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

• Covid Update

  Mon 11 Oct 2021
  

• Letter to Parents and Carers from Director of Education

  Tue 14 Sep 2021

  Dear Parents/Carers
  On Monday 13 September 2021, Dr Keith Reid, Executive Director of Public Health for the Swansea Bay region wrote to me to indicate that the Regional Incident Management Team (IMT) considers that the level of risk in Swansea Bay is currently equivalent to the “High” rating on our schools framework. This decision has been communicated to our schools and extra measures are now being put in place across all our schools.
  If ever proof was needed, this shows that Covid has not gone away in our region or in Wales and levels of infection are now as high as last December. Schools are not themselves a high risk, but we are asking them to take steps to help prevent the continuing spread of the virus in the wider community.
  Amongst the control measures that schools will be considering are:
  • not holding large group gatherings such as assemblies (whole year groups in Comp/whole school in Primary)
  • the use of one way systems within the school building
  • consistent seating plans (recognising this may not be possible for younger learners)
  • using outdoor spaces where possible
  • floor signage
  • Physical distancing and seating plans in place in classrooms. This may include forward facing desks depending on room capacity and risk assessment, recognising that this may not be possible with younger children or with learners that require one to one support.
  • Twice weekly LFD testing available for staff and secondary learners to help identify and isolate asymptomatic cases as soon as possible.
  • Face coverings should be worn by secondary aged learners when moving around indoor communal areas outside of the classroom. Face coverings continue to be needed on school transport.
  • Face coverings should be worn by staff and visitors in schools when moving around indoor communal areas outside of the classroom, such as corridors, where physical distance cannot be maintained. 
  Any schools, based on their risk assessment, can put additional mitigation and control measures in place as they see fit and we ask that you support our headteachers and their staff with this.
  Please remember that a Lateral Flow Test is not suitable for anyone showing symptoms.
  Anyone showing symptoms must book a PCR test and must isolate at home until the result of that test is known.
  We are asking everyone in Swansea to continue to wash your hands regularly, to avoid heavily crowded places and remember that fresh air is important so if you are out socialising, meet outdoors if you can.
  Vaccination is an extremely important protection against infection and drop-in vaccination sessions are running regularly in Swansea Bay for anyone over the age of 16.

   

  Thank you, as always, for your continued support.

   

  Yours sincerely
  Helen Morgan-Rees
  Director of Education

• January 2021 Update

  Fri 01 Jan 2021

  Dear Parents and Carers,

   

  I hope you and your families have all enjoyed Christmas. I really hope that 2021 will be a much brighter year for us all.

   

  I wouldn't usually need to share information in the school holiday time but felt it was only fair to make sure everyone has seen the information shared by the local authority yesterday on social media. Of course, we all understand that this is a changing situation, and we will always try to share information as soon as it is practical to do so.

   

  Please be assured that although the school building will be closed to nearly all pupils, staff will be working hard to make sure that children can access learning at home from Wednesday 6th January.

   

  Updated Position on Swansea Schools Return to Face to Face Learning (Local Authority)

   

  All Swansea schools will aim to return to face to face learning from Monday 11 January instead of 6 January. There will be a delay to face to face learning to allow time to consider updated information, expected next week, about Covid-19, including the new variant. All schools will provide online learning from Wednesday 6 January and each school will provide onsite childcare for vulnerable children if needed and critical workers’ children if essential from Wednesday 6 January. The position will be reviewed on 6 January.

   

  I understand the Local Authority intend to share more information on Monday. I will also be sharing more information regarding our own arrangements.

   

  Regards 

   

  Mrs S. Hope

  Headteacher, Clase Primary School

• Update from Local Authority 18/12/2020

  Fri 18 Dec 2020

  Dear Parent/ Carer

  I am writing to you in relation to the reopening arrangements for schools in January 2021. Unfortunately, the current situation with the increasing transmission of Covid-19 across Wales makes it very difficult for us to predict the impact it will have on staffing levels in our schools following the Christmas break. Our priority is to minimise disruption to our children and young people’s education as much as possible.

  However, we recognise that schools will need to assess their staffing levels at the beginning of the new term and as a result some flexibility will be required depending on local circumstances.

  As a result, all schools in Swansea will be closed to pupils on 4th and 5th January. This will allow school to assess levels of staff availability, to review all risk assessments and to consider any further requirements in relation to the planning of the spring term. Your school will contact you to confirm arrangements from 6th January onwards but it is expected that most schools will be able to welcome all pupils back by 11th January if circumstances allow.

  It may be that only a few classes can return, and some pupils will receive their education remotely. Onsite support will be available for children of critical workers and vulnerable learners; however, as before this service must only be used where all other options have been exhausted. This is to protect the wellbeing of pupils and staff in the schools. Please contact your school for further information.

  I hope this information provides you with some clarity on the return to school, however, your school will be able to give you further information at the start of January. I know this term has not been easy and I would like to thank you for your continued co-operation and support. It is vital we do all we can to try and reduce the spread of the virus, and we must continue to follow the guidance to protect both ourselves and others.

   

  I wish you and your family a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Regards,

  Helen Morgan-Rees

  Interim Director of Education

• Update from Local Authority

  Thu 10 Dec 2020

  Dear Parent/ Carer

   

  Once again, thank you for your support during this critical period in a public health crisis.

  Infection rates are at record levels and we all need to play our part to bring this situation under control and quickly. If infections continue to rise at the current rate then there is a very real danger the local system will be overwhelmed during the festive period.

  As a result of the Chief Medical Officer in Wales’ advice overnight, secondary schools across Wales will switch to blended/remote learning from Monday 14 December 2020.

  In Swansea, school sites will be open with all school staff expected to deliver learning from a distance. Provision for vulnerable children will be available at each school and if critical workers need childcare for those in years 7 and 8 then each secondary school will make that provision.

  Please speak to your local school if you have concerns. Your child’s school can tell you more about how learning will be delivered next week. Please can I emphasise that your child needs to be at home and learning until 18 December.

  Children needing to be on site should bring their own packed lunch. Further details on FSM payments and food bag deliveries for FSM pupils will be announced on 14 December 2020.

  Following representation from primary headteachers, consideration of attendance figures and particularly the 10 day rule on isolation before Christmas, Swansea Council has revised its position. A move to blended learning is also the right thing to do in primary schools, special schools and the PRU given our local circumstances. Again, each primary school site will remain open until 18 December 2020 with staff expected to continue working on delivering distance learning from the school to home.

  More details will follow on FSM bags or payments for the week commencing 14 December 2020. 10 December 2020 Every school will be expected to provide for the most vulnerable learners who need face to face support.

  Critical workers should contact their own school for childcare provision, if needed. Children needing to be on school site should bring a packed lunch with them or order a food bag via the school.

   

  Regards

  Helen Morgan-Rees

  Interim Director of Education

• Test, Trace and Protect

  Tue 15 Sep 2020

  Test, Trace and Protect

   

  Dear Parents and carers

   

  We are aware that the Coronavirus pandemic is a worrying time for all. We want to assure you that at Clase Primary school we are committed to adhering to all public health advice, guidance and requirements to help us provide the safest possible environment for pupils and staff while also protecting the wider community. This includes playing our part in Test Trace Protect.

   

  If a member of the school community has COVID 19 symptoms or someone in the household is symptomatic we have a clear ‘Decision Tree’ and we will follow the guidelines accordingly.

   

  We hope that members of the school community, including parents and carers, can understand we are not able to share information on potential Covid-19 cases relating to specific individuals in the school. Under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) this is personal health information and we cannot widely share it. However, we can reassure you that contact tracers will get in touch with the school if there is a suspected cluster or potential outbreak and they will ask for all the relevant information to ensure that any contacts are traced and advised of the next steps.

   

  The relevant public health teams will also advise the school on what action to take and we will follow it and keep you updated.

• Interim Director of Education Update - September 2020

  Sun 13 Sep 2020

  Dear Parents/Carers 
   
  I hope your children are settling back into school after a very disruptive few months due to the coronavirus pandemic.    

   

  I would again like to thank you for the continued support and co-operation you have shown during this difficult time, and for everything you have done to assist your child’s learning, your child’s school and the council.  
   
  The appreciation for all teaching assistants, teachers and leaders in our schools remains strong as we approach the return to compulsory education on Monday. With 80% attendance across Swansea schools already, there is a clear message that the return to education is working.

   

  We have been working with schools so that they are well prepared to welcome children back for the autumn term with the appropriate safety measures in place. Considerable work has been carried out in schools in order to reduce the potential transmission of coronavirus, and to minimise any risk to pupils and staff, including risk assessments, increased cleaning and regular handwashing, social distancing and grouping learners. It is important to remember that coronavirus has not gone away, and we all have a responsibility to keep ourselves and others safe.  
   
  It is not a normal autumn term. A risk assessment is being carried out in our schools for the most basic of tasks, and key events such as parent evenings and concerts are not currently possible.  

   

  Please join me in providing your support to our headteachers and school staff as they make difficult decisions to ensure the safety of all our pupils. The arrangements that have been put in place by schools are of vital importance and I cannot stress strongly enough how important it is that we all adhere to these measures. In particular I would like to remind parents and carers to please follow social distancing advice when dropping off and collecting your children from school.    

   

  With all pupils returning next week, it is vital that parents keep their distance to avoid close contact and potential transmission of the virus.    
   
  I would ask you to please:  

   

   Arrive promptly in your designated time slot.  

   

   Stand 2m from other families.  

   

   Leave promptly and move away from the school as soon as you have dropped off your child.  

   

   Please do not congregate outside the school gates as this is making it difficult for other families arriving at staggered times.  
   
  Please can I also remind you of the arrangements if your child is unwell. Under no circumstances should you send your child to school if they:    

   

   feel unwell or have any of the three identified COVID-19 symptoms (a new continuous cough, a high temperature or loss of taste or smell) or they have tested positive to COVID-19 in the past 14 days.  

   

   live in a household with someone who has symptoms of COVID-19 or has tested positive to COVID-19 in the past 14 days.

   

   have returned from a country that is on the quarantine list.  
   
  Please note that in these circumstances there is no expectation for the school to be providing work to these children although the Swansea Virtual School remains live and populated with resources should you wish to access it at www.swanseavirtualschool.org.  
   
  The latest Welsh Government information shows the virus is continuing to spread in communities across the country with a lockdown imposed in Caerphilly that will go on until at least the end of the month and whole school years having to self-isolate for two weeks in Newport. It’s essential we observe the guidelines and rules which are likely to be strengthened in the coming days and weeks.  
   
  Many thanks for your co-operation, it is important we work together to contain the virus and to avoid a spike in our community and the potential re-introduction of lockdown measures. 
   
  Yours sincerely  
  Helen Morgan-Rees        

  Interim Director of Education  

• Director of Education Update - August 2020

  Fri 28 Aug 2020

  Dear Parent/Carer

   

  Planning the safe reopening of schools from next week onwards has progressed well during the summer break and I am delighted that Swansea schools will open the doors to a fresh start, putting safety first.

   

  When I wrote to you in July, I promised to update you on arrangements at the start of the new academic year. We have developed and updated our risk assessments and plans for how schools will operate to include school transport, visitors, staff and pupil risk assessments as well.

   

  Our schools have received support to help plan their classrooms and corridors and will continue to receive advice from our officers on how to control the learning environment so that your child is safe during this challenging time. All children and young people will be encouraged to wash their hands regularly with soap and water throughout the day/session. Hand sanitisers will also be available across each school.

   

  The Test, Trace and Protect guidance, school transport and school trip guidance have also been updated. It is very important that you are familiar with the Test, Trace and Protect (TTP) guidance. Swansea Council will issue up to date guidance via social media on TTP in the next few days and each school’s operational plan will contain a section on TTP.

   

  Additional cleaning hours will allow more frequent cleaning of high frequency contact points in each school. In addition to the thorough daily clean, a “clean as you go” process will continue to be used in all schools. Your school will be able to tell you more about how they will operate but we know that all schools will be contacting parents and carers directly to let them know the days their children should attend up until then, along with specific arrangements for their school.

   

  Where possible, school sessions will be provided within the normal operational hours of each school. Where possible, and based on each individual school’s risk assessment, breakfast clubs and after-school clubs can restart. School meals will restart on 14 September. Until that time all pupils will need to take a packed lunch for the days that they attend during the first two weeks of term. The choice of BACS payment or a weekly food parcel will continue for those eligible for free school meals until canteens reopen.

   

  Attendance at school will be compulsory from 14 September but schools and Swansea Council will work with parents and carers to try to resolve any issues and provide reassurance where necessary. Parents are asked to contact their school if a pupil is unable to attend for any legitimate reason. Pupils with medical needs may feel less confident about returning to school. Help, support and adjustment can be provided if you talk to your school.

   

  If your child is in secondary school, they may be required to wear face masks in school corridors and communal areas. School transport drivers and passenger assistants will be wearing face coverings and personal protective equipment where necessary. There will not be social distancing between pupils on board dedicated school transport vehicles but pupils aged over 11 years will be required to wear face coverings unless they have an exemption from doing so.

   

  In line with Welsh Government guidance, food or drink must not be consumed on board school transport services. Guidance for pupils and parents on school transport will be available to you via your school. Pupils travelling on public transport will be required to wear 3 layer face coverings if they are aged 11 or over as they will be mixing with the wider travelling public. Social distancing is also required on public transport services. If you have questions or concerns, please talk to your school and we will help schools resolve issues as best we can.

   

  A lot of advice changes and it is not always the same in Wales as the rest of the United Kingdom but we are working closely with Welsh Government and Public Health Wales to make sure that we are following the up to date advice.

   

  Swansea schools will receive funding for additional staff to help with accelerated learning for certain year groups. If you feel that your child would benefit from extra support, you should discuss your concerns with the school.

   

  The start of the new academic year will be very different this year and we all have the same aim of a fresh start with safety first. I sincerely hope that the return to education from next week onwards is a positive experience for the children and young people here in Swansea.

   

  Regards

  Nick Williams

  Director of Education

• Director of Education Update - July 2020

  Fri 17 Jul 2020

  Dear Staff/Parents/Carers

   

  At the end of each academic year, I always write to our schools to look back at the school year and to celebrate our successes. In that sense, this year is no different with our schools continuing to do brilliantly in supporting all our learners as they strive to reach their potential.

   

  Given this year’s pandemic, I thought it only right that I extend the scope of my communication to include learners and their families too. In my letter on 9 July, I was able to confirm that the Welsh Government had announced a return to school for compulsory education for all our learners by 14 September 2020.

   

  Since that announcement, we have been working closely with our schools to plan for this in a safe and organised way. As was the case when schools opened for the check-in and catch-up sessions there will be different approaches across our schools based on a lot of different factors.

   

  Each school is carrying out further risk assessments to help them identify the approach that is right for your child’s school. However, we have agreed further key principles with our headteachers to ensure that wherever possible there is consistency. All pupils will return in a phased way to school/PRU in the two-week period at the beginning of the autumn term in September (after any preparation days).

   

  All pupils (with the possible exception of nursery) will be full-time by Monday, 14 September. We would like to highlight the following key points:

   

  - From September, school sessions, where possible, will be provided within the normal operational hours of that school.

   

  - Where possible, and based on each individual school’s risk assessment, breakfast clubs and after-school clubs can restart.

   

  - School meals will restart on 14 September. Until that time all pupils will need to bring a packed lunch for the first two weeks of term. The BACS payments and weekly food parcels will continue for this period. 16 July 2020

   

  - Additional cleaning hours will allow more frequent cleaning of high frequency contact points in each school.

   

  - Where possible, parents and carers should continue to travel with their children to and from school. The council’s Transport Team is working with schools to determine the demand for home to school transport for eligible pupils and will endeavour to meet these requirements. The wearing of face masks is likely to be compulsory but further information will be communicated via your school and the Council’s various platforms over the summer. 

   

  - All children will be encouraged to wash their hands regularly with soap and water throughout the day/session. Hand sanitizer will also be available.

   

  - As well as a thorough daily clean, a “clean as you go” process will continue to be deployed in all schools to minimise the risk of cross contamination and transmission of Covid-19.

   

  Since the beginning of the pandemic, the work of our headteachers, school staff and the wider school community has made me immensely proud. From providing childcare to our key workers and our most vulnerable to ensuring that all our learners have food on the table our staff have been willing to go the extra mile. Whilst at the same time ensuring that our learners have continued to learn from home and their own nearest and dearest have been taken care of.

   

  As Director of Education, I will be eternally grateful for all you have done. For our learners, this will have been a period in time that will define their generation.

   

  I would like to thank our learners for how they have approached this strange time in their learning and make a promise to them that the whole Education system in Swansea is on their side as we continue to ensure that every child and young person has the best possible opportunities in life.

   

  Finally, I would like to thank you as parents and carers. The messages of support and challenge have been numerous and I can assure you that they have all played a part in how we as a council have adapted our approaches throughout this time. We will continue to work with our schools to ensure that you and your children get the support that you need when we return to school in September.

   

  Families who need to access childcare during the 6-week summer holiday period should do so from existing registered private childcare providers available in Swansea. Please contact the Swansea Family Information Service 01792 517222/ fis@swansea.gov.uk for further details.

   

  Please be reassured your child’s school will be providing you with a lot more detail between now and the beginning of term.

   

  Thank you for your continued support.

   

  Yours sincerely

  Nick Williams

  Director of Education

• Y6 Updated Bergoni Letter

  Wed 15 Jul 2020

  Dear Parent/Carer,

   

  The children who will be in Year 6 next year have been given an opportunity to wear a hooded sweatshirt that is a different colour to the rest of the school’s uniform.

   

  The children have decided that next year they would like to wear an orange crush hooded sweatshirt. They will continue to wear the gold t-shirts and black trousers. To encourage the children to wear uniform on a daily basis we will buy one sweatshirt for each of them.

   

  This year, all uniform must be purchased on-line or in store at Bergoni in Llansamlet (we do not have agreement for the use of our badge logo with any other supplier). You may prefer to provide you child with a gold t-shirt without a badge logo from another local suppliers or supermarket. Bergoni have the information of pupils going into year 6 and you will need to give them the size required for your child’s hoody.

   

  The deadline for placing the order is the 31st July 2020, I would recommend going into the store to try the size on and ensure that the fit is correct. For further information on where Bergoni is located and how to make an appointment to try uniform on please visit the website www.bergoni.co.uk.

   

  Many Thanks

  Mrs Sharon Hope

  Head Teacher