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

• Newsletter Friday 28th February 2025

  Fri 28 Feb 2025 Jessica

  Dear Parents and Carers,

   

  It is lovely seeing everyone back after half term. I hope you had a lovely week. It is also lovely having the sun out and I hope this will be the same for the Jumble Sale tomorrow. I am looking forward to seeing you there. Thank you for all your donations and for volunteering your time if you are helping tomorrow. These events make a real financial difference for the school and we really appreciate them.

   

  Please remember that this Wednesday is World Book Day. Children can dress up if they would like to, but we ask that they do not wear masks and that they wear outfits that they can go to the loo in. We are also looking forward to seeing their books in a jar. We have organised a lovely day. Each teacher is teaching about a picture book and the children will be grouped from Reception to Year 6 and work together and learn about this book. We are really looking forward to it.

   

  This week, we took a group of children to Wembley to watch England Women's football team play against Spain. It was great to see them so happy and having so much fun. This was a great opportunity, and we all really enjoyed it.

   

  This week, we opened a planting station in the playground as part of our Opal playground project. The children have enjoyed planting bulbs and learning how to care for them, take turns, share, and work together. They have also been turning over the soil, searching for worms, digging, and planting herbs. We look forward to the bulbs and herbs growing and to seeing the results of their hard work.

   

  Have a great weekend and I look forward to seeing you at the Jumble Sale tomorrow,

  Jessica

  Headteacher

   

   

  

• Newsletter Friday 14th February 2025

  Fri 14 Feb 2025 Jessica

  Dear Parents and Carers,

   

  We are half way through the school year. I can’t quite believe it. Where is the time going? It’s been a great term and thank you for all your support. 

   

  Thank you for attending our Artbash art exhibition today. I was so impressed with all the children’s artwork. They really enjoyed the workshops, and we enjoyed seeing them proud of their creations. We hope you enjoyed them, too. 

   

  On Wednesday,  the Year 4 classes had an exciting trip to the Southbank BFI as part of their Spanish learning. The children worked together to answer a variety of questions and interact in Spanish. In the afternoon, pupils enjoyed the luxurious BFI theatre seats and watched a Spanish film, El Ratón Pérez, with subtitles. It was a great day.

   

  On Thursday, February 13th, 2025, a group of children took part in the Hackney Primary Swimming Gala at Clissold Leisure Centre. The children competed against six schools from Hackney in different races, including backstroke, butterfly, and freestyle, as well as team relay races. Betty Layward secured second place in this year's swimming gala. Well done to all the children who took part. We are proud of all of you.

   

  It was Safer Internet Day this week, and we had an assembly on 'Who can we trust?'. We discussed the importance of not giving away information to anyone, how to check if things are true, and what to do if we are unsure or worried about something on the internet. There is a lot of information and support online, so please have these conversations at home as well. 

  https://saferinternet.org.uk/guide-and-resource/parents-and-carers

   

  As you know Teresa, my PA, is leaving today and has some exciting times ahead travelling and enjoying retirement. We wish her well and thank her for all her hard work. Karen, who is currently a TA in Year 3 Emerald class will be taking over the role after half term. She will continue working in the mornings as the Year 3 TA and will be PA in the afternoon until we have found a new TA for Year 3. The sewing club will also continue this term. 

   

  I hope you have a lovely half term and we look forward to seeing you on Tuesday 25th February. 

   

  Thanks

  Jessica 

  Headteacher 

   

   

  

• Newsletter Friday 7th February 2025

  Fri 07 Feb 2025 Jessica

  Dear Parents and Carers,

   

  I hope you have had a good week. We have had a lovely week full of fantastic art workshops and we are looking forward to even more next week. Because the children are still working hard on their art, we will be having our Art Exhibition on Friday, February 14th, after school (3:15 to 4:30 p.m.) in the hall. There will not be an exhibition on Thursday 13th February. We hope you can come along with your child next Friday and see all the wonderful artwork the children have created. One of the artists they have been looking at lived in Stoke Newington. Althea McNish (1924 – 2020) was amongst the first, if not the first, designer of African-Caribbean descent to achieve international recognition. Her designs injected much-needed colour and life into the post-war fashion and textiles industry from the 1950s onwards. This is to be massively respected. She spent most of her life living and working in Stoke Newington. Althea McNish revolutionised design with her bold and beautiful prints. After moving to England from Trinidad and Tobago in the early 1950s, McNish studied printmaking at the London School of Printing and completed postgraduate studies in Textiles at the Royal College of Art. Just days after she graduated from the Royal College of Art in 1957, Arthur-Stewart Liberty – the chairman of Liberty of London – bought her entire graduation collection on the spot. He was so impressed with her work that he placed her in a taxi to see Zika Ascher, a fashion and textile entrepreneur who was well known in the industry for his use of artists’ designs for fashion fabrics. In Althea's words, this meeting would change her life. Alongside designing for Ascher and Liberty, the artist – who died in 2020 aged 95 – went on to create works for Heal’s, Cavendish Textiles, Hull Traders and Danasco; fashion houses, such as of Dior and Balenciaga; and many other well-known European and international design companies.

   

  Jade class presented a fantastic assembly this week on the Ancient Egyptians. It was great. The children spoke with confidence and taught us many interesting facts as well as showing us their excellent dancing and singing skills. Well done Jade class.

   

  I wanted to let you know that Teresa, my PA, is leaving on Friday, 14th February. She has worked at Betty Layward for 17 years and is a wonderful member of staff and not only an excellent support for me but also a great support for all staff, families, PTFA and governors. Teresa will be dearly missed and I know you will join us in saying that we wish her all the best for her next chapter. Thank you Teresa, for all that you have done for the school. It has meant a lot. 

   

  We have put the lost property outside on tables by the entrance. Please can you check it as we will be sending any items not claimed to charity.

   

  I hope you have a lovely weekend and we look forward to seeing you at the exhibition next Friday.

   

  Jessica

  Headteacher