School Newsletter : 27 March 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:

• Burdett-Coutts & Townshend Foundation CE Primary School Term Dates 2025-2026 >

This week, Preschool explored a fun and sensory paint activity using cling wrap! Paint was placed on paper and covered, allowing the children to push, press, and move the colours around together, discovering how they mix and change. The children thoroughly enjoyed the experience, sharing ideas, working alongside each other, and engaging in lots of collaborative learning while having plenty of fun.

This term, Nursery have been learning all about Easter and why it is such an important celebration. The children have loved finding out about the different traditions and why people celebrate this special time. To join in the fun, everyone got creative, making Easter cards for their families and decorating Easter pictures with lots of bright colours and patterns. It was wonderful to see how proud they were of their work and how excited they were to share it with friends and loved ones. The children really enjoyed exploring different materials and letting their imaginations run wild, all while learning about Easter in a fun, hands-on way. We’ve also had lots of fun with mark-making activities in the sun, using paint dotters to make colourful patterns and practise our writing and drawing skills.

As part of Reception’s learning about real-life superheroes in our community, we had a very special visit from one of our parents, who is an eye doctor and surgeon! The children were fascinated as they learned how she helps people to see clearly and keeps eyes healthy. She shared her knowledge about the eye, explaining key parts such as the front of the eye, which helps focus light, and the back of the eye, where images are sent to the brain so we can understand what we see. They were especially excited to explore the different lenses and tools she uses in her work, discovering how looking through certain lenses can make everything appear upside down and how these help doctors understand and improve our vision. They loved having the chance to try these out themselves, gaining a real hands-on insight into her role.

She also taught us about the importance of hygiene in a medical setting, including careful handwashing and how she prepares for surgery, as well as the special clothing she wears to keep safe. What made the visit even more special was the children’s amazing curiosity. They asked fantastic questions, from how nurses help and where doctors operate to how she became an eye doctor and why she loves her job. They were also keen to know how she keeps everything clean and even what happens if her gloves get dirty! It was wonderful to see their confidence, enthusiasm, and thoughtful questioning in action – a class full of future superheroes in the making!

This week, Year 1 have been busy developing their understanding of mass through hands-on and engaging activities. Using balance scales and cubes, they explored how to compare objects and began to measure how heavy different items are. The children showed fantastic focus and determination as they carefully counted cubes, made comparisons, and recorded their answers. It was wonderful to see them using mathematical language such as heavier, lighter, and equal, while explaining their thinking with growing confidence. We are so proud of the independence and resilience the children have shown as they worked through these challenges — a brilliant way to end the term!

As we reach the end of Spring 2, Year 6 have had a busy and memorable half term filled with learning, creativity and exciting experiences. Over the past two weeks, they have shown great focus and resilience while completing their assessments, approaching each challenge with maturity and determination. This term, we have enjoyed reading the novel The Explorer, reflecting on powerful themes such as perseverance, courage and the importance of sticking together when facing challenges. These ideas inspired thoughtful discussions and were carried into the children’s writing, where pupils crafted engaging diary entries using ambitious vocabulary and descriptive language to bring their ideas to life.

Alongside classroom learning, Year 6 have taken part in several special events. We celebrated World Book Day, enjoyed the fun and fundraising of Red Nose Day, and marked Science Week with exciting activities, including an immersive VR session exploring ocean life. We also celebrated Biscuit’s birthday, which brought plenty of smiles to the class.

Some of our talented singers had the wonderful opportunity to perform as part of the choir at both the Royal Festival Hall and the Royal Albert Hall. Another highlight of the term was our theatre experience linked to The Mousetrap, where pupils saw their creative ideas brought to life on stage following their workshops with Go Live Theatre at St Martin’s Theatre. We were also proud to continue our intergenerational project at the Abbey Centre, where the children worked with members of the local community through music, discussion and creative activities. It has been a fantastic half term and we are incredibly proud of the enthusiasm, creativity and resilience Year 6 continue to show in everything they do.