School Newsletter : 20 June 2025
| Issue 33 | Summer 2 | Week 3 |
Out and About…….

Monday 16th June | Itsu Community Kitchen Workshop:
Year 3 had an amazing visit from the Itsu Community Kitchen, who came and delivered a workshop on how to make Superpower Soba Noodles! We learnt how to chop vegetables safely, use a spiralizer, grate carrots and then assemble a nutritious and delicious meal. We loved learning new kitchen skills that we can use to help make a family meal. It was also very exciting to receive a special bag with the remainder of the recipe’s ingredients, to allow us to finish this meal at home – YUM😋

Tuesday 17th June | Year 1 Trip to Kew Gardens:
Year 1 had a very exciting adventure on their trip to Kew Gardens in Richmond., where they explored all the different types of plants the garden had to offer. We saw some big cat fish in the pond, lots of buzzing bees and beautiful birds. We enjoyed participating in a workshop learning about the different types of trees from all over the world. We enjoyed a lovely picnic lunch and a some time in the playground. It was a wonderful day out learning and enjoying the sunshine!

Wednesday 18th June | Year 6 Trip Mud Larking in Wapping:
Year 6 enjoyed a hands-on day at the River Thames foreshore in Wapping. This was a part of our project, ‘Moving Away Your Dust‘ where we experienced mud larking! We were amazed at what we found, Victorian clay smoking pipes, pottery and lots of different types of animal bones. We discussed how each of the items may have ended up there and how these objects created an historical timeline of life in and around the Thames. We travelled to and from the venue on the Thames Clipper, which allowed us to take in the some of London’s most iconic landmarks along the way.
We would like to extend a HUGE thank you to Peter Daniels, from Westminster Archives, who leads this amazing project and who attended with us on the day; highlighting and testing us on our historical knowledge of key people and events as we walked to and from school and throughout the day! Thank you also to the St. Vincent Ward Fund, whose generous support facilitated and funded this important set of workshops and excursion, ensuring a new generation of children continue to learn about the rich tapestry of life that is part of our local community and capital city’s history.

Swimming Lessons: Years 3 – 6

We are delighted to announce that swimming lessons will begin again this term, for pupils in Years 3 to 6. They will take place Monday, Wednesday and Friday each week.
- Year 5: Weeks beginning 23rd and 30th June (no swimming on Friday 27th June as it is an INSET day)
- Year 6: Weeks beginning 7th and 14th July
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.
All swimming lessons will take part at the Queen Mother’s 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.
Pupils will swim on Monday, Wednesday & Fridays of each week. They will walk to and from the pools with their class teacher and Mr Raheem.
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.
Burdett-Coutts Summer Fair
Our next school fundraising event will be the Summer Fair, which will take place on Saturday 12th July from 12:00 until 4:00 pm.
There’ll be an exciting range of stalls including games, bouncy castle plus food and refreshments available to purchase on the day, and we’re very much looking forward to welcoming everyone!
If you would like to provide a food plate (similar to what we did at our recent International Evening), please inform the office via email or please come in person to speak to Ms Ilhan.
All donations and provision of food items will be passed onto our school’s PTA The Friends of Burdett-Coutts.
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.
After School Cubs (ASC):
Pupils who do not bring in their PE kit to change into for ASC clubs will not be able to participate in theirASC sports lesson. They will be allocated to a different club on these occasions.
We thank you in advance in supporting our school’s uniform policies.
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, just before we look forward to the long summer holidays ☀️
Meeting dates:
- Wednesday 25 June 2025
- Wednesday 09 July 2025
All meetings are in the Ground Floor Hall @ 9 – 10am
Upcoming Events

June:
- Monday 23rd June: Year 2 trip to The Garden Museum
- Wednesday 25th June: Choir Performing at the Pimlico Music Foundation Concert 19:00 – 20:00. Parents who are not attending need to collect their child/ren from St. Gabriels Church at 20:00 (please see permission letter sent home already for further details)
- Friday 27th June: Whole School INSET Day SCHOOL CLOSED TO ALL PUPILS
July:
- Tuesday 1st July: Almshouse Founders Day Service @ 14:30 – 15:15
- Tuesday 1st July: Y6 Trip to Rochester Cathedral
- Wednesday 2nd July: Saatchi Gallery Trip with a group of selected pupils from KS2.
- Thursday 3rd July: Year 5 Trip to Science Museum to view the Space Exhibition
- Wednesday 9th July: Nursery Open Afternoon and Parent Meeting for all parents of new pupils starting and those continuing in Nursery in September 2025: 14:30 – 15:30
- 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 are available from September 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:

Preschool have started a new book “Hooray for Fish“. The children practiced their mark-making skills exploring patternmaking on fish with spots and stripes. They used their fine motor and hand eye coordination skills to scoop and pinch fish from water. They’re really loving exploring all things sea creatures and the ocean.
Nursery:

Nursery have started a new story ‘Anna Hibiscus’ Song’, by Atinuke. The children learned about African culture and enjoyed listening to traditional African music. They had fun talking about life in Africa and how music is used to express joy. We made colourful African inspired necklaces using patterns and shapes, which everyone was very proud of!
Reception:

Reception’s little mathematicians have been exploring the concept of sharing in Maths. Using practical resources like cubes, blocks, counters, and other manipulatives, the children have been working hard to share amounts equally between groups. They’ve been learning that sharing means everyone gets the same, and that sometimes, things don’t always divide up perfectly! Through hands-on activities, the children have begun to recognise when a group is fair or unfair, and they’ve loved the challenge of making things equal. These early experiences with division lay the groundwork for deeper mathematical understanding as they grow. It’s been fantastic to see them reasoning, problem-solving, and working together with such enthusiasm.
Year 1:

Year 1 have been busy becoming authors and creative story tellers! They have been learning how to create their very own stories, thinking carefully about the characters, setting, problems and solutions; which they really enjoyed sharing with each other. In Maths, our focus has been on ordinal numbers. The children have enjoyed exploring position words like 1st, 2nd, 3rd and beyond.
Year 2:

As Theologians this week, Year 2 have been learning about Judaism and exploring the question: Is Shabbat important to Jewish children? We discussed how, just like many of us may have a favourite day of the week to rest or enjoy special activities, for Jewish people, Shabbat is a very special time to rest, reflect and spend time with family. Pupils learnt that Shabbat begins at sunset on Friday and lasts for 25 hours, honouring the commandment God gave in the Ten Commandments to keep the Sabbath holy. We also revisited the Creation Story from the Torah, learning how God created the world in six days and rested on the seventh. The children reflected on how beautiful the world is and discussed how we can all help take care of it. To finish, they created beautiful collages representing different days of creation and shared their ideas with their friends.
Year 3:

This week Year 3 started a new writing topic based on the book ‘Leon and the Place Between‘. We have looked at different circus performers and are writing metaphors about them, adding a new page to the story. Next week, we will publish these using mixed media. In Maths, we are looking at different types of lines, symmetry, and shapes; then applying this knowledge to what we have learnt so far about right, acute and obtuse angles.
Year 4:

Year 4 are continuing with the class story, The Butterfly Lion, and have started a new writing task, which is a descriptive narrative from the perspective of the lion! Our half-termly class book display is coming together, with the children making butterflies for the board. In Science, we’ve started to look at how vibrations cause sound, and the parts of the ear that help us to hear, especially the eardrum. Finally, a huge well done for some amazing swimming this week! Our time at the pool has come to an end, but the children have had an absolute blast. We’re sure they would love to visit again with friends and family to show off their newfound skills before they return for more lessons this time next year!
Year 5:

Year 5 have had a great week of learning, diving into their topics. Pupils have been doing extremely well with decimals, and how to solve decimal problems using a variety of operations. It’s been great to see them taking on challenges in their Maths and really enjoying it! We’ve explored the phases of the moon this week, looking at their scientific names during the 28 day lunar cycle, and learning how night and day are related to the moon.
Year 6:

We have been reading Pig Heart Boy by Malorie Blackman, about a boy who receives a heart transplant from a pig. As part of our work on this book, we have been writing a debate exploring the pros and cons of organ transplantation. This has helped us understand the ethical, medical, and emotional issues involved. We looked at different viewpoints, considered arguments for and against transplants, especially using animal organs and developed our own opinions based on what we have learnt.