School Newsletter : 13 November 2026

| Issue 10 | Autumn 2 | Week 2 |

Remembrance Day Service

On Wednesday 11th November, our whole school gathered in church for our annual Remembrance service. Although the rain brought our usual outdoor gathering inside, we came together in the same spirit of remembrance, honouring those who have served and those who have lost their lives in conflict.

With many Armed Forces families in our school community, this occasion holds particular significance. Children shared readings and poems, and a trumpeter from Westminster School played The Last Post before we observed two minutes’ silence at 11am. Our Head Choristers also laid a poppy wreath on behalf of the school.

It was a moving moment for our school community to pause and reflect on courage, sacrifice and the importance of peace. We were proud of the care, respect and thoughtfulness our children showed throughout the service.

We will remember them.

Biscuits Bytes

Woof!

My paws have definitely felt the chilly pavements and frosty grass this week. Winter feels like it’s finally arrived – hurrah! ❄️

I don’t know about you, but I love crisp mornings and running about on the frosty grass. I’m keeping an eye out for the first frozen puddles too, although I’ll be leaving the slipping and sliding to someone else! 🐶 The darker evenings also mean snuggly blankets and cosy nights indoors. I’ve spotted so many twinkly lights on my evening walks this week, which always makes me wag my tail.

I’ve been busy growing a thicker coat as the weather gets cooler, so I stay toasty warm when playing outside. Sadly, my hooman friends, you can’t do the same! So please remember to bring your extra layers, coats, hats, gloves and scarves, all clearly named, so you can keep enjoying outdoor play as much as I do.

It’s been another busy week in school, with Year 5 poetry workshops, Year 4 ITSU cooking workshops, our Remembrance service, Year 6’s Royal Albert Hall performance and Children in Need. You’ll be able to read all about these exciting events in this week’s or next week’s newsletter.

Wishing you all a pawsome weekend. Wrap up warm if you’re heading outdoors, and I hope the lovely twinkly lights make you happy too! 🐶

Biscuit x

Attendance & Punctuality

Regular attendance is essential to every pupil’s success. At Burdett-Coutts, we place a strong emphasis on good attendance because being in school consistently supports wellbeing, friendships, a sense of belonging, academic progress and future opportunities.

Pupils who attend school regularly are more likely to achieve well, build strong relationships and develop the confidence, resilience and social skills they need for the future.

Even small amounts of absence can add up quickly. For example, 90% attendance is equivalent to nearly four weeks of missed learning over the course of a school year.

Our expectation is that all pupils achieve at least 97% attendance, and we are very grateful to families for working with us to support this.

A reminder about punctuality: If your child arrives after the black gates have closed and enters through the school office, they will be recorded as late. A parent or carer will need to come into the office and register their arrival using the InVentry system.

  • Late arrivals on assembly days: To avoid disrupting assembly, pupils arriving late will be safely supervised by an adult in the hall and asked to read their home reading book quietly until assembly has finished. Please make sure your child brings their home reader to school every day.
  • Late arrivals: Pupils who arrive late to school will miss their morning playtime that day, using that time to catch up on the 5, 10 or 15 minutes of work they have missed.

Parents and carers, please help your children to be up and out of the house on time each day, ensuring you leave plenty of time for your journey to school. We hope to see everyone arriving on time, so please ensure your child is in school by 08:45.

Thank you for your continued support in helping every pupil make the most of each school day.

Why Attendance Matters

Being in school every day helps pupils to:

  • Build secure friendships and social confidence
  • Develop teamwork and communication skills
  • Support positive wellbeing
  • Gain essential knowledge and life skills
  • Broaden their understanding of the world

Here’s this week’s class attendance figures:

Class Attendance %
Preschool 87.8%
Nursery 88.9%
Reception  92.4%
Year 1 96.7%
Year 2 96.3%
Year 3 98.9%
Year 4 97.2%
Year 5 95.6%
Year 6 95.7%

Out and About……

Year 6 Visit to Westminster Abbey:

Last Friday, Year 6 visited Westminster Abbey as part of their Not Forgotten project, bringing together their learning about the First World War and the importance of remembrance.

In the Garden of Remembrance, the children placed memorial crosses and paused to reflect on those who served and those who lost their lives. At the Grave of the Unknown Warrior, they paid their respects and left their stained-glass window design in memory of Private Ernest Boots, whose story they have been exploring throughout the project.

Inside the Abbey, the children discovered that our school’s founder, Baroness Angela Burdett-Coutts, is commemorated alongside other significant figures in British history. They explored the Lady Chapel, admiring its intricate fan-vaulted ceiling and the surrounding Commonwealth flags, and had the opportunity to sit in the choir stalls and take in this remarkable setting.

Another highlight was seeing the historic Coronation Chair, commissioned by King Edward I over 700 years ago. The children were fascinated to learn that some of the graffiti carved into it had been left by Westminster schoolboys centuries earlier.

It was a thoughtful and memorable visit, helping the children connect the stories they have studied with the act of remembrance, while discovering more about the Abbey’s history and its connection to our own school.

Year 5 Poetry Workshop:

This week, Year 5 enjoyed a festive poetry workshop led by Coral Rumble from the Poetry Society. We were delighted to welcome Coral back to Burdett-Coutts after last year’s success, when our current Year 6 pupils were chosen to read the official poem at the Trafalgar Square Christmas Tree Lighting.

The morning began with Coral performing some of her own poetry, sparking the children’s imaginations. A lively word-chain game followed, with some friendly competition helping everyone warm up their wordplay skills.

Throughout the day, the children explored different poetic forms and wrote their own kennings and cinquains. For their final challenge, they gave an emotion human qualities, using a cinquain as a starting point to develop longer, thoughtful poems about Christmas.

It was a lovely day of collaboration, creativity and festive spirit. We were proud of the enthusiasm the children brought to each activity and the care they took in sharing and developing their ideas.

Year 4 ITSU Youth Kitchen Workshop:

Year 4 thoroughly enjoyed their first Youth Kitchen cooking session with ITSU this week! Chef Billy was impressed by the children’s knowledge of different food groups and why our bodies need a balanced diet.

The children quickly picked up the knife skills needed to prepare vegetables for their sushi rolls. They also practised spreading the rice and rolling everything together, taking care with each step.

There was even a prize for tidying up! One table earned extra seaweed snack packs for having the cleanest workspace at the end of the session.

Well done, Year 4, for your enthusiasm, teamwork and hard work!

Google Classroom & IXL access

All pupils from Reception to Year 6 have received their Reading Record Book. Their Google Classroom login details are inside the front cover.

Google Classroom is where we share class updates and homework, along with weekly floor book updates for Early Years. Please log in to your child’s account so you can keep up with their learning and news.

Pupils in Years 1–6 will also find their  IXL login details inside the front cover. These are needed to access maths and spelling, punctuation and grammar (SPAG) homework. Reception’s IXL accounts will be activated after the October half term.

When accessing Google Classroom, please sign out of any other Google accounts first, or use a private/incognito browser window, then sign in with your child’s details.

If you have any difficulty logging in, please email or contact the school office. We’ll be happy to help.

Healthy Packed Lunches

If your child brings a packed lunch to school each day, please take a moment to read the guidance below on what can and cannot be included.

These guidelines support our commitment to healthy lifestyles and pupils’ wellbeing, while also helping us to keep everyone safe from known allergens.

Kindly note we are a nut-free school. Please check ingredient labels carefully, particularly on cereal and muesli bars.

Packed lunches should include:

  • At least one portion of fruit and one portion of vegetables
  • A healthy source of protein, such as meat, fish, eggs, beans or hummus
  • A carbohydrate, such as bread, pasta, rice or wraps
  • A dairy item, such as yoghurt or cheese
  • A small dessert, for example two standard-sized biscuits, a small piece of cake or a single portion pack of biscuits/cookies
  • Water only

Healthy packed lunch ideas include:

  • Fresh fruit or vegetable sticks
  • Rice cakes or crackers
  • Cheese cubes or yoghurt
  • Wraps, pasta salads or sandwiches
  • Water in a reusable bottle

Please do not include:

  • Crisps, sweets or chocolate bars
  • Fizzy or sugary drinks, including juice drinks such as Capri-Sun or Fruit Shoot
  • Probiotic drinks such as Actimel, Yakult or kefir drinks
  • Desserts in excess of the guidance above
  • Any nut products, including chocolate spreads containing nuts

School Trips and Packed Lunches

Packed lunches for school trips should also be healthy and balanced, following the guidance above. However, one small packet of crisps may be included on a school trip, whether the lunch is provided from home or by school.

All other items listed above as unsuitable should not be included in trip packed lunches. A balanced lunch will help pupils stay focused and energised throughout the day.

Thank you for your support in helping us encourage healthy habits and keep our whole school community safe.

Upcoming Events

November:

  • Monday 16th: Odd Socks Day
  • Monday 16th – Friday 20th: Anti-Bulling Week – PSHE activities taking place in school
  • Monday 16th: Go Create Workshop for Year 5 (3/6). In school.
  • Tuesday 17th: Speak Out, Stay Safe – NSPCC Workshop in school for Years 2, 5 & 6
  • Thursday 19th: Year 4. ITSU Youth Kitchen Program (Session 3/5). In school.
  • Thursday 19th: Choir & Westminster Partnership Filming at Westminster School – 15:00 – 16:30 (Letter to follow)
  • Monday 23rd: Go Create Workshop for Year 5 (4/6). In school.
  • Thursday 26th: Year 6 Moving Away Your Dust Musical Show at Kensington Town Hall – 09:30 – 14:00 (Letter to follow)
  • Thursday 26th: Year 4. ITSU Youth Kitchen Program (Session 4/5). In school.
  • Thursday 26th: Thanksgiving Event: 15:30 – 17:30  (more information to follow)
  • Friday 27th – INSET DAY
  • Monday 30th: Y6 Walter Tull Workshop with Peter Daniels (in school) 09:00 – 12:30
  • Monday 30th: Go Create Workshop for Year 5 (5/6). In school.

December:

  • Tuesday 1st: Year 4 Trip to Gunnersbury Museum (more information to follow).
  • Tuesday 1st: KS2 winter Disco, from  16:30 – 18:30
  • Wednesday 2nd: Choir performing at St. Gabriels Church from 19:00 – 20:00.  All choir pupils need to arrive at 18:30 (more information to follow).
  • Thursday 3rd: Year 4 ITSU Youth Kitchen Program (Session 5/5). In School.

December (continued):

  • Friday 4th: EYFS & KS1 Nativity in St.Stephens Church. Doors open at 14:15 and show begins promptly at 14:30. Phones off or on silent, please. Please keep photos off social media.
  • Friday 4th: Last day for Extended School Day and Booster Clubs.  All pupils to be collected at 15:30 next week, if they are not enrolled in the schools After School Club.
  • Monday 7th: 9 Lessons Carol Service at St John Smiths Square – 09:00 -11:00am.   All parents and carers are invited to attend. Phones off or on silent, please. Please keep photos off social media.
  • Monday 7th: Go Create Workshop for Year 5 (6/6). In school.
  • Tuesday 8th: Christmas Fair:  15:30 – 18:30  (more details to follow).
  • Wednesday 9th: Year 5 Trip to Neasden Temple (more information to follow)
  • Thursday 10th: Christmas Jumper Day
  • Thursday 10th: Play Us A Story Workshops (run by St John Smith Square) for pupils in Nursery, Reception and Year 1  – in school.
  • Friday 11th: KS2 Nativity in St.Stephens Church.  Doors open at 14:15 and show begins promptly at 14:30. Phones off or on silent, please. Please keep photos off social media.
  • Monday 14th: Choir Performing at the Abbey Community Centre – 13;45 – 15:30
  • Friday 18th: Christingle Service in St. Stephens 10:30 – 11:30
  • Friday 18th: School closes for the Christmas Holidays – all children to be collected at 13:30.

School & PE Uniform:

Pupils are welcome to continue to wear their school summer uniform until the end of September. However, as the weather changes to more cooler and wetter patterns, all pupils will need to be wearing the Autumn/Winter School Uniform from the beginning of October, or sooner if they wish.

Please ensure that all pieces of school uniform are named.

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.

Our PTA: The Friends of Burdett-Coutts

If you are a parent, carer or guardian of a child at our school, you are automatically a member of Friends of Burdett-Coutts, our Parent Staff Association (PSA).

Getting involved is a lovely way to meet other families and support our school through fundraising events, volunteering and sharing ideas. Whether you can help regularly or spare a little time now and then, your contribution can make a real difference to school life for all our children.

Our meetings take place on Wednesday mornings, from 09:00–10:00 in the Ground Floor Hall, with refreshments provided. Everyone is welcome, and we would love to see you there!

Dates for your diary:

  • Thanksgiving Event: Thursday 26 November, 15:30–17:30.
  • School Christmas Fair: Tuesday 8 December, 15:30–18:30.
  • KS2 Winter Disco: Wednesday 16 December, 16:30–18:30.

More information about the Thanksgiving Event and Christmas Fair will follow.

Meeting dates:

  • 25th November
  • 2nd December
  • 16th December

Community Corner

Week Beginning 9th November 2026: Remembrance Day

Bible Readings: Luke 10:5; Romans 12:14, 17; Matthew 5:9

God longs for a world where people stop learning war and learn peace instead, turning things used to hurt into things used to help.

Never Forget, Always Remember

This week in church, we marked Remembrance Day, taking time to honour those who have lost their lives in wars and conflicts, both past and present. We reflected on the courage and sacrifice of those who served, the experiences of their families and the freedoms we enjoy today.

A particularly moving moment came when a trumpeter from Westminster School played The Last Post, followed by two minutes’ silence. Our Head Choristers also laid a poppy wreath on behalf of the school as a sign of respect and gratitude.

We will remember them.

Graham reminded us that remembrance also invites us to think about peace in our world today. Through our Bible readings, we explored how each of us can help to create peace in our homes, our school and our wider community.

Jesus tells us, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.”

Together, we thought about how we could put this teaching into practice through our words and actions. Learning from the past can help us build a future with more peace, hope and kindness.

Community Questions:

  • I wonder what peacemakers do when there is a disagreement?
  • I wonder what turning “hurt into help” could look like in our school?

Community Challenge:

This week, choose one peacemaking action. You could listen carefully during a disagreement, help someone resolve a problem or offer a kind word when someone is upset.

Class Assemblies:

  • 20th November: Year 2
  • 4th December: Year 3
  • 11th December: Year 5

Assemblies are from 09:00 – 09:25. Please arrive on time, as late entry can disrupt the children and the flow of the assembly. Photos must not be shared on social media.

Term Dates 2026-2027

Please find here the agreed term dates set by our school’s Governing Body for the upcoming academic year, starting September 2026.

Please remember that holidays will not be authorised during the school term, and that all children should be in school, and on time, every day.

You can also click on the link below to view:

Preschool, Nursery & Reception Admissions

We currently have the following Early Years places available for the 2026/2027 academic year:

Nursery Class (3-year-olds):

  • 2 full-time
  • 1 part-time morning place (09:45 – 11:45)

Preschool (2-year-olds): Due to increased demand, we have recently expanded our Preschool provision to 20 places. We now have:

  • 4 full-time
  • 2 part-time morning (09:45 – 11:45)
  • 3 part-time afternoons (12:30 – 15:30)

Reception:

We currently have a waiting list for Reception Class places. Families are very welcome to book a tour and submit their admissions documents to join the waiting list.

If you’re looking for a Preschool, Nursery or Reception place for your child, we’d be delighted to welcome you for a 30-minute personalised EYFS tour.

You’ll have the opportunity to explore our Early Years setting, meet key staff and ask any questions about admissions or your child starting with us at Burdett-Coutts.

Please contact us to register for a tour. Tours take place every Thursday during term time, with appointments available between 9.15am and 2.30pm.

Years 1 – 6:

Years 2, 4 and 6 are currently full, with waiting lists in place. Families interested in these year groups are very welcome to book a tour and submit their admissions documents to join the relevant waiting list.

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.

Preschool:

What a lovely week we’ve had in Preschool, exploring, creating and learning together! We learned about Remembrance Day and why we remember those who have served. The children made red handprint poppies to wear as necklaces, and a small group attended the Remembrance Assembly. We were proud of how thoughtfully they sat, listened and showed their respect.

Our book of the week was Owl Babies, alongside our colour, pink; shape, star; and number, two. We enjoyed exploring these through stories, conversations and activities. Outside, we transformed our water tray into a sand tray, with the children helping to collect the sand and fill it up. They took pride in working together, sharing ideas and completing the task as a team.

The tray has already become a firm favourite, with plenty of filling, tipping, pouring and investigating textures. As well as encouraging curiosity and imaginative play, these activities help strengthen little hands and develop fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination.

Nursery:

This week in Nursery, we learned about Remembrance Day and why we take time to remember. The children made their own poppies using a range of materials and creative skills. We were proud of the care and respect they showed during our school’s Remembrance service.

In Maths, we explored numbers through clapping, stomping and movement. The children particularly enjoyed taking turns pretending to be the teacher and carrying on their number activities during free-flow play. In Literacy, we explored the different parts of a story and practised putting events in the correct order, helping the children develop their storytelling skills.

Reception:

This week in Numeracy, Reception have been exploring different ways to make numbers up to 10. Using ten frames and two different colours, the children investigated how two smaller numbers can be combined to make a total. They also began recording their discoveries as number sentences, using the addition (+) and equals (=) signs.

We also learned about Remembrance Day, talking about why we remember and honour those who served and helped to keep others safe. The children explored the poppy as a symbol of remembrance and used playdough to make their own, giving them a creative way to engage with what they had learned.

Year 1:

With leaves turning golden and the air growing chillier, Year 1 have been noticing the changing seasons. Over the past few weeks, we’ve combined our Science learning about seasonal changes and everyday materials with some autumn-inspired art. We explored how animals prepare for winter, including how hedgehogs build cosy nests of fallen leaves for hibernation.

Inspired by their discoveries, the children created their own hedgehog hideaways. They used autumnal watercolours, careful drawing, cutting and folding to make little hedgehogs tucked snugly into leafy winter homes. Our classroom now has a lovely collection of sleepy hedgehogs, each a little different and full of character. We’re proud of the care and imagination the children put into their creations, bringing a touch of the woodland into our classroom.

Year 2:

This week in Maths, Year 2 have been developing their addition and subtraction skills, with a focus on subtracting across ten and from multiples of ten. Using their knowledge of number bonds, the children explored different strategies and explained their thinking, growing in confidence as they tackled more challenging calculations.

Year 3:

It’s been another great week in Year 3, and the children are enjoying their new topics. In Science, we revisited the Eat Well plate, exploring the different food groups and how each supports our bodies. We discussed why eating a variety of foods, including vegetables, is important. In RE, the children worked with partners to explore Christmas symbols and their meaning for Christians. They enjoyed discussing the images and making connections to the story of Jesus’ birth.

In Maths, the class worked hard on exchanging hundreds for tens and tens for ones. These can be challenging concepts, and we are very proud of the children’s progress and perseverance. In Writing, we analysed our class text in preparation for creating our own fables next week. We can’t wait to see their ideas take shape!

Year 4:

Year 4 have had another busy week! In Maths, they explored 2D rectilinear shapes, measuring and comparing their areas and drawing shapes of their own. In Writing, the children applied their new grammar skills to annotate and analyse our text. In Reading, they drew on their knowledge of Diwali to compose a poem full of lively rhymes.

In Science, the class investigated food chains from around the world, using new vocabulary to describe and label them accurately. They also enjoyed their first ITSU cooking session, putting their practical skills to work. Well done, Year 4, for your enthusiasm and hard work across the curriculum!

Year 5:

Year 5 have had an eventful week as we settle into Autumn 2. We began with drama activities led by Go Live Theatre, using interactive games to explore our PSHE topic, Celebrating Differences. The children shared ideas about standing up to bullying and celebrating what makes each of us unique.

In Writing, we continued studying Farther, developing our vocabulary and composing poems using personification. In Maths, we completed our multiplication and division unit by exploring cubed numbers and practising multiplying and dividing by 10, 100 and 1,000.

Our RE lessons prompted thoughtful discussions about whether the Christmas story is real. In Science, we learned about human development before birth and the changes our bodies undergo throughout life. Finally, in History, we mapped Alexander the Great’s empire and discovered how far Ancient Greek civilisation spread.

Year 6:

This week, Year 6 have been considering the importance of remembrance as they begin their new History unit on the Second World War. Drawing on their Not Forgotten project, they explored the experiences of those who served during the First World War and the impact of conflict on individuals, families and communities.

The children designed stained-glass windows in memory of Private Ernest Boots, incorporating symbols of remembrance, military medals and personal messages to honour his life. They also produced poppy-inspired artwork, using watercolours and pastels for the backgrounds and flowers, then adding finer details with black markers. These activities gave pupils a thoughtful, creative way to express what they had learned.