Dear Parents and Carers,

I cannot believe we are at the February half-term break and already halfway through the year. Time is flying. I want to personally thank you for all your recent kindness and support. I have received some lovely emails during what's been a difficult time for the school and that support means a lot. Thank you. I do feel lucky to be the Headteacher of Betty Layward and I ensure your children receive the best in everything. They deserve it. They are a pleasure to be with and they put a smile on my face every day. Thank you for helping to create the wonderful community we are part of. I feel very fortunate.

On Tuesday, Emerald class delivered their assembly on Ancient Egypt. It was a lively and engaging performance, with fantastic music and interesting facts, presented brilliantly by everyone involved. The children’s performance was seamless and they spoke with confidence. It was the best episode of a Place in the Sun we had ever seen. Well done, Emerald Class.

Reception hosted their Family Friday today and thank you to those of you who attended. It was lovely to see parents and carers engaging with the children and we look forward to tasting the dumplings they made for the Lunar New Year.

We are offering a one-hour workshop for parents and carers about helping your child manage big emotions. Do you notice your child having intense emotional reactions, meltdowns, or worries? Are you unsure how to respond in the moment or what really helps over time? We have designed this workshop to support you. Some of our Key Stage 2 children have also participated in the school workshop 'Exploring & Managing Our Emotions,' and this session aims to help parents build shared understanding by offering practical, evidence-based strategies to support emotional regulation at home. It is caring, realistic, and focuses on connection, co-regulation, and “good enough” support rather than perfection. The workshop will take place online on Thursday, 26th February at 11am.

Happy Lunar New Year for next week. I wish you good health and may all your wishes come true.

Have a fantastic half-term break, and we look forward to seeing everyone back on Tuesday, 24th February.

Jessica
Headteacher