This is the place where you will be able to read my weekly newsletters. Thanks for taking the time to read them, Jessica

• Friday 16th December 2022

  Fri 16 Dec 2022 Jessica

  Dear Parents and Carers,

   

  What a special week we have had. The Christmas songs in the church were just lovely and the nativity was amazing. The children did so well and we were all really proud of them. They all really enjoyed it too. Thank you for coming and for all your support with costumes. We hope you enjoyed it. We are so proud of all of them.

   

  The children watched the staff Christmas video today which they loved. A big thank you to the staff who have are amazing. They work hard to ensure all the children receive the best education and do so with care and commitment. We are lucky to have them. I am sure you will join me in saying thank you to them too.

   

  Thank you for such a great year. Your support and kindness means the world to us. Your children are amazing and it is a pleasure to have them and you at Betty Layward. We have had a great year. Things are now back to normal and we are so pleased they are. We are enjoying events, trips and just being together again. We have really enjoyed 2022. I am also really proud of all the children. They have embraced our new curriculum and show amazing learning behaviour as well as excellent behaviour around the school. They want to do their best and care. This is what is important. When I show prospective parents around they always comment on the behaviour of the children and how polite they are. Well done Betty Layward children. You are amazing!
  
  Thank you to you for being so kind and supportive too. We really appreciate it. You have raised a lot of money for the school already this academic year and this will make even more of a difference with budgets being so tight. Thank you for being so great. I am lucky to be the headteacher of such a lovely school.

   

  Have a Happy Hanukkah, a wonderful holiday, a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. See you in 2023.

   

  We will see you on January 4th. 

   

  Jessica

  

• Newsletter Friday 9th December 2022

  Fri 09 Dec 2022 Jessica

  Dear Parents and Carers,

   

  We have had a lovely week even though there does seem a lot of illness around. The Carol Concert last night was lovely and it was great to all be back together singing in the hall. Thank you to those of you who came.

   

  Scarlet fever cases are higher than we would typically see at this time of year, with some very serious infections requiring hospital admissions / paediatric intensive care. Scarlet fever is caused by bacteria called group A streptococci. It is usually a mild illness, but is highly infectious. In very rare occasions, the bacteria can get into the bloodstream and cause an illness called invasive Group A Strep (iGAS). While iGAS infections are still uncommon, there have been an increase in cases this year, particularly in under 10s and sadly, a small number of deaths. It is very rare for children with scarlet fever to develop iGAS infection. Currently, there is no evidence that a new strain is circulating. The increase is most likely related to high amounts of circulating bacteria and social mixing. Please read all the guidance I have sent and please let us know if your child has Strep A, chicken pox or scarlet fever. We are asked a cleaner to be here for longer each day to clean tables etc and we are reminding the children that they need to thoroughly wash their hands. Thank you for your support with this. It seems to always happen this time of year.

   

  The winter reading challenge website is now live. Children are encouraged to sign up online or at a Hackney Library and read at least 3 books between Thursday 1 December 2022 and Monday 20 February 2023; children can read any book including ebooks and audio books. As they record and review what they have read they unlock online rewards and can download a certificate or get one from their local library. There are slides for an assembly and the reading record which can be accessed here. Hackney Libraries will also have hard copies of the reading records.  A reminder to check What’s on in Hackney libraries, alternatively you can follow them on Twitter on @Hackneylibs and Facebook @HackneyLibraries.

   

  We have some openings for instrumental lessons beginning in January for the following instruments: Guitar (year 5 and 6 only), clarinet, saxophone and violin. Lessons are £120 for the Spring and Summer term and instrument hire is £30 for the Spring and Summer term. You can book on School Interviews. https://www.schoolinterviews.co.uk/code?code=qsr93 

   

  I have heard that there are some concerns with the children’s toilets. We are always attempting to look after the toilets and ensure they are working. Please remember that we have over 400 children using them all day every day. We have experienced a problem with the soap dispensers being blocked and we are purchasing an alternative to see if that works better. There is always soap in the toilets but we need working dispensers. We also have automatic flushes that keep failing. We are looking to replace these with push flushes that will be more effective. We check the toilets a few times a day and remind the children to also look after them. I hope that helps answer concerns that you may have. Any concerns please come and see me. I am always happy to chat about things.

   

  Thank you to those of you who attended the PTFA meeting this week. It was great to see so many of you there and to know that so many people want to support the school. Things are different now to how they used to be and school budgets are a lot tighter. We are always trying to find ways to save money without impacting the learning and teaching of the children, as they are what matters and are at the heart of all that we do. We want them to be happy and feel safe and valued at school and this will always be our aim and first priority. It is great to be part of a community who want the same. Betty Layward is very lucky. The PTFA are a really important part of the school and can really make a difference with fundraising so thank you for all your support.

   

  I am really looking forward to seeing you at our Christmas events next week.

  Please remember they are-

  • Tuesday 13th December 2:00pm -Years 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 Christmas Performance at St Mary’s Church Stoke Newington
  • Wednesday 14th December 9:45am -Nativity- Year 1 parents invited
  • Wednesday 14th December 2:00pm - Nativity- Reception Parents invited
  • Thursday 15th December 10:30am - Nursery Christmas Performance at school
  • Friday 16th December - Christmas Jumper Day and Christmas lunch. We break up at 2pm and there are no clubs or Fit for Sport. All children need to be collected. 

   

  Christmas lunch will be paid for by the PTFA for all children so please let us know by Tuesday if your child does not want a Christmas lunch.

  Thanks and have a lovely weekend,

  Jessica

  Headteacher

• Friday 2nd December 2022

  Fri 02 Dec 2022 Jessica

  Dear Parents and Carers,

   

  Thank you for such a wonderful Winter Fair. It was amazing. It was great seeing so many people helping and it really was a wonderful community event. I was so impressed. We raised an amazing £8136.19, which is the highest amount raised at a fair, that I know of, so far. Well done everyone.

   

  We have kindly been donated a Christmas tree by Pines and Needles and they would love to offer parents and carers a discount on Christmas trees in their pop up stores. Our local pop up store is located in St Mary's Church at: Stoke Newington Church Street, N16

  
  DISCOUNT CODE: [BETTY10 - 10%]

  
  Keep an eye out on Pines and Needles social channels @pinesandneedles for fun activities at our local stores. Please visit www.pinesandneedles.com for more details and other locations as they are all around London.

   

  Also a big thank you to the Spence Bakery who donated the rolls for the Fair and Oakwood estate agents who sponsored the boards. It was great seeing all the community coming together and what a lovely community it is.

  We have lots of Christmas events coming up and we are really excited about seeing you there. Please remember we have Carol Concert tickets for sale in the office. It is a lovely evening so please join us. We have the Nativity and the performance in the church. I hope you received the flyer with all the details. There has been an email about the Carol Concert.

   

  Please remember to go and see Constellations in Stoke Newington tomorrow. The project involves stars appearing in shop windows across the neighbourhood, star-themed light installations outside The Old Church arts centre and on St Pauls West Hackney, and star lights on the big tree by the fire station. These will be lit throughout December and January to bring cheer to the winter months. The Year 4 children have made their own star-shaped lanterns from willow and tissue paper and have been invited to join a lantern procession along Church Street on Saturday 3rd December from Stoke Newington Town Hall to a free community celebration outside the fire station. I am sure anyone can attend. The procession will be led by a samba drumming band, and at the fire station the Mayor of Hackney will turn on the lights on the big tree with some of the children, Vox Holloway choir will perform and there will be a chance to sing along. The street will be closed to traffic during the event, which will finish at 6pm.

   

  On Wednesday 30th November children from year 4, 5 and 6 took part in an indoor cricket competition at Queensbridge Sports Centre. Betty Layward won both of their games against Mandeville and Kingsmead school. We will now play the quarter- finals, semi- finals and finals at Lords Cricket Ground. Well done everyone, we are very proud of you all.

   

  We would like to give notice of the AGM of the Betty Layward PTFA to be held

  on Tuesday 6th December at 5pm via video link. The PTFA plays a vital part in the school community and all parents and carers, as members of the PTFA, are invited to support the AGM. This is your chance to hear and see how the funds you have helped to raise have been used for the benefit of the children at our school. The AGM is also an opportunity for you to elect the PTFA Committee, who represent the association throughout the forthcoming year. If you would like any further information about being a Committee Member, please speak to Anne Sheedy. As our PTFA is a registered charity, all committee members automatically become Trustees of the Charity. We look forward to seeing you on Tuesday 6th December.

   

  The Local Buyers Club is donating £5 to Betty Layward Primary’s PTFA for every new member who signs up this year using the code LAYWARDLOCAL. The shop-local club, which is run by a couple from Stoke Newington, promotes independent businesses in North and East London and members benefit from savings and perks at over 300 shops and restaurants, many of which are in N16. Among the local businesses offering savings to club members are: Earlybird Cards, Know & Love, La Rosetta, The Good Egg, Primavera, DabbaDrop, TopUp Truck, The Prince, The Red Lion, Hub, Re:Store, Jaines & Son, Clissold House Cafe, The Green Room Cafe, Push Cycles, The Arcola Theatre, Salut, Jarr Market and many more. Join for £7.49 for the first year (usual price £14.99 per year) at www.localbuyersclub.com/joinnow. Use coupon code LAYWARDLOCAL and they’ll donate £5 to Betty Layward! Or select a double membership and they’ll donate £10.

   

  Have a lovely weekend and thank you again for the Fair. What an amazing result.

  Jessica

  Headteacher