Jessica's Newsletters

Newsletter Friday 24th October 2025

Thu 23 Oct 2025 Jessica

Dear Parents and Carers,

I can't believe we've already reached the end of our first term. It has flown by. What a wonderful term we've had. I'm so pleased with how our Nursery and Reception children have settled in. Every day, the children impress me with their enthusiasm and effort. We are immensely proud of them.

This week, we were especially excited to welcome Emma Louise from BBC Newsround, who joined us for a special assembly. Emma spoke about her career in journalism, shared inspiring stories from her time in the media, and answered some brilliant questions from our pupils. Everyone loved hearing about what it’s like to work on Newsround and how she helps tell important stories to young people across the UK. Some children were fortunate to ask questions about Emma Louise’s career.

Yaw Busia, the parent of Kwame in Y2, also came in to share his remarkable experiences working in TV and film, as well as at Disney. The children were captivated to learn about what happens behind the scenes in the entertainment industry and left feeling genuinely inspired. Thank you, Yaw, for sharing your exciting stories of standing firm and working hard.

This week, our school was filled with colour, music, and joy as we celebrated Black History Month during our after-school event. We enjoyed a visit from author Annie Campbell, who shared her book Made of Magic. We also saw performances by the school choir, listened to readings, and watched singing and dancing. Thank you very much to Laura and Nora for helping us organise this event, and to those of you who were able to attend. During Black History Month, the children engaged in learning and creativity, exploring inspiring stories, influential figures, and the rich cultures that have shaped history and continue to inspire us today. From lively African drumming workshops and energetic carnival sessions to beautiful art displays and class performances, every child had the chance to shine and celebrate together. A huge thanks to our wonderful staff, families, and visitors who helped make the month so memorable. It was a genuine celebration of unity, diversity, and joy, reminding us all that Black history is everyone’s history.

Last Wednesday, a group of children visited ABBA Voyage. We watched ABBA take to the stage in a completely new way. They appear as digital avatars and perform their incredible songs. We loved it and were very impressed. It truly has to be seen to be believed.

Last Friday, a group of Year 6 pupils visited Hackney Town Hall as part of the No Place for Hate Poster Competition to mark National Hate Crime Awareness Week. The children participated in workshops beforehand, which helped to raise awareness of what constitutes a hate crime and how to report it or seek support as a victim or witness. They were invited to create a poster to promote Hackney's No Place for Hate campaign. Six children were selected as finalists and invited to Hackney Town Hall, where the winners were announced. A huge congratulations and well done to Reine and Mia-Rose for finishing third in the competition. We are very proud of all the children who participated and want to thank them for their efforts.

On Tuesday, Year 5 Saffron impressed us with their class assembly all about the Norse epic poem Beowulf. The poem tells the tale of an evil creature called Grendel, who wreaks havoc upon the people of Denmark. It is then that the brave hero Beowulf is summoned to put an end to this vile creature's reign of terror. The performance was full of wonderful moments, and the children delivered their lines with clear voices and great expression. Well done, Saffron class. You were confident and brilliant.

We had a lovely Grandparent Week this week and thank you to all the Grandparents who came to visit. It was very nice to have you. Levi and Kobe’s Grandparent, Mike, spoke to a Year 4 class about his triathlon career and showed the children his racing bike, explaining all the different parts and how they work. He talked about how he trains for swimming, cycling, and running, and shared how much he enjoys what he does. He has competed in many world triathlon events and travelled all over the world through the sport. His message to the children was inspiring. He encouraged them to find something they love and to persevere with it. Fuchsia class were engaged and loved hearing about Mike's experiences.

Thank you to those of you who have booked appointments for parents’ meetings. Please remember to do so.

I hope you have a very lovely, well-deserved half term break,

Jessica

Headteacher

Newsletter 17th October 2025

Fri 17 Oct 2025 Jessica

Dear Parents and Carers,

We've had a wonderful week, full of engaging activities for Black History Month, including visits, workshops and in-class learning. This week, we welcomed a guest from ACEN - the African Caribbean Education Network - who shared insights about Notting Hill Carnival and Claudia Jones, the founder of the first indoor Caribbean Carnival in 1959. At Wednesday's assembly, a former Parent of Betty Layward, Ingrid Karikari, came in to speak to the children as part of our Black History Month celebrations. Ingrid talked to the children about her Ghanaian heritage, her experiences studying at Cambridge University and her exciting career in technology. She spoke about how her life and career had evolved in so many ways, but what remained the same was her dedication and pride in her family and her identity. Emily Ware, a Parent of a child in Year 2, came in this week to share their story, teach us about Black History, and inspire us to dream big, work hard and be proud of who we are. Emily was incredibly motivational and shared her life journey, highlighting her commitment to hard work, resilience and determination in standing firm and reaching her full potential. We wish to say a massive thank you to Emily and Ingrid for coming in to share their stories.

Our children enjoyed an energetic African drumming workshop for Black History Month. A skilled drummer led them to follow different rhythms, work as a team and create their own patterns. They learned that drumming is an important part of African culture, handed down through generations. The workshop was lively and vibrant and it was a great way to celebrate African musical traditions in a fun and meaningful way.

Please join us for our Black History Month event on Wednesday at 3:30 pm in the hall. The event will feature performances, an author, singing and tasty food. We hope to see you there.

Next week is Grandparents' Week. It would be wonderful to welcome Grandparents to share stories about their school days, read a story or discuss topics of interest.

Have a lovely weekend,

Jessica

Headteacher

Newsetter 10th October 2025

Fri 10 Oct 2025 Jessica

Dear Parents and Carers,

We have had an excellent start to Black History Month, with the school alive with colour, music, and excitement as pupils participated in a lively carnival celebration and steel pan workshop. The children wore handmade masks and costumes, dancing to the infectious rhythms of carnival and engaging in an interactive steel pan session. Some children were eager to try playing the steel pans themselves, experimenting with rhythm and melody. The experience brought the spirit of the Caribbean to life and offered pupils a hands-on opportunity to explore music, movement, and multicultural celebration in a joyful and memorable way. We also had a visit from Chris Alvis, a parent from the school, who spoke to the children about his career in music and film. He inspired the children by talking about doing something you love, rather than just doing it for the money. He emphasised the importance of being determined and not giving up on what you truly want to do.

We are hosting a Black History event at 3:30pm on Wednesday, 22nd October. There will be a local author, Annie Campbell, who has written a story called Made in Magic. Annie Campbell is a writer, actress, and founder of Made of Magic Books - an independent publishing company dedicated to creating joyful, affirming stories that centre on Black and Brown children. Her debut book, Made of Magic, was born from a tender moment with her son Bo, who, at just three years old, expressed a wish to be lighter. That moment sparked a mission: to tell stories that reflect the brilliance, beauty, and boundless potential of children of colour. Today, Bo is a proud and passionate Black boy who embraces his features, his culture, and his roots. He celebrates his uniqueness on most days of the week and inspires Annie every day. Through her books and creative work, Annie hopes to empower children to love themselves deeply, dream without limits, and recognise the magic within. When she’s not writing, she’s acting, developing children’s and self-help media, and sharing giggles with her greatest muse — Bo. Annie will be reading the story during the event and can answer any questions about her career. We are really excited that she is joining us. She will also be selling copies of her book. At the event, there will also be singing, delicious food and more. We really hope you will join us.

This week, the reception children enjoyed an exciting trip around the local area, taking part in a charming art walk designed to spark creativity and curiosity. As they wandered through nearby streets, the children eagerly explored a variety of outdoor art installations, murals, and sculptures created by local artists. The walk encouraged the children to observe their environment more closely and discuss what they saw to support their learning back at school.

To mark World Space Week, children across the school explored the question 'Which rocket flies the furthest?' Through hands-on experiments, they worked scientifically to make predictions, test ideas and record results. Pupils were also inspired by real scientists in the classroom to spark curiosity and wonder about our universe.

On Wednesday, 8th October, a group of children represented Betty Layward in a boys' football tournament at Mabley Green. The first set of matches was the group stage, with victories over Mandeville, Lauriston, and Olive School, which allowed us to progress to the quarter-finals. The draw for the quarter-finals paired us against Gayhurst School. After going 1-0 down within two minutes, we scored an equaliser with thirty seconds remaining, following a defence-splitting pass to the attackers, which found the net, leading to a penalty shoot-out. We won the penalty shoot-out 3-2 and advanced to the semi-finals against Hackney New School, who won 2-0.

Well done to all the children who participated. We are proud of you all.

Year 6 Chilli impressed the school community with their engaging and informative assembly about the history of the Mayans. The highlight was a lively quiz show, where pupils acted as quizmasters and contestants, testing the audience’s knowledge with fun and challenging questions about Mayan culture, inventions, and beliefs. Their clear explanations and well-researched facts showed a deep understanding of the topic. It was also great fun to include a teacher and a parent in the quiz. Thank you for taking part. Well done, Chilli class. You were confident and brilliant.

Today, we held Family Friday in Reception. This half term, Reception has been exploring a new topic called 'Stoke Newington and my community'. After discovering our local area on their first trip, they have been reflecting on their journeys to school each morning. Today, they made some maps illustrating their journeys to Betty Layward. Thank you to everyone who attended. It’s wonderful to have you here.

Your teacher will have a sign-up sheet for Grandparent Week next week. It would be lovely to see some Grandparents here. They can tell the children something that interests them or read them a story. Please sign them up if you can. Grandparent Week is the week beginning 20th October.

Have a lovely weekend,

Jessica

Headteacher

Newsletter Friday 3rd October 2025

Fri 03 Oct 2025 Jessica

Dear Parents and Carers,

Thank you for supporting our 25th Birthday celebration last Friday. It was a fantastic event, and it was lovely to see so many current and former families there. I was impressed by how well attended it was, demonstrating what a special and thriving community Betty Layward is. We should organise an outdoor dance floor more often. Thank you to everyone who helped; your support is greatly appreciated, as events like these couldn't happen without you.

We are excited to launch this year’s Black History Month celebrations under the powerful theme: “Standing Firm in Power and Pride.” This is a time for our school community to come together in celebration, reflection, and learning, honouring the achievements, voices, and resilience of Black individuals past and present. It’s also an opportunity for us to continue nurturing a culture where every child feels seen, valued, and empowered. This year’s theme encourages us to move beyond simple recognition to affirmation, helping our pupils understand the importance of embracing their identity, justice, and pride in who they are. Through stories, art, music, history, and discussion, we’ll explore what it truly means to stand firm in our identity and support others in doing the same. We will share stories that bring this theme to life: 'Standing Firm in Power and Pride.' Stories of service and sacrifice, deep roots in Britain’s history, protest and activism, speaking truth to power, breaking barriers in Parliament, and creative acts that reshaped culture. Each story reminds us that Black history is British history, and by honouring the lives of those we study, we carry their legacy forward. Some individuals we will learn about include George Bridgetower — virtuoso violinist who performed with Beethoven; Claudia Jones — journalist and Carnival founder; Olive Morris — activist for housing, women’s liberation, and racial justice, David Pitt — pioneering physician and peer; Benjamin Zephaniah — poet and activist; Diane Abbott — the first Black woman MP; Paul Boateng — the first Black Cabinet Minister; and Valerie Amos — the first Black woman in Cabinet and later UN leader. We are also welcoming some great visitors during the month to talk to the children in assemblies, as well as organising engaging workshops for the children. We will celebrate with a series of events throughout the month, integrated into the curriculum, culminating in our school event on Wednesday, 22nd October, in the hall after school. More details about the event will be shared soon. Please join us in celebrating Black History Month.

Thank you to everyone who attended the PTFA AGM this week. The fundraising efforts you contribute make a significant difference, especially as school budgets are very tight. We cannot run these events without volunteers, so if you’re able to help, please do. Every little bit counts.

Last Friday, we were delighted to welcome the North London Waste Authority to our school for an engaging and informative session on waste management. They collaborated closely with our Eco Committee to support our ongoing efforts to reduce waste across the school. Together, they carried out a comprehensive waste audit, sorting and weighing our rubbish to better understand what we dispose of and where it ultimately ends up. This practical activity helped us develop a tangible action plan to cut waste and promote more sustainable habits within our school community.

This week, Year 5 enjoyed an exciting trip to the IFS London Cable Car as part of their Design and Technology studies on gears and pulleys. It was a fantastic opportunity to observe real-life pulleys in action and understand how they help the cable cars move smoothly across the Thames. The experience sparked a lot of curiosity and will inspire the children as they design and build model cable cars in class. Everyone had a great time. We look forward to seeing their creative engineering ideas come to life.

This week, we participated in a live broadcast about road safety. It discussed why phone use is so dangerous, what to do if someone close to you is distracted while driving, and how everyone, including young people, can help make journeys safer.

Thank you to all the families who joined us for our Nursery Family Morning and shared an object that is special and meaningful to you. We saw some very creative objects that the children enjoyed making at home.

We are collecting household and recycled items for OPAL. If you have the following items at home and no longer need them, we would be grateful if you could donate them to support our role-play and interactions during playtimes.

Pots, pans, and utensils
Old phones, keyboards, or typewriters
Steering wheels
Old costumes (e.g., hats, scarves, uniforms)
Shopping trolleys or wheelbarrows
Mirrors (acrylic for safety)
Beanbags, cushions and blankets (clean)

We have a nasty sickness bug going around at the moment. We ask that you follow our guidelines, which state that a child does not return to school until 48 hours have passed since their last episode of diarrhoea or sickness, as this will help prevent the spread of germs. I appreciate your support with this.

We are collecting for the Hackney Foodbank for Harvest. Any donations are welcome.

Grandparents’ Week is approaching and we will be sending you the time slots soon. It is happening during the week beginning Monday 20th October. Please ask Grandparents to come and visit that week. We look forward to seeing them at school.

I would like to wish all our families a meaningful Yom Kippur this week.

Have a lovely weekend,

Jessica

Headteacher