School Newsletter : 01 May 2026

| Issue 29 | Summer 1 | Week 3 |

Run Kids Run 2026

We are thrilled to announce that once again, we have registered to participate in Run Kids Run on Sunday 7th June in Battersea Park.

Run Kids Run is a registered charity helping primary school communities connect with long term corporate benefactors, through a fun running event that promotes a healthy body and mind, while fundraising for our school!

How does it work?

All pupils from Nursery to Year 6 can register to compete in this fundraising event. Nursery & Reception will complete a 1km run, with a parent, and Years 1 – 6 will complete a 2km run. Older siblings can also take part, making it a fun day for all the family.

Then get training and fundraising! After the Easter Break, we will offer an in-school (for pupils only) running club as part of the Summer Term Extended School Day Menu of options. A Just Giving page will also be set up, making donations and sponsorships easy for everyone.

Then on Sunday 7th June, bring your child/ren to Battersea Park from 2 – 4pm. The children will run their races and on completion, will receive an exclusive medal and healthy snack.

You can seek sponsorship from as many friends, family & neighbours as possible, as every donation will go towards raising funds for our school.

Our Corporate Sponsor:

We have partnered with OPLM (Old Park Lane Management) ever since our first Run Kids Run in 2024. Like us, they are excited to be working in collaboration to create positive change through a vibrant and ambitious partnership for the benefit of our pupils and the wider local community.

OPLM will be supporting whole-school projects, including School Council visits to their Millbank site and a collaborative art project to design hoardings, with further opportunities for pupils’ artwork to be showcased.

Intergenerational Project with the Abbey Centre – Final Session with Year 6

This week, Year 6 took part in the final session of our intergenerational project at The Abbey Centre, bringing to a close a truly special and moving experience. Once again, the children showed kindness, confidence and inclusivity as they engaged with the residents through music, games and creative activities.

The session began with songs and an introduction game to help everyone feel welcome and connected. Children then confidently led musical activities, conducting songs while the elders followed the rhythm using colourful cloths and instruments. In small groups, children and residents discussed thought-provoking photographs and worked together to create poems and songs, which were then proudly performed by the children for everyone to enjoy.

The feedback from The Abbey Centre was overwhelmingly positive, with service users describing the sessions as “super, fantastic, uplifting, enlightening and beautiful.” To thank the children, the residents made a special card filled with heartfelt messages, thanking them for their singing, kindness and for spending time with them. It was a very emotional ending, with smiles, and even a few tears as everyone said goodbye.

We are incredibly proud of Year 6, who have been true ambassadors for Burdett-Coutts throughout this project, demonstrating friendship, compassion and service in every session.

Out and About……

Year 2 had a fantastic time on their trip to Camley Street Natural Park as part of our Science topic on habitats. The visit gave the children a wonderful opportunity to explore real-life habitats and deepen their understanding of where animals live.

They explored both woodland and wetland habitats, where they searched for and identified a variety of minibeasts. Using magnifying glasses and nets, they carefully collected and observed different creatures, showing great curiosity and excitement throughout the day.

It was a fun and hands-on experience that really helped to bring our learning to life and develop the children’s understanding of habitats and the living things within them.

Swimming Lessons for Years 3 – 6

We are delighted to announce that swimming lessons will begin again this term, for pupils in Years 3 to 6. Please see the table below for your child’s swimming weeks.

These lessons are an important (and statutory) part of the national curriculum and provide an opportunity for pupils to develop key skills and knowledge about water safety and learning basic swimming skills and strokes.

Pupils are issued with certificates at the end of each unit of swimming, which acknowledge the skill level that they have met.

All swimming lessons will take part at the Queen Mothers Sports Centre. Classes will complete their lessons in blocks (6 consecutive lessons over two weeks), instead of one lesson per week (over 6 weeks).

This arrangement ensures pupils have the best chance to consolidate and make the most of their lessons, with the opportunity to build on learning over sequential days, as opposed to having a week between each lesson.

On the weeks that your child’s class is swimming, they will need to wear their bathing costume to school with their PE kit over the top. They also need to bring in a bag; a towel, underwear and goggles, plus a cap (if they choose to use one).

Children will change into their PE kit after each lesson and put their towel and bathing suit in their bag to return to school.

If you have any questions or queries about your child’s swimming lesson, please contact the office to arrange a time to meet with a member of the Senior Leadership Team.

Year 3

  • Tuesday 12 May: 11:00 – 12:00
  • Wednesday 13 May: 09:30 – 10:30
  • Thursday 14 May: 12:00 – 13:00
  • Tuesday 19 May: 11:00 – 12:00
  • Wednesday 20 May: 14:30 – 15:30
  • Thursday 21 May: 12:00 – 13:00

Year 4

  • Tuesday 02 June: 11:00 – 12:00
  • Wednesday 03 June: 09:30 – 10:30
  • Thursday 04 June: 12:00 – 13:00
  • Tuesday 09 June: 11:00 – 12:00
  • Wednesday 10 June: 09:30 – 10:30
  • Thursday 11 June: 12:00 – 13:00

Year 5

  • Tuesday 16 June: 11:00 – 12:00
  • Wednesday 17 June: 09:30 – 10:30
  • Thursday 18 June: 12:00 – 13:00
  • Tuesday 23 June: 11:00 – 12:00
  • Wednesday 24 June: 09:30 – 10:30
  • Thursday 25 June: 12:00 – 13:00

Year 6

  • Tuesday 30 June: 11:00 – 12:00
  • Wednesday 01 July: 09:30 – 10:30
  • Thursday 01 July: 12:00 – 13:00
  • Tuesday 07 July: 11:00 – 12:00
  • Wednesday 08 July: 09:30 – 10:30
  • Thursday 09 July: 12:00 – 13:00

Community Corner

In Collective Worship, we explored journeys that we might take in life. We explored John 10:1-10, which is the verse that underpins the CofE’s vision for education.

This week in worship, after our reading we had a prayer:

Dear loving Jesus,
thank you that You have promised us that You will keep us safe
and that we can find a way to Heaven by following Your way.
Thank you that we can learn from the Bible and talk to you in prayer.
Amen.

We were then led by Mr Carden in a worship song, When I Was Lost You Came and Rescued Me. We also discussed showing the love of Jesus in practical ways.

Bible Teaching of the Week: John 10: 1-10

Jesus describes Himself as the Good Shepherd who knows, leads, and protects His sheep — and a gate through which we are invited to enter.

Community Questions:

  • Why does Jesus call himself the Good Shepherd?
  • How can following Jesus help us feel safe and guided in our daily lives?
  • Can you think of a time when someone helped you feel protected?

Community Challenge:

Look for ways to care for others, whether it’s listening when someone is worried, or showing kindness at home or school. Think about how Jesus looks after us and share that care with others.

Class Assemblies 09:00 – 09:25

  • 15 May: Year 3
  • 22 May: Year 5
  • 12 June: Year 6
  • 19 June: Year 1
  • 25 June: Reception (Thursday as Friday is an INSET day)
  • 03 July: Year 2
  • 10 July: Nursery

Please arrive on time, as late entry can disrupt the children and the flow of the assembly. Photos must not be shared on social media.

Disney Musicals in Schools

Year 3 and 4 are enjoying their Disney Musicals in Schools journey with this year’s production, Frozen. Throughout their rehearsals, the children are showing fantastic enthusiasm as they bring the story to life through singing, movement and teamwork.

As part of the excitement, we are launching a Poster Design Competition. All pupils are invited to create a bright, bold and eye-catching A4 portrait poster, including the words Frozen, Burdett-Coutts Primary School, and Year 3 and 4 Performance.

Entries should be handed into the school office by Wednesday 20th May 2026, with the child’s name and class clearly written on the back.

Please see the poster below for full details.

Our PTA: The Friends of Burdett-Coutts

If you are a parent, carer or a guardian of a child that attends our school, then you are automatically a member of our Parent Staff Association, Friends of Burdett-Coutts.

Being part of our PSA offers an exciting opportunity for you to meet other parents, whilst supporting our school, through organising fundraising events, volunteering and much more.

Even if you can only give a small amount of time, you will be making a difference to the school experience for your child and other pupils in our school.

Our meetings take place on  Wednesday mornings from 09:00 – 10:00 in the Ground Floor Hall, with refreshments. Everyone is welcome!

Our next events are:

School International Evening and World Day for Culture Diversity – Thursday 21st May @15;30 – 17:30

School Summer Fair – Saturday 20th June @12:30 – 16:00

Meeting dates:

  • 06th May
  • 20th May
  • 10th June
  • 17th June

World Day for Cultural Diversity & International Evening

This year we are combining these two important events, by including our International Evening alongside World Day for Cultural Diversity.

To celebrate the rich tapestry of cultures in our school community, on Thursday 21st May we’d like to encourage all students, staff, and families to join us in honouring cultural diversity by wearing traditional clothing that reflects your heritage.

Whether it’s a small accessory or full attire, every expression is welcome.

We would also welcome donations of cultural food dishes to share as part of the evening. Our PTA will provide further details about this, alongside any ingredient information that would need to be provided with your food donations over the coming weeks.

Let’s make the day vibrant, meaningful, and inclusive! (and a feast for our taste buds😋)

Upcoming Events

May 2026:

  • Monday 4th May: May Bank Holiday – SCHOOL CLOSED to all pupils
  • Tuesday 5th May: Y1 Trip to Camley Street Natural Park – Plants Workshop
  • Tuesday 5th May: Y6 Parents SATS meeting @ 09:00 in the Ground Floor Hall
  • Thursday 7th May: Treasures of the Orchestra Workshops for EYFS and KS1 classes (in school)
  • Monday 11th – Friday 15th: Key Stage 2 SATS week. Good luck to all our Year 6 pupils
  • Wednesday 20th May: Keep Smiling, Tooth Brushing  & Fluoride Application Program (Day 2/2)
  • Wednesday 20th May: Year 4 Trip to the Science Museum
  • Monday 25th – Friday 29th: May Half Term – School Closed to all pupils.

June 2026:

  • Tuesday 2nd: Reception trip to London Zoo (Rescheduled date)
  • Monday 8th – Friday 12th: Year 1 Phonics Screen Assessment Week
  • Wednesday 10th: Year 6 participating in Walter Greaves workshop led by Peter Daniels, 09:00 – 12:30 (in school)
  • Friday 19th: Y6 Trip to Wapping – Thames Foreshore Mudlarking with Peter Daniels.
  • Saturday 20th: School Summer Fair: 12:30 – 16:00

July 2026 (continued):

  • Wednesday 24th: Year 4 & Year 5 Tate Britain Animation Workshops (in school)
  • Wednesday 24th: School Choir Singing Morning (themed on storytelling and literature – including songs from Matilda: The Musical) at St. Gabriel’s Church 09:00 – 12:00.
  • Friday 26th June: INSET Day – SCHOOL CLOSED to all pupils
  • Monday 29th: Disney (Frozen) Matinee Performance 14:15 – 15:15 (details to follow)
  • Tuesday 30th: Disney (Frozen) Matinee Performance 14:15 – 15:15 (details to follow)

July 2026:

  • Tuesday 2nd: Disney (Frozen) EveningPerformance 18:00 – 19:00 (details to follow)
  • Tuesday 7th: Year 1 Trip to the Florence Nightingale Museum.
  • Thursday 9th: Whole School Sports Day
  • Friday 10th: Last day of Booster and Extended School Day Clubs
  • Tuesday 14th: Founders Day Service – Year 6 (Time TBC)
  • Wednesday 15th: Year 3 and Year 6 KEIR site visit, 09:15 – 12:00
  • Thursday 16th: Y6 Trip to Rochester Cathedral
  • Friday 17th: Last day of school for the summer term. School finishes at 13:30 for all pupils

1. Pupil Medications

A polite reminder to parents and carers that we are unable to give over the counter or prescription medicines to pupils unless they have an agreed medical plan in place.

Should your child requires medication to be taken 3 times per day due to winter season illnesses, please give them their doses before school, after school and before bed time.

Alternatively, if you’re able to do so, you can pop into school during your child’s lunch break (12:30 – 13:30) to administer a midday dose if required.

Please do not put any medications, creams, ointments etc in your child’s book bag. This can be very dangerous for other pupils or adults who may have allergies or if other children access these items.

If you have any questions, please email the school office and a member of staff will get back you. Many thanks for your understanding with this important Health & Safety issue.

2. Pupil Permission Forms for Trips

Parents & carers, please ensure that when pupil trip letters are sent home requesting permission for trips or visits, that you correctly read and complete the forms attached and return them to school by the date requested.

When forms are returned late, it is a challenge to manage and accurately provide the required confirmation / information to venues – which are usually requested 48 hours in advance. Furthermore:

  • Our admin and catering teams face additional pressure to prepare lunch orders and first aid.
  • These are difficult to amend at the last minute, and it also pulls them away from other duties & responsibilities they have.
  • Teachers are also unable to assign group pupil:adult ratios to ensure a smooth trip briefing with other staff/parents supporting the trip.

Because of this, pupils will miss out on attending a trip if the correct permission slips are not returned by the designated deadline. Instead they will be assigned appropriate class work to complete in a supervised buddy class.

Many thanks for your understanding and support with this matter.

3. Enrichment Clubs: Late Collection

  • We understand that on occasions you may be running late due to circumstances outside of your control.
  • If this should occur, please email or phone the school office to inform them and of your expected arrival time.
  • This helps us ensure staff who work until 18:00 will be able to leave on time, with a member of the SLT providing cover if needed if they are unable to stay.
  • We thank you for understanding with this request.
  • A reminder that that a £5 late charge is applied to your fees for every 5 minutes that you are late.

4. School & PE Uniform:

With the warmer weather now settling in, pupils are welcome to switch to their summer school uniform options.  Please ensure that all pieces of school uniform are named.

Please ensure that your children are wearing the correct school uniform to school each day. It is important that all pupils are also wearing the correct school shoes – which are black shoes, and not trainers.

The Summer term uniform options for pupils in Nursery to Year 6 are:

Girls:

  • Navy blue and white gingham dress
  • Dark grey trousers, skirt or skort
  • Short-sleeve white shirt (Years 3 – 6)
  • White school logo polo shirt (Nursery – Year 2)
  • Tie (Years 3 – 6)
  • V-neck navy school logo jumper (Years 3 – 6)
  • Navy logo school sweatshirt (Nursery to Year 2)
  • Navy logo school sweatshirt (for PE lessons: Years 3 -6)
  • Blazer (Year 6 only)
  • Plain black shoes (not trainers)

Boys:

  • Dark grey shorts or trousers
  • Short-sleeve white shirt (Years 3 – 6)
  • White school logo polo shirt (Nursery – Year 2)
  • Tie (Yers 3 -6)
  • V-neck navy school logo jumper (Years 3 – 6)
  • Navy school logo sweatshirt (Nursery to Year 2)
  • Navy school logo sweatshirt (for PE lessons: Years 3 – 6)
  • Blazer (Year 6 only)
  • Plain black shoes (not trainers)

On PE days, pupils must wear the school PE kit only.

This is especially important for safety.  Having the correct shoes for physical activities, and clothing that is not restrictive, for completing physical activity are essential for helping us to ensure pupils complete all PE lessons safely.

The Autumn/Winter term PE kit for all pupils from Year Reception to Year 6 consists of:

  • A school navy logo t-shirt
  • Navy  leggings, tracksuit bottoms or skort (no logos etc)
  • Plain black trainers
  • A school logo sweatshirt (not the v-neck jerseys for KS2 pupils. Sweatshirts are available from the school office in KS2 sizes).

Please note that pupils who do not have the correct PE kit will not be able to participate in their PE lesson. They will be given alternate work to do, and a note will be sent home highlighting why they were not able to complete their lesson that day.

We thank you in advance in supporting our school’s uniform policies.

Bi-Borough Autism Service

Parents and carers of Year 5 and 6 pupils are warmly invited to join an online session with the Bi-borough Autism Service on preparing your autistic child for secondary school.

The session will take place on Tuesday 5th May, 2.00–3.00pm.

To sign up, please email AEYIT@RBKC.GOV.UK

Term Dates 2025-2026

Please find here the agreed term dates set by our school’s Governing Body for the upcoming academic year, starting September 2025.

Please remember that holidays will not be authorised during the school term, and that all children should be in school (on time) every day.

Alternatively, you can click on the image thumbnail on the right to view the PDF (please note this will open in a new window) or you can click on the link below:

Term Dates 2026-2027

Please find here the agreed term dates set by our school’s Governing Body for the upcoming academic year, starting September 2026.

Please remember that holidays will not be authorised during the school term, and that all children should be in school (on time) every day.

Alternatively, you can click on the link below:

Preschool, Nursery & Reception Admissions

We currently have the following availability for places in our Early Years provision from January 2026:

  • Nursery Class (3-year olds): 1 part-time (afternoon) place available at present.
  • Preschool (2-year olds): From April 2026 we have 4 full-time places and 2 part-time (afternoon) places available

September 2026 Reception:  We have a waiting list for Reception places for September 2026.  Please feel free to book a tour and submit admissions documents to secure a place on the waiting list.

If you are looking for a Preschool, Nursery or Reception place for your child, please come along for a 30-minute bespoke EYFS tour. Here, you’ll have the chance explore our Early Years setting, speak to key staff and ask any questions regarding admissions, and your child starting with us at Burdett-Coutts.

Contact us to register for our tours which take place every Thursday, with times available from 09:15 – 14:30 during term time.

Online Safety

Did you know that not all apps are safe for children, with many popular ones having certain age restrictions. For example, WhatsApp, Tik Tok, Instagram and Facebook operate a minimum age of 13+ years, and therefore primary school children should not have their own, nor access to, such apps or accounts.

As parents, you can help safeguard your children online by researching these apps and their purposes, as well as their age restrictions, BEFORE agreeing to download them. If you do choose to download them, remember that parental controls such as password protection, can be set up so that in-app downloads or purchases, cannot be completed by the children themselves.

For example, to prevent iTunes, Apple App Store purchases or downloads, all you need to do is:

  1. Go to Settings and tap Screen Time.
  2. Tap Content & App Privacy Restrictions. If asked, enter your passcode.
  3. Tap iTunes & App Store Purchases.
  4. Select a setting and set to Don’t Allow.

Tips on how to install parental controls on other apps and devices (Android or Apple) can easily be found online, or even from the app developers themselves.

Funding eligibility letter for Pupil Premium, Early Years Funding & Free School Meals

Due to changes in the eligibility criteria for Pupil Premium, Free School Meals and qualifying for 30 hours of funding for Nursery provision, many pupils currently enrolled at our school may now be entitled to one of these funding allocations.

We will be issuing letters to families who are currently not in receipt of the above, asking you to complete the registration for the identified funding option your child/ren maybe eligible for. Thank you so much in advance for your help in completing this.

This funding allows us to increase additional staffing hours to run booster groups, and an exciting range of extended day activities, that benefit our school and your child, and your cooperation is greatly appreciated at this difficult time for school budgets.

  • If you should have any queries with regards to the letter sent to you, please contact Mrs Deary or the school office.

Preschool:

As part of our “We’re Going on a Bear Hunt” story experience, Preschool took part in a fun and messy art activity together. They stepped into brown paint and then walked along a long sheet of paper, creating a trail of footprints, just like the squelchy mud in the story! The children thoroughly enjoyed the shared experience, laughing and exploring as they moved across the paper and watched the patterns appear beneath their feet. This activity supported sensory exploration, encouraged cooperation, and helped develop early creativity and confidence while connecting meaningfully to our story.

Nursery:

This week, Nursery have continued exploring our story ‘Aaarrgghh Spider’. The children have been retelling the story using a story map, helping them understand the beginning, middle and end. They have enjoyed talking about the characters, thinking about the problem in the story and how it ends. In Numeracy, we have been learning about 2D shapes. The children have been using a range of shapes to create their own pictures, paying close attention to detail. They have also been experimenting with how shapes can be combined to make new ones, showing great curiosity and creativity in their learning.

Reception:

Reception have been developing their observational skills through still life painting, transforming real-life flowers and plants into colourful 2D shapes and creative artworks. They have been exploring the texture, shape and colour of plants through their artwork, while also experiencing them using their senses of touch and smell. Through carefully looking, noticing details and experimenting with different ways to represent what they see, the children are building confidence in their mark-making and artistic expression. The class is full of budding artists, who are developing both their creativity and communication skills as they see, study, describe and create.

Year 1:

This week in Art, Year 1 began exploring the exciting world of 3D sculpture by creating their own colourful birds! Using a range of materials, textures, and collage techniques, the children carefully built and decorated their sculptures, thinking about shape, balance, and pattern. We loved seeing their creativity shine through in every unique design – no two birds were the same! The birds are not quite finished yet, though! Next week, the children will be adding the final touches, including beaks, tails, and any other magical details they feel their creations need. We cannot wait to see the finished flock take flight!

Year 2:

In RE this week, Year 2 explored the story of Rama and Sita, an important story for Sanatanis. The children listened carefully to the story and discussed the key events and characters. We thought deeply about why people might feel jealous, how Rama and Sita may have felt at different points in the story, and the important messages the story teaches us about right and wrong. The children then worked in groups to act out the story, taking on the roles of Rama, Sita, the demon king Ravana and Hanuman. They really enjoyed bringing the characters to life and thinking about their actions and choices. To finish, we took part in a whole-class “hot seating” activity, where the children asked thoughtful questions to each character. This helped them to further understand the story and explore different perspectives.

Year 3:

Year 3 have really enjoyed starting a new Maths unit about money! There’s some tricky concepts to learn: 100p makes £1, how to add pence over 100, and then to convert from pence to pounds. We have also been working hard on our persuasive writing unit and have finished these this week. We will be sharing some of these at our assembly. We had a lot of fun writing in the perspective of a piece of stationery in our class. We also covered some very important topics in PSHE this week. We spoke about resolving conflict between friends and using the solve it together technique. We also looked into the dangers of the online world and gaming, and how to keep ourselves safe online.

Year 4:

Besides preparing for our class assembly, Year 4 have continued to show enthusiasm across their learning. In Maths, we have been exploring decimals to hundredths and rounding to the nearest whole number, building confidence with these key skills. For Reading, pupils took on the roles of farmers from The Iron Man, working together to create and present deterrent plans in a “town hall” setting, and in Writing, we’ve written approaching threat narratives inspired by the story, using descriptive language and similes to build suspense. In RE, we have continued learning about Judaism and covenants, while Science has got us investigating open and closed electrical circuits.

Year 5:

What a brilliant week of learning for Year 5. In Writing, we began planning our exciting survival narrative based on our chosen adventures and the challenging scenery we might encounter, such as sandstorms, snow mountains and treacherous rivers. We then used our plans to write and publish our finished narratives. In Maths, we started our new shape unit, where we explored angles and classified the different types using our knowledge of how many degrees each angle measures. In Science, we continued learning about life cycles and compared amphibians with butterflies, noticing the similarities in their metamorphosis. In RE, we explored Buddha’s teachings, the Dhamma, and discussed how it helped Buddhists to understand and overcome suffering. In PSHE, we continued our learning about online safety and discussed how we can all stay safe when using the internet.

Year 6:

As theologians this week, Year 6 continued exploring our RE enquiry question: Is Christianity still a strong religion over 2000 years after Jesus was on Earth? In this lesson, the class focused on the influence of Christianity through festivals and celebrations. They discussed a range of festivals celebrated in the UK and identified which ones are rooted in Christianity, such as Christmas, Easter, Harvest Festival and Advent. They considered why these celebrations are still important today and how they influence communities, traditions and personal actions. Working in pairs and groups, they researched different Christian festivals and created fact files to explain their meaning and origins. Through discussion and reflection, they explored how festivals can bring people together and help create a sense of belonging and community.