Jessica's Newsletters

Newsletter Friday 1st May 2026

Fri 01 May 2026 Jessica

Dear Parents and Carers,

I hope you have had some opportunity to enjoy the sunshine this week. We have had a lovely week with Reception Aqua class delivering an amazing assembly. Their assembly focused on the life cycles of different animals. During the assembly, the children presented their very own nature programme, Nature News Live, which was full of fantastic facts about the natural world. The children also shared a letter they received from Ranger Jo at Clissold Park, who thanked them for the nature reports they wrote about the animals that make their homes there. Ranger Jo also set the children the challenge of looking after some caterpillars. Aqua class showed everyone how these caterpillars changed from crawly creatures into majestic butterflies. The children spoke very confidently and clearly. We are very proud of them and they should be very proud of themselves.

A group of Year 5 boys proudly represented the school at last Friday’s football tournament, showing great enthusiasm, teamwork, and determination throughout the competition. They played brilliantly against strong opposition, demonstrating excellent sportsmanship and skill in every match. The team performed exceptionally well and should be very proud of their achievements. We are incredibly proud of their effort, positive attitude, and the way they represented the school. Well done to all involved.

The fundraising by the children has already begun and we are so impressed. Emma, Alice, Ottie and Elsie from Cerise class set up a lemonade stand last weekend (with help from Iris y2 and Maddie y1) to raise money for the school. They raised £78 and had a lot of fun together creating their posters for the stand and making and selling lemonade after football in Clissold Park. Well done, we think this is amazing.

Last weekend, George (Year 4) and Max (Year 1), with help from Dylan (Year 4), Miles and Lenny (Year 1), put on their selling hats and sold lemonade on the street outside their house. They were really proud of their efforts and we are very proud of them. Thankfully, there was a long queue at the ice cream shop on Saturday, which made for a captive audience. They raised £115 from lemonade sales, which is amazing. Having caught the bug, Max headed back out on Sunday to sell some old toys and clothes. He raised a further £11. We think this is amazing and thank them all for their wonderful support. All money from both fundraising events will go towards their class totals for 20p day. Those classes are definitely off to a good start.

We were thrilled to welcome back the wonderful children's author Eric Huang this week, who previously visited the children as part of our World Book Day celebrations. We are excited to announce that Eric has officially taken on the role of Betty Layward’s Author-in-Residence. During his visit, Eric spent time with our staff to share his unique approach to generating creative writing ideas, and he has kindly agreed to run writing workshops for the children in the near future. We highly recommend checking out Eric’s fantastic novel series, Guardians of the New Moon, for reading inspiration at home.

We shared a video with the children about dyslexia and some of them have asked me to share it with you. Made by dyslexia's mission is to teach the world the brilliance of Dyslexic Thinking, and to empower it in every home, every workplace, and every school. Here is the link - https://www.madebydyslexia.org

We hope you have a lovely long weekend and see you on Tuesday.
Jessica

Newsletter Friday 24th April 2026

Fri 24 Apr 2026 Jessica

Dear Parents and Carers,

We have really enjoyed the sunshine this week. It has been a lovely change and it is great to see the children enjoying OPAL at lunchtime. The children have had a wonderful time playing in the sunshine. The warm weather has created the perfect opportunity for them to explore, be active and engage their imaginations outdoors. They have especially loved building, creating and role-playing with the Opal resources, using open-ended materials to invent their own games and stories. The children delighted in making fairy creations, using natural materials and their imaginations to create worlds full of tiny details and wonder. The children also had great fun getting the water out to clean the saucepans and pots in the mud kitchen, especially while enjoying the warm sunshine.

On Friday, 17th April, Betty Layward's children competed in the Hackney League chess tournament and finished first, outperforming six other schools. Well done to Sacha, Henry, Al, Gene, Luca, Acer and Cyrus. Their hard work and preparation paid off as they secured first place, an impressive achievement that reflects both their individual talent and their strong spirit.

On Tuesday and Friday, as part of their science topic, Living Things and Their Habitats, Year 4 visited Hampstead Heath to take part in the Heath Beasts Exploration session. During the trip, the children discovered the secret lives of invertebrates. They explored Hampstead Heath through a hands-on bug hunt and pond dipping, trying to find as many creatures as possible. They then tested their knowledge by challenging themselves to identify and classify each creature they found. These activities encouraged curiosity, close observation, and a deeper understanding of the diversity of living things in the local ecosystem. They really enjoyed it and were great ambassadors for the school.

We are really pleased to have been asked to work with Barnardo’s on its SEEN's Safeguarding Children from Racial Harm Programme. Barnardo’s SEEN is developing a national resource and safeguarding toolkit to help schools better safeguard children from racial harm and to better protect children of different ethnicities, faiths and beliefs from harm. To ensure it reflects the lived experiences, needs and realities of school communities, they will be working with 5 schools to understand the relevant social and structural context of school communities, collaborating through co-creation with children, staff, governors, parents/carers and mental health/wellbeing teams. They have selected schools to work with by targeting schools across England from a range of different contexts (different age groups, SEND schools, independent) that advocate for improved anti-racist practice in education. We are delighted to have been invited to participate in this exciting new project. We will be working with the charity Barnardo’s to continue our work on diversity, particularly understanding racism. Barnardo’s will use this work to support schools in safeguarding children and in teaching them to understand racism. On Thursday, Year 3 and Year 5 took part in workshops run by Barnardo’s as part of this SEEN project. What the children said will help Barnardo’s develop a national resource and safeguarding toolkit to better protect children of different ethnicities, faiths and beliefs from harm. During the workshop, the children were given a safe space to share and discuss their experiences and feelings about racist incidents and how they should be addressed at school. The children were incredibly honest, respectful and open about their feelings, and we are very proud of the contributions they made to support this extremely important project. The staff were also involved and asked about how they felt dealing with racist incidents. The information Barnardo’s has collated from us will be used to help create this project for use in schools. Barnardo’s will be returning to trial workshops and would also like to work with parents and carers. We are pleased to be part of this very important work.

We are looking forward to seeing you at Blastonbury at 2pm on Tuesday, 19th May, in the school playground. The theme this year is Country Music and we are really looking forward to performing these songs for you. We are looking forward to seeing you there.

Please can I remind you that we no longer provide cakes for children's birthdays. We provide the children with a small treat. We felt that, with allergies in schools becoming more difficult, it was better to do this for the children instead. Thank you for your support with this.

It is 20p time again. This is when children fundraise for the school. This year, we have added a new aspect, allowing children to fundraise themselves in any way they want, which does not have to be collecting 20ps. They could organise a cake or a toy sale. Any ideas are welcome. The winning class will win £40 to spend as they choose. Thank you for your support with this, as it raises a lot of money for school and encourages children to understand the importance of fundraising.

Have a lovely weekend and enjoy the sunshine,
Jessica
Headteacher

Jessica Bailey
Headteacher
The Betty Layward Primary School

Friday 17th April 2016

Fri 17 Apr 2026 Jessica

Dear Parents and Carers,

We hope you had a lovely holiday, and it is great to see everyone back. I can’t believe we are already in the summer term. There will be lots of exciting things happening this term, so please keep an eye on the website calendar, where all dates will be posted. You can sync this calendar with your own to ensure you always receive notifications.

Year 3 enjoyed an exciting and educational trip to the Sir John Soane Museum as part of their topic on Ancient Greece. During the visit, the children took part in three engaging activities that deepened their understanding of Greek architecture and design. First, they created their own temples dedicated to a Greek god, carefully considering structure and purpose. They also crafted detailed designs for key architectural features, including the Parthenon, its frieze, capitals, and columns, demonstrating great creativity and attention to detail. The children then explored different areas of the museum, searching for examples of Ancient Greek influence. They visited the crypt, the painting room, the Dome area, and the library-dining room, observing fascinating artefacts and architectural features.

On Thursday, a group of Year 3 children took part in a Chess in Schools chess event at St John's Highbury Vale Primary School. The children had the opportunity to make a few moves against visiting chess masters and then went on to play three games against children from other schools. The children played incredibly well and placed third in the event. A massive well done to all the children who participated.

Please remember to donate to OPAL. We really appreciate all the scooters, wellies, etc. We are also asking whether anyone has any unused Yoto players (a storytelling device), as we would love these in Nursery or Reception.

Have a lovely weekend,

Jessica

Headteacher

Newsletter Friday 27th March 2026

Fri 27 Mar 2026 Jessica

Dear Parents and Carers,

I cannot believe it is the end of term today. Where is the time going? We have had a lovely term and are looking forward to a fabulous summer term as well. On Monday, Year 4 children took part in a tour around the National Gallery. They explored various paintings and worked together to uncover the hidden meanings behind the objects, animals, and figures in the artworks. It was interesting how each child interpreted the paintings differently. They had the opportunity to engage in a collaborative discussion and sit in front of some famous paintings. It was a great day.

Thank you for all your help at the Jumble Sale. It was a great success. Including the sponsorship money from Oakwood for the boards, we made £3358.41 in total, which is £200 more than last year. This is fantastic and will really make a difference. Thanks to those of you who came and bought items, helped set up, ran a stall, and cleared up. It was a lovely event. A massive thank you to Fleur, who organised it all. As her child is in Year 6, it was her last jumble sale and I thank her for all her hard work organising them. Also, a huge well done to some Year 6 children who made nearly £100 for the French trip by selling their homemade items.

We had our school Eid lunch on Tuesday. We enjoyed very delicious food and each other' s company.

Year 1 Violet's assembly this week focused on hot and cold environments and it was very exciting. The children learned about icy places like the Arctic and very hot deserts and how people and animals survive there. A real-life explorer spoke to Violet class and answered many of their questions. This was a fantastic way to bring learning to life. Well done, Violet class.

The children are enjoying OPAL and the sunshine, eagerly exploring science through play, drawing around shadows and observing how shapes change. They have been having a fantastic time moving the kayaks on wheels and working together to create imaginative structures. They are really enjoying working together with energy, curiosity, and laughter.

Thank you for attending your parent/carers' meetings this week. It was lovely to see you and I hope you found the reports helpful for children in Years 1 to 6. Reception and Nursery will receive their reports at the end of the academic year.

Thank you for another great term. We feel very lucky to have you and your children at our school. I am proud of them every day, and their enthusiasm and kindness make it a pleasure to come to work.

I wish you a very restful and happy spring break. Have a very Happy Easter and Happy Passover.

Jessica

Headteacher

Newsletter Friday 20th March 2026

Thu 19 Mar 2026 Jessica

Dear Parents and Carers,

We have had a lovely week, and we hope you have too. Tuesday was a beautiful, sunny day with perfect conditions for running, and our pupils took part in the final cross-country race of the year. It was wonderful to see so many children giving their best effort, showing determination, resilience, and great sportsmanship throughout. A special well done goes to Mia for her fantastic 8th-place finish and to Aurora for her excellent performance competing against other schools in Hackney. We’d also like to congratulate Otto for finishing in the top 30 in the boys’ race, an impressive achievement. We are incredibly proud of all the participants who represented the school so brilliantly. Well done, everyone.

This week, Apricot class had a very special chance to help our local environment. They planted 70 trees in Clissold Park, which felt like a truly meaningful experience because we were contributing to nature and making a lasting difference for future generations. There are a total of 600 trees being planted, including Birch, Cherry, and Oak trees. This small woodland can be found near the start of the park, close to the zebra crossing by the Clissold Tavern if you would like to visit.

This week was Neurodiversity Celebration Week, a special occasion for us to recognise and celebrate the different ways our brains function. We held a special assembly where we discussed how everyone thinks, learns, and experiences the world in their own unique way, and why this diversity strengthens our school community. We are proud to promote kindness, understanding, and inclusion, ensuring every child feels valued and supported.

Saturday, the 21st of March, is World Down Syndrome Day, which we celebrated in school today. It is an opportunity for us to raise awareness about Down Syndrome. The children have been learning about the importance of inclusion and recognising that everyone is unique and valued. We wore our bright, colourful socks to celebrate differences and show our support.

We have our Jumble Sale tomorrow and we look forward to seeing you there. Thank you for your very kind donations, and thank you if you are volunteering to help, as any help makes a massive difference. Thanks to the organisers. Events like this make a big difference to the school, especially as budgets are very tight.

Please ensure you have scheduled a parent/carer meeting for Tuesday next week. Years 1-6 will receive their child's report via email on Monday, so please watch out for these. If you would like to, you can discuss them during your meeting on Tuesday. Please remember that school closes at 1pm and the creche we provide is not for childcare. It is only available for the duration of your 10 minute meeting. Please make sure your child is collected at 1pm. If you require afternoon childcare, you can book this through Premier. We look forward to seeing you at your meeting.

Eid Mubarak, may this special day bring peace, happiness and prosperity to everyone.

Have a lovely weekend and see you at the Jumble Sale,
Jessica
Headteacher

Newsletter Friday 13th March 2026

Fri 13 Mar 2026 Jessica

Dear Parents and Carers,

We have enjoyed a wonderful week filled with exciting trips and workshops. This week, the children in Year 3 had an incredible time visiting the Pompeii immersive experience at the ExCeL Centre. Using VR headsets, they could walk through a Roman villa and see what it looked like before and after the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. In the immersive hall, the children also listened to the story of Pompeii from different viewpoints, which helped bring the history to life. It was a fantastic experience and a valuable learning opportunity for all. The children were excellent ambassadors for our school, representing the school superbly throughout the visit.

On Wednesday, Year 2 enjoyed an engaging Florence Nightingale workshop. They travelled back to the Crimean War of 1854 and imagined they were soldiers preparing for battle. The children then became nurses, assisting Florence Nightingale in cleaning Scutari Hospital to prevent disease from spreading and save British soldiers. Finally, they created a freeze-frame timeline of Florence's life from 1820 to 1910 and learnt a poem about her role in the war.

Year 4 Fuchsia delivered a splendid class assembly on Tuesday, during which children, parents, and carers learned a great deal about rivers. The class spoke clearly and confidently, sharing their knowledge and enthusiasm with the audience. A highlight was their passionate debate on the importance of protecting our rivers, which gave everyone plenty to consider. Their original song was a joy to listen to, performed with great confidence and energy. Well done, Fuchsia Class, for such a lively and thoughtful assembly.

As part of our ongoing celebration of World Book Day, we were delighted to welcome Eric Huang, author of the Guardians of the New Moon. Eric delivered an inspiring assembly, sharing his journey to becoming an author and discussing the ideas behind his books. He explained how his stories were influenced by Chinese mythology and his love of fantasy and science fiction growing up. The children were truly inspired by his talk, and some have already begun thinking about their own stories after hearing about Eric’s creative process. Eric kindly signed books for children who purchased copies, making the visit even more special.

On Tuesday, 10th March, a group of Year 5 and Year 6 pupils participated with great enthusiasm and determination in the Hackney primary schools' cross-country competition. The children represented the school brilliantly, demonstrating resilience and teamwork throughout. Special congratulations to Aurora and Illaria, who both achieved impressive top-10 finishes in the girls’ race, an outstanding achievement. We are very proud of all the children who participated and thank them for their effort and positive attitude.

You should have received information about the Parents and Carers’ meetings. Please make sure to book one, as it is a valuable opportunity to learn about your child's progress. If your child is in Years 1 to 6, you will receive their report by email the day before.

Please remember that, if your child is in Years 4 or 5, Tim Fox, the Headteacher of Highbury Girls’ School in Islington, will be coming in to speak to you about the school on Thursday, 19th March at 9am in the school library. This is an opportunity to come and hear all about secondary school, as you will soon need to start thinking about secondary schools for your child.

World Down Syndrome Day is on 21st March and we will be celebrating on Friday,y 20th March at school. Please could all children wear their favourite socks, making them colourful, mismatched, and as interesting as possible. The idea is to celebrate something we all have in common, but that is different. The theme for 2026 is "Together Against Loneliness." Everyone feels lonely sometimes. But for many people with Down syndrome and other intellectual disabilities, loneliness is a more common and painful experience. Thank you for your support with this.

We have our Jumble Sale on Saturday, 21st March, so this weekend might be a good time to have a clear out. Please volunteer if you can, as the event cannot go ahead unless we have enough volunteers. We look forward to seeing you there. Have a lovely weekend.

Jessica

Headteacher

Newsletter Friday 6th March 2026

Fri 06 Mar 2026 Jessica

Dear Parents and Carers,

We have enjoyed a wonderful week celebrating reading and World Book Day. It was lovely to see children so engaged with the activities and dressed in their costumes. World Book Day was a great success and the children participated in a wide range of activities designed to foster their love of reading for pleasure. We started the celebrations with a visit from Ryan Crawford, author of the Cosmic Cadets series. Ryan led an exciting assembly, sharing how he became an author, inspired by his love of science fiction books. He kindly answered the children’s questions and signed copies of his books, which we have heard the children have been eagerly reading in class and at home.

On World Book Day, the children arrived dressed in wonderfully creative costumes inspired by their favourite book characters. Early Years and Key Stage 1 also enjoyed a visit from Polly Faber, author of Building a Home, who spoke to the children during a special assembly and signed copies for them. In class, the children spent the morning on a creative writing activity, rewriting the endings of stories. They produced some fantastic alternative endings to well-known stories, such as Goldilocks (who visited different planets that she found too cold and too hot) and The Day the Crayons Quit (where Duncan responded to the crayons to apologise for not using them). Later in the day, the classes shared and swapped books they had brought from home. This was a great success, giving children the chance to share and recommend books they love and discover new ones they might not have heard of before. We also held a class swap story time, where teachers shared favourite books and children visited different classrooms to enjoy stories read by different teachers. I have shared a picture of the books the children listened to; copies of these will be available in the school library. To finish the day, our Reading Ambassadors judged the class book corner competition. A big well done to Ruby, Chilli, Buttercup and Peach classes, who were chosen as the winners. These classes will receive new books for their book corners.

To end the week, we were delighted to welcome parents and carers who volunteered their morning to read with their children's classes. Thank you very much to those who were able to join us. Thank you to everyone who supported and contributed to such a fantastic celebration of reading. The children thoroughly enjoyed the week.

A few children and their mums from Cerise class went to see Neill Cameron talk about his Doughnut Squad books last Saturday: Teddy, Silas, Louis, Emma, Acer, and Tabitha. The children were very excited and really enjoyed drawing with Neil.

On Monday, Betty Layward School participated in the Hackney Chess Premier League. The event was held at William Pattern School, with six schools in attendance. The children were delighted to be crowned winners of the Hackney Chess League, finishing first among the six schools competing. They showed exceptional teamwork, focus and strategic thinking. Finishing top among such talented schools is a remarkable achievement and a proud moment for the entire school community. Well done to Sacha, Gene, Luca, Cyrus, Al, Henry, Acer, George, and Jacob.

On Tuesday, Year 5 Buttercup delivered a fun and engaging assembly about the English Civil War, captivating the audience with lively explanations of the rivalry between King Charles I and Oliver Cromwell. The children spoke with confidence and enthusiasm. Well done, Buttercup class.

We celebrated Safer Internet Day last week. The theme was The Safe and Responsible Use of AI. KS2 watched a BBC Live Lesson. The children explored the careful decisions behind responsible AI design, from selecting reliable, accurate, and unbiased training data to writing system prompts that prevent ‘bad’ AI behaviour. KS1 and Early Years looked at a story about a Voice Assistant and discussed how they worked. Continuing these conversations at home is really important, and the UK Safer Internet Centre has lots of useful resources for parents and carers: https://saferinternet.org.uk/safer-internet-day/safer-internet-day-2026/top-tips-for-parents-and-carers

This week, our school enjoyed a special Holi Festival Lunch to celebrate the vibrant Hindu festival of Holi, often known as the Festival of Colours. Holi marks the arrival of spring and celebrates joy, friendship, and new beginnings. The kitchen staff decorated the dining hall with bright, colourful festival-inspired decorations. At lunchtime, pupils enjoyed a delicious lamb curry and a selection of amazing Indian-style salads. This was a wonderful opportunity for our school community to learn about and celebrate a beautiful cultural tradition.

This week, we have added a selection of new puzzles and Rubik’s cubes to the Opal playground, offering children a fun way to challenge their thinking, practice problem-solving, and enjoy quiet moments of focus during outdoor play. The children have been enjoying reading our collection of magazines now that the weather is brighter, as well as creating fantastic construction projects. Please see the photos attached. We are inviting our wonderful parent community to help us expand the Opal Playground. If you have any skills, materials, or professional connections you are willing to share or donate, we would love to hear from you. We are calling on all knitters, plumbers, electricians, and parents involved in textiles, design, gardening, construction, or the creative industries — as well as anyone who can connect us with useful resources through their workplace or profession. Whether it’s spare materials, practical expertise, or a helpful introduction, every contribution can help us make the playground even more magical for the children. Thank you in advance. We truly appreciate your kind donations. The children so enjoy it.

We are going to take part in the Hackney School Challenge again. You need to sign up if you would like your child/children to participate in the Hackney Schools Challenge to represent Betty Layward. Please be aware that registration does not guarantee a place. Spaces are limited and will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. This is a great fundraising event for the school. Thank you to Richard, a parent, who is organising it. The event will be held on Saturday, 16th May at Hackney Marshes. Thank you for signing up. https://tinyurl.com/Hackney-Schools-Challenge

Have a lovely weekend,

Jessica

Headteacher

Newsletter Friday 27th February 2026

Thu 26 Feb 2026 Jessica

Dear Parents and Carers,

Welcome back. I hope you had a lovely half-term break. It is lovely to see you all back and the children have settled back in really well. Fingers crossed the sunshine is beginning to come out.

We are really excited about World Book Day on Thursday, and the children are welcome to dress up as a book character if they wish. Please, no footballers. Please can the children wear costumes so they can go to the toilet independently. Please have your child bring in a book they are happy to swap with another child. We will also ask them why they enjoyed it and why they would recommend it to someone else. There are many great activities happening next week for World Book Day, including visits from authors Polly Faber and Ryan Crawford. You can purchase their books on TRIPS on Arbor. We would also like to invite you to school on Friday, 6th March, for a short story-sharing session. Please bring a favourite children's book from home, or choose one from the class book corner to share with small groups of children in the classroom. The session will run from 9:10 am to 9:35 am. We really look forward to seeing you there.

Well done to all the children who took part in the Hackney Cross Country League on Tuesday. The team showed fantastic determination, resilience and commitment, representing the school with pride at every race. Special congratulations to Mia, Aurora, and Illy for their outstanding performances in the girls’ race, each finishing in the top 10. This is an incredible achievement. In the boys’ race, Otto ran brilliantly to secure a place in the top 20. We are extremely proud of all our runners for their commitment and effort throughout the league. Well done, runners.

The Junior Road Safety Officers led an engaging assembly to teach everyone about staying safe near roads and proudly promoted the “Be Bright, Be Seen” campaign to encourage wearing bright clothing for visibility. The children also launched a poster competition to inspire creativity and promote the “Be Bright, Be Seen” or “Be Bright Stay in Sight ” road safety campaign. We would like the children to design a poster to advertise road safety or the campaigns mentioned above. The poster will be printed and displayed in school for everyone to learn from. The children are aware of this competition and can bring posters to school next week if they wish.

Please check the school calendar on the website, as we are updating it regularly with new dates. The Year 6 dates are listed there. Please put them in your diary.

Please, can I remind you to pick your children up on time after school and after clubs. The children may become worried if their parent or carer is late, so please arrive on time.

Please remember that we can only give medicine if it is prescribed and needed four times a day. Please do not give your child any medication to bring to school, as this is not a safe approach. Instead, leave it at the office and complete the necessary form if it is prescribed and needed four times a day. Thank you.

Unfortunately, there has been another phone mugging in the local area. Please remind your children to stay vigilant. I am glad that the children do not bring mobile phones into school, as this helps protect them from potential risks.

I hope you have a lovely weekend,

Jessica

Headteacher

Jessica Bailey

Headteacher
The Betty Layward Primary School

Newsletter Friday 13th February 2026

Fri 13 Feb 2026 Jessica

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

Newsletter Friday 6th February 2026

Fri 06 Feb 2026 Jessica

Dear Parents and Carers,

I want to thank you all for your kind words and support during such a sad week. It truly reflects the wonderful community we are, full of kindness and compassion. The children have been incredible and it is important that we give them the time and space they need. I cannot thank the staff enough for their support and kindness during this difficult time. Please look after yourselves and give your children a big hug. Thank you for all your kind words, emails ands support. It means a lot.

Next week is Children’s Mental Health Week. The theme for this year’s Children’s Mental Health Week is "This is my Place." This means feeling like you are part of something, such as your family, school, group of friends, or a team. These joyful moments help us feel connected, valued and accepted. When we feel like we belong, we feel happy, safe and ready to learn and play. It helps us grow strong in our minds and bodies and makes it easier to make friends, do well at school and feel good about ourselves. During Children’s Mental Health Week, we will discuss how we can help everyone feel like they belong. We will share "This is my Place" with the children so we can learn from each other about what makes us happy. We will learn about the importance of kindness, including others and ensuring no one feels left out. We want children to know that everyone deserves a place where they are accepted, cared for, and loved.

In Year 4 Cerise's assembly this week, we travelled back in time to the royal courts of the Tudor dynasty. The children delivered a fantastic assembly in the style of a Horrible Histories episode. Through their brilliantly engaging presentation, we learned all about Henry VIII and his famous six wives, the unique style and structure of Tudor houses, pastimes in Tudor England, including the works of William Shakespeare, and how Queen Elizabeth I successfully defeated the Spanish Armada. The children spoke with confidence and clarity. Well done, Cerise class.

This week, we were delighted to welcome the North London Waste Authority for a whole-school assembly focused on the impact of food waste on our climate. Pupils learned just how much energy goes into producing the food we eat, and why it’s so important to take only what we can finish, do our best to eat what’s on our plate, and make sure any leftovers go in the correct bin. The NLWA has also been working closely with our Eco Committee to help us understand how much waste we produce as a school and how we can reduce it. This assembly supports our ongoing whole-school goal to reduce waste and make more sustainable choices as a community.

On Tuesday, Year 2 welcomed the Jewish Museum into school for a workshop about the Torah. They learned about the importance of the Torah in Judaism, how it is written and read and also had the opportunity to explore artefacts from the museum. Year 2 tried on a kippah and a tallit and examined a yad and a mezuzah. Finally, they attempted to write in Hebrew using calligraphy pens and did their best to write from right to left. Year 2 also went on a trip to St Mary's Church to learn more about Christianity and the Bible. The children got to explore the different areas of the church and noticed the story of Jesus in the stained-glass windows. After that, the children enjoyed acting out the Gospel story of Jesus calming the storm and listened to a piece of music about this story. Year 2 were brilliant during both the trip and the workshop. Well done, Year 2.

This week, Reception enjoyed an extremely successful visit to the London Canal Museum. The children explored the fascinating history of the canals, learning how canal boats were originally pulled by horses before tractors were introduced. They had the opportunity to step inside a section of a canal boat, which gave them a real sense of what life on board would have been like. The role-play ice cream shop was a particular highlight and the children were fascinated by the chance to peer into a large ice cave, once used to store ice transported by canal all the way from Norway. Throughout the visit, the children showed great curiosity and engagement, asking many thoughtful questions. Well done, Reception. I am so pleased you had such a lovely time and were so well behaved.

Have a wonderful weekend, and thank you once again for all your kindness, compassion, and thoughtfulness this week. It truly means a lot.

Jessica

Headteacher