School Times

School starts at 8.55am and finishes at 3.05pm for children in reception to year 2 and 3.10pm for children in years 3 to 6.

Inset Days for 2024/2025

• Monday 2nd September 2024

• Friday 6th December 2024

• Friday 21st February 2025

• Friday 11th April 2025

• Monday 2nd June 2025

• Monday 21st July 2025

Inset Days for 2025/26

• Monday 1st September 2025
• Friday 21st November 2025
• Monday 5th January 2026
• Friday 13th March 2026
• Friday 22nd May 2026
• Monday 20th July 2026

Parent Pay

All payments for school trips, music lessons, after school club and late clubs will be collected via our e-payment and communication tool - ParentPay.  All parents have a secure online account, activated using a unique activation username and password that has been sent home in a letter.   Click here to access the ParentPay website.  Schools dinners will still be paid via the Council - see details below.

Please click on both the above documents to view the menu and also the schedule to find out what week we are currently on.  

More information on school dinners can be found on the Bridgend Council website Primary School Meals

Primary School Meals - Universal Free School Meals

All primary school children in Wales can now access Universal Primary Free School Meals.  This commitment by Welsh Government is in response to the rising cost-of-living pressures on families and our shared ambitions of:

• tackling child poverty

• ensuring no child goes hungry in school

There are also wider benefits of free school meals, including:

• promoting healthy eating across the school

• increasing the variety of food options

• improving social skills at mealtimes

• improving behaviour and attainment

Universal Free School Meals - School Trips - Important Information

The universal free school meals provision also extends to children when on a school trip, and as a result the local authority have an arrangement with Castell Howell for the provision of pre-packed and labelled packed lunches.  The packed lunch will consist of a filled Talgarth Bakery ham or cheese roll, pre-packed muffin, that will accompany vegetable sticks, fresh fruit, and bottle of water which will all comply with Natasha’s Law.

Prior to any school trip, parents will be sent a google form that will allow you to order a free packed lunch for any trips.  It would be very helpful if all parents can complete the form even if your child does not require the free packed lunch.  We are keen to avoid any food waste so please ensure you complete the form as accurately as possible.  Below are the questions you will be asked on the google form.  We are required to provide the catering team with a minimum of 10 days notice prior to any school trip.  

Thank you for your assistance with this.  Please note all packed lunches ordered will be provided to children on the morning of the trip.

Medically prescribed diets

Does your child have a food allergy/intolerance or a medical condition, which would require them to need a Medically Prescribed Diet? If so, Catering Services has an online facility where a medically prescribed diet can be requested. To request a special diet, simply complete the application form:

Please ensure you have a copy of a recent medical letter confirming the diagnosis and required diet, as this will need to be uploaded during the application.

The requirement for medical confirmation is to protect the health of your child and ensure that there is a medical need to restrict their diet. Providing a very restricted diet without medical need could potentially be harmful to the child without the support of a health professional. We cannot process your request until we have received this.

Once we have received the form, you will either receive a special diet menu for your approval by email or we will contact you to discuss your child’s requirements in more detail before sending a menu out to you. Please allow up to 3 weeks for your menu to arrive.

To protect the health of your child, please provide your child with a packed lunch from home until you have received the confirmed start date.

Please note:  Even with proactive cross contamination control measures, multiple handling processes in the supply chain do present the potential for trace ingredients to remain present. We cannot control the food brought into the dining environment by other customers.

https://www.bridgend.gov.uk/residents/schools-and-education/school-meals/primary-school-meals/

Accelerated Reading Scheme

Our pupils in years 3 to 6 are using Accelerated Reader as their main reading focus. Accelerated Reader gives teachers the information they need to monitor pupils’ reading practice and make informed decisions to guide their future learning.
Accelerated reading ensures that pupils are reading the correct books for their reading age. Once they have completed the book the children undertake a quiz related to the book and receive instant feedback. Teachers use Accelerated Reader to monitor independent reading practice and assign close reading skills practice. They receive data that tells them how reading skills are improving.
If you would like further information related to Accelerated Reader, please see the Parent’s Guide on our Website or click on the link below. Alternatively, please discuss with your Childs class teacher

https://www.renaissance.com/2016/09/09/parents-guide-renaissance-accelerated-reader-360/

Health and Wellbeing / P.E. Lesson Days

P.E. lessons this term will take place on the following days.  Children attending school should wear their P.E. kit to school on the day of their lesson.

• Nursery - Thursday

• Reception -  Wednesday

• Year 1 - Monday

• Year 2 - Tuesday

• Year 3 - Friday

• Year 4 - Friday

• Year 5 - Friday

• Year 6 - Friday

Welsh Government national tests

National literacy and numeracy tests were introduced by the Welsh Government in 2013 and are statutory for all children between the age of 7 and 14. The tests are delivered over a set period each year.  The testing period is usually in April / May.  Below are some sample papers which you may find useful.

School Data

Information on school data for Oldcastle Primary School can be viewed via this link.  Oldcastle School Data