WHAT'S NEW AT PENYGAWSI?

• Mini Police Project

  Thu 26 Mar 2026

  We have recently developed a strong relationship with our local PCSOs, and we are delighted that they have offered to run the Mini Police project at Penygawsi after Easter. The programme will be available for eight pupils in Year 4 or Year 5.

  If your child is interested in a future career in the police force or in the prison service, this could be a fantastic opportunity for them. If you would like your child to take part, please click the link below and complete the form together by Monday 13th of April.

  If we receive more than eight applications, we will read through all the manifestos and select the eight that we feel are the strongest.

   

  Mini Police Project – Fill in form

   

  What is the Mini Police?

  The Mini Police is a volunteer engagement scheme for children aged 8–11. It provides a fun and educational way for pupils to build positive relationships with the police from an early age, while also encouraging them to take an active role in their community.

   

  Activities and Learning

  Police officers and PCSOs visit schools throughout the summer term, to deliver sessions on topics such as online safety, healthy relationships, and community awareness. 

   

   

• Updated Pick-Up Procedures for the End of the School Day

  Wed 04 Mar 2026

  Following a review of how pupils are released at the end of the school day, particularly those with siblings, we have made some changes to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all children. We have taken into account the size of the areas pupils are leaving from and the number of families collecting at the same time.

  From Monday 9th March, the following procedures will be in place:

  Foundation Phase & Downstairs Classes

  Pupils in any downstairs classroom will now be collected directly from their classroom doors.

  Key Stage 2

  All Key Stage 2 pupils will be released from, and collected on, the Key Stage 2 yard.

  Example for families with siblings

  If you have a child in Miss Morris’ class and another in Miss Tuckwood’s class:

  • Enter through the Foundation Phase gate.
  • Walk through the Foundation Phase yard and around the side of the building to the back.
  • Collect your younger child (e.g., Miss Morris’ class) first, directly from the classroom door.
  • Then walk across the Key Stage 2 yard to collect older siblings.

  Please make sure the youngest child is collected first.

  These changes have been made to prioritise pupil safety and to help ease congestion at the end of the day.

  A map showing the correct routes and classroom doors for downstairs classes has been attached for your reference.

  Thank you for your cooperation and continued support.

  

• Spring 2

  Sun 22 Feb 2026

  We hope you all had a wonderful half‑term break, and we are excited to welcome you back to school tomorrow for what promises to be a busy and enjoyable half term. We will begin with Welsh Week in the lead‑up to our Eisteddfod to celebrate St David’s Day, followed by World Book Day and our new event, Prynhawn Teulu Eisteddfod.

   

  On Thursday 26th of February, the photographer will be in school to take St David’s Day photos. Pupils are invited to wear traditional Welsh costumes or a Welsh top. Please note that school trousers or skirts must be worn with Welsh tops—own clothes should not be worn.

   

  Later in the term, we will also be holding our Parent Progress Meetings. Appointment slots will be available to book on MCAS soon.

• PCSO Visit

  Mon 09 Feb 2026

  On Friday 13th February, our local PCSOs will be visiting Penygawsi to introduce themselves to our Year 5 and Year 6 pupils. This visit will give them the chance to explain their role, answer questions, and begin building positive relationships with the children in our community.

  They will also be sharing important messages about staying safe, understanding who to turn to for help, and how they work with schools to support the wellbeing of young people.

  We are looking forward to strengthening our relationship with the PCSOs and hope to welcome them back for future events and activities here at Penygawsi Primary School.

• Community Safety Update

  Wed 04 Feb 2026

  Dear Parents and Carers,

   

  Following recent conversations with South Wales Police, I wanted to share some important information to ensure everyone is aware that the police are monitoring reports of suspicious activity in the vicinity of the Penygawsi estate. 

   

  As many of our Year 5 and Year 6 pupils walk to and from school independently, we felt it was important to make you aware of the situation so that you can decide whether you still feel confident allowing your child to walk unaccompanied at this time.

   

  The police have requested that if you witness any suspicious activity, you contact 101 and report it immediately. The more concerns that are reported, the more action can be taken.

   

  South Wales Police have also recommended that families sign up to South Wales Listens if they would like to stay informed.  South Wales Listens is a community messaging service run by South Wales Police that provides local updates, safety information, incident alerts, and advice directly to residents. By signing up, you can receive timely information about what is happening in the local area and how the police are responding.  If you would like to join South Wales Listens, please complete the Microsoft Form by clicking on the link below, by no later than midday Thursday 12th of February. We will then share your details with our local police officers, who will add you to the system.

  https://forms.office.com/e/6CpmfSd41C

   

  In the meantime, you may notice an increased presence of PCSOs and police officers around the school. They are working closely with the school and local residents to ensure the safety of our children and the wider community.

   

  I am also working with our local PCSOs to arrange a date for them to visit the school. This will give them an opportunity to introduce themselves to the children, explain their role, and talk about how pupils can seek help if they ever feel unsafe when out and about.

   

  Thank you for your continued support in helping us keep all members of our school community safe.

   

  Kind regards,
  Mrs Black
  Acting Headteacher

• Winter Months

  Fri 02 Jan 2026

  I hope you all had a lovely Christmas and I would like to wish you a very happy and healthy New Year.
  
  As we move into the winter months, the weather forecast suggests that conditions may become more changeable and unpredictable over the coming weeks. Should there be any likelihood of snow or ice, and if this results in changes to the school day or a potential closure, we will keep you informed via this website and the MCAS app.
  
  During this time of year, it is also important that all pupils come to school dressed appropriately for the colder weather. Please ensure that children have a warm, waterproof winter coat each day, along with hats, gloves and scarves where needed. Pupils will continue to go outdoors for dry playtimes and outdoor learning wherever possible, and suitable clothing will help ensure they remain warm, comfortable and able to enjoy these experiences safely.
  
  Please ensure that you are registered on MCAS so you can receive the latest updates promptly, and continue to check the 'Latest News' section of the website regularly. I would also encourage all families to familiarise themselves with our Snow and Ice Policy, which outlines the procedures we follow during periods of severe weather.
  
  It is important to note that in certain circumstances we may need to close the school early or cancel breakfast club/after-school clubs. We therefore ask that you are aware of our protocols and have suitable alternative arrangements in place, should these be needed, so that pupils and staff are also able to leave site safely and in good time.
  
  As always, we will do our very best to keep you informed as early as possible. However, to ensure you do not miss any important announcements, please register with MCAS if you have not already done so. Moving forward, we will no longer be using the text messaging service, and all communications will be shared via MCAS and the website.
  
  Finally, a reminder that Monday is an INSET day. We look forward to welcoming all children back to school at 8:50am on Tuesday 6th January.
   

• It Takes a Village

  Fri 05 Dec 2025

  Flu season has started earlier this year, and we’re already seeing more illness in our communities. This puts extra pressure on health and care services. Getting vaccinated is one of the best ways to protect your child, your family, and others from flu.

   

  On Monday, 1 December, the Flu Vaccination Toolkit – It Takes a Village went live on the Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board’s social media channels and website. This resource was created in partnership with the Community Working Group for Vaccination and Health Protection, showing the strength of working together across our region.

   

  What can parents do?

  • Book your child’s flu vaccination today through your GP or local pharmacy (if you didn't have it in school)
  • Share the toolkit messages with friends and family to help keep our community safe.

  👉 Access the toolkit here:Toolkit Link

• What an Amazing Day at Penygawsi!

  Fri 05 Dec 2025

   

  Yesterday was truly magical! We started the day with the fantastic panto Elfish Mishmash, which had everyone laughing and singing along. Then, in the afternoon, we kept the festive spirit alive with our Sponsored Elf Run. The buzz around the school was incredible, and it was wonderful to see everyone embracing the Christmas spirit!

   

  A huge thank you to our amazing PTA for funding the panto this year, it was such a treat for the children. We also want to thank everyone who has already sent in their sponsored money. We’ve raised an incredible amount so far!

   

  If you still have any remaining sponsorship money, please send it into school by Monday, 8th December, so we can announce our grand total.

   

  We can’t wait to see you all next week for our Christmas concerts, it’s going to be another week of special celebrations!

• MCAS PARENT APP

  Thu 04 Dec 2025

   

   

  MyChildAtSchool (MCAS) Self Sign Up Guide

   

  Helpful video here - How to Install and Activate the My Child at School (MCAS) App - Parent Guide

  STEP 1: You can access the Parent Login screen in two ways:

  1. Visit www.mychildatschool.com on a web browser to open the Parent Login screen. 2. Download the MyChildAtSchool mobile phone app from the app store.

  STEP 2: On the Parent Login screen, follow these steps:

  o Click on the Sign-Up link in the Parent Login screen.

  o Enter the school’s Postcode – CF72 8PZ or School ID - 16323.

  o Select the school from the list in the dropdown.

  o Click Continue.

  o Enter the email address you have registered with the school (if your email address isn’t recognised, please contact admin@penygawsiprimary.rctcbc.cymru).

  o Click Sign Up.

  Once you’ve completed the Sign-Up process, you will see this message: ‘To complete your registration, we have sent an email to the email address you provided. Please access your email and follow the steps to create your password’.

  STEP 3: You will then receive an email from MyChildAtSchool with a link to a one-time passcode. Follow these steps:

  • Click on the link for the one time passcode.
  • Enter the one time passcode.
  • Click Verify.

  STEP 4: Once the one time passcode has been verified, you will be prompted to enter a password:

  • Enter Password.
  • Confirm Password (by re-entering the same Password).
  • Click Create Password.

  STEP 5: Once you have created a password, you can log into your MCAS account via the app or by  visiting www.mychildatschool.com on a web browser. 

   

   

  You can change or reset your password at any time by clicking on Forgot Password.

   

   

  If you already have the MCAS app

   

  If you have the app already, please click on your child’s name at the top of the app, then click on the log in at the bottom, enter the same email address used, then click on the activate button, enter our school postcode CF72 8PZ or ID number - 16323

   

  Once activated, you can change schools on the drop down in the app by switching accounts.

   

• E-scooters

  Wed 19 Nov 2025

  Dear Parents/Carers,

  It is so nice to see so many children getting active in the morning and travelling to school by walking, riding a bike, or using a scooter. It is lovely to see the bike parking station full with bikes and scooters on a daily basis.

  However, it has been brought to my attention that some children are travelling to school on e-scooters, which are illegal to use on public roads and pavements. Please read the important information below:

  • It is illegal to use privately owned e-scooters on public roads, pavements, cycle lanes, or parks.
  • Under the Road Traffic Act 1988, e-scooters are classified as motor vehicles. This means they would require:
    • Insurance
    • Tax
    • Registration
    • Lights
    • Compliance with construction standards
      Most e-scooters cannot meet these requirements.
  • They can only be ridden on private land with the landowner’s permission.

  Riding a private e-scooter in public can result in:

  • A £300 fine
  • 6 penalty points on your driving licence
  • Seizure of the scooter by police

  If your child is travelling to school on a bike or a regular scooter, please ensure they are wearing a helmet for their safety.

  Thank you for your support in keeping our children safe. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the school office.

  Kind regards,
  Mrs Black

  Acting Headteacher