School Newsletter : 12 September 2025

| Issue 1 | Autumn 1 | Week 2 |

Extended School Day & Booster Groups

We have had a wonderful and positive uptake of our Autumn menu of activities for the our Extended School Day Clubs. There was such a varied range on offer that even those unable to have their first choice easily found a happy alternative.

A reminder that all clubs will begin next week and will run from 15:30 – 16:30.

If your child is in one of the following clubs, they will need to bring to school, their PE kit and trainers to change into, before they start their club:

  • Multi-sports
  • Dodgeball
  • Football
  • Yoga & Pilates

A reminder that pupils are only allowed to wear their PE kit and trainers to school on their appointed class PE day. At all other times where their PE kit is required (such as at clubs), they will need to bring it to change into when required.

Reminders:

  • Please ensure that all school uniform and PE kit is named.
  • This will help us return any left items to the rightful owner.
  • Thank you for your support and understanding.

Secondary Transfer Meeting

Year 6 parents & carers are all invited to attend a Secondary Transfer Meeting on Tuesday 16th September from 09:00 -09:45 in the Ground Floor Hall.

This is an opportunity for you to ask questions about the admissions process for the next stage of your child(ren)’s education. You can also clarify any previous information that you may have received from Mrs Deary via email.

A reminder that:

  • All applicants must apply via www.eadmissions.org.uk.
  • The 2026 secondary schools on-time application closing date is Friday 31 October 2025

At this meeting, we will run through the full admissions process and provide further information around school visits that can be made in the coming weeks.

Where possible, we’ll assist with any queries about completing the online application process, including the uploading of supporting documentation.

Reminders:

  • If you have further questions after this meeting, please email the school office or make an appointment to see Mrs Deary.

Young Writers: Super Me Drawing Competition

Last year, pupils from Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 entered the Young Writers’ Super Me drawing competition, and we’re delighted to share that many of their entries have now been selected for publication!

The children were challenged to design their very own superheroes, celebrating creativity, imagination and the idea that we all have something special that makes us “super”.

Now in Years 1, 2 and 3, they have received their certificates of merit and bookmarks in recognition of their achievement, and their fantastic superhero artwork will appear in a full-colour book later this year!

We are so proud of their creativity and can’t wait to see their work in print — well done to all our young artists!

Reminders:

  • Parents, please complete the online permission form by 21st September so that your child’s superhero artwork can be published.

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 are 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.

Reading Books & Book Bags

Thank you to all pupils and parents who have ensured that they have book bags organised for the school year.

Looking after our school books:

1. Please do not put water bottles, clothing etc in your child’s book bag.

  • The purpose of the book bag is to protect the book from damage, keeping it flat and not allowing the pages to become damaged (ripped/torn or bent)
  • This ensures the book has a long life and is in good condition for all users across the years.

2. Please note that book bags need to come to school everyday.

  • The books taken home to read are also those used in either their daily reading or writing lessons (or both) in school.
  • If they do not bring their book bag (and book) into school each day, pupils will struggle in their daily lesson as there is only one book per pupil with no additional copies.

When do books come home?

1. Library Books: 

  • Monday 15th September: All classes will begin their class library sessions, so pupils will begin bringing home a library book each week.
  • These books are selected by the pupils and for younger pupils these are books to be shared and read with an adult.

2. Class Reading Books:

  • Monday 15th September: Pupils in Years 3 – 6 will bring home a reading book. This will be linked to the first of their writing genres this term.
  • Monday 22nd September: Pupils in KS1 will begin to bring their reading (Read Write Inc) books home
  • Reception pupils will bring home books linked to their reading programme (Read Write Inc), once they have met their assessment targets. This is usually after the October Half Term, and a letter will accompany this.

Reminders:

  • Thursday 9th October: An Early Reading Workshop for Reception parents & carers will be held from 09:00 – 10:00, ahead of Reception pupils starting their home reading.
  • Please note that books will not be sent home if your child does not have their book bag.
  • Please only use book bags for books and newsletters.

Jeans for Genes Day

MacMillan Fundraising Event and School Open Morning

On Thursday 25th September, we’d like to warmly welcome all parents and carers to an Open Morning at our school.

From 08:45 – 09:30, you’ll be able to visit your child(ren)’s class(es) by accompanying them in the morning. This is an opportunity to see your child’s learning environment, as well as to meet the teaching team working with your child’s class.

However, a gentle reminder that during this session, you child(ren)’s class teacher(s) will not be able to have any specific or detailed discussions about your child and/or their learning.

After this session, you’re all welcome to join in our coffee morning hosted by our wonderful school PTA – the Friends of Burdett-Coutts – from 09:00 to 10:00.

This a great opportunity for meet and get to know other parents, whilst also supporting an important fundraising event for MacMillan Cancer.

Thank you advance for your support with school events – we look forward to seeing you then.

Reminders:

  • If you need to meet with your child’s class teacher about a specific subject, please email the office so that an appointment can be made.
  • All proceeds/donations from our coffee morning will be donated directly to MacMillan Cancer.

Winter Wonderland Art Competition

Winter Wonderland School Competition Canvas A4 (PDF) >

Biscuits Bytes

Woof….

Wow – what a busy first full week back it has been!

I have been busy meeting all our new pupils, especially all those who have joined our Preschool this week. Thank you all so much for the hugs and tummy rubs.

I had so much fun joining in with some of Reception’s PE lesson this week. They were practicing throwing small balls and I was more than happy to help bring them back!

Personally, I could have continue doing that all day but sadly Reception had to move on to other areas of learning. So I took the opportunity to have a quick snooze.

It was a challenging week with the transport strike but a HUGE well done to all our families for getting in each day and for being on time as well. Thank you – it was much appreciated, as the start of the day (and the term) is so crucial for everyone.

I made the most of my 3-hour drive each night to catch up on my sleep but I wasn’t so happy about the very early starts to get to school on time. Thankfully we can all resume normal travel hours next week and I will be home early enough to get to the park before its dark. Hurrah!

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend and if you do visit a park, enjoy running around and throwing about all the wonderful autumn leaves. Just watch up for the spiky conkers!

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.

Our first meeting for the new school year will take place on Wednesday 17th September from 09:00 – 10:00 in the Ground Floor Hall, with refreshments. Everyone is welcome!

Upcoming Events:

  • MacMillan Coffee Morning: Thursday 25th September 09:00 – 10:00am in the Ground Floor Hall.
  • Thanks Giving Celebration: Wednesday 26th November 16:30 – 18:00 (more information to follow)
  • KS2 (Years 3 – 6) School Disco: 10th December 17:00 – 19:00(more information to follow)
  • Christmas Fair: Wednesday 17th December 15:30 – 18:00 (more information to follow)

Upcoming dates:

  • Wednesday 17th September
  • Wednesday 01st October
  • Wednesday 15th October
  • Wednesday 12th November
  • Wednesday 26th November
  • Wednesday 03rd December
  • Wednesday 17th December

Upcoming Events

September:

  • Monday 8th Sept: Extended School Day menus come home.
  • 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.
  • Thursday 25th Sept: 09:00  – 10:00 – MacMillan Coffee Morning in the Ground Floor Hall – all welcome.
  • Thursday 25th Sept:  Parent Open Morning: 08:45 – 09:30
  • 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 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:

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.

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:

Preschool have enjoyed a week of settling into our new classroom. We have been loving group circles exploring sounds and rhythm. The children are developing their social, emotional and communication skills during our musical circles. We enjoyed sharing our favourite songs together and singing along.

Nursery:

Nursery have had such a wonderful first full week! The children really enjoyed being reunited with their friends, as well as warmly welcoming our new starters. This week, we have been exploring ‘The Colour Monsters‘ and learning all about different emotions. The children made lovely connections between their own feelings and the colours of the monsters, helping them to express how they feel in different situations. We also spent time talking about our feelings on the very first day of school, sharing experiences and supporting each other as we settle into our nursery routines. It has been a week full of fun, learning, and kindness, we can’t wait for more adventures together next week!

Reception:

This week, one of our main focuses has been helping Reception pupils develop key strategies for managing big emotions. Learning to self-regulate is a big job, and we’ve been exploring it in meaningful and engaging ways. Through stories like The Colour Monster and Mae’s First Day of School, we’ve been learning to recognise our feelings and the body signals that go with them. We’ve also been practising mindfulness to help calm our minds and bodies – with “hot chocolate breathing” quickly becoming a class favourite!

Year 1:

Year 1 has been diving into the magical world of Fairy Tales. The children have been working hard to develop their writing by learning how to use descriptive language to bring characters and settings to life. From enchanted castles to mysterious forests, their imaginations have been shining through in both their words and illustrations. We are so impressed with their enthusiasm and effort – they are becoming confident, creative writers, and not to mention such talented illustrators!

Year 2:

To begin the new school year, Year 2 took part in a fun and creative ‘All About Me‘ activity. Whether they were reconnecting with familiar faces or sharing new dreams and favourites, each child filled in a puzzle piece all about themselves sharing their favourite food, colour, animal, and what they want to be when they grow up! From aspiring bus drivers to vets and pasta lovers, this activity was a wonderful way for children and adults to learn more about each other and build a strong sense of community from day one.

Year 3:

What a fantastic week Year 3 have had. Routines and learning are well underway, and we are enjoying all the new topics we are covering this half term. We have especially enjoyed learning about the human skeleton. We looked at what a skeleton is, its job, and the names of some of our bones. Ask your child the scientific name for our collar bone. We had to work in partners to identify where our bones were, which was a lot of fun! In Maths, we are delving into place value and numbers to 1000. In Writing we are working hard on our all about me poems. Lots of fantastic learning this week!

Year 4:

Year 4 have enjoyed getting stuck into their new curriculum! Maths has been a big focus, with everyone lending a helping hand to make sure we’re all on track for cementing our place value knowledge. Our History is taking us into Ancient Rome, with the focus on their impact on Britain – this week we explored and mapped different Roman roads through the UK. Thanks to everyone who has remembered so diligently to bring in their Reading Record every day, and those who have already got stuck into the weekly spellings. Keep it up!

Year 5:

This week, Year 5 have made great progress across their subjects. In Maths, we continued our place value unit, exploring numbers up to one million and improving our skills in reading and writing large numbers. In History, we began learning about Britain after the end of Roman rule, discovering how life and society changed during this period. In art and design, the students explored houses and architecture. Using photographs as inspiration, they produced some truly impressive drawings, showcasing their creativity and attention to detail. Our English lessons focused on Beowulf. As a class. we described a mead hall in detail and discussed how working together helped characters overcome challenges. We also explored figurative language to deepen our understanding of the text. It has been a week full of curiosity, creativity and critical thinking.

Year 6:

This week, as mathematicians, Year 6 have been exploring place value. They have investigated numbers up to 10,000,000, recognising how each column increases or decreases by a power of ten. Using place value charts, Gattegno charts, counters and number lines, pupils have practised reading and writing large numbers accurately in words (for example, 4,378,216 as “four million, three hundred and seventy-eight thousand, two hundred and sixteen”). They have also reasoned about how numbers can be 10, 100 or 1,000 times greater or smaller, and how dividing or multiplying by powers of ten affects their value. They have completed reasoning and problem-solving challenges linked to place value, and explored number lines up to ten million, making links to smaller scales and identifying the relative size of large numbers.