Dear Parents and Carers,

We hope you had a lovely half term, and it is lovely to have the children back. We have had a very busy week with lots going on. We had a great Black History Month celebration today. What a wonderful way to end our Black History Month celebrations. Thank you to everyone who came and made Friday afternoon what it was. Our hall was full, our choir sang beautifully, and the children’s work covered every wall. But the heart of it was our guests from the Hackney Caribbean Elderly Organisation on Leswin Road. Our Year 6 children visited them twice this term: first to interview them, then again for HCEO’s own Black History Month celebration. Today, the members came to us. Watching our children stand up and tell the hall what they learned, with the people who shared with them sitting there, is something none of us will forget. Thank you to Banji Alexander for his poetry, and to Nurture Academy, who talked to us about braiding, a reminder that some things are passed from hand to hand rather than written in any book. Thank you to Emmanuel and Gemma, to Sydney, and to Janet, who all gave their time this month to tell our children about their lives. Thank you to every family who cooked something, who sang, or who helped set up and clear up, and to those of you who supported the event by attending. This year’s national theme for Black History Month was Honouring Our Communities. We are so lucky to be part of such a wonderful community.

Today, the children enjoyed an incredible, vibrant workshop led by Carnival Creates. We were treated to a fantastic performance by a Steel Drum Band, who shared the fascinating history of the steel drum and explained how its music brought happiness and hope to communities during times of hardship. The excitement continued with two talented dancers from Notting Hill Carnival, who showcased the beautiful, colourful costumes worn during the celebrations. Some of our children even got to try on the costumes. We also learnt about the deeper meaning behind the costumes, which represent love, peace and unity. It was a truly memorable experience, filled with music, dance and learning. A huge thank you to Carnival Creates for sharing such a wonderful experience with us.

This week, Year Two took part in a fantastic workshop all about The Gunpowder Plot. They were transported back in time and immersed in 1605. Through drama, song and rhyme, the children explored the famous plot and learnt how the events unfolded.

Year 6 had a spine-tingling time at the Ministry of Stories, where they took part in a Gothic Fiction writing workshop. The children were set a deliciously eerie challenge: to use their imaginations to craft a gothic tale set in a mysterious location, where a strange object haunts their every step. The pupils rose to the occasion brilliantly. They conjured crumbling mansions, fog-filled graveyards and forgotten attics, filling them with cursed keys, poisonous perfume bottles and diaries full of sinister poems. Along the way, they explored how writers build suspense, create atmosphere and keep readers on the edge of their seats. The stories they produced were full of shivers and surprises, and we were so impressed by their creativity and confidence as writers. A huge thank you to the team at the Ministry of Stories for such an inspiring day. We can’t wait to read more of Year 6’s chilling creations back in the classroom. Year 4 Fuchsia Class enjoyed an exciting trip to Fulham Palace, where they stepped back in time to explore life in Roman Britain. The children discovered what life was like during Roman times, learned about Roman artefacts and explored how the Romans lived, worked and influenced Britain. It was a fantastic opportunity to bring their history learning to life, ask questions and experience history beyond the classroom. Everyone had a wonderful time and enjoyed being history detectives.

As part of our ongoing OPAL journey, we would love to hear your thoughts and feedback on how OPAL is working at Betty Layward. We would be grateful if you could take a few minutes to complete our short parent survey. It should take no longer than 10 minutes and will help us understand your views on children's experiences, engagement and enjoyment of playtimes, as well as any suggestions you may have for how we can continue to improve. Your feedback is really important to us and will help shape the next steps in our OPAL journey. This is the link

https://forms.gle/1bSdGprWV1eTHQc99

Thank you for all your support. The children absolutely love OPAL, and it has been wonderful to see the positive impact it is having across our school. We are so pleased that it has become part of life at Betty Layward. Thank you for taking the time to share your views.

We are really looking forward to seeing you at Parents’ evening on Thursday. Please ensure you have signed up for a time slot. Please remember that school closes at 1pm If you need childcare, please book through Premier. There is a creche, but it is only for children if you do not wish them to attend appointments. Children are very welcome to attend your meeting. We hope you will enjoy seeing and celebrating how well the children are doing.

Have a lovely weekend

Jessica

Headteacher