Category: Kids

News – October

WENVOE PLAYGROUP NEWS AND EVENTS

Registered Charity, right in the heart of the Village.

The Playgroup operates from the Village Hall and has been operating for over 50 years. We are registered with Care Inspectorate Wales to care for 30 Children at any one time from the age of 2 years 4 months. We open 9am-1pm Monday to Friday and 9am-3.15pm on Wednesday and Thursday.

Wrap around care: We collect children daily at 11:20am from Gwenfo Nursery and on into lunch club until 1pm and on Wednesday and Thursday until 3:15pm. We escort children across from our morning sessions to afternoon Nursery for 1pm.

30 Hour Free Childcare Offer: Children from Cardiff and Vale are benefitting from this. 12.5 hours are used for LEA Nursery and 17.5 hours can be allocated to time with us here at Playgroup. This is for children the term after their 3rd Birthday.

Tax Free Childcare: We accept payment via the Government’s Tax Free Childcare. Many parents at this time use this method to pay fees, or use alongside the 30 Hour Free Childcare to top up their extra hours/fees. Families set up a Tax-Free Childcare account and for example; for every £8 the family pay in, Welsh Government pay in £2. Visit www.gov.uk/tax-free-childcare

GWENFO PRIMARY PTFA

  Gwenfo School News – September Notes

GWENFO PRIMARY PTFA

Gwenfo Primary are holding their first PTFA meeting of the year on Friday 22nd September at 2.45pm at the school. Parents, teachers and friends associations support schools to raise funds for additional equipment, trips and resources for the children. If you have a little spare time, lots of energy and ideas for fundraising then we would love to hear from you. We are looking to set a calendar of events for the year ahead so don’t worry if you can’t commit to everything it will just give us an idea as to the kind of events we can aim for! A warm welcome awaits you at the first meeting of the year.

Volunteers – We are also looking for volunteers to support us in activities around the school. We would love to be able to involve more friends from the village. We can arrange for the relevant safeguarding checks and would love to hear from you if you have an interest in outdoor spaces and gardening, accompanying us on school trips, supporting children with their reading, helping out at PTFA events or simply being an extra pair of hands every so often! If there are any community groups who would like to link up with the school please do contact us too. Please pop in for a chat, or email gwenfops@valeofglamorgan.gov.uk

Vacancies – We have a number of vacancies at the school both permanent and temporary. We are looking for midday lunch supervisors who work from 11.40-1pm daily and also breakfast provision supervisors who work from 7.50-8.50am daily. Adverts will be circulated via the Vale of Glamorgan website soon but if you are interested in a position please email the school and we will send out application forms and further details when the jobs go live.

Nicola Starke, Headteacher,

Gwenfô Church in Wales Primary School Tel:02920 593225

 

AUTUMN TERM REOPENING

WENVOE PLAYGROUP NEWS AND EVENTS

Registered Charity, right in the heart of the Village.

The Playgroup re-opens for the Autumn Term on Monday 11th September at 9am. We offer wrap around care with Gwenfo Nursery 5 days per week.

Monday Tuesday and Friday until 1pm

Wednesday & Thursday until 3:15pm

Prior to this we have the open mornings, stay and play on Thursday 7th and Friday 8th September from 9am until 11:45am. Should you be interested in viewing or joining the group, please feel free to drop in.

We do have a couple of places available from September, due to families moving away from the area. Please contact us should you wish further information.

Fees may also be paid via the Welsh Government’s Tax Free Childcare and the 30 Hour Free Childcare Offer. Please enquire and secure a place with us, prior to applying for the funding. Links are available on our website.

Wenvoe Playgroup is a registered charity and owned by the community. For further information on who we are, please view our website www.wenvoeplaygroup.co.uk and view our Statement of Purpose, Admissions and Operational Plan.

Other policies and procedures are available to view, along with our Gallery, where you can view the children in their Playgroup setting.

You can call us on 02920597494 or 07859 907976 during opening hours or email us anytime wen-voeplaygroup@btinternet.com

 

WENVOE SCOUTS – AUGUST

 

WENVOE SCOUTS

On 1 July in Romilly Park, Barry, the young people in Scouts from Wenvoe, Barry and the Vale of Glamorgan had a fun time doing activities with family, friends and other onlookers watching. They proudly paraded the group flags as well as raising money by making and selling campfire doughnuts and running games. We hope to make this a regular event, so look out for announcements for next summer’s fete.
On 12 August, we plan to have a car wash in the Gwenfo Primary School Car Park so lookout for signs around the village. This will be an event to support the Wenvoe local group financially. You can also help by donating via Just Giving. If you can, please add Gift Aid. https:// www.justgiving.com/firstwenvoescouts
We are looking for new leaders for our ‘vibrant’ / active Beaver Group from September onwards. The current leaders have built up a strong group of Beavers that enjoy a broad range of activities centred on the badge programme. Sadly, the current leaders’ work/life balance means they have had to reduce their commitment. Unless we can get regular commitments, the colony will be suspended. The current Beavers really enjoy the Colony meetings, so this would be a shame.
Beavers usually meet on Monday from 6.00-7.00pm during term time and the colony is made up of boys and girls ages 5 ¾ to 8 years. There is a broad programme leading to Badges and the young person can expand their knowledge by “having fun and making friends” – the Beaver Motto – and then progressing up through the different sections of the Scout Group. Leaders are all volunteers and are provided with robust training, mainly online, to support their work. The training is recognised as Youth Training. There will be local support to ensure that transition is smooth.

If you are interested in becoming a leader or helping on a regular rota please contact me or speak to Heulwen, our Cub Leader. Seeing all those happy faces during a meeting makes a worthwhile reward.

 

Jane Fenton-May, Chair Wenvoe Scout Group

jfm@fenton-may.org

 

WENVOE PLAYGROUP

WENVOE PLAYGROUP

At the time of writing this our caterpillars are beginning
to turn into Butterflies and will take flight in
the next few days.
We have been enjoying a good story ‘Jack and the
Beanstalk’ and have started planting our
‘Beanstalks’ (runner beans in pots out in the garden).
As they grow we will monitor their growth on
charts.
We are learning how things change in the environment
and we are thoroughly enjoying our outdoor
space in the glorious weather at this time.
We would like to say a BIG THANK YOU to Dave
Pritchard for fixing and painting our decking. We
would also like to extend a BIG THANK YOU to
Dave and Barry Oliver for cementing our new notice
board into the ground. We can now begin to display
and share in the community. THANK YOU BOTH.
We are so grateful for your community spirit.
There are many volunteers in the community, whom
we rely on to keep the Playgroup operating successfully.
Darren Bellamy has put up with me for many
years in operating a successful website for us, thanks
Darren.
Thanks to our Playgroup Management Committee;
Russell, Robyn, Louise, Abi and Helen, for raising
much needed funds and supporting the needs of the
Charity. Without a Committee, Playgroup would
cease to operate as a Registered Charity. Thanks to
you all.
Many parents are talking about the Playgroup which
continues to grow successfully. From September
2023 we find ourselves very busy and propose to be
full for the year ahead.
It’s never too early to put your child’s name on the
waiting list. We have lists started up to April 2025 at
this time. Should you plan to send your children to
the Playgroup in September 2024, then I urge you to
add your enquiry to the waiting list. Playgroup has
an equal opportunity policy, which means we are
open to all and not just Wenvoe. We have children
from the Vale and Cardiff.
With the ’30 Hour Free Childcare Offer’, many use
our wrap around services with Gwenfo Nursery for
the term after their child’s third birthday.
Many use the Tax Free Childcare to pay top up fees
above the Government’s 30 Hour and also to pay
fees for those under 3 years. You can find links to
both on our website www.wenvoeplaygroup.co.uk
We enrol children from the age of 2 years and 4
months, so if interested in September 2024, it’s always
best to put your name on our waiting lists,
even if your plans change nearer the date.
Why not have a look at our wonderful website
www.wenvoeplaygroup.co.uk where you can
find more about us, along with photographs of the
group.
Have a wonderful Summer everyone and we look
forward to our new families joining us in September.
Sandra & Team

 

 

GWENFO SCHOOL NEWS

GWENFO SCHOOL NEWS

 

There’s been lots going on in school this month. Our
wonderful outdoor classroom is complete, and classes
have begun to use it. It’s a fantastic addition to
our grounds. We hope the living roof will provide
home to lots of wildlife and improve the air quality
around the road. Thank you so much to Cabot in
Barry for their support and time.
Huge thank you to the members of the community
who came to help us prepare the school grounds on
our Big Help Out day, and to staff for volunteering
their time at the Wenvoe Open Gardens to greet
those visiting. It was lovely to have so many people
come and see the work that has been put into the
school gardens.
Congratulations go out to our Year 6 children who
completed their cycle proficiency, and to Year 5 and
6 pupils who competed in the Vale of Glamorgan
Quad athletics.
Our Reception children wowed us with their class
assembly about respecting our world and we are so
proud of how much they have learned this year.
We are looking forwards to finishing out the school
with our Sports Day and Year 6 Leavers Assembly

 

 

Christmas Celebrated In Style

  Gwenfo School News – December Notes

Christmas Celebrated In Style

What a busy end of term it has been! We have celebrated Christmas in style, with total of 10 Christmas concert performances across our three progression steps. All of our children, from Nursery to Year 6, did an incredible job singing, dancing and acting to get us all well and truly in a festive spirit. Huge thank you to all our staff involved in the preparation and organisation of all those performances, and as always a big thank you to all our families for providing costumes, helping learn lines, and for coming along to support the children. We are so very proud! Thanks also go to those who attended, for the generous donations that will be split between the five charities that staff and pupils chose to support at our concerts; The Big Wrap Collection at St Mary’s, the Food Bank, The Huggard Centre, Marie Curie Cancer Care and Christian Aid’s Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal.

Thanks and well done to all of our children who were involved in the unveiling of our school Advent Window, and those who took part in the Carol Service recently. It was a great pleasure to be involved.

We had a wonderful time on Christmas Jumper Day, enjoying a delicious Christmas dinner together with Santa hats and festive placemats.

We are so grateful for a wonderful term together and look forward to a relaxing break before coming back together in the New Year. On behalf of us all at Gwenfo, we wish you a very Merry Christmas.

Our Current Value Is Compassion

  Gwenfo School News – November Notes

It’s been another lovely month at Gwenfo. Our current value is compassion, and we have seen so many of our children living this value in school and at home. Many of our pupils attended the Remembrance Service at St Mary’s, representing both school and the Scouts, and we were so proud of how well our Head Boy and Head Girl did with their readings. We are so grateful for the ongoing generosity of our school family in their dedication to the charities we support, including recently supporting the Food Bank at Harvest and Children in Need. We are also grateful to the Book Council for a recent donation of books that the children have been able to take home.

Year 6 had an amazing time on their residential trip before half term, taking part in activities such as climbing and bushcraft. They hugely enjoyed their trip and were very tired when they returned to school! Huge thanks to the staff who took them for giving them such an amazing experience.

It was so lovely to have a visit from Vicar Lyndon and his wife Chris in assembly recently; we loved showing them our school and are so excited to be a part of their new adventure in Wales.

We continue to have wonderful sessions from Wild Thymes Forest School, Cardiff City Foundation and Forces Fitness, as well as weekly visits from Baxter the dog, from The Baxter Project, which all work to support our children’s well-being.

We are in the throes of our Christmas Concert practise and can’t wait to share the children’s hard work with their families. The song practise already sounds wonderful, and we are sure the children will do an incredible job. Across the school we are looking forward to our Christmas trips to the theatre which will take place at the end of November and in December.

When passing the school have a look out for our brand-new signage reminding people to park safely and respectfully on the roads around our school. We hope this will not only keep our children safe but also make driving past school easier, especially at busy times.

No Scout Post Again This Year

SCOUT CHRISTMAS POST AND WENVOE SCOUTS

We are sad to notify you that there will be no Scout Post again this year. Work is still progressing to try and restart it for next year. However, it is a major project and requires all parts of Cardiff and Vale Scouts to be in a position to collect, sort and deliver the cards.

Wenvoe Scouts has been going from strength to strength since the restrictions of the pandemic have been lifted. We now have 3 very active sections – Beavers (6-8 yrs), Cubs (8-10 ½ yrs) and Scouts (10 ½-14 yrs).

You may have seen our young people and leaders taking part in the Wenvoe Remembrance Sunday Parade. They were well turned out and organised. I was very proud of them all.

Scouts is a world wide movement for boys and girls. It enables them to make new friends and have amazing adventures while learning new skills and having fun. The younger ones do lots of craft and play games helping prepare them for more adventurous activities including hiking, camping, climbing, abseiling and swimming. They develop dreams which may take them into a future of work and play or just into the District Explorers (14-18 yrs) and Network (18-25 yrs) or on to the role of a Scout Leader.

Some areas are now starting Squirrels for the 4-6 year olds and we have dreams of that too, but need

extra help before we can expand. All leaders are trained and we take safety seriously. If you or anyone you know would like to help by becoming a leader, please contact me.

Big dreams cost money and require volunteer leaders to organise weekly meeting, outings and camps and ensure that the young people are safe while they have fun. We do need additional equipment. Some of this is expensive. If, in lieu of buying stamps you would like to donate to Wenvoe Scouts you can do this via https://www. justgiving.com/firstwenvoescouts.

To add a child to our waiting list please email 1stwenvoe.join@penarthanddistrict.or.uk with the name and DOB of child

 

We would like to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a safe and Happy New Year.

Thank you,

Jane Fenton-May, Chair Wenvoe Scout Group

jfm@fenton-may.org

 

Playgroup Thanks the Volunteers

WENVOE PLAYGROUP NEWS AND EVENTS

Registered Charity, right in the heart of the Village.

Here at Playgroup, we would like to thank the volunteers in the Library, for allowing our afternoon children to visit over the past few months. We will be planning to bring our morning session children across for visits on our return in January 2023, so please make sure you all have a lovely restful Christmas.

There are many volunteers in the village who work hard to keep the village an attractive place to live. Here at Playgroup, we would like to thank all of our volunteers and friends who support us to keep us operating successfully.

We will be holding a raffle on Monday 19th December. If anyone can help with raffle donations, they would be gratefully received. Please send us an email to collect wenvoeplaygroup@btinternet.com or pop along to the group any weekday morning:

At the time of writing this, we can’t believe how quickly this Autumn Term is going. We are 5 weeks to Christmas Eve and much to plan. It’s always a special, magical time with our children.

We do hope to see you at our Christmas Fayre on Sunday 4th December. Lots of exciting stalls and the children will be able to visit Father Christmas/Santa/Sion Corn/ Pierre Noel/ St Nicholas or whatever you prefer to call him!

For now, all that remains is for us to wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year 2023.

 

 

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