BC Newsletter Template (Yvonne)
| Issue 28 | Summer 1 | Week 3 |
Run Kids Run 2025
We are thrilled to announce that once again, we have registered to participate in Run Kids Run on Sunday 8th 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.
Time to get training and fundraising!
Our in-school (for pupils only) running club as part of the Summer Term Extended School Day Menu starts next Wednesday 30th April.
Pupils will train each week, with 2 school staff and volunteers from Ranelagh Harriers, who are once again generously donating their time and expertise in supporting our pupils develop their enjoyment for running.
Please note that if pupils do not wish to join the weekly in-school running club, they can still register to participate in the event on the 8th June. EVERYONE IS WELCOME!
What are we fundraising for?
After a successful fundraising campaign for the EYFS and KS1 pupils last year, the playground seating has been purchased and the sandpit is being installed this May.
Therefore our 2025 project focus is for our KS2 pupils, to build a dedicated comfortable seating area (similar to the one in the KS1 playground) as well age appropriate creative, construction and games based resources.
This will include sensory planters, which will support and develop the work undertaken by our Gardening Club.
We need to raise £8300 for this project. All donations can be made at:
You can seek sponsorship from as many friends, family & neighbours as possible, as every donation will go towards raising funds for our school.
Who can run?
Everyone! 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.
All you need to do is register your child using this registration link:
You can register up to 4 runners on one form and older siblings can also take part (please select the 2 km Y5 & Y6 option).
On Sunday 8th June, bring your child/ren to Battersea Park from 2 – 4pm. The children will run their races and on completion, will receive a medal and snack at this fun family day out.
Our Corporate Sponsor:
In 2024, when we were selected to join this wonderful initiative, we were partnered with OPLM (Old Park Lane Management).
Like us, they are excited to be working in collaboration with our school community to bring about positive changes, through a vibrant and ambitious partnership for the benefit of the young people and wider groups who live in our local community.
OPLM will be supporting us with various whole-school projects, starting with School Council visits to their Millbank construction site, and a collaborative art project to design images for the hoarding, plus other opportunities for our pupils’ artwork to take centre stage!
Their representatives will be leading a whole-school assembly before the Easter break, where they will introduce themselves, their roles, industry and the construction project they’re currently working. We will keep you updated, as projects and visits develop and take place.
Since 2020, Run Kids Run have:
- Raised over £500k to enrich the education provision
- Rallied 6,700 children & their families to run
- Supported 44 schools across 7 London boroughs
- Mobilised 350 volunteers
All funds raised will be donated directly to our school:
- Make your donation via the Friends of Burdett-Coutts Just Giving page @ https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/runbcrun2025
- You can seek sponsorship from as many friends, family & neighbours as possible, as every donation will go towards raising funds for our school
Other fundraising events:
- 17th May: International Evening
- 6th July: Summer Fair
Run Kids Run – Just Giving Page!
A HUGE thank you to all those who have already generously donated to our Just Giving Fundraising Page for the Run Kids Run Event.
We have over 40 pupils signed up for this event so far, and we are happy to have more enrol! Please inform the school office if you would like to join the running club (there is an extended school day club fee) and also sign up for the actual Run Kids Run Event on the 8th June, using the link above.
Remember you are able to sign up for the Run Kids Run Event without joining the school running club if preferred.
So please share our Just Giving Link with as many friends and family as possible to sponsor either your child or others who maybe competing in this wonderful event.
Sleep Workshop
A very successful drop in session was held this week for those parents who were able to attend the sleep workshop led by our Educational Psychologist Alexander Haswell; which focused in particular on children who maybe struggling with focus (ADHD type difficulties), memory or behaviour.
Keep an eye out, for a further workshops being provided which will build on this session, which provided many tips and advice for those who attended.
Year 6 SAT’s Week
Next week is Year 6 SAT’s week, an important week for our Year 6 pupils have they have the opportunity to demonstrate their learning across KeyStage 2.
To help us ensure optimal learning conditions whist these exams are taking place each morning, we would ask that all pupils are in school on time, to ensure that corridors etc are quiet once the exams begin each morning.
Thank you for your support during this week, and wishing the best of luck to all our Year 6 pupils! (Remember to have a restful weekend and an early night on Sunday!)
VE Day at Burdett-Coutts – A Wonderful Day of Celebration and Remembrance
A wonderful day of reflection, celebration and remembrance was had across our school community, for the the 80th Anniversary of VE Day.
So many pupils and staff stepped into school dressed in wonderful 1940’s outfits, which really helped to bring the day to life! All pupils took part in an outdoor lunch with pupils in Years 2, 3 and 5 also participating in a local walk to take in the sights and sounds of celebrations taking part in Westminster.
We walked down Victoria Street to Westminster Abbey where we saw many guests arriving for the Remembrance Service that was being held there; it was wonderful to see a range of guests arriving including service personnel past and present who were dressed in their very smart uniforms, many with medals which acknowledged their service and achievements within their given service.
We then made our way along Whitehall, stopping to observe the Cenotaph which is draped in Union Jack Flags for this period of Remembrance. As we passed by Horse Guards Parade, we saw the two horses who where on duty, standing so still, looking very smartly presented along with their riders.
As we made out way down The Mall, which was lined with HUGE flags we crossed through St.James Park, which was a hive of activity as they prepared for the concert that was held their last night.
It was wonderful to see how this day was being celebrated by so many people across our local community. As we are fortunate to live and go to school in our nations capital, it was also very special to see some of key events being held to mark the occasion, as well as being part of the swell of crowds who had come from across the country and indeed the world to be part of this special occasion.
In the afternoon, we were delighted to welcome so many parents, extended family members and friends to join us as we sang songs from the 1940’s and a group of pupils and staff put their best foot forward, performing the the Lambeth Walk…… Well done!
Thank you to the FOBC (PTA) parents who organised an afternoon tea, which many parents, extended family members and friends were able to make the most of. Thanks also to Mr Carden for the wonderful music, singing and dancing lessons that have taken place over the last two weeks; and to all staff for their support in preparing and presenting this event – we can’t create these wonderful memorable events without you!
The wonderful Poppy installation we have displayed on the fence in our playground will continue to be displayed over the next week. Well done to all classes for the individuality shown in their interpretation of ‘A Poppy’, with many lovely creations using a range of materials and media to create our Poppy Montage. We hope you enjoy this installation as much as we do
VE Day at Burdett-Coutts – An Installation of Poppies and Remembrance
Over the past two weeks, classes have been taking time to talk and learn about the significant of VE Day, and why the nation is celebrating the 80th Anniversary of this important day. Read and see below some of the activities classes have been completing……
Reception:
In celebration of the 80th anniversary of VE Day, our Reception children created stunning watercolour poppies using a special technique with water, drawing ink, and handmade foam stamps. They carefully dripped red, orange, and yellow inks onto water-soaked paper, watching in awe as the colours bloomed like real petals. Once dry, they proudly stamped the centres in black, completing their beautiful tributes. This activity not only honoured a key moment in our history, but also reminded us how important it is to remember and reflect as global citizens growing up in modern Britain. We were so proud of the children’s care, creativity, and thoughtful conversations throughout.
Year 2:
Year 2 children have been learning about the significance of VE Day and why this year marks an especially important milestone – the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe. They explored the meaning behind the celebrations and the importance of remembering those who served and sacrificed. To mark the occasion, the children created beautiful poppies using coffee filters painted red with pipettes and paintbrushes to form the petals. They constructed stems from wire, carefully wrapped in green masking tape and pipe cleaners, and added crepe paper details to represent the pistil and stamens. These handmade poppies will form part of a collaborative installation in our playground, joining those made by other year groups in a striking and meaningful display of remembrance.
Year 3:
Year 3 made poppies with a painted sunset background, representing the sunset over the poppies in the fields of the battlegrounds. First, we painted the background with different shades of red and orange. Then, we cut out our poppies and stuck a black circle in the middle. Finally, we stuck the poppy onto the background and then cut out around the poppy.
Year 4:
To mark VE Day, Year 4 researched the significance of Poppies as a symbol of remembrance. The children made their own Poppy using tissue paper while learning about the importance of peace and freedom and honouring those who served during World War II. Together, Year 4 Remember, Respect and Celebrate.
Out and About……
On Tuesday, Year 3 started their week with a trip to Kew Gardens! We left at 9.30am and took the hour-long journey out to Kew via the tube. When we arrived, we wandered through the grounds and looked through the Palm House, where it was really hot and sticky but had lots of lovely plants that enjoy that type of environment. Afterwards, we headed to the playground and had lots of fun exploring the different zones! We had our lunch and then went to our workshop. In the workshop we acted as plant scientists and learnt all about pollination and the parts of a plant. We spent an hour outside looking at different parts of the environment, then we went inside and did three different activities: seed sorting, plant drawings, and using microscopes to look at the pollen of different flowers. We had an amazing day!!
School & PE Uniform:
As we start our new school term, we would like to remind everyone to ensure that all pupils are wearing the correct school uniform, including shoes, to school each day.
The summer term uniform options for all pupils in Nursery to Year 6 are:
Girls:
- Dark grey shorts, trousers, skirt or skort
- Short-sleeve white shirt (Years 3 – 6)
- White school logo polo shirt (Nursery – Year 2)
- Tie
- V-neck navy school logo jumper (Years 3 – 6)
- Navy logo school sweatshirt (Nursery to Year 2)
- Blazer (Year 6 only)
- Or dark blue & white gingham dress
- Plain black shoes
Boys:
- Dark grey shorts or trousers
- Short-sleeve white shirt (Years 3 – 6)
- White school logo polo shirt (Nursery – Year 2)
- Tie
- V-neck navy school logo jumper (Years 3 – 6)
- Navy school logo sweatshirt (Nursery to Year 2)
- Blazer (Year 6 only)
- Plain black shoes
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 summer term PE kit for all pupils from Year Reception to Year 6 consists of:
- A school navy logo t-shirt
- Navy shorts, leggings, tracksuit bottoms or skort (no logos etc)
- Plain black trainers
- A school logo sweatshirt (not v-neck jerseys for KS2 pupils. Sweatshirts are available from the school office).
Please note that from Monday 28th April, 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.
World Day for Cultural Diversity
To celebrate the rich tapestry of cultures in our school community, on Wednesday 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.
Let’s make the day vibrant, meaningful, and inclusive!
Pimlico Choir
Community Corner
Class Assemblies:
Fridays @ 9am, please be seated in the First Floor Hall by 9am:
- 16th May: Year 3
- 06th June: Year 2
- 20th June: Year 1
- 4th July: Year 4
- 11th July: Year Reception
- 18th July: Nursery & Preschool
PE Lessons
Please ensure that your child is wearing the correct PE kit to school each week on their allocated PE day.
Pupils not wearing their full PE kit will not be able to participate in lessons, and a note will be sent home indicating why they were not able to participate.
Please ensure that all items of school uniform are clearly labelled with either a permanent pen or label.
The full PE Kit for the Spring/Summer Term is as follows:
- Plain navy blue leggings or tracksuit bottoms or navy blue shorts or skort
- School navy blue PE t-shirt
- School navy blue sweatshirt (all year groups)*
- Plain black trainers (velcro or slip on if they can not do their laces).
* Kindly note: Pupils in KS2 (Years 3-6) must wear a school sweatshirt for PE lessons and not the v-neck jumper from their main school uniform (if needed).
Summer Term 1 – PE Lessons:
- Monday: Year 1
- Tuesday: Year 3
- Wednesday: Year 5
- Thursday: Year 6
- Friday: Reception, Years 4 & 2
Our PTA: The Friends of Burdett-Coutts
Welcome back to the new school year and a warm welcome to all our new families who have joined our school’s community this term.
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 School Summer Fair will be held on Saturday 12th July 2025, from 12:00 – 16:00!
We look forward to seeing you at this exciting event, as we all being to look forward to the long summer holidays ☀️
Meeting dates:
- Wednesday 17 May.2025
- Wednesday 11 June 2025
- Wednesday 25 June 2025
- Wednesday 09 July 2025
All meetings are in the Ground Floor Hall @ 9 – 10am
Upcoming Events
May:
- Monday 12th – 16th May: KS2 SAT’s Week
- Friday 16th May: Year 3 Class Assembly
- Monday 19th May: Year 6 Mudlarking Project starts in school.
- Tuesday 20th May: Go Live Theatre Workshops (for selected pupils)
- Wednesday 21st May: World Day for Cultural Diversity
- Monday 26th – Friday 30th May: May Half Term
June:
- Friday 6th June: Year 6 Trip to Docklands as part of the Mudlarking Project
- Sunday 8th June: Run Kids Run Event at Battersea Park from 14:00 – 16:00.
- Monday 9th June: Year 6 Transition to Secondary School Workshop, led by Chance UK.
June (continued):
- Monday 16th June: Year 3 ITSU Kitchen Project (in school).
- Friday 27th June: Whole School INSET Day SCHOOL CLOSED TO ALL PUPILS
July:
- Wednesday 9th July: Almshouse Founders Day Service @ 14:30 – 15:15
- Thursday 10th July: Go Live Theatre children attending Theatre Visit to see My Neighbour Totoro.
- Friday 11th July: Last Day of Extended School Day Enrichment Clubs and Boosters.
- Saturday 12th July: FOBC (PTA) Summer Fair, from 12:00 – 16:00 in the school playground.
- Tuesday 15th July: Whole School Sports Day at St. Vincents Square (more information to follow).
- Thursday 17th July: Running Club trip to Richmond Park for Cross Country Event, led by Ranelagh Harriers.
- Tuesday 22nd July: School ends for the Summer Holidays @ 13:30.
Term Dates 2025-2026
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 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 2024-2025
Please remember that holidays will not be authorised during the school term, and that all children should be in school (on time) every day.
Please refer to the table below for the term dates, including INSET days and Bank Holidays when the school will be closed to pupils.
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:
|
AUTUMN TERM 2024 |
||
|
Start of Term (for Years 1-6) |
Tuesday |
03 September 2024 |
|
To |
Thursay |
24 October 2024 |
|
Half Term |
Monday |
28 October 2024 |
|
|
Friday |
01 November 2024 |
|
Return on |
Monday |
04 November 2024 |
|
End of Term |
Friday |
20 December 2024 |
|
SPRING TERM 2025 |
||
|
Start of Term |
Tuesday |
07 January 2025 |
|
To |
Friday |
14 February 2025 |
|
Half Term |
Monday |
17 February 2025 |
|
|
Friday |
21 February 2025 |
|
Return on |
Monday |
24 February 2025 |
|
End of Term |
Thursday |
04 April 2025 |
|
SUMMER TERM 2025 |
||
|
Start of Term |
Monday |
22 April 2025 |
|
To |
Friday |
23 May 2025 |
|
Half Term |
Monday |
26 May 2025 |
|
|
Friday |
30 May 2025 |
|
Return on |
Monday |
02 June 2025 |
|
End of Term |
Friday |
22 July 2025 |
| INSET DAYS | ||
| Teaching & Learning: Curriculum & Safeguarding |
Monday |
02 September 2024 |
| Teaching & Learning TBC |
Friday |
25 October 2024 |
| Teaching & Learning: Wellbeing |
Friday |
29 November 2024 |
| Assessment & Pupil Progress |
Monday |
06 January 2025 |
| Teaching & Learning: Curriculum, Assessment & Pupil Progress |
Friday |
27 June 2025 |
|
|
|
|
| BANK HOLIDAYS (school closed) | ||
| May Bank Holiday |
Monday |
05 May 2025 |
Preschool, Nursery & Reception Admissions
We currently have the following availability for places in our Early Years provision:
Reception class:
- 2 places (from April 2025)
Nursery Class (3-year olds):
- A waiting list is now in place for full-time places. Please contact the office for information on how to join the waiting list, and also with regards to upcoming vacancies.
- Although we are currently full, we are in the process of extending our intake numbers, so please keep in touch.
Preschool (2-year olds)
- A waiting list is now in place for full-time places. Please contact the office for information on how to join the waiting list, and also with regards to any upcoming vacancies.
- Although we are currently full, we are in the process of extending our intake numbers, so please keep in touch.
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.
- To book your tour place, please call 0207 828 6790
- For further information about starting Reception at Burdett-Coutts, please click here >
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:
- Go to Settings and tap Screen Time.
- Tap Content & App Privacy Restrictions. If asked, enter your passcode.
- Tap iTunes & App Store Purchases.
- 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:
This week in Preschool the children explored their creativity by illustrating scenes from the story “We’re Going on a Bear Hunt”, from the long wavy grass to the thick oozy mud and the deep cold river. As we painted, we revisited the story’s rich language, talking about the different textures and sounds we might hear or feel on our adventure. The children loved describing the swishy swashy grass and the squelch squerch of the mud. It was a wonderful way to combine storytelling, sensory language and artistic expression.
Nursery:
In Nursery this week the children had a wonderful time making colourful pasta bracelets for friends and family. This creative activity was fun but also a great learning opportunity. We focused on creating repeating patterns, helping the children understand how patterns work and encouraging them to explore different colour combinations. As they threaded the pasta, they were also strengthening their fine motor skills and practising their concentration.
Reception:
This week in Reception, we’ve loved seeing the children putting their phonics skills into action by reading their books aloud to us. It’s been such a joy to watch their confidence grow as they use their sounds to decode words and share stories with pride. Moments like these show just how far they’ve come on their reading journeys. Well done, little readers!
Year 1:
Every Friday we are lucky enough to join Mr Carden in the ICT room to practice our technology skills. This week we have been having lots of fun on Busy Things. We have been diving into our Maths skills, practicing addition and subtraction. We have also worked on our knowledge of halves and quarters.
Year 2:
As Scientists this week, Year 2 children have been learning about living things and the seven life processes. This week, they were thrilled to see science come to life – literally – as they met some newly-hatched chicks! After observing the eggs in an incubator and learning about how animals grow and change, the children had the chance to hold the fluffy chicks themselves. We discussed how the chicks move, grow, breathe and respond to their environment – just like all living things. The children were incredibly gentle (even if the chicks weren’t quite as calm!) and it was a wonderfully hands-on way to bring our Science learning to life. It’s not every day your classroom gets this chirpy
Year 3:
Year 3 is working hard on our new topics for the summer term. We have begun learning all about money, which we are enjoying talking about and applying to real-life contexts. We have completed our chapter rewrite for Charlotte’s Web and have now moved on to newspaper articles!
In PSHE, we have just finished up the ‘Healthy Me’ unit and are now ready to begin our next unit focusing on ‘Relationships’. Our Jungle Book rehearsals are going so well and we are looking forward to sharing this show with you.
Year 4:
Year 4 have been busy budding electricians, exploring the world of electricity. Through hands-on experiments, the children investigated complete and incomplete circuits, discovering what makes a bulb light up or not. With wires, batteries and lots of curiosity, they tested their ideas and built working circuits, deepening their understanding of how electricity flows and powers the world around us.
Year 5:
Year 6:
In Science lessons this week we have learnt that we see things when light bounces off objects and enters our eyes. The light goes through the front part of the eye (called the cornea and lens) and is focused onto the back of the eye, on a part called the retina. The retina has special cells that turn the light into messages, which are sent to the brain through the optic nerve. The brain then puts all the messages together so we can see pictures of the world around us! We created a diagram to reflect this and will continue to learn about the functions of the eye over the course of the next few weeks.