HPS Headlines

I’d like to take this opportunity to reflect on a busy, purposeful and productive first half term and thank you for your support of the school. We value your attendance and the feedback you share.

As we look ahead to the next festive few months, please keep an eye on the calendar. I look forward to seeing you at the Homefield Association's fabulous firework extravaganza upon our return. It was a pleasure to attend the recent AGM and thank them in person for their hard work and fundraising over the last year. We look forward to showing you how we’ve spent the funds early next term.

Kind regards

Gemma Anderson (Mrs)

Headteacher

Over the last two weeks, the Nursery boys have been working hard to build their confidence when speaking in front of the class, and we are so proud of how well they have done! They particularly enjoyed sharing their baby photos with their friends and talking about how much they have grown.

We have also been exploring our emotions by creating some wonderful Mood Monsters. The boys did a fantastic job talking about the different emotions we can experience each day and sharing their ideas with their friends.

This week, the boys have also had great fun taking part in our sensory circuits! These are a fantastic way to help us regulate ourselves, develop our coordination and get some exercise in, ready to start our learning feeling refreshed and focused.

In phonics, we have been recapping the sounds we learnt during Autumn 1: m, a, s and d. In maths, we have been revisiting our numbers 1–5 to help strengthen the boys’ number recognition and counting skills. Over half term, please encourage your son to practise these sounds and numbers at home to help embed their learning even further. Little and often makes a big difference!

Our cooking sessions have been lots of fun, too! The boys have enjoyed making delicious smoothies and decorating biscuits, with some very tasty results!

We hope you all have a lovely half term break and look forward to welcoming the boys back for another exciting half term of learning and fun!

The boys have been busy in Reception, continuing to explore numbers and recognising them in a variety of different ways. We have also been celebrating the things that make each of us unique, discussing the importance of kindness, inclusion and ensuring that nobody feels left out because they may be different from us. We have been incredibly impressed by the mature, thoughtful and caring approach all the boys have shown during these conversations. It has been lovely to see them demonstrating such kindness and understanding towards one another.

We have also been delving into the wonderful season of autumn, embracing the changing colours and exploring our creativity through lots of exciting pumpkin-themed art activities!

Bring younger siblings to our fun Stay & Play sessions, and please spread the word to friends and family considering Homefield for their boys!

https://www.homefield.sutton.sch.uk/stay--and-play

English – Super Sentences!

This week, we have been learning about conjunctions, using words such as ‘and’ and ‘because’ to join ideas and make our sentences more interesting. The boys have worked hard to explain their thinking and add more detail to their writing.

Maths – The Adventures of Linus the Minus!

In maths, we have been exploring subtraction and learning that taking away makes a number smaller. The boys have also been learning new vocabulary, including minus, less and subtract. They have particularly enjoyed the story of Linus the Minus, which has helped bring our subtraction learning to life!

As we approach the end of the half term, the boys have enjoyed two busy and engaging weeks of learning in Year 2! In maths, the boys have been exploring number patterns and developing their understanding of place value to identify and locate numbers on number lines. In English, they have been preparing to write a letter from Masha to Baba Yaya, inspired by our core text, Masha and the Firebird, developing their ideas and planning what Masha might want to communicate. In geography, the boys have been learning to distinguish between human and physical features and identifying examples of these across the United Kingdom.

The boys also took part in an engaging Great Fire of London workshop, where they explored what life was like in London in 1666 and learned more about the events surrounding the fire and its aftermath. The workshop brought their historical learning to life and helped deepen their understanding of this significant event. Well done to all the boys for their enthusiasm, curiosity and hard work over the past two weeks! We hope you all have a lovely half term!

On Monday, the boys stepped back in time to 1666! They explored what life was like during this period and took part in mini-workshops, making items that could have been bought at the time. They also investigated items that may have been found after the fire and the places they would have come from. The boys were thoroughly engaged, showing great curiosity and asking fantastic questions throughout. This workshop was a great end to the Great Fire of London topic this half term!

Year 4 have had a busy term in science. They investigated the properties of solids, liquids and gases and all have obtained their Bunsen Burner Licences. They then used their Bunsen skills to investigate how temperature affect the diffusion of tea.

Year 6 have been looking at Elements, Mixtures and Compounds. They have enjoyed making compounds as they burned copper, iron and magnesium to make the oxides of each element.

Core Advice for Supporting Children at Home

• Keep communication open: Encourage your child to talk about how they feel without pressure, and let them know you are there to listen rather than judge.
• Spend time together: Do shared activities like cooking, crafting, walking, or playing games to help your child relax and feel connected.
• Maintain routines: Provide a clear, structured daily routine or visual timetable, especially during stressful times or school transitions.
• Encourage connection: Help your child stay in touch with friends and family, as withdrawing can sometimes make low moods or anxiety worse.
• Look after yourself: Practice self-care so you have the energy and emotional space to support your child effectively.

Music is a vibrant and highly valued part of life at Homefield, with individual tuition giving our boys the chance to build confidence and shine in our many concerts throughout the year.

If your son feels inspired to try an instrument, feel free to visit the Music page on our website to see what is on offer.

Individual instrumental lessons provide boys with the opportunity to develop their musical skills under the guidance of experienced specialist teachers, whether they are beginners or already progressing with an instrument.

Beyond the enjoyment of learning music, there is a growing body of evidence highlighting the wider academic benefits of instrumental tuition. Regular one-to-one lessons support the development of concentration, memory, and discipline—skills that transfer directly into the classroom. Music study also strengthens mathematical understanding through rhythm and pattern, enhances language processing, and encourages perseverance and self-confidence.

At Homefield, we value the important role music plays in a well-rounded education. Peripatetic lessons not only nurture creativity and self-expression but also contribute meaningfully to academic progress and personal development.

If you would like to find out more or secure a place, please visit: https://www.homefield.sutton.sch.uk/music-and-drama

Fourteen boys from Years 1-6 began our series of Soloists Concerts in style by performing on a wide range of instruments including piano, saxophone, violin, flute and cello as well as reciting poetry and a monologue. There were some lovely performances highlighting the progress boys have made since the last school concert but it was also wonderful that six boys performed on their own at school for the very first time. Well done, boys!

On Tuesday, 25 boys from our choir represented the school at Epsom College’s Annual Choral Festival. Joined by over 100 prep school students, the boys learned five songs fitting this year’s "Sky" theme. While Mr. Blue Sky was a firm favourite, Blue Moon, Here Comes the Sun, the African welcome song Funga Alafia, and the classic Skye Boat Song were all hugely enjoyed.

Our Homefield boys took on Part 2, frequently holding down the harmony line, and embraced the challenge brilliantly, closing the day with a confident mini-concert performance for parents. Well done, boys!

The Year 5s are having a fantastic time creating their own mythical creatures using recycled materials and papier-mache.

Their creativity and imagination are shining through as they bring their unique creatures to life.

Shreyas in Year 4, made this fabulous wooden jet in DT, which transforms into a very tall robot!

Please visit our Facebook page to view his video: https://www.facebook.com/share/r/19XmwrRUzX/

A fantastic performance across the board, with three huge wins from three!

The ‘A’ team showcased flair and flamboyance to secure a convincing 5–2 victory. Bertie stole the show with two audacious bicycle kicks, while Ethan (Year 3) added a fantastic long-range goal. At the other end, Tarin (Year 3) produced a superb display of goalkeeping to help seal an excellent team performance.

The ‘B’ team demonstrated superb teamwork and intelligent use of space to earn a well-deserved 6–2 win, capped off by a brilliant hattrick from Ollie.

The ‘C’ team dominated their opposition from start to finish, producing a commanding 10–0 victory while showing great maturity, composure and modesty throughout.

Three teams, three outstanding wins! A brilliant showcase of teamwork, individual brilliance and sportsmanship. Well done, everyone!

The U10 Homefield boys showed great determination and commitment across their matches, with all four teams working hard and representing the school superbly.

The ‘A’ team faced tough opposition in Willington and Milbourne Lodge, narrowly losing both matches 1–0. Considering that their opponents were Year 6 boys, the team performed exceptionally well and can be very proud of their efforts. William H was outstanding in goal, making some excellent saves, while Andrew defended superbly throughout. Freddie also impressed, matching the opposition’s strength and pace and showing great determination.

The ‘B’ team also suffered two narrow 1–0 defeats. Despite the results, the boys worked hard and showed plenty of fight. Yuri and Kai both had particularly strong performances and deserve special mention for their efforts.

The ‘C’ and ‘D’ teams also put in hardworking performances. Both teams approached their matches with enthusiasm, worked well together and, most importantly, enjoyed their football.

Overall, it was a positive day for Homefield, with all the boys showing great effort, resilience and sportsmanship. The results may not have gone our way, but there was plenty to be pleased about, and the boys should be proud of how they represented the school.

‘A’ team – Aberdour A Team: 2–2

‘B’ team – Won 2–0

‘’C team – Won 3–2

‘D’ team – Drew 2–2

Overall, an excellent day of football for all four teams! Huge credit to all the Year 6 boys for their teamwork, determination and fantastic performances. A special well done to the Year 5 boys who stepped up and represented the Year 6 ‘A’ team so brilliantly!

If your son is over 5 years old and you would like him to receive milk at school, please register with Cool Milk via https://coolmilk.com/parents/. Cool Milk is the UK's leading school milk supplier, partnering with schools, nurseries and local authorities to delivery fresh, chilled semi-skimmed milk directly to schools. They manage the entire administrative process, providing free milk for children under five and subsidised milk for children aged five or older.

Reception; Ayansh for a brilliant week. You have been super focused and helpful and Henry - Homefield Hero of the half term! You have been a superstar in all areas, keep up the great work. Well done, boys!

1H: Thomas for endeavour in English and Mehzan for amazing progress in his reading and writing.

1S: Email for demonstrating endeavour in English and Rafa for consistently demonstrating all the Homefield values but particularly kindness towards his peers and staff.

2H: Jesse for setting a role model example in all that he does and Aari for exemplifying our Homefield values this past half term, particularly endeavour and resilience.

2S: Kian for always working hard to demonstrate the Homefield values across all lessons and Caleb for being a wonderful listener, following instructions and giving his best!

3H: Mohammed for working hard to be independent and engaged in lessons and Ethan for working hard in lessons, showing endeavour and showing respect to adults consistently.

3S: Reyan for excellent start to Homefield, Mohammed working hard to be independent and contribute to lessons, David for his excellent effort in class work and showing a love for learning and Alex working hard on his geography presentation.

4H: Ariz H for constantly role modelling the Homefield Values, Andy for always working diligently, being helpful and kind and modelling our homefield values and Dylan for showing our value of kindness.

4S: Shameer for working hard on his handwriting, Max for his excellent effort in the football fixture, Nufail for showing endeavour in all that he does and working incredibly hard in lessons and Bertie for his excellent work with Ms Bartlet on spellings and handwriting!

5H: Abhinav and Patrick for being great ambassadors for Homefield at the Epsom Choral Day and Ares for demonstrating endeavour in all lessons by asking good questions and sharing his understanding.

5S: Ares for demonstrating endeavour in all lessons by asking good questions and sharing his understanding, Freddie for showcasing resilience and trying to bounce back from challenges by seeking support and giving it a go and Lavann, Enyuan and Kylesh for being great ambassadors for Homefield at the Epsom Choral Day.

6H: Aaron for demonstrating positivity and resilience and trying his best in all lessons and Jason and Alex for being great ambassadors for Homefield at the Epsom Choral Day.

6S: Viyan for demonstrating endeavour in French by always trying his best and Roshan for demonstrating all of the Homefield values but particularly integrity by always doing the right thing and also, along with Zaviaan, for being great ambassadors for Homefield at the Epsom Choral Day.

The Debate Chamber provides engaging, discussion-based programmes led by specialist tutors in subjects such as Law, Medicine, Maths, Philosophy, Diplomacy, Debating and Creative Writing. These small-group courses delivered online and in person are designed to stretch able and curious learners, helping them develop confidence, critical thinking and problem-solving skills in a supportive and inspiring environment.

Parents can find full details and book directly via the Debate Chamber website: https://debatechamber.com/calendar-by-subject/

Should you wish to learn more about 'Little Orchard', please contact:

Phone: 020 8212 7312 Option 8

Email: info@littleorchardnursery.co.uk

Website: www.orchardchildcare.co.uk

We know that for many families, the morning and afternoon school run is also an ideal opportunity to give their much-loved four-legged member of the family their daily walk. However, we would be grateful if parents could please help us by not bringing dogs onto the school premises during morning drop-off or afternoon dismissal. This includes dogs that can be carried.

Even the friendliest and most well-behaved dog can be unsettling for a child who is nervous around animals, and some members of our school community may have allergies. Drop-off and dismissal are busy times, with large numbers of children and adults moving around the site and keeping the school grounds dog-free at this busy time helps us to maintain a safe and welcoming environment for all.

If you do bring your dog with you on the school run, please keep them securely on a lead on the public pathways outside the school. We would also ask that dogs are not tied up or left unattended close to the school gates, where a large number of children pass by.

Naturally, assistance dogs are an exception, and any parent or visitor who needs to bring an assistance dog onto the premises is very welcome to contact the School in advance so that appropriate arrangements can be made.

We know that dogs are very much part of the family, and this rule is not intended to be unfriendly, but is a small measure which helps us to look after everyone in the Homefield community.

Thank you for your understanding and support.

At Homefield, the safety of our boys is, and always will be, our highest priority. The start and end of the school day are particularly busy times, especially during afternoon dismissal when boys are boarding minibuses for their journeys home while families are leaving the site on foot. This naturally creates a high level of activity on the drive and surrounding roads.

To ensure that dismissal remains calm, orderly and safe for all, we are unable to facilitate vehicle pick-up within the school drive at the end of the day. Keeping this area clear significantly reduces risk and allows boys to depart safely.

We are fortunate to have free, unrestricted parking available in the surrounding side roads, just a short walk from the school. We kindly ask all parents to make use of these spaces and to allow a few extra minutes at collection time. In addition, please be mindful of our neighbours by not blocking dropped kerbs or parking in private, resident-only spaces. Parking wardens regularly operate in the area at the beginning and end of the school day, so we encourage families to park legally and, where possible, to park a little further away and walk.

Thank you, as always, for your continued understanding and cooperation in helping us maintain positive relationships within our community and, most importantly, in keeping every Homefield boy safe.

We are delighted to welcome back the popular 'Wheely Fun Club' for another series of high-energy, car-themed weekend sessions at Homefield.

Join us for a high-energy, car-themed weekend session in our Dining Hall! Enjoy 70 minutes of non-stop family fun packed with speed tracks, remote-control cars, and garages.

Book your session now so you don't miss out on the fun!

As a Homefield family, you can enjoy an exclusive 15% discount on your tickets. Simply use the promo code HF15WFC26 when booking. (Each child ticket includes entry for one adult).

To secure your place, please book via the links here:

https://wheelyfunclub.co.uk/products/sutton-27th-september

https://wheelyfunclub.co.uk/products/sutton-24th-october

Looking for a fun and active way for your child to spend their Wednesday after school? To celebrate the start of the new academic year, Playball is offering a FREE trial to any Homefield Prep child who has never attended a Playball club before! Children can enjoy a fun, energetic after school session while developing their sports skills, coordination, confidence and teamwork through their progressive multi-sport activities.

FREE TRIAL — NO OBLIGATION TO BOOK!

If your child has never tried Playball before, why not give it a go?

To book your FREE trial, simply email Ben at manager@playballpurley.com with:

FREE TRIAL – [Child's Name] – [School & Year Group]

They will then get back to you to confirm their place. 👍

📅 Wednesday after school

Ben Holgate (Coach Holgy)

Owner

Playball Purley, Wallington & Coulsdon LTD

www.playballkids.com

Please ensure that the school office has an up‑to‑date record of all adults who have permission to collect your son from school.

Thank you for helping us maintain a safe and smooth collection process.

To view details of our weekly menus and the weekly music timetable, please visit:

https://www.homefield.sutton.sch.uk/information-for-parents

Western Road, Sutton, Surrey, SM1 2TE

+44 020 8642 0965

administration@homefieldprep.school