Category: Kids
The Changing Structure Of The Wenvoe Playgroup
First of all, apologies for missing last month’s magazine. We have been very busy behind the scenes changing the structure of Wenvoe Playgroup into Wenvoe Playgroup CIO. This will bring the playgroup up to date and secure the Playgroup for many years to come. We hope the process will be complete by 31st August 2019.
We most recently celebrated Easter by holding our annual Easter Fayre with 33 Children in attendance, singing to their families (one of the best turn outs ever). We thought we would share a photo of our surprise visitor, who offered an Easter Egg to each child for the beautiful singing. We would like to thank the Friends of Playgroup and the Parents at Playgroup who supported this event.
We understand from a local resident that the Playgroup opened its doors back in 1969, here at the Village Hall. This means that Wenvoe Playgroup will be celebrating its 50th Birthday this year, wow! Everyone involved with Wenvoe Playgroup at this time is thinking that June would be a great time to celebrate 50 years of Wenvoe Playgroup, especially as from September it will be changing its name to Wenvoe Playgroup CIO. Plans are therefore in motion as I type this to celebrate on Sunday afternoon, 23rd June.
We plan to hold a ‘Fun Afternoon’ at the Village Hall, ‘Home of the Playgroup’ in hope that the Community attends to celebrate with us. We hope to have stalls, refreshments and fun for all the Children past and present. Please mark this date in your diary. We would very much like to welcome everyone who has attended, supported or worked in the Playgroup over the past 50 years, to share their memories.
If anyone has photos from the early days we would be most interested to view them. Please call into the Playgroup any time during May if you are happy for us to use them on the day. We have some photos from the 90’s moving forward, however, none from the early days.
We would like to thank ‘Style Gardens’ for their recent donation of soil and daffodils for the Children’s activities in the Garden. We would also like to thank ‘The Works’ at the Garden Centre who supported our Easter Fayre by donating a generous raffle prize. Thank you both for supporting our Playgroup, your local charity.
If anyone would like to donate to our 50th Birthday Raffle to be held in June, then please let us know. As a charity we are always grateful for any support the community can give. Thanks again, Sandra.
Up-to-date information on Welsh Government 30 Hour Care. 12.5 hours – Local LEA Nursery, up to 17.5 hours – Playgroup.
We are now up and running with both Cardiff and The Vale 30 Hour Free Childcare Offer. We have very limited part-time space from May to July with numbers already high on September’s waiting list through into January 2020.
If your Child is 3 prior to 31st August and you are looking to apply for the 30 Hour Free Childcare from September, then we would suggest contacting the Vale Family Information Service on 01446 704704 a.s.a.p. to enquire as to what date you may apply. We think it is sometime in July, however, we don’t have the exact date at this time sorry.
We will be holding a drop in session here at Playgroup on Thursday 23rd May from 2pm for all those who wish to view our provision. This will also allow the time for Parents with Children wishing to join from September into January to secure their space by completing contracts. We are hopeful that around this time Nursery notifications will be issued from the Vale of Glamorgan.
Families must complete a contract with us and agree to the hours or attendance prior to applying for the 30 hour Free Childcare Offer.
If you have any further questions regarding the 30 hour Free Childcare Offer or Playgroup Life then please email Sandra at wenvoeplaygroup@ btinternet.com or for eligibility to the 30 Hour Free Childcare contact FIS on 01446 704704
Please view our website to keep updated on all aspects of playgroup life, for our Policies and Procedures and latest changes.
Thank you
Exciting Learning Opportunities
Time continues to fly in school!
Due to half term break being slightly later this year, we celebrated Saint David’s Day in school on Wednesday 5 March. For the home/School competi-tion, the children completed weatherproof daffodils for our Peace garden – to form a beautiful spring dis-play. The children wore traditional Welsh costumes, Welsh shirts or dressed in red to mark the day of cel-ebrations. Ella Darko in Year 6 was crowned the Bard for writing a super poem about air raids. All the children entered various competitions, including art, story writing and handwriting. Well done to every-one!
The children have been engaging in some exciting learning opportunities; Mrs Ford accompanied a group of Year 5 and 6 pupils to a Modern Foreign Languages taster session; Years 5 and 6 marked the end of their WW2 topic with a street party.
Throughout Lent, we are collecting food for our local food bank and have invited the children to bring in a tin of food each week – we are aiming to collect 1,000 cans by Easter.
Year 3 led a wonderful assembly about our planet. Class assembly is always a special time, with fami-lies invited to attend.
We are very proud of our footballers and netballers. Mr Bean, Mr Thomas and Mr Atkins accompanied our football team to the Cardiff and Vale football competition. They were placed second in the second group. Our netballers competed at St Patrick’s and won all games played. A very big well done to all involved and a massive thank you to our volunteer coaches.
Situation Vacant
SITUATION VACANT
BREAKFAST CLUB SUPERVISOR
Gwenfo Church in Wales Primary School
Weekdays 7.50am-8.50am
Main Duties and Responsibilities
Supervise and organise the staff of the Breakfast Club.
Complete weekly record sheets & staff timesheets where relevant.
Place orders, undertake stock takes and stock rotation.
Process invoices.
Check equipment and supplies.
Provide quality care and supervision to pupils at-tending breakfast club.
Prepare tables/benches for pupils attending breakfast club.
Set up and participate in a wide range of stimulating activities both indoors and outdoors, appropriate to the ages and needs of the pupils while in breakfast club.
Ensure pupils have breakfast and a drink.
Clean up after breakfast club has finished.
Put tables/benches away.
Please call into school to speak to Miss Starke, or ring 029 2059 3225. For more information or an application form or email gwenfops@valeof gla-morgan.gov.uk
Closing Date: Tuesday 2 April, 2019.
30 Hour Childcare Offer Latest News
From April this year, the ‘30 Hour FREE Childcare offer’ is coming to the Vale of Glamorgan including Wenvoe, so we want to be sure that you are ready.
The 30-hour FREE care is offered as 12.5 hours of Nursery Education and 17.5 hours of Care, therefore; you may receive up to 17.5 hours FREE care here at the Playgroup.
As long as Parents fit the following criteria your child may receive FREE care from April 2019 if living in The Vale of Glamorgan.
It is available to Children the term after their 3rd Birthday. If your child is 3 between:
- 1st Sept – 31 Dec they will be eligible in January
- 1st January – 31st March they will be eligible in April (after the Easter Hols)
- 1st April – 31st August – they will be eligible in September
- if the Child is living with 2 parents, both parents must work a minimum of 16 hours or more per week at National Minimum Wage (NMW)
- if the Child is living with 1 parent, then they must work a minimum of 16 hours or more per week at NMW.
- if you earn more than £100,000.00 per parent then the Child is not eligible.
Contact: The Vale Family Information Centre (FIS) Tel: 01446 704704 E-mail: fis@ valeofglamorgan.gov.uk. The FIS will also advise if you fit the criteria to apply and help with your application.
A contract will have to be completed with us prior to taking up the offer and your placement confirmed at the Playgroup prior to applying. We have limited space at this time.
We have children with us at this time from Cardiff who are benefitting from our wrap around service with Gwenfo Nursery and are receiving up to 17.5 hours of their time FREE at Playgroup.
Your Child could benefit with 4 days wrap around care from 9 – 1pm for £0.00
Please contact us here at the Playgroup for more information
Email: wenvoeplaygroup@ btinternet.com Telephone: 20597494
Please view our website: www.wenvoeplaygroup.co.uk and our Statement of Purpose for further information operating times etc.
For all those families wishing to join us from September this year, we will write again for April’s What’s On Edition to give details of our open afternoon and information for September. If you wish to join our waiting list for September, then please email us on the above email to register your interest. Thank you.
A Very Busy Half Term at the Primary School
Well, we have had a very busy half term in school and we cannot believe how quickly the time is going!
Year 1 and 2 have thoroughly enjoyed African drumming sessions – they really have created some wonderful music.
Year 4 have visited St Illtyd’s and Years 5 and 6 went to the Story Museum. The children were all very well behaved and a real credit to school.
Years 2 and 3 have both led super assemblies – families of the children are invited to their assemblies and stay afterwards for a cup of tea and biscuit – it is always a very special time.
PC Emma has been into school to talk to parents about Internet safety. Parents of children in our Foundation Phase were also invited into school to work with their children. Many thanks to all who attended.
To raise money for Velindre Hospital, we all wore red to school for the day. This happened to fall on the day it snowed and a super day was had by all. The children and their teachers went onto the field and built snowmen. This was followed by hot chocolate and biscuits in the classrooms!
Parents Evenings were held this week and last week and it was lovely to share with parents and carers how hard their children have been working; parents and carers also had an opportunity to look through their children’s books.
We are looking forward to a restful half term and a wonderful celebration of St David’s day in our Eisteddfod, during the first week back.
Messy Church is Back in Wenvoe
FREE Childcare Regulations
Here at Wenvoe Playgroup, we are signed up to the Welsh Government’s 30 Hour FREE Childcare, for children the term after their third birthday who live in Cardiff. All Cardiff Children who are eligible, are now beginning to access their FREE 17.5 HOURS OF CARE.
From April this year, the ‘30 Hour FREE Childcare offer’ is coming to the Vale of Glamorgan including Wenvoe, so we want to be sure that you are ready. This is sooner than originally thought/planned.
The 30-hour FREE care is offered as 12.5 hours of Nursery Education and 17.5 hours of Care. You can use the 17.5 hours between Playgroup, Day-care or a Childminder as long as the provider is registered with Care Inspectorate Wales.
If the Government are offering 17.5 hours of ‘Free Play’ and you fit the criteria, then why not take them up on it? Some children on our books apply for as little as 4 hours, it’s all about what your Child needs. We have attached some examples for a better understanding.
As long as Parents fit the following criteria your child may receive FREE care from April 2019 if living in The Vale of Glamorgan.
It is available to Children the term after their 3rd Birthday. If your child is 3 between:
* 1st Sept – 31 Dec they will be eligible in January
* 1st Jan – 31st March they will be eligible in April (after the Easter Hols)
* 1st April – 31st August – they will be eligible in September
- if the Child is living with 2 parents, both parents must work a minimum of 16 hours or more per week at National Minimum Wage (NMW)
- if the Child is living with 1 parent, then they must work a minimum of 16 hours or more per week at NMW.
- if you earn more than £100,000 per parent then the Child is not eligible.
Please contact Cardiff Family Information Centre (FIS) for those living in Cardiff Tel: 02920 351700 E-mail@fis@cardiff.gov.uk
or from 4th March 2019 The Vale Family Information Centre (FIS) for those living in The Vale of Glamorgan Tel: 01446 704704 E-mail: fis@valeofglamorgan.gov.uk
Before applying for the offer, please contact us here at the Playgroup on 02920 597494 to ensure that we have availability. We have limited space at this time and will need to employ further staff perhaps to support your needs. We have a waiting list for Summer Term at this time due to the funding being rolled out from April.
We have children with us at this time from Cardiff who are benefitting from our wrap around service with Gwenfo Nursery and are receiving up to 17.5 hours of their time FREE at Playgroup.
Please see the example for guidance on how this works for us with Cardiff families. Your Child could benefit with 4 days wrap around care at £0.00 or for as little as £3.75 per week, attend 5 mornings 9 to 1pm and onto Gwenfo Nursery.
A contract will have to be completed prior to taking up the offer and your placement confirmed at the Playgroup. We expect to be very busy.
If you require further information then please contact us at wenvoeplaygroup@btinternet.com
If you search www.gov.uk/30-hours-free-childcare it will advise you that you can also use your workplace voucher scheme (if already enrolled) and Tax-Free Childcare vouchers to top up any hours or fees above 17.5hrs.
Free Childcare News
Happy New Year to all and I’m sure it certainly will
be. I have been informed that the Vale of Glamorgan
30 hour Free Childcare will be rolled out from April,
so watch this space. We hope to keep you up-dated
with further details as they are known to us. I did
notice that the GEM first announced the good news
in one of their December issues and I have since
been informed by the Vale that this is so.
As mentioned Free Childcare is for the term after
your child is three. 12½ hours is to be used at Local
Education Authority and a whopping 17½ hours to
be used at a Playgroup or Daycare of your choice.
Both parents must be working a minimum of 16
hours per week at minimum wage or in a sole parent
household you must be working 16 hours at
minimum wage.
Wenvoe Playgroup are expanding as to the needs of
the community and are now offering Breakfast Club
from 8am Monday to Friday each week.
For more details on the care we provide please visit
our website www.wenvoeplaygroup.co.uk and view
our Statement of Purpose. Alternatively please call
into Playgroup at the Village Hall any morning
between 9am and 12noon, Monday to Friday.
At this time we have a waiting list and hope to
employ further staff for the Summer Term.
We will keep you posted.
