Children in Need 2026

It's been a busy Children in Need themed day today, with Pudsey toast, art, craft, sand, water (and custard!), games, dancing and loads more! 

Check out the Children in Need 2026 photo album here... 

And don't forget, if you have a little cash you can spare, donate to the appeal using our 'JustGiving' page here...

School Admissions (Reception) September 2027

We've received letters from the Torfaen School Admissions team to give to parents whose children are due to start Reception class in September 2027. We will be giving these letters out soon as they contain important information about how and when to apply!

In the meantime and for your convenience, we reproduce the main text and below. PLEASE TAKE NOTE OF THE DATES! Any queries should be directed to Torfaen; we've included the admissions team email address at the end of this news item.

From the Torfaen School Admission Team...

ADMISSION TO (RECEPTION) PRIMARY SCHOOL – SEPTEMBER 2027

Please find information on how and when to apply for a Reception school place in 2027. Applicants are advised to read the School Admissions Policy before making an application so that you fully understand the admissions policy and the terms and conditions under which you are making your application, which is available to download via the Authority’s website, www.torfaen.gov.uk

In a change to previous years, all Reception applications in the normal admissions round should be submitted to the Council, even if one of the school preferences is a faith school.

Applications for Reception/Primary school can be made online via our website. In submitting an online application, you will receive an instant acknowledgement that your application has been received and you will be notified of the outcome of your application via email on the decision date, rather than waiting for a letter in the post!

There is a deadline for making your application. If you miss this deadline, or change your preference after the closing date, it may increase the possibility of not achieving a place at the school of your choice. Any LATE applications will be considered after the offer date of the 16th April 2027 and in accordance with the late application process.

In Torfaen, each address will fall within the catchment area of both an English Medium and a Welsh Medium school. Catchment school details can be found via the Authority’s website, www.torfaen.gov.uk.

KEY DATES

Online applications will go live on Friday 13th November 2026 at 9am

Closing date for application is Friday 15th January 2027 at 5pm

Decision date is Friday 16th April 2027

Appeals will be held May / June 2027 in relation to the applications submitted by the closing date.

You can apply online by following this link www.torfaen.gov.uk/primaryadmissions.

ADMISSIONS INFORMATION

When considering applications for admission, the Authority must admit pupils up to a schools Admission Number (AN). The Admission Number being the number of pupils who will be admitted to any year group before applications can be refused.

Where the number of applications exceeds the number of places available the over subscription criteria would be used to determine which applicants would be offered places. Please refer to page 16/17 of the School Admissions Policy to view the over subscription criteria for community/voluntary controlled schools within Torfaen.

As Governing Bodies are responsible for admission to voluntary aided schools, each will have its own admissions policy and over subscription criteria. Parents/carers should refer to the Co-ordinated admissions arrangements (page 76) of the School Admissions Policy to view the over subscription criteria for voluntary aided (faith) schools within Torfaen.

The Authority will be checking the residential qualification of all pupils and parents/carers will be asked to submit evidence to confirm their address on their child’s admission application form. The Local Authority will use this information to validate that the address submitted on the application form coincides with the information held on the Local Authority’s Council Tax database, the adult completing the application must be named on the council tax database and the address provided must be the one to which child benefit is claimed.

Please see the School Admissions Policy for further guidance where the council tax record cannot be used or for those applicants residing outside of Torfaen.

Further checks will be carried out if the evidence provided is not satisfactory.

With respect to school transport, details of the Authority’s transport policy can be found in the School Admissions Policy 2027/2028 and if you have any queries, please contact the Transport Team on 01495 766920/6919.

Parents/Carers should note that transport is not normally provided for pupils who attend out of catchment area schools.

Email address: 

school.admissions@torfaen.gov.uk

Remembrance 2026

Every year around the country, there are many 'Remembrance' events honouring soldiers who have died in various wars. The older children at Little Chums learn and remember in their own way by listening to and watching stories, playing with poppy themed sand and water, creating poppies and so on. 

Preschool sat in a circle and observed 2 minutes silence, sitting perfectly and respectfully for the entire period. 

Photos of their activities can be found in a photo album here...

Children in Need Reminder

This Friday 13th November, we are raising money for Children in Need 2026! 

Wear comfy pyjamas or something spotty! We will be doing Children in Need craft & activities!

Please see the posters around the nursery and scan the QR code to donate whatever amount you can via our JustGiving page, or visit this link:

https://www.justgiving.com/page/little-chums-cin26

Bonfire Night 2026

Last Thursday, all the children at Little Chums celebrated Bonfire Night, enjoying all the various art and craft activities and games. 

Towards the end of the afternoon, just as it was getting dark, the children had fun waving sparklers around in the air as well as tucking into hotdogs!

Visit the Bonfire Night photo album here...

November 2026 Newsletter

Little Chums has emailed out a newsletter for November 2026. 

Didn't receive a copy of the newsletter by email or deleted it by accident?

Read it online here...

Bonfire Night Safety

This Thursday 5th November, we will be celebrating Bonfire Night! 

We will be doing the usual art, craft, game and activities, as well as eating hot dogs for tea and having sparklers!

For safety, if your child is attending on this day, please make sure they have gloves so they can use sparklers!

Quality for All Award

Little Chums is incredibly proud to announce that we have achieved the Early Years Wales ‘Quality for All’ Award, a recognised quality assurance and improvement scheme. 

As part of the assessment process, assessors from Early Years Wales gathered evidence relating to children's experiences, staff practice and the leadership and management of our setting as well as a verifier visiting to observe and speak to children and staff.

The award focused on three key areas of our practice:

1) Managing and developing practice whilst ensuring a safe environment – including leadership, recruitment and staff development, wellbeing, safeguarding and the day-to-day management of our setting. 
2) Children's health and wellbeing – how we support children's physical health, emotional wellbeing, relationships and sense of belonging.
3) A holistic approach to children's play, learning and development – how our play experiences, learning opportunities and environment encourage curiosity, independence, communication and development.

Achieving this award is a wonderful recognition of the dedication and hard work of our entire team and our ongoing commitment to providing a safe, nurturing and stimulating environment in which every child can learn, develop and thrive.

We would also like to thank all our families for their continued trust and support and for being such an important part of the Little Chums family.

Halloween 2026

What an incredibly busy and SPOOOOOKY week ending with a Halloween party today! 

What have the children been up tooooooo?  Check out this list...

- Halloween art and craft

- Halloween games, fun and dancing
- Halloween cake/biscuit/decorating

- Pumpkin carving

- Fancy dress

- Strange substances in the sand/water trays

- Halloween themed play tables 

- Halloween breakfast
- Halloween party lunch

Some of the photos of your child(ren) enjoying the celebrations will be sent via the app but, in the meantime, see all the action in our Halloween 2026 photo album here... 

If your child came in fancy dress and if you haven't done so already, don't forget to donate to Children in Need using our JustGiving page!  Find that here...

Facebook

Unfortunately, Facebook have now limited the use of links to other websites so we can no longer post direct links to our photo gallery, news pages or anything else...

 

However, on our Facebook profile, there is a link to this main website. Just click that to visit the front page of our website. From there you can enter thissite and navigate to the photo gallery, news page or other social media accounts.

 

We apologise for the slight inconvenience due to their corporate greed...

Autumnal Toddlers

In between the recent rain and cold weather, Toddlers have managed to get outside to go on an 'Autumnal Scavenger Hunt'. 

They looked for signs in nature of the arrival of Autumn and collected fallen leaves and tree branches, and pine cones.

And throwing big bundles of leaves into the air is great fun!

See the photos in the album here... 

Preschool Antics!

Preschool have been INCREDIBLY busy over the last few weeks! 

Whether being creative, learning or just having fun indoors or out, they just haven't stopped!

See all the photos in the photo album here... 

Cow Visit!

Preschool were in the back garden today and had a surprise visit from the cows, including a delightful little baby calf! 

See some photos on our Facebook page here... 

Halloween Events

Halloween this year is on the weekend but, rest assured, the children at Little Chums won’t be missing out! 

We will be doing our customary arts and crafts throughout the week leading up to Halloween and having a Halloween-themed party in place of our usual lunch on Thursday 29th October.

Children are welcome to dress up in a Halloween costume and there will be a prize in each room for the best!

In November we are raising money for 'Children in Need', so if your child is wearing fancy dress for the Halloween party, please donate at least £1 using our 'JustGiving' page.  There are posters (see right) around Little Chums with a QR code to our donation page, or use the direct link below.

https://www.justgiving.com/page/little-chums-cin26 

 

October 2026 Newsletter

Little Chums has emailed out a newsletter for October 2026.

Didn't receive a copy of the newsletter by email or deleted it by accident?

Read it online here...