Please see the latest Friends of Rhydri Primary School Newsletter.

Newsletter January 2020

Children are invited to dress up for the day to depict a book character or a book-related theme. Home-made / recycled costumes are encouraged!

Both schools will celebrate with a visit and workshops from the poet Paul Cookson during the day and the staff are busy planning some interesting and enjoyable poetry activities too.

Paul will be bringing some of his published books with him and the children will have an opportunity to buy a book for £5 or a comic for £1.

For the week beginning Monday 27^th January until Sunday 2^nd February there will also be a ‘Virtual Book Fair’. Details to follow.

Payment is now due for the spring term for after school clubs and music lessons. Letters have been sent home detailing payment. If no payment is made by Friday 24^th January we will assume you no longer wish your child to access the club and / or lessons.

Looking ahead for next year’s year 6 pupils, we have arranged an information presentation for parents of both Bedwas and Rhydri pupils on Wednesday 5^th February to be led by a representative of the company that will be providing the outdoor experience. There will be a session in Bedwas at 3.20pm and in Rhydri at 5.30pm, parents from both schools are welcome at either meeting if one time is more convienient than the other. A confirmation letter will follow.

We are continuing our family yoga sessions with Bronze class next week and the week after. Parents and Carers are more than welcome to attend with their child’s class. Gold Class sessions will commence on the 4^th and 11^th of February. Silver Class will continue after half term.

Your child may be eligible for free school meals if you are in receipt of any of the following benefits/support payments:

• Income Support
• Income Based Jobseekers Allowance
• Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• Child Tax Credit, provided they are not entitled to Working Tax Credit and their annual income does not exceed £16,190
• Guarantee element of State Pension Credit
• Working Tax Credit ‘run-on’ – the payment someone may receive for a further four weeks after they stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit
• Universal Credit.
• Young people who receive Income Related Employment and Support Allowance, Universal Credit, Income Support or Income Based Job Seekers Allowance in their own right may also be eligible to receive FSM.

Your child will also need to be attending school full time, which can include full days at nursery and sixth form students. In order for your child to receive free school meals, you will need to fill out an application form either online by visiting http://www.caerphilly.gov.uk and typing free school meals into the search field or complete an application form which is available at our school and return to Catering Services, Caerphilly County Borough Council, Penallta House, Tredomen Park, Ystrad Mynach, Hengoed, CF82 7PG.

If you pay for your child to have school meals you could save around £500 per year if your child qualifies for free school meals.

You may also qualify for the Welsh Government Pupil Development Grant (PDG) – Access Funding of up to £125, this is available to  pupils who are eligible for free school meals or are looked after by a Local Authority if they are:

• entering reception class in primary school
• entering year 7 in secondary school
• aged 4 or 11 in special schools, special needs resource bases or pupil referral units.

The purpose of this PDG funding which is to provide grant assistance to families on low incomes for the purchase of:

• School uniform including coats and shoes;
• School sports kit including footwear;
• Uniform for enrichment activities, including but not limited to, scouts; guides; cadets; martial arts; sports; performing arts or dance;
• Equipment e.g. school bags and stationery;
• Specialist equipment where new curriculum activities begin such as design and technology; and
• Equipment for out of school hour’s trips such as outdoor learning e.g. waterproofs.

Think of the time you would save if your child is eligible and has free school meals instead of packed lunches, you could save up to 190 hours a year, which is the time needed to make packed lunches that meet the nutritional standards of school meals – that’s just over a week!

Our school will also receive £1150 additional funding for every child registered for Free School Meals.  This funding must be directly targeted at Free School Meal pupils.  This year we have used that additional funding for interventions in Literacy and Numeracy.

If you require any further advice, please contact Catering Services on 01443 864055 (or email catering@caerphilly.gov.uk). A member of the team will be able to advise you.