Maths Open Day - Wednesday 28/2/24
Last chance to book your place! Bookings will close Monday 9:30am so that we can start printing information packs. More information in the last newsletter (including times) if you missed it's linked here. Booking form linked here.
Parent Forum
A reminder that the next Parent Forum is Thursday 29/2/24. We will be discussing feedback from the Maths Open Day event (& ideas for future events to provide information about how to support children's learning). We will also be discussing feedback from the last two parent questionnaires: January was progress towards our Estyn recommendation and the current February questionnaire is around school trips. If you would like to join the forum please email Mrs Tucker: TuckerJ58@sch.caerphilly.gov.uk
We are seeking parental views before looking at creating a consistent policy around school trips and wider curriculum experiences e.g. workshops. This includes seeking your views on costs and parental contributions at a time when we are facing budget cuts and school fund is low. We'd really appreciate it if we could have some more responses (so far only 4 parents have contributed). It is a questionnaire that requires some thinking but that's because we're really trying to get some quality feedback around the issues we're experiencing. Please refer to our last newsletter before completing the form linked within.
St David's Day
St David's Day is Friday next week. Children, as always, are invited to dress up in something Welsh themed e.g. a traditional costume, a rugby jersey or simply wear a red top & jeans. We will be holding two special assemblies (and will video clips of the children performing and post them on Google Classroom for you to see) and Criw Cymraeg will be judging Eisteddfod homework.
World Book Day
It is our policy in Pontllanfraith not to dress up for World Book Day but it is not ignored. We will be doing our story swaps (teachers swap classes to read to the children) and giving out the book vouchers.
Raising concerns or queries
If you have queries or concerned we would greatly appreciate you bringing them to our attention, by email, so that we can address them and act on anything that needs to be done. Unfortunately social media sometimes gives the impression that other parents have raised concerns with us (when they might not have) and doesn't give us an opportunity to respond (and we can be misrepresented).
More information about ways to contact us is available on the school website, linked here.
If you have a complaint, please see the school's complaints policy - information on the school website, linked here
"We believe that all complainants have a right to be heard, understood and respected. But school staff and governors have the same right. We expect you to be polite and courteous. We will not tolerate aggressive, abusive or unreasonable behaviour. We will also not tolerate unreasonable demands or unreasonable persistence or vexatious complaining or harassment of staff." CCBC's Vexatious Complaints document
Attendance Emails - Callio
In Pontllanfraith Primary School we use the Callio approach in conjunction with the local authority. The aim of the approach is to further inform parents about attendance and how this will impact on pupils. The aim is for children to have attendance greater than 95%.
What impact does low attendance have on my child?
In primary schools, around 90% of children with good attendance (less than 10 days a year absence) make good progress in Literacy and Numeracy. But less than 65% of children with around 15 days absence make the same progress. Parents can be very surprised at how quickly their children can accumulate 15 days absence within a year.
Regardless of the reasons for absence you will receive updates at the end of each half term informing you of your child’s attendance within the Callio banding. No offence is intended.
For more information about our attendance procedures, please see the school website linked here.
School Meals - an update
As shared before half term, we have approached the Local Authority for more information about portion sizes. I asked whether portion size and the policy of having a universal portion size for all children aged 4 - 11, was a Caerphilly decision or determined by Welsh Government, and if it is a Caerphilly decision, is this something that could be looked into and reconsidered?
The response was that portion sizes are determined by Welsh Government, not CCBC and therefore the same across Wales. Funding for Universal Primary Free School Meals is for these sized portions. Portion sizes are set out in Statutory Guidance (produced in 2014 and therefore before the introduction of UPSM) linked here.
I have been informed, however, that Welsh Government are currently reviewing the guidance around Food in School and that Caerphilly's representative will take our point forward to them.
Catering Services also reviewed provision in our school and found no concerns.
The school website linked here has been updated to answer some of the queries recently raised by parents.
Parents Evenings
Parents Evenings will be 19th & 20th March - the link to book will be sent out at the end of next week. Catering Services will be there for parents to talk to and sample school dinners. Miss Rooke will also be providing information to parents about keeping children safe on line.