‘Food and fun’ scheme revealed
DETAILS about how children in Rhondda Cynon Taf can access free activities and food during the summer holidays have been revealed.
The “Food and Fun” programme is aimed at supporting children in some of the borough’s most deprived areas.
It will run in 15 schools this summer and will include daily activities and meals for children.
The programme will run from July 21 to August 5 in 13 mainstream schools and two special schools between 9.30am and 1.15pm each day.
Each mainstream school will have a maximum capacity of 40 pupils between the ages of five and 11 and 20 pupils (aged seven-19) in special schools. Places will be applied for online and will be prioritised based on need.
The schools were selected based on the high percentage of pupils accessing free school meals in that area.
It is expected to cost £178,000 and is being coordinated by the Welsh Local Government Association.
Councillor Joy Rosser, Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s Cabinet Member for Education and Inclusion Services, said: “I’m very pleased that the Council has agreed its School Holiday Enrichment Programme for 2021 – to provide vulnerable young people with much-needed support during the summer break, which can be a challenging time for families. It will provide a number of opportunities for extended learning, social interaction and physical activities when invaluable term-time contact from schools is not available.
“The Council has successfully engaged in the Programme for the last four years and it is especially important in the pandemic, to help parents and carers meet the additional costs of the school holidays. Welsh Government has continued its support for free school meals up until the end of the school term, and a key part of SHEP is its provision of a healthy breakfast and lunchtime meal for those pupils in need during the summer holiday period.
“The 15 school settings have been chosen based on the high percentage of free school meals provision locally, and others for use of their facilities – with the programme set to be of significant benefit to 560 young people and their families in some of our county borough’s most deprived communities. The booking process will be communicated to parents and carers in due course.”
The 15 schools included in the programme: Craig-yr-Hesg Primary (pupils from the Glyncoch area); Darran Park Primary (pupils from the wider Ferndale area); Glenboi Primary
School; Hawthorn High (pupils from Hawthorn Primary and the wider Rhydyfelin area); Llanharan Primary School; Mountain Ash Comprehensive School; Penrhys Primary School; Perthcelyn Primary School; Penywaun Community Primary School (pupils from the wider Penywaun
area); Porth Community School (pupils from the wider Porth area); Tonyrefail Community School (pupils from the wider Tonyrefail area); Ynysboeth Primary School; Ysgol Nantgwyn (pupils from the wider Tonypandy area); Ysgol Hen Felin; Ysgol Ty Coch.