school Newsletter : 16 October 2026

We are delighted to invite all our Nursery and Reception parents and carers to a special EYFS workshop on Wednesday 21st October at 9am.

This session will explore our Early Years curriculum, focusing on practical ways to support early reading, writing, and mark-making skills at home. We will demonstrate how we use Google Classroom as a digital floorbook – giving you a wonderful, live window into the learning taking place at school!

This is a fantastic opportunity to gather easy, actionable strategies to foster a love of reading at home and see exactly what learning looks like in our classrooms.

We look forward to seeing you there and partnering together to support your child’s learning and development!

Our Autumn term Parent Teacher Meetings take place next week on Thursday 22nd October 2026 for all classes. Year 1 will also offer some appointments on Wednesday 21st October.

We look forward to welcoming you and sharing your child’s progress.

You can book online via the Arbor App.

Each appointment lasts 15 minutes, with the first five minutes set aside for you to look through, discuss and comment on your child’s work before meeting with their class teacher.

Please complete the feedback slip provided before your discussion with the teacher.

If you need any help booking through the Arbor App, please contact the school office team, who will be happy to help.

Cooking Clubs

This half term, children across our EYFS, KS1 and KS2 Cooking Clubs have been busy developing their culinary skills, creating a delicious variety of sweet and savoury treats, including flapjacks, cheese scones, brownies and pizza.

Each week has brought a new recipe and plenty of hands-on learning. From measuring and mixing ingredients to cutting and slicing safely, the children have developed important cooking skills while learning about food hygiene and keeping their workspaces clean.

It has been wonderful to see their confidence grow as they follow recipes, work together and take pride in their creations. Most importantly, everyone has had great fun trying new things and enjoying the delicious results of their hard work!

Please do not include:

• Crisps, sweets or chocolate bars
• Fizzy or sugary drinks, including juice drinks such as Capri-Sun or Fruit Shoot
• Probiotic drinks such as Actimel, Yakult or kefir drinks
• Desserts in excess of the guidance above
• Any nut products, including chocolate spreads containing nuts

School Trips and Packed Lunches

Packed lunches for school trips should also be healthy and balanced, following the guidance above. However, one small packet of crisps may be included on a school trip, whether the lunch is provided from home or by school.

All other items listed above as unsuitable should not be included in trip packed lunches. A balanced lunch will help pupils stay focused and energised throughout the day.

Thank you for your support in helping us encourage healthy habits and keep our whole school community safe.

October:

• Monday 19th October: All class projects are due and need to be brought into school. These will be on display in the first floor hall for parents and pupils to view during Parents Evening on Thursday 22nd October.
• Thursday 22nd: Parents Evening. Please sign up via the Arbor App
• Friday 23rd: INSET day. School CLOSED to pupils.
• Monday 26th–Friday 30th: October half term.

November:

• Monday 2nd: Go Create Workshop for Year 5 (1/6). In school.
• Thursday 5th: Year 4 ITSU Youth Kitchen Program (Session 1/5). In school.
• Friday 6th: Year 6 Trip to Westminster Abbey (Not Forgotten Project). Pupils will have lunch before they leave.
• Monday 9th: Go Create Workshop for Year 5 (2/6). In school.
• Wednesday 11th: Remembrance Service. Families are warmly invited to join us for this service. Please arrive at the black school gates for entry to the playground (outdoor service; weather permitting), at 10:40.

November (continued):

• Thursday 12th: Year  4. ITSU Youth Kitchen Program (Session 2/5). In school.
• Thursday 12th: Children in Need. Non-unifom day. More information to follow.
• Friday 13th: Y6 Trip to the Royal Albert Hall 13:00 – 17:00. More information to follow.
• Monday 16th – Friday 20th: Anti – Bullying Week. More information to follow.
• Monday 16th: Odd Socks Day
• Thursday 12th: Year 4 ITSU Youth Kitchen Program (Session 3/5). In school.
• Thursday 19th: BC Choir & Westminster Music Partnership Filming Session. The Manoukian Music Centre,  15:00 – 16:30. More information to follow.
• Monday 23rd: Go Create Workshop for Year 5 (3/6). In school.
• Thursday 26th: Year 6 Moving the Dust Away Musical Show at Kensington Town Hall. 09:30 – 14:00. More information to follow.
• Thursday 26th: Year 4 ITSU Youth Kitchen Program (Session 4/5). In school.
• Friday 27th: INSET DAY. School CLOSED to all pupils

Pupils are welcome to continue to wear their school summer uniform until the end of September. However, as the weather changes to more cooler and wetter patterns, all pupils will need to be wearing the Autumn/Winter School Uniform from the beginning of October, or sooner if they wish.

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  Autumn/Winter term uniform options for pupils in Nursery to Year 6 are:

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, and on time, every day.

This week, Preschool continued exploring their fruit topic by making delicious banana bread! Everyone took turns adding ingredients, mixing and mashing bananas, and the children were very proud of their finished creations. We certainly have some star bakers!

Our colour of the week was orange, and the children enjoyed spotting orange objects around the classroom. Why not continue the fun with a colour hunt at home? The children have also been developing their counting skills through songs at carpet time, starting with five objects and counting how many remain as each is taken away.

Ms Rose’s ‘What’s in the Bag?’ remains a favourite end-of-day activity. The children love choosing an object, singing its song and learning the accompanying Makaton signs. They are particularly good at signing ‘Jonny Jonny’!

Nursery began the week with school photo day, arriving in their smartest clothes and bringing their biggest smiles! The children have also been introduced to their new core text, LOST. Inspired by the story, they decided to transform their role-play area into a busy train station to help the lost bear find his way home. In maths, the children explored colour, size and shape patterns, learning to identify what comes next and continue sequences. The week ended on a musical note, with everyone enjoying learning to play the xylophones with Mr Carden!

This week, Reception have been developing their independent writing skills, using their phonics knowledge and red words, such as ‘the’, to write sentences. They have been practising capital letters, finger spaces and checking that their sentences make sense, building confidence as young writers. The children also enjoyed making their own playdough, following instructions and observing how the ingredients came together. This fun, hands-on activity also helped strengthen their fingers and develop the fine motor skills needed for writing.

This week, Year 1 became scientists on a very important mission: rescuing frozen alien critters! As part of their science learning about materials, the children worked in pairs to free tiny aliens trapped inside ice cubes. They investigated whether salt or room-temperature water would melt the ice fastest, making predictions and observing the results.

There was plenty of excitement, teamwork and enthusiastic cheering as the rescue mission got underway! To everyone’s surprise, room-temperature water won! We are delighted to report that all critters were successfully rescued, no aliens were harmed and everyone was safely returned to our Science teacher! A wonderfully fun, hands-on investigation full of curiosity and discovery.

This week, Year 6 have been working as historians, exploring the important roles animals played during the First World War. The pupils investigated how horses, dogs, pigeons, camels and even elephants supported soldiers, from transporting supplies and delivering messages to providing companionship in the trenches.

They also discovered the remarkable story of Sergeant Stubby, a dog who became famous for his bravery while serving alongside American soldiers. They learnt how he helped warn troops of gas attacks and locate wounded soldiers, earning recognition for his courage and loyalty.

Using a range of historical sources, they conducted their own research into the contributions animals made during the war. They also considered the advantages and disadvantages of using animals in such difficult and dangerous conditions.