the test to ensure that you are still free of Covid-19.  

  TESTS FOR SYMPTOMATIC INDIVIDUALS

  •    Only individuals with no symptoms should attend these Community Testing Centres.  Individuals with symptoms (a new continuous cough, a high temperature, or a loss or change to taste or smell) should book a test by visiting  https://gov.wales/apply-coronavirus-covid-19-test or by calling the free phone number 119 between the hours of 7am to 11pm.

• It’s been a busy week, some reminders for parents and carers.

  Sun 06 Dec 2020 Mrs Cox-Wall

  Several staff have had to remain at home this week for isolation reasons or as their own children have had to isolate. We have had to use every resource and some additional cover to keep everyone learning and safe and I’d like to thank all our teachers and support staff for working so very hard to fill the gaps. Our cleaning team have also been extremely conscientious and focussed. 
  This is an anxious time with the virus still very much amongst us and children who live in the lower Cynon Valley have brought home letters re the additional testing arrangements.

  To help us keep Ty Gwyn safe, please:

  1. ensure your child has a face covering on school transport,

  2. encourage them to follow staff instructions re wearing face coverings outside the classroom,

  3. leave mobile phones ( a school rule anyway) and bags at home,

  4. encourage them to reduce sharing items which spread high levels of bacteria. 
   

  Thank you for your support. Please remember school finishes on Thursday 17th December. 

  

• Mobile phones

  Wed 02 Dec 2020 Mrs Cox-Wall
  Please support our no mobile phone policy. Your support is needed to stop your child or young person bringing their phone to school and thus avoid issues on arrival.
  We want children and young people in classes and learning, phones are a distraction, safety risk and a disturbance. Their being brought in will not be accepted. 
  Please do ring if you want to discuss this, thankyou. 

• Christmas Dinner and Christmas Jumper Day

  Wed 02 Dec 2020 Mrs Cox-Wall
  We will be having Christmas Dinner in school on Wednesday 9th December. We will also be wearing Christmas jumpers on this day and donating anything raised to Save the Children. Join if you can!