School Newsletter : 5 September 2025
| Issue 1 | Autumn 1 | Week 1 |
Welcome Back
A very warm welcome back to all our pupils, parents and staff.
The weather may not have been as great for the start of the new term, however we have had an EXCELLENT start to the new academic year. It is wonderful to see our school filled once again with energy, laughter, fun and curiosity for learning from all our pupils.
We are delighted to extend the warmest of welcomes to the many new pupils and families who have joined us this term. We look forward to meeting and getting to know you across the rest of this term.
All classes across the school have settled in brilliantly, with the pupils getting to know each other, as well as their new teachers and classrooms.
All new starters to Nursery and Reception Classes have been completed across this week, and it has been a hive of activity down in the Early Years as they have explored and familiarised themselves with their many learning and play spaces!
Pupils in Years 1 – 6 have also had a busy start to their curriculum learning, with many educational trips and visits planned for many classes over the next few weeks.
We hope you’ll find the information in this newsletter useful but if you have any questions, please feel free to pop into the school office and we will try our best to help you.
School & PE Uniform:
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 area black shoes, and not trainers.
The Autumn/Winter term uniform options for pupils in Nursery to Year 6 are:
Girls:
- Dark grey trousers, skirt or skort
- Long-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)
- Blazer (Year 6 only)
- Plain black shoes (not trainers)
Boys:
- Dark grey shorts or trousers
- Long-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)
- 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.
Wrap Around Provision: Autumn 2025
There is high demand for Breakfast Club and After School places this term.
Should you still require places for your child/ren in any of our wrap-around clubs, please complete an application form, available to collect from the school office.
We will try our very best to accommodate your request. If there are no spaces available, you will be added to a waiting list in order of when you’ve applied.
Autumn Term Wrap-Around Club Dates:
- Breakfast Club @ 07:45 – 08:45: Started on Tuesday 2nd September and finish on Friday 19th December.
- Extended School Day Clubs @ 15:30 – 16:30: These will start on Monday 15th September and finish on Friday 12th December (see further information below)
- After School Club @ 15:30 – 18:00: Started on Tuesday 2nd September and finish on Thursday 18th December.
Breakfast Club (07:45 – 08:45):
- Please ensure your child is on time for breakfast club.
- The final service time is 08:25, to ensure the children have time to eat without rushing (eg: 15 mins) before they go to their classes at 08:40.
Extended School Day Club (15:30 – 16:30):
- Menus will be sent home on Monday 8th September, with clubs starting week beginning the 15th September.
- Sign-up for clubs will take place from 08:00 – 09:30 on Tuesday 9th & Wednesday 10th September.
- You must have completed the clubs slip before you arrive and have the correct money. You are not able to sign up without your child’s slip which is attached to the letter.
Booster/Intervention Clubs (15:30 – 16:30):
- These will also begin the week beginning the 15th September, with letters to applicable pupils being sent home the week beginning 8th September.
After-School Club Collection Times (15:30 – 18:00):
- Please make sure that your child is collected by 18:00 (6pm) each day that they are enrolled for this club.
- If you’re late collecting your child/ren, a late fee of £5 for every 5 minutes will be payable.
- If you are running late, please call the school office before 18:00 (6pm) to inform staff
Biscuits Bytes
Woof….
Welcome back everyone! I hope you all had a wonderful summer break, having fun visiting friends and relatives, and maybe even exploring new places near and far!
My summer was great. I had a great time meeting up with my other doggy friends, cooling off in streams and pools when the weather was really warm. I also enjoyed lazing about in the garden on the warm summer afternoons, as that’s what holidays are all about!
I have really missed you all over the summer, and I was so excited seeing you all again last week. I think I have met all the new children who have joined us so far (which has been lovely as I got so many pats and some cuddles!), and can’t wait to meet our new Preschoolers who are starting next this week.
Of course it was fantastic to have hugs with all my friends from last year as well. Some of you have grown so much!
Hope you have had a lovely weekend, and can’t wait to see you all tomorrow!
Love Biscuit x
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.
Upcoming dates:
- Keep an eye out in next weeks newsletter for Autumn 2025 dates & events!
Upcoming Events
September:
- Monday 8th Sept: Extended School Day menus come home.
- Monday 8th – Thursday 11th Sept: School starts for NEW Preschool pupils.
- Tuesday 9th & Wednesday 10th Sept: Sign-ups open for Extended School Day from 08:00 – 09:30 and 15:00 – 16:30. Last sign up is 16:30 on Wednesday 10th Sept.
- Monday 15th Sept: Extended School Day Clubs and Booster/Intervention Groups start @ 15:30 – 16:30
- Friday 19th Sept: Jeans for Genes Non-Uniform Day. More information to follow.
- Wednesday 24th Sept: MacMillan Coffee Morning in the Ground Floor Hall – all welcome. More information to follow.
- Monday 29th Sept: Children’s Christmas Card designs sent home.
October:
- Friday 3rd Oct: Midday (12:00) deadline for children’s Christmas Card orders to be returned to school.
- Friday 10th Oct: Pupils Flu Vaccinations @ 09:30 – 10:30.
- Friday 24th Oct: INSET Day. School CLOSED to pupils.
- Monday 27th – Friday 31st Oct: Half Term holidays
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:
Preschool, Nursery & Reception Admissions
We currently have the following availability for places in our Early Years provision from September 2025:
- Reception class: We have 2 places available.
- Nursery Class (3-year olds): 4 full-time places and 2 part-time (afternoon) places available
- Preschool (2-year olds): 2 full-time places and 2 part-time (afternoon) places available
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 enjoyed a lovely first week, meeting up with all their friends from last term and exploring our new classroom setting. We discussed the changes in the weather and the appropriate clothing to wear while the days start to become cooler. We read Leaf Man, an engaging book about wind, leaves and autumn. Following on from this story, children enjoyed creating their own leaf man using their hands and paint, developing both their sensory and creative skills. We are looking forward to welcoming new friends to our class next week.
Nursery:
Nursery’s first week back has been such a blast! The children have enjoyed meeting new friends, reconnecting with familiar faces, and settling into their new routines. There’s been so much excitement as they explored their classroom, discovered new activities, and shared lots of laughter together. We’ve loved seeing their curiosity shine as they tried out different toys and started learning about working and playing as a team. What a wonderful start to the year, we can’t wait to see what the next few weeks bring!
Reception:
What a truly wonderful start to the year – it has been an absolute joy to begin forming genuine connections with each of our Reception children. We feel incredibly honoured and privileged to share this special journey with you all. Our classroom was full of energy and excitement from the get go. The children are gently settling into routines and exploring their new environment, learning where things are around the school. During our mat sessions, we’ve been coming together as a whole group to sing our morning and afternoon songs, enjoy stories, and learn each other’s names through songs and games. We can’t wait to see all the learning, laughter, and friendships that unfold in the weeks to come.
Year 1:
Year 1 have settled beautifully into their first week, and are already impressing us with their magical mathematician brains! This week, the children have been exploring sorting and classifying, an important skill that helps them move from using concrete resources to thinking more abstractly about numbers and patterns. They have sorted cubes by colour, built with 3D shapes, and even organised money — discovering how maths is all around us. Their curiosity, focus, and enthusiasm are setting the stage for a wonderful year of learning.
Year 2:
What a fantastic first week we have had in Year 2! The children have settled in beautifully, shown real enthusiasm for their learning, and have already started to create a classroom filled with kindness, curiosity and laughter. One of our highlights this week was creating our Class Charter. Together, we discussed what makes a classroom feel safe, happy, and fair, and the children came up with thoughtful ideas about how we can respect and support one another.
Year 3:
Welcome back to the new school year! Year 3 have some fantastic learning opportunities ahead of them. We’re very proud of how settled and focused the children have been, with their learning so far this week. We have begun our PSHE topic about Being Me, and completed goal setting yesterday afternoon. We have a lot of great goals in mind and are determined to achieve them. We enjoyed writing about our summer holidays yesterday, and will be publishing these on artwork later in the week. We even read about being a bucket filler! Ask your child what this means and how to be one.
Year 4:
Welcome to all parents, carers and pupils for the start of an exciting new school year in Year 4! The entire class has made a wonderful start, coming in with enthusiasm and high expectations for the term ahead. Together, pupils have brainstormed and written their own Class Charter, setting out the rules and values to help them to be a supportive, respectful and hard-working team. We are really looking forward to building on this positive start and to sharing their learning journey with you over the coming weeks.
Year 5:
We ‘ve had a fantastic start to Year 5! This week, we settled into our classroom and set our class expectation together, ready for an exciting year ahead. In Maths, we began exploring place value with numbers up to 100 000, showing great focus and curiosity. For our Writing unit, we were introduced to Beowulf by Michael Morpurgo, and we can’t wait to dive deeper into this legendary story.
We also spent time getting to know one another even more by sharing our hobbies and how we feel about school, helping build a positive and supportive classroom community. To top it off, we created wonderful self-portraits to help brighten up our walls. It’s been a busy and inspiring first week, and we’re looking forward to everything the rest of the year has in store.
Year 6:
In Year 6, we have been thinking about what it means to be part of our class community. Together, we discussed our expectations for the year ahead – being respectful, kind and inclusive, responsible, honest, safe and true to ourselves – so that we can all learn, achieve and have fun together. We explored how we want our classroom to feel and created our Class Charter, a set of shared agreements that we will carry with us throughout the year.
We also read Maybe by Kobi Yamada, a beautifully illustrated story about the endless potential in each of us. One line that resonated strongly was “You are the only you there has ever been or ever will be”, reminding us of our distinctiveness and the infinite possibilities ahead. Another thought-provoking line was “Maybe you are here to shine a light into places that have been dark far too long”, which encouraged the children to think about the positive impact they can have on others.
The children reflected on the parts of the book that spoke to them most, then created their own “This is Me” profiles. Alongside their photos, they wrote about their goals for Year 6, something they are proud of and what makes them unique. We then created a display as a daily reminder of the incredible potential in each of them.