Keep up to date with all the news happening in school at the moment.
Return to school INFORMATION
• INSET DAYS 1st and 2nd September , closed to pupils.
• Thursday 3rd and Monday 7th September pupils in all classes who have a surname starting with the letters ‘A-M’
• Friday 4th September and Tuesday 8th September pupils in all classes who have a surname starting with the letters ‘N-Z’
Start and finish times as below depending on which class they are in.
• From Wednesday 9th September all pupils return
Nursery am and all day pupils, Y3 and Y6
Start: 8.50am (morning nursery 11am finish) Finish 2.50pm (nursery afternoon pupils start 1pm)
Y1, Y4 and Y5
Start: 9.00am Finish 3pm
Reception and Y2
Start: 9.15am Finish 3.10pm
If public health Wales guidance changes over the summer we will update you on changes as soon as we can.
If you have children in more than one group then you arrive at the slot for the oldest child and finish at the slot for the oldest child. e.gif you have a child in nursery, Y2 and Y5 you will arrive at 9am and finish at 3pm
10-07-20
Dear Parent/Carer,
Yesterday, Kirsty Williams, Minister for Education announced that schools will re-open for all learners in September. To ensure clarity, I wanted to share as much information as I can with you, regarding the arrangements that we will need to put in place in readiness for September.
The past few months have been challenging and many of our learners have been anxious about a loss of learning and not being able to see their friends. I therefore welcome the Education Minister’s plan which will enable us to prepare for the safe reopening of schools in September.
Planning and preparation days will take place at the start of term to enable staff to review our risk assessments, processes and associated systems to ensure schools can welcome pupils and staff back safely.
During the first week some specific groups of learners may need to be prioritised, such as those who have not attended this term, Year 7, 10 and 11 for Secondary and Early Years and Year 6 in the Primary sector.
From the second week of term, we will maximise the number of learners in attendance leading to a full return on the 14th of September when school attendance will be compulsory.
Further guidance will be issued by the Welsh Government early next week, and it is expected that this will be continuously updated as the situation evolves. Each school will have local challenges to address, including the availability of staffing. This and other specific areas such as school transport, catering, cleaning, etc. will be worked through in detail over the next few weeks.
It is our understanding that there will be no requirement to provide childcare for critical workers when schools re-open in September.
Given the current extraordinary circumstances, I am aware that many hard-working staff in schools, learners and their families may be under additional emotional, financial and psychological pressure. The Local Authority will continue to work to ensure the best support package is offered to ensure the ongoing wellbeing needs of all learners and individuals are met at this time.
As our plans evolve further, supportive information will also be provided through the Local Authority website and social media channels.
Your school will keep you updated with their specific arrangements for the start of the Autumn term.
I would like to thank you for the co-operation and dedication you have provided over these difficult few months and I know that working together, we will ensure the Autumn term return to school will be successful.
Your sincerely,
Gareth Morgans
We will be in a position by the end of next week to tell you what will be happening in September. Just to be clear school timings will go back to normal. However we will gradually move from 7 in a class as is now to a full class over 2 weeks.
All pupils will not be in during the first week. Thank you for your patience and understanding. We are looking forward to seeing all our pupils back in school.
We understand that this year has not been kind for our pupils but it is has been particularly unfair for our Y6 pupils who should have had their final goodbyes while in school. To try and make up for this challenging situation we would like to give them a goodbye gift of a 'Leavers' T-Shirt'. We have ordered these and they will be available for collection next Thursday. Timings will be available later next week. This is a goodbye and good luck from all staff, governors and pupils at Maes Y Morfa School. We hope this goes some way to cheering them up at this difficult time.
June 19th, 2020.
Dear Parent/Carer,
Firstly, I would like to thank you for your support, understanding and patience over the past three months. I am grateful to you for everything you have done to assist your child’s learning, your child’s school and the local authority at this difficult time.
The purpose of this letter is to provide you with further information in respect to the re-opening of schools. Please note that schools in Carmarthenshire will now close on Friday 17th July for the summer holiday, not on 24th July as previously stated.
Check in, Catch up and Prepare
Our school staff have been innovative in the way they have kept learning going since the 20th March; it is clear from recent experience that learning knows no boundaries and will not be locked down! As a result of the Minister for Education’s recent announcement in respect of the re-opening 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.
It is unlikely that schools will return to the way they were operating prior to the lockdown for some considerable time; we however need to approach the ‘check in, catch up’ arrangements as first steps towards inspiring and exciting pupils about learning once again.
From Monday 29th June, our schools will welcome back pupils to attend specified sessions. 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.
Headteachers and their staff are preparing our schools to ensure that their operation complies with local and national guidance and ensure that they are as safe as possible for pupils and staff. It is clear that the restrictions placed on schools will be lifted carefully and cautiously and each individual school will make local decisions on how they will re-open. We expect this process to be developmental and as schools and their communities gain greater confidence and rhythm, they will progress towards admitting up to their new capacity although it may take time to reach this level of operation.
We expect schools to contact you to ensure that you understand, as soon as possible, how environments, procedures and operation have been adapted in order to accommodate, as safely as possible, the return of pupils to schools. These arrangements will be reviewed regularly and will be subject to change wherever necessary, placing the safety of pupils and staff at the centre of consideration.
We appreciate that there will be some apprehension and uncertainty at this time. Schools will engage with you over the next fortnight to inform you of their plans and to provide reassurances as and when needed. Information will include, amongst other things:
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.
Therefore, when your child returns to school, there will be a clear focus on wellbeing and on an enjoyment of outdoor learning, where and when this is practical. In secondary schools, there may eventually be a focus, in some year groups, on supporting pupils’ learning, in anticipation of the academic demands of the forthcoming school year.
Owing to the regulations set by Welsh Parliament on social distancing, our home to school transport provision will be significantly restricted. Pupils are being encouraged to safely walk or cycle to school where possible, and if transport is needed, for parents to make every effort to provide it.
It is important to note that, during this period, you are free to decide whether to send your child to school or not. We are doing all we can to ensure that the school environment is as safe as possible for learners and staff. Should you decide not to send your child to school during this summer term, you will not be penalised. If you choose not to send your child to school, your child will continue to receive the same home-to-school support they have received so far.
In conclusion, I would like to thank you all, once again, for your continuing support at a very difficult time.
Gareth Morgans
For further information and guidance on schools re-opening please visit -www.carmarthenshire.gov.wales/education
Daily activities at school, before the summer holidays This is a guide as to the sorts of things your child will be doing in school over the next few weeks. We are following Welsh government guidance. All pupils will still have access to online learning and the learning activity grid work for each class which is available on the website. For this work you do not need internet access. Teaching staff will continue to contact you and update this work over the next 3 weeks. During the summer holiday, there will be no updated online provision or phonecalls. However, if you need any non- urgent help, please contact us on the usual email: admin@maesymorfa.ysgolccc.cymru • Arrival and circle time- collection of thoughts, feelings and any questions linked to online work or anything that has been raised in the news. • Expressions through arts and crafts- • Outdoor activities – team games, team building , trust and co-operation, safe cycling (we have a variety of different sized bikes to accommodate all pupils, these are new and have approved safety helmets) staff have been trained in cycling training techniques. • Meditation and Yoga – brain gym • Dance and movement • Brain gym quizzes, wellbeing bingo, health and safety detectives, setting up safe rules • The day will end with a story or a song
If your child is coming back to school , during the week starting 29th June a member of staff will telephone you next week and tell you which group your child is in. They will be the group leader for those few weeks. They will give you days and times that your child is due to come in to school and leave school. These timings are very important. Please remember if you miss your time slot in the morning we cannot admit you. If you miss your collection time , then you will have to return at 4.30pm to collect your child when everyone has left. Thank you for your understanding and please answer the phone to NO CALLER ID or CALLER UNKNOWN next week. If you have not heard anything by Thursday and you expecting your child to return , please email us on admin@maesymorfa.ysgolccc.cymru. This will mean we haven't been able to get hold of you. Timings for groups will also be published on our social media pages and website. Pupils who have been attending the hub will be contacted separately as they are in a separate group. Nursery pupils will be offered a later start so that do not have too long a session. Thank you for your continued support.
June learning activity grids with lots of topic based ideas are now available for each class on the school website. In Pupils section, click on your child's class. Enjoy
TIMINGS FOR COLLECTING YOUR CHILD'S REPORT:
Please could we ask that one person from your family comes to collect the reports. We will open one of the doors(the entrance door) and there will be a table directly inside where we will ask you your child's name and hand you the report in a brown envelope. Y6 refunds will be available at the second door (usually school exit.) No refunds will be given out to pupils and you will be asked to sign for it. If you are asking a neighbour to collect the refund then please telephone us to let us know who this is. We will only give the refund to family members if not told.
Gloves and sanitiser will be available for you should you wish to use them. We ask that you observe the floor markings and stand on the 2 metre gaps. Apologies but we cannot allow parents access inside the school building. Please only arrive on your day and in your time slot. If you cannot collect the reports and your child is coming into school, we will give them to your child. Remember not all children will be coming in to school before the summer holidays. Thank you for your support.
TUESDAY 23rd JUNE Y6 BETWEEN 10am and 12pm
Y5 BETWEEN 12.30pm and 2.30pm
Y1 BETWEEN 2.30pm and 4pm
WEDNESDAY 24th JUNE Y4 BETWEEN 10am and 12pm
Y2 BETWEEN 12.30pm and 2.30pm
Reception 2.30pm to 4pm
THURSDAY 25th JUNE Y3 BETWEEN 9am and 11am
NURSERY 11.30am - 1.30pm
If you have another child in school, just come in the older child's slot. e.g If you have a child in Y6 , Y1 and Y3 come in the 10 am slot on Tuesday and ask for the Y1 and Y3 child's report while you are there. Thank you