Update 23/06/20

As those of you affected will be aware, the school has made every effort to secure refunds of monies paid to date for these two overseas trips. Unfortunately, we have not been able to secure payment yet. With a number of other schools, and in partnership with the Local Authority, we are seeking legal advice in order to try and resolve the issue. We appreciate the frustration this is causing, and we share that frustration ourselves. We will update as soon as we have any further information.

ITALY TRIP UPDATE - 15/05/20

Dear parents and carers

May we send our thanks to you for the high level of understanding shown for the difficulties we faced as a school in regards to making the decision on cancelling the Italy trip.

As you are aware with very few exceptions, parents and carers overwhelmingly expressed support for Option A. This reflected our own thinking and took into account the well-being of both pupils and staff which was of the utmost importance. It was posted on the Google classroom at the time that £250 had been paid to the travel company as two separate deposits and that if Option A was chosen by the majority that this was the only monies that would be paid out of the total of the trip to date.

In normal circumstances if a child was taken off the trip or that child could not go on the trip because of for example; a health issue that had arisen then there would be a replacement child that would take that place and so in this situation the non-refundable deposit would be £150. This non-refundable deposit is also the case in securing a child’s place on the trip in the first instance.

In the unprecedented position we find ourselves in with currently ALL of the pupils are no longer going on the trip and we have already paid the two initial deposits to the company (which are staggered) and which we are contractually obligated to pay by November, we cannot currently access that money as we have cancelled the trip. This is non-refundable at the moment but we are in the process of trying to claim this back.

Once we have further information please be assured that we will notify parents and will hopefully be in the position to refund the £250.00. The final balance as you are aware was due to be paid by May 6^th, but there were risks attached to this as you were informed of.

May we again thank you for the support you have shown in exceptional circumstances. We are sorry for any confusion that may have occurred since the decision of cancelling the trip was made.

If you have any other further queries please contact the school on office@dyffryntaf.org.uk

Yours faithfully

Mrs Natalie Giles

ITALY TRIP UPDATE - Wednesday 29th April

We are still awaiting advice on how best to proceed with the trip. We are also working with the Local Authority as other schools in the county are in a similar position. You may well be aware from national media coverage that a large number of travel organisations are either refusing to cancel trips at this point or to put full refunds in place. We are working to ensure that our pupils and families will not be financially disadvantaged by a situation well beyond the school’s control. The health and safety of our pupils and staff is our priority and when we have more information we will be in touch with you. We thank you for your continued support and patience under the current difficult circumstances.

Mr J G Kennedy

Headteacher

ITALY TRIP UPDATE - Friday 20th March

Rome trip planned for July

We have again contacted the tour organisers, in light of current government guidance. As things stand their position has not changed. We will continue to work with them to find a way forward. We know that many families are facing significant financial pressures at this time. Please be assured that we are doing everything possible to ensure that no pupil or family from Dyffryn Taf loses out. We expect to be able to offer a further update before Easter.