Dear Parents and Carers,

I cannot believe we are already at the end of our first half term. I have been so impressed with how the children have settled in - our new children and all the children in their new classes. Walking around the school is a pleasure. I really enjoy seeing them engaged in their learning with big smiles. 

We have our Black History Month event on Friday 6th November in the school hall at 3:30pm. The children’s work will be on display, the choir will be singing, and there will be delicious food. Please come along. Tickets will be on sale soon.

We were delighted to welcome Marcia Holzer, an amazing artist and Grandma, to Betty Layward, where she shared her incredible artwork with the children in assembly on Monday. It was a real treat to hear about her artistic journey and learn more about her creativity and achievements. Thank you, Marcia, for inspiring our young artists and sharing your passion with us.

Cerise class really enjoyed their trip to Fulham Palace, where they stepped back in time to experience life in Roman Britain. They dressed up as Romans and took part in a range of exciting hands-on activities to bring our history learning to life. They tried grinding spices with a mortarium, as the Romans would have, and learned more about their daily lives, traditions, and customs. It was a wonderful opportunity to immerse themselves in the past and deepen their understanding of Roman life.

On Tuesday, the Cerise class, and on Wednesday, the Fuchsia class, visited Dr Johnson’s House to explore life in the past and deepen their understanding of Black history. The children learned more about how houses were built and what daily life was like in 18th-century London, while reflecting on Francis Barber's experiences and his contributions to education during that period. It was a wonderful opportunity to bring this learning to life beyond the classroom.

On Wednesday, we were treated to a fabulous assembly by Chilli class. The children shared incredible facts about the Mayan Civilisation. We were impressed by how well they had learnt their lines and delivered them clearly and with enthusiasm. They also sang a great song about the Mayans. It was clear they enjoyed their history learning and presented it well. Well done, Chilli class. 

Year 2 had an amazing trip to the Young V&A. They took part in a sound design workshop, learning what Foley is and how different sounds in films and TV are created. They were then given a range of items to make sounds with and created a chorus. After that, they used their newfound knowledge to build a soundtrack for footage from Wallace & Gromit. They also enjoyed exploring the entire gallery space, from the theatre to the games room.

Reception enjoyed going on a local art walk around Stoke Newington. They behaved very well throughout the trip, showing excellent listening skills and interest in their surroundings. The children enjoyed looking at different pieces of local art and sharing their thoughts, with the ice cream painting being a particular favourite. They also loved sharing what felt familiar, talking about places they pass on their walks to school, as well as their favourite local bakeries and restaurants. It was lovely to see them connect the art they saw with their own experiences in the local community.

A huge congratulations to our brand-new Reading Ambassadors. We’re so proud of them, and they have exciting duties ahead. They’ll be cheering on their classmates to pick up a good book, sharing their favourite reads and recommendations, and finding out what stories everyone is itching to read next. You’ll also spot them helping out at our reading events and competitions, and creating colourful displays to get the whole school excited about books. This is also a fantastic opportunity for them to grow as leaders while sharing their love of reading with others. We can’t wait to see all the brilliant things they get up to.  

Thank you for all your support and kindness this term and have a lovely half term break. We look forward to seeing you on Monday 2nd November. 

Jessica 

Headteacher