Jessica's Newsletters

Newsletter Friday 4th July 2025

Fri 04 Jul 2025 Jessica

Dear Parents and Carers,

We have had a busy week with a Key Stage 2 trip to the Rio cinema, Year 4 visiting St Paul’s Cathedral, a Year 1 Violet Class assembly and everyone enjoying Sports Day.

On Monday, Year 4 had a fantastic trip to St Paul's Cathedral. The children were amazed by the stunning architecture and enjoyed exploring the grand interior. During the visit, they learned all about the history of the cathedral, including how it was rebuilt after the Great Fire of London. They also discovered why St Paul's is such an important landmark in British history. They explored maths, science, and architecture within the context of Christopher Wren’s design. They took a journey around the Cathedral and went behind the scenes to identify the engineering challenges of such a large build. Finally, they became engineers to determine how to construct a strong and stable dome.

Year 1 Violet Class presented a lovely assembly that took us back in time. They spoke clearly and showed confidence. It was a fantastic assembly, and they should be very proud of their efforts. Well done, Violet Class.

On Wednesday, as part of the school's Hispanic Week celebrations, the children in KS2 visited the Rio Cinema to watch a Spanish-inspired film called Vivo. This film, set in Cuba, follows a small South American creature called a kinkajú as he travels from Havana to Florida to fulfil his destiny by delivering a love song to a famous Latin singer named Marta Snadoval. The movie was full of adventure, amusing characters, and fantastic Latin songs. The children had a wonderful time and displayed exemplary behaviour.

Sports Day today was a lot of fun. The children were fantastic, and thank you for being so supportive and for participating in the most interesting parents and carers race we have had so far. It was such a wonderful day, and lovely to see you all there. Thank you for coming. It just shows what a great community Betty Layward is.

I am really looking forward to seeing you at the Summer Fair tomorrow. Thank you to the organisers, helpers, and everyone who has donated. Events like this really make a difference for our school.

Have a lovely weekend, and I look forward to seeing you tomorrow at the Fair.

Jessica

Headteacher

Newsletter Friday 27th July 2025

Thu 26 Jun 2025 Jessica

Dear Parents and Carers,

I hope you have had a good week. We certainly have and Year 6 definitely enjoyed their time away in France. They visited many wonderful places, including a goat farm, the beach, and Thiepval Memorial, among others and also took part in activities such as a campfire and volleyball. We look forward to hearing all about it. A huge thank you to the staff who accompanied them on the trip and made it all possible.

To celebrate the start of Hispanic Week, we enjoyed music from the Mariachi band. It was a delight to arrive at school and listen to music from Mexican and Spanish cultures. The band visited all classes to share their wonderful music, and the children thoroughly enjoyed it, as did the adults. It was a perfect way to start a Monday morning.

Janie, the owner of Refugee Community Kitchen, gave a presentation about her work supporting refugees and the homeless outreach programmes across London during assembly on Monday. We learned about volunteering, support for refugees, and how we can help. Our Year 4 children had been working on a canvas that displayed their favourite dishes. Year 4 presented the canvas to Janie, who plans to display it in the kitchen to spread joy through the love of food. As a school, we reflected on the contributions we can make to help create a better world.

We will be holding our annual Sports Day in Clissold Park on Friday, 4th July.
Sports Day 1 – Nursery, Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 will be from 10:00 to 11:30 am

Sports Day 2 – Years 3, 4, 5 and 6 will be from 1:30 to 3:00 pm

Please ensure your child has a PE kit, including a Team Betty t-shirt, trainers, a labelled water bottle, and a hat or long-sleeved top if necessary. Please also ensure they have sunscreen applied, as it could be hot. You are welcome to attend and meet us in the park to support Betty Layward Primary School's Sports Day. We would love to see you there.

Please remember the Summer Fair on 5th July. We have a non-school uniform day on Thursday in exchange for a donation of alcohol, toiletries, or new/nearly new toys. We genuinely appreciate any donations. The Summer Fair promises to be lots of fun, but to make it happen, we need plenty of help on Friday to set up and on Saturday to run stalls and clear away. Any assistance makes a significant difference. Also, please remember to send the QR code for the raffle to friends and family. We appreciate all your help, time, and support, and a big thank you to the organisers.

Charan and Brenda were celebrated this week as they have worked for Hackney and the school for 25 years. We are lucky to have them and I am pleased their hard work has been recognised. Well done, Brenda and Charan.

We will be holding Parents and Carers Week from Monday, 14th July. This is a great opportunity for you to join your child and their class. The children will also be demonstrating OPAL during this time. We look forward to seeing you then.

Parents and Carers Week Timetable:

Monday 14th July -
9:45-10:30 - Saffron

10. 10:45-11:30 - Buttercup

2:15-3:00 - Violet

Tuesday 15th July -
9:45-10:30 - Apricot

10. 10:45-11:30 - Peach

2. 2:15-3:00 - Emerald

Wednesday 16th July -
9:45-10:30 - Ocean

10. 10:45-11:30 - Aqua

2. 2:15-3:00 - Cerise

Thursday 17th July -
9:45-10:30 - Nursery

10. 10:45-11:30 - Fuchsia

2:15-3:00 - Jade

Friday 18th July -
9:45-10:30 - Ruby

10. 10:45-11:30 - Chilli

2:15-3:00 - Lavender

Have a lovely weekend and enjoy the sunshine.
Jessica
Headteacher

Jessica Bailey

Headteacher
The Betty Layward Primary School

Newsletter Friday 20th June 2025

Fri 20 Jun 2025 Jessica

Dear Parents and Carers,

What a hot week it has been. The children have been brilliant at staying in the shade, wearing hats, and drinking plenty of water. It looks like the warm weather will continue, so please ensure your child has sunscreen on.

On Monday, during our music assembly, we were very fortunate to enjoy a musical performance by Daniel and Tommi, who played traditional Chinese instruments. The instruments are called Erhu and Yangqin. They performed three pieces: Butterfly Lovers, Golden Snake Dance, and General's Mandate. The children are very talented musicians, and it was a delight to hear them. Well done, Daniel and Tommi and a big thank you to their parents for their support.

Buttercup delivered an exciting assembly about Anansi the spider and his adventures. Buttercup class were confident and spoke with enthusiasm. Well done, Buttercup class.

Ocean class performed a wonderful assembly about food and its origins. This was their first assembly and they were brilliant. They spoke with confidence and sang beautifully. Well done, Ocean class.

On Wednesday, Year 1 enjoyed a magical day at the Discover Children’s Centre, where they participated in an engaging storytelling workshop based on the story of Billy and the Beast. The interactive session brought the story to life, inspiring the children to use their imaginations as they explored Billy’s world and her furry companion. The children were captivated by the storytelling and the creative activities that enhanced their understanding of the characters and plot. They also explored a specially themed Billy and the Beast circus area, filled with fun and engaging experiences. It was wonderful to see how inspired the children were by the story, and they behaved beautifully throughout the visit. Well done, Year 1.

On Thursday, Year 5 participated in an illustration workshop organised and led by author and illustrator Laura Carlin, who has been commissioned to create sculptures for the Quentin Blake Centre at its new location in New River Head, Islington. The centre is expected to be completed in 2026 and will showcase everything related to illustration, including galleries, workshops, and a café. Part of its design features a beautiful garden with an outdoor seating area, which includes a large horse sculpture. The horse reflects the site's history as a Water Company where horsepower was once utilised. The sculpture aims to represent the local area, the schools, and the children who are part of it. The children were asked to write about the borough where they live—favourite places, trees, cafés... how they get to school, what makes their community special, and what could be improved. They then sketched, wrote, and drew their ideas. Laura Carlin collected all of these, which will be incorporated into the horse sculpture that will be a highlight of the Quentin Blake Centre’s gardens. The children enjoyed the workshop and look forward to seeing their illustrations when the centre opens in 2026.

Nursery had a lovely family event today and please see the attached photos as they show what a great time they had.

We enjoyed a delicious lunch today to celebrate Windrush Day. The menu featured chicken or vegetarian Jamaican patties, rice and peas, grilled plantain, and coleslaw. For dessert, they had Jamaican banana bread or tropical fruit salad.

Next week, we will celebrate Hispanic Week. On Thursday, the children will enjoy grilled chicken or black bean and cheese tacos, served with rice, sweetcorn, salsa, guacamole, and chipotle cream. They will have pineapple upside-down cake or vegan coconut ice cream for pudding.

Our Summer Fair takes place on Saturday, 5th July, and we will need volunteers for stalls, tidying up, and clearing away. We are really looking forward to seeing you there. Please sign up; any help is greatly appreciated. We also have an exciting raffle with tickets available online. Please purchase tickets and encourage family and friends to do the same. The raffle proceeds significantly support our funds, so sharing the link below would be very helpful.

Here’s just a taste of what you could win:

- 1-month Platinum Membership at InstaGym

- £55 cake voucher at Luminary Bakery

- Polarised sunglasses worth £145 from Ollie Quinn

- Screenings at Rio Cinema

- Date night babysitting from Bubble

- Wine tasting at Yield

- Lunch or dinner at some of our favourite local pubs

- Hampers worth over £200

- Personal training sessions worth £255

- 3 days at Simon’s Sports Camp

- 2 tickets plus a book signing for *In Conversation with Asako Yuzuki*

- Haircuts at Mancave, Crops & Bobbers, and free coffee for a week

Link to raffle: https://galabid.com/bettylaywardraffle

More prizes are being added regularly, so please keep buying tickets. Good luck! The draw closes at 3pm on 5th July.

On Thursday, 3rd July, we will have a non-uniform day. Children may wear their own clothes in exchange for donating a bottle of alcohol, toiletries, or new or nearly new toys. All donations are warmly welcomed. Thank you for being so supportive.

Year 6 will be going on a residential trip to France next week, and we hope they have an amazing time.

Have a lovely weekend and enjoy the sunshine,

Jessica

Headteacher

Newsletter Friday 13th June 2025

Fri 13 Jun 2025 Jessica

Dear Parents and Carers,

It is wonderful to see the sun shining and to enjoy some lovely weather. We have had a fantastic week, highlighted by two brilliant assemblies. Aqua Class performed their very first assembly this week, and it was evident that they had worked incredibly hard to master their lines and build their confidence in speaking before an audience. The children were outstanding, and their assembly showcased all the effort they have invested in planting and growing this term, as well as directing and filming their own video. Well done, Aqua Class. Year 5 Saffron Class also delivered an excellent assembly on how we should look after our rivers. Their message was confident, clear, and well-informed regarding how to care for our Earth and improve our world. They spoke with enthusiasm and assurance. Well done, Saffron Class.

We had a lovely Eid celebration this week. Thank you to all the parents and carers who made or donated food; it was incredibly delicious, and we appreciate everyone who came along. It was truly a delightful event.

On Monday, Year 3 and 4 were visited by ACEN (African, Caribbean Education Network). The children participated in a workshop where they explored the contributions of people of colour to the United Kingdom. They discovered that people of colour have long been part of our history and have made substantial contributions. In these workshops, the children learned about some amazing individuals, like Lucius Septimius Severus, who was Roman emperor from 193 to 211 CE, and John Blanke, who was a royal trumpeter in the courts of Henry VII and Henry VIII. The children thoroughly enjoyed the workshops and the opportunity to learn more about these remarkable figures.The staff also received training from ACEN. The facilitators commented on how wonderful our children and staff are, which is always lovely to hear.

This week, we enjoyed construction in the Opal playground, building vehicles and structures while also having quieter moments. The children have been reading in the woodlands and lounging in the tyres. We are also very pleased to have recently received some new dress-up donations, and the children have thoroughly enjoyed wearing these new items. We are always grateful for donations for our playground and would greatly appreciate any pots, pans, colanders, etc., for our water station and mud kitchen, if you are able to assist us. Thank you very much for any contributions you can make.

We have a Parents and Carers afternoon on Thursday, 3rd July. The school will be open from 2pm, and you can come into your child’s classroom where they can share their successes from this year with you. If you cannot visit between 2pm and 3pm, you can come along with your child between 3:30pm and 5:00pm. You do not need to make an appointment; just come along. This is a lovely opportunity for your child to showcase their work as we approach the end of this academic year. Please put this date in your diaries. Sports Day is on 4th July, and the Summer Fair is on 5th July, making it a busy and certainly fun week.

We have our Parents and Carers Week commencing 14th July. This is when you can spend some time with your child in the playground. We usually play rounders or have a different fun activity, but this year we thought it would be nice to do OPAL together so you can see what the playground now has to offer, especially since OPAL has been such a great success. Exact class times will be sent out very soon. We look forward to seeing you there.

Have a lovely weekend, and I hope the sun keeps shining.

Jessica

Headteacher teacher

Newsletter Friday 6th June 2025

Fri 06 Jun 2025 Jessica

Dear Parents and Carers,

I hope you had a lovely week. It is wonderful to see everyone back. We have had a fantastic week, and there are a few things from last term I would like to mention, as there wasn’t a newsletter in the last week of term.

Blastonbury was brilliant. We all loved it, and we hope you did too. The children performed exceptionally well, and as the songs were not easy to sing, we were especially impressed. A big thank you to Zoe for her support and to all the staff for their hard work. We hope you enjoyed it. I hope the children are still singing some of the songs at home. We can’t wait for next year.

On the Tuesday before half term, Year 5 Buttercup visited the Natural History Museum, explored worldwide environmental issues, and attempted to solve them using Lego. We also explored coral reefs and created fantastic displays of LEGO solutions. It was great fun, and the whole of Buttercup class learned a lot, by Ryan and Hugo.

During the last week of term, Year 3 Emerald class performed a fantastic assembly on Ancient Greece. Emerald class raced across the world, demonstrating knowledge, supportive partnerships, and confidence. Their performance was a joy to watch, and it was clear they had worked incredibly hard. Well done, Emerald Class.

On Monday, Year 3 were lucky enough to explore the Barbican conservatory as part of our science topic, Plants. We had the venue exclusively for our school and could listen to those who care for the plants and ask lots of questions. We also enjoyed time in the space to be creative and draw what inspired us. We had a great day.

This week, Year 4 visited Gillespie Nature Park. Enjoying the sunny day, the children explored the meadows and learned about sustainability, particularly how to make more environmentally friendly choices in our everyday lives. Along the way, they spotted various animals in their natural habitats. They concluded the trip with a fun and educational scavenger hunt, answering questions about caring for our planet.

Wishing our families a joyful and meaningful Eid. May this Eid mark the beginning of new hopes and beautiful memories. Eid Mubarak to all our families at Betty Layward. We have our Eid event after school on Wednesday in the playground. This is a lovely occasion featuring delicious food. We look forward to seeing you there.

This week, the children in OPAL have been enjoying the water station and bubbles in the playground. Much is planned for OPAL this term, and many new pieces of equipment will be available to the children.

This term, we will not be having a Parents/Carers evening. Instead, we will have an afternoon when you can come with your child and they can share all the work they have done this year. More information will be coming soon. We really want your children to celebrate all their hard work from this year with you.

I cannot believe that this is the last term of the academic year. Where is the time going? This is a busy term, so please keep an eye on the school calendar to ensure you have all the important dates. We are not having a parents' evening this term. Instead, we will invite you in with your child so they can share their work from the whole year with you, as they have done so well. More details about this will follow.

We have Sports Day on Friday, 4^th July. Nursery, Reception, and Key Stage 1 are in the morning, and Key Stage 2 is in the afternoon. This will take place in Clissold Park.

Eid Mubarak and have a lovely weekend,

Jessica

Headteacher

Newsletter Friday 16th May 2025

Fri 16 May 2025 Jessica

Dear Parents and Carers,

We hope you had a good week. We have been busy, and Year 6 completed their SATs this week. They were amazing; not only did they work hard, but they did so with positivity and a fantastic attitude. I was so impressed, and we are incredibly proud of them. I tell them that they are much more than a SATs result. They are individual, independent people who are kind, thoughtful, and so much more. They can act, sing, and dance. They might shine at playing an instrument or in sports. There are countless reasons why they are more than just a SATs result.

This week, even in the midst of SATs, the children came together for Mental Health Awareness Week with the theme of Community. A strong sense of community can be a powerful support for our mental health, helping us feel connected, valued, and safe. Our brilliant Wellbeing Ambassadors led thoughtful activities across classes, encouraging everyone to reflect on who is part of their “circle” and what community really means to us. One of the highlights was the creation of our Kindness Chains, with each link representing an act of kindness. They're already growing long and colourful, serving as an excellent visual reminder of how caring and supportive our children truly are.

Our VE Day lunch was delicious this week. We have attached some photos. This week, Reception also began exploring an exciting new book, Faruq and the Wiri Wiri Pepper. The story sparked lots of curiosity, especially about different flavours and ingredients from around the world. They talked about our own families’ traditional dishes and the special memories they hold. It was lovely seeing the children take pride in sharing their food stories. From this book, the children in Reception made bread with Damian, and the results were great. Please see the photos. It looked delicious.

This weekend, the Hackney Half Marathon is taking place, and I am truly grateful to all the children, parents, and carers who are running to raise money for the school. I hope you have a great time and that the sun shines for you. An email with all the details was sent out yesterday. Please encourage friends and family to donate using this link: https://www.gofundme.com/f/betty-layward-is-running-the-2025-hackney-half-marathon There are also other activities going on alongside https://www.hackneymoves.com/saturday-festival-lineup.

Thank you to all the organisers; you have done a marvellous job. Good luck, runners.

On Thursday, 22nd May, Year 6 will sell baked goods and bracelets after school to raise money for their upcoming trip to France. Thank you for your support. We look forward to seeing you there.

We look forward to seeing you on Tuesday for Blastonbury. It starts at 2pm. Please stand where we ask you to so children can enter and exit. We hope you enjoy it.

Please remember we close at the normal school time on Thursday for half term. We hope you have a great week.

Have a lovely weekend,

Jessica

Headteacher

Newsletter Friday 9th May 2025

Fri 09 May 2025 Jessica

Dear Parents and Carers,

We’ve had a wonderful week filled with great activities. Tuesday was particularly fantastic as we celebrated Maths Rock Star Day. The children looked remarkable as Timetable Rock Stars, and we thoroughly enjoyed seeing them. They had a fun day packed with various maths activities, discussing how mathematics is present in our lives and how we can apply our number skills across different areas.

Year 2 Apricot presented a delightful assembly about transport through time. They spoke confidently and shared many fascinating facts. Well done, Apricot class.

Year 3 children enjoyed two exciting and memorable class trips this week. Firstly, they visited a circus school, where they had the unique opportunity to practice circus tricks under the guidance of professionals and watch their training. The children also loved learning a few juggling tricks and even tried their hand at spinning plates. They also explored the fascinating Sir John Soane Museum, where they toured the historic house and participated in engaging workshops on Ancient Greece. During both trips, the children had a fantastic time and splendidly represented the school with enthusiasm, curiosity, and excellent behaviour.

This week, a group of children competed in a Year 3 and 4 tennis competition. They fought hard until the end, reaching the finals and competing against five schools from Hackney. We are so proud of you; it was a joy to watch. Well done.

Year 2 embarked on an exciting trip to The Garden Classroom to learn more about plants and their growth. The children had the chance to explore the gardens, where they could look for, smell, and sketch various plants. They also dug up some weeds and examined their roots with magnifying glasses. Year 2 enjoyed sharing their knowledge about the parts of plants and their functions, learning a fun poem on the topic, and creating their own plant diagrams using different vegetables. Finally, they had the opportunity to plant peas in pots to take home and care for.

The children learnt about VE Day yesterday, and we are having a special VE Day lunch on Wednesday. We have emailed the menu.

Some of our children attended a girls’ football festival. Here’s what Bonnie has to say about it: Last weekend, Martha, Emilia, Olivia, and I travelled to Swansea with the Hackney Schools District Football team to take part in the Swansea Girls Festival 2025. There were 30 teams from all over England and Wales that came to compete in the tournament. It was a lot of fun, and we made it through the group stages; however, we were unfortunately knocked out in the knockout rounds. Overall, it was an amazing experience. We also visited an extreme water park and enjoyed numerous water slides. – By Bonnie Wong

Thank you to those of you who came and purchased items from our eco-shop, Betty's Refillery, yesterday after school. We greatly appreciate your support in our journey to reduce plastic usage. Keep an eye out for our next date when Betty's Refillery will be open.

Our Year 6 children have their SATs next week. I am immensely proud of them and the hard work they have put in. A child is more than just a SATs result; they are kind, thoughtful, curious, fun, and so much more. Our children are exceptional and have worked so hard. I have told them that these tests are only a small part of who they are, and there is so much more to them. They should be proud of themselves, as we are proud of them. I know you will join me in wishing them luck, and we will ensure that the week includes many lovely activities too.

We are excited to announce that our water station will soon be open in the playground for OPAL. If you have any spare metal pots, pans, or colanders, we would greatly appreciate them. We can distribute them between our mud kitchen and water station. Thank you in advance for your support.

This is a gentle reminder to please get your child sponsored for the Hackney Half next Saturday. Here's the link you can share with everyone: https://gofund.me/7da4ca9d. Please also share it if you are an adult running on Sunday. Even if your child is not running on the day, they will have run 12 miles at school and can complete the half marathon by running the final mile at their own pace. Every penny raised will help the school purchase new interactive whiteboards for the children’s classrooms. Thank you in advance for all your efforts to support this fundraising event during these challenging times. T-shirt and bib collection will be at school pick-up next Friday, 16th May, from 3pm to 4:30pm, so please mark this date in your diaries or ask a friend to collect for you if you can’t make it. Timings for the day (Saturday, 17th May) are approximately 8:30am to 12pm at Hackney Marshes, but we will provide more details soon. We appreciate your support and we know it will be an enjoyable day.

Please remember that Blastonbury will be in the playground on the afternoon of Tuesday, May 20th. We look forward to seeing you there.

Have a lovely weekend, and I hope you enjoy the sunshine.

Jessica

Headteacher

Newsletter Friday 2nd May 2025

Thu 01 May 2025 Jessica

Dear Parents and Carers,

I hope you have had a lovely week and enjoyed the beautiful weather. I have observed the children playing outside during lunch and playtimes, and they have been truly enjoying it, especially with the OPAL resources. We have reminded them to wear hats, drink plenty of water, and stay in the shade when possible. The sail shades really benefit us during weather like this.

Year 1 Lavender class performed a fantastic assembly about continents this week. They were exceptional. The microphone stopped working, but they continued like the true professionals they are. They spoke confidently and did an excellent job. We all learned a great deal about the different continents. Well done, Lavender class.

On Wednesday, 30th April, a group of Year 1 and 2 children participated in a tennis competition at Clissold Park. We played against Grazebrook, Woodberry Downs, Shacklewell, and Betty Layward, with Betty Layward emerging as the overall winner. Well done to all the children who took part. We are incredibly proud of you. Thank you to the parent volunteers who came and helped. It is heartwarming to see the children so proud of their achievements.

Year 5 Saffron went on an exciting trip to the Natural History Museum this week. They used their creativity to design, build, evaluate and share a solution to a real-world sustainability challenge using LEGO® bricks in a hands-on workshop.

We have our Times Table Rock Star day on Tuesday. Your child is welcome to dress up as a rock star if they wish, and there will be plenty of fun maths activities for them throughout the day. We are genuinely looking forward to this. Please use clothing they already have at home. There is no need to buy anything new, and they do not need to wear school uniform.

We have discovered a local author, and we thought sharing some information about her and her book would be lovely. *Made of Magic* is written by local author and mother Annie Campbell. It is a joyful and empowering children’s book that affirms the value, beauty, and brilliance of Black and Brown boys while reminding every child that they are worthy, loved, and full of potential. This book celebrates self-esteem, confidence, and identity with vibrant illustrations and a heartfelt message. It is recommended for ages 6 – 11.

More info: www.madeofmagicbooks.com

Instagram: @madeofmagicbooks

Enjoy your bank holiday weekend, and we look forward to seeing you on Tuesday.

Jessica

Headteacher

Newsletter Friday 25th April 2025

Fri 25 Apr 2025 Jessica

Dear Parents and Carers,

Welcome back. I hope you had a lovely break. It’s wonderful to see everyone back with such bright smiles. The weather is improving, which is lovely to see.

This week in Opal, we have been learning about how to use equipment safely during wet weather and how to access equipment safely in our loose parts shed. We have two fantastic sheds that store all of our Opal equipment. One shed holds our loose parts, which can be accessed daily, while the other shed contains our smaller parts for various activities, including construction, arts and crafts, sports, role-play, and more. This week, we introduced a large construction kit with wheels, cogs, panels, and poles. The children have thoroughly enjoyed building vehicles and castles; we even managed to move the vehicles. We are seeking further donations of wellies and waterproofs. If you have any spare wellies or waterproofs to add to our Opal collection, please bring them in. While we are hoping for more sunshine, we are also preparing our wet weather play resources and equipment for Opal to be ready when needed. Thank you.

It’s 20p time again. If you haven’t done this before, we ask the children to collect as many 20p coins as they can. This can be achieved by children helping out at home with chores or participating in fundraising activities. This initiative allows the children to take the lead in fundraising for the school, and the class that raises the most will win £20 to spend as they wish. It’s a great fundraiser, and we appreciate your support with this.

We are pleased to share that Betty Layward is working towards achieving the Bronze Rights-Respecting Schools Award stage—a nationally recognised initiative led by the UK Committee for UNICEF (UNICEF UK). This award supports schools in creating and maintaining safe, respectful, and inspiring learning environments. Through this programme, children are not only valued and respected, but their individual talents are nurtured, empowering them to flourish both personally and academically. By beginning our journey towards the Bronze Award, we are formally committing to placing the values of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child at the heart of everything we do. At this early stage, we are working to raise awareness throughout the entire school community about what it means to be a Rights-Respecting School. Our goal is to ensure that children feel valued, listened to, and empowered to play an active role in their learning and in the life of the school. Thank you for your continued support as we work towards this important achievement.

We have 80 children registered for the Hackney Half, and only a handful of places remain. This is the highest number we have ever had. Please check that you have received an email from letsdothis (it may be in your junk or spam folder). If you do not have an email, please message Kirsty as soon as possible. If you are not fully registered, your children WILL NOT be able to run. PLEASE also start getting the children sponsored by friends, family, workmates, and neighbours so we can raise money for our school. The fundraising link is https://gofund.me/7da4ca9d. We appreciate your support with this.

Please remember to check the school calendar for dates this term, as there will be new events added, such as Blastonbury on the afternoon of Tuesday, 20^th May.

Have a lovely weekend,

Jessica

Headteacher

Newsletter Friday 4th April 2025

Fri 04 Apr 2025 Jessica

Dear Parents and Carers,

I cannot believe we are at the end of another term. Where is the time going? What a great term we have had. The children have been amazing. Thank you for all your support.

Thank you for attending your parent/carer meeting yesterday. I hope you found them useful. Some of the children who received reports told me how much they enjoyed reading them and were very proud of themselves. It was lovely to hear, and every report was lovely to read. Well done to all our children for an excellent term and for working so hard. We look forward to seeing it continue in the summer term.

Last Tuesday, Key Stage 2 girls were visited by OCL Facades, who came to talk to them about careers in construction and engineering as part of their Girls' Can Build programme. In the United Kingdom construction industry, girls are significantly underrepresented, comprising only about 15% of the workforce, with only around 2% of on-site workers being female. The Girls' Can Build initiative not only highlights the possibilities within the construction industry but also aims to plant the seeds of curiosity and ambition in young girls, paving the way for a more diverse future in construction. All Key Stage 2 girls took part in an assembly, where they were introduced to construction and then discussed the different careers that are on offer. The Year 4 girls took part in a construction workshop, where they were challenged to construct a bridge. The girls took on various construction roles, such as project manager, designer, and builder. The girls thoroughly enjoyed the workshops and created some fantastic bridges.

Fuchsia class performed a wonderful assembly this week on the Tudors. They spoke clearly and acted brilliantly. Well done fuchsia class.

On Wednesday, Year 2 went to St Mary's Church to support their learning about Christian beliefs, baptism and Easter. The children were able to explore the church, try on robes, hold the communion plate and chalice, and go up on the pulpit. They then took part in an imaginative baptism and saw what it is like when a baby is christened. Finally, they listened to a story about Easter and had the chance to ask questions about Christian beliefs and the church.

On Thursday, April 3rd, the Junior Road Safety Officers were outside of school at the beginning of the school day to observe the school street and check that the school entrance was not blocked. Their role is to provide important road safety messages to the school community and be aware of the roads and road safety in the local area. Thank you for all your kind words and supportive interactions with our officers.

Some of the findings were:

Some parents are standing too close to the school gates, so we advise you to stand on the other side of the road. We would also advise that parents, carers and children look both ways whilst crossing over the road. We noticed this was not always happening, and there were vehicles and many cyclists travelling down the street. Please be careful not to walk into the school's No Parking signs. These should not be moved. We also noticed that whilst we were on a school street, there were cars and vans coming into the street and travelling down the street. Please be careful around the school entrance. The Junior Road Safety Officers will be out again soon to check that everyone is keeping safe and the school entrance is clear.

April is World Autism Month, and this year, we will be celebrating World Autism Appreciation Week at Betty Layward during the week beginning the 21st of April. We will start a project called LEANS after the holidays (Learning About Neurodiversity at School). Classes in Key Stage 2 will learn about neurodiversity and how it impacts children's school experiences. Neurodiversity means the differences in how people’s brains process information. Neurodivergent people’s processing differs from the majority (and often each other), sometimes in ways that substantially affect daily life. Autistic, dyslexic, and people with dyspraxia, or those with ADHD or Tourette’s syndrome, could all be described as neurodivergent - though individuals may not identify that way. LEANS is a multi-session curriculum with a mix of hands-on activities, storytelling, and factual resource items. It was developed by a neurodivergent team of researchers and educators at the University of Edinburgh. LEANS’ stories expose pupils to perspectives and school experiences that might be quite different from their own - whether they are neurotypical or neurodivergent.

The curriculum consists of 7 topic units:

- introducing neurodiversity
- classroom experiences
- communication
- needs and wants
- fairness
- friendship

- reflecting on our actions.

There is information available here if you would like to find out more:

https://salvesen-research.ed.ac.uk/leans/about

The children are bringing home bulbs today to nurture and grow. They will then need to identify what plant they have. We look forward to hearing all about them. Thank you for your support with this.

Thank you for all your support this term. We hope you have a lovely holiday and the sun shines. We look forward to seeing you on Tuesday 22nd April.

Jessica

Headteacher