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Some thoughts for the starting school year
Gorilla Class wowed us all with their outstanding assembly, which beautifully captured our Value of the Month—Caring and incorporated their curriculum topic WW2 . Through heartfelt acting and a thoughtfully crafted performance, the children demonstrated what it truly means to care for others, showing kindness, empathy, and compassion in every scene.
Adding a magical touch to their assembly was a beautifully sung song that perfectly encapsulated the theme, leaving the audience moved and inspired. The children’s dedication, enthusiasm, and teamwork were evident throughout, making it a memorable and meaningful experience for everyone.
A huge well done to Gorilla Class and their teacher Miss Bounour for their incredible effort and for reminding us all of the importance of caring for one another. We are so proud of you! Thank you to all parents who were able to come and support the children on the day.
We are bursting with pride as our very own Junior Jessop Journalist had the incredible opportunity to visit the Horniman Museum to review the exciting Robot Zoo exhibition. Invited to this prestigious event alongside professional journalists, she showcased outstanding dedication by giving up her half-term holiday to pursue her passion for writing.
Her review was nothing short of amazing, capturing the wonder and excitement of the exhibition with skill and creativity. She wrote for the award-winning First News newspaper, which reaches 2.6 million readers every week—an incredible achievement for a young journalist! Her commitment to excellence and remarkable journalistic talent have truly set her apart, and we wouldn’t be surprised to see her name featured at the BBC in the future!
A heartfelt thank you to our Junior Journalist for her hard work and perseverance—you have made us all incredibly proud. Be sure to check out her fantastic article in First News to learn more about the Robot Zoo exhibition!
Mayor of London Inspires Jessop Pupils During Possibilities Focus
Jessop was honoured to welcome the Mayor of Lambeth John-Paul Ennis as part of our Possibilities Focus—an initiative designed to open up the world of different careers and inspire our children to dream big. The visit was an unforgettable experience as the children had the exciting opportunity to ask the Mayor insightful questions about his role, responsibilities, and vision for the future.
A fun fact that captivated the children’s attention was that he is the youngest ever Mayor of London, taking office at just 27 years old! His passion and drive have been focused on doing more for young people, and he spoke passionately about the importance of giving young people opportunities to succeed and thrive.
The Mayor’s visit left our children feeling inspired and motivated, showing them that with hard work and determination, they can achieve anything. We are incredibly proud to offer our pupils these valuable experiences that encourage them to explore endless possibilities for their future.
Continuing our Possibilities Focus this term, we were thrilled to welcome a member of the Air Ambulance team to Jessop for an inspiring assembly and an interactive workshop with Years 1 and 2. The visit gave our children a fascinating insight into the vital work carried out by the Air Ambulance and the life-saving impact they have in emergencies.
During the workshop, the children had the exciting opportunity to try on some of the specialist equipment used by paramedics and pilots, giving them a hands-on experience of what it’s like to be part of an emergency response team. They also had the chance to ask thoughtful questions, learning about the skills and dedication required to work in such an important role.
The visit sparked curiosity and admiration among the children, showing them how courage, teamwork, and quick thinking can save lives. We are incredibly grateful to the Air Ambulance team for taking the time to engage and inspire our young learners—who knows, we may have some future paramedics or pilots in our midst!
We are excited to announce the launch of the Brilliant Club Scholars Programme at Jessop, offering a selection of our Year 5 students an incredible opportunity to broaden their horizons and dream bigger! Through this prestigious programme, the children will work closely with a PhD tutor over the next six weeks on an assigned project, giving them a taste of higher-level academic learning.
As part of this inspiring journey, the children will also visit a real university, where they will experience life on campus and witness first hand what it feels like to be part of a thriving academic community. The highlight of the programme is the graduation ceremony, which will take place at the university—an unforgettable moment that will fill our young scholars with pride and a sense of achievement.
By participating in the Brilliant Club, our students are not only gaining valuable knowledge and skills but also realising that doors to higher education are wide open to them. This experience is designed to instil confidence, ambition, and a belief that anything is possible. We are incredibly proud to be offering this life-changing opportunity to our Year 5 pupils and can’t wait to see where their journeys will take them!
World Book Day at Jessop was nothing short of magical! The day began with parents joining their children in the classroom to share a story, creating a warm and joyful atmosphere as books came to life through shared reading. The excitement grew as children and teachers, dressed as their favourite book characters, filled the school with vibrant costumes and smiles.
A highlight of the day was the Golden Ticket Treasure Hunt, where eager adventurers searched high and low for hidden treasures. The lucky winners were treated to a special table of delicious treats and exciting prizes! Creativity was also in full swing as children designed their own colourful bookmarks, adding a personal touch to their reading journeys.
Adding to the excitement, the Teacher Swap and Class Swap gave children the chance to experience different stories with different teachers. The grand finale was the World Book Day Parade during assembly, where everyone proudly showcased their imaginative costumes, bringing beloved characters to life on stage.
To round off this fantastic day, the children enjoyed a cosy moment listening to their favourite stories while sipping milkshakes and nibbling on biscuits—an extra special treat made possible by the generosity of our Friends of Jessop (FOJ). A heartfelt thank you to FOJ for their kindness and continued support in making memorable experiences like this possible for all our children.
A huge thank you to Ms Banton for her incredible effort in organising such a fun-packed day filled with a variety of engaging and memorable activities. It was a truly unforgettable celebration that left everyone with smiles, stories, and a renewed love for reading!
Jessop was a sea of red as our children enthusiastically took part in Red Nose Day to support a wonderful cause. The excitement was contagious as children arrived dressed head-to-toe in vibrant shades of red, showing their support and commitment to making a difference. To add an extra splash of fun, the Friends of Jessop worked their magic by painting bright red noses on the children, creating a cheerful and lively atmosphere across the school.
We are thrilled to announce that we raised an impressive £60 in just 30 minutes! This incredible achievement would not have been possible without the hard work and dedication of everyone who helped organise the event and, of course, the generosity of our amazing parents. Your continued support plays a huge role in helping us contribute to such important causes.
The total amount raised will be shared in our next newsletter, and we are so proud of the enthusiasm and kindness shown by our school community. Thank you once again for making Red Nose Day such a fantastic success!
International Women’s Day at Jessop was a powerful and inspiring event that left a lasting impact on our children. We were incredibly fortunate to welcome a wonderful group of parents who generously gave their time to deliver engaging workshops and thought-provoking presentations. From careers in law, medicine, and education to roles in marketing, science, and public service, our children were exposed to a wide range of professions, showing them that the possibilities for their futures are limitless.
The children listened intently as our inspiring guests shared their career journeys, highlighting the importance of resilience, determination, and confidence in pursuing their dreams. The interactive workshops encouraged lively discussions and gave the children a chance to ask insightful questions, leaving them feeling empowered and motivated.
A heartfelt thank you to all the parents who supported this event and took the time to inspire our children with their knowledge and experiences. Your contributions were invaluable and greatly appreciated.
We would also like to extend a huge thank you to Miss Jenkins for her outstanding effort in organising such a fantastic and meaningful event. Her dedication and meticulous planning ensured that the day was not only educational but also truly inspiring for all. We are so proud to have hosted such an enriching celebration that encouraged our children to dream big and believe in their potential! Our list of special visitors:-
MP Helen Hayes - Local MP
Rebecca Sambrook - Lawyer
Ms Ewa Davenport - Researcher/Customer experiment manager
Ms Kate Peevor - Journalist
Tania Matos - Physiotherapist
Sergeant Bruford - Police Serg
Ms Sara Roden - Lawyer
Ms Emma Stuart-Smith - Criminal lawyer
Ms Victoria Wakefield - Barrister
We are excited to announce the return of Enterprise Week at Jessop! This fantastic initiative gives all our children the opportunity to showcase their creativity and business skills by making items to sell for a profit. From handmade crafts to delicious treats, the children will be working hard to produce wonderful products that will be available for purchase. All proceeds from the sales will go directly towards school funds to help provide valuable resources that benefit our entire school community. We were very impressed with the incredible ideas our young entrepreneurs come up with!
Jessop's Year 2 was delighted to welcome For2Feet Ltd, a fantastic company that specialises in teaching children how to ride their scooters safely on the pavement. Their engaging and interactive training sessions equipped our children with essential skills to stay safe while having fun.
The training began with a safety check of each child’s scooter, ensuring that all equipment was in good condition before hitting the pavement. Through a series of safe scooter control games, the children learned how to steer, stop, and balance effectively. They were also taught the importance of pavement etiquette, such as being mindful of pedestrians and sharing space safely.
A key part of the session focused on identifying potential hazards, such as cars reversing from driveways, and understanding how to respond to these dangers. The children also practised finding a safe place to cross the road and learned the safest techniques for crossing while managing their scooters.
The sessions were a huge success, leaving our children feeling more confident and aware of the importance of road safety. A big thank you to For2Feet Ltd for providing such valuable training and helping our children become responsible and safety-conscious scooter riders!
Food Bank Vouchers
In these difficult times any of us can find ourselves in challenging situations. Should you need support, please contact Ms Jenkins or Ms Serbis.who can support with food vouchers discreetly.
Better Start Outreach Support
We are delighted to to have on site our Children Centre where the team works with families at Jessop and our local community. The Children Centre is open every week day and during the holidays. All of the team will be happy to meet parents and carers to give help, advice and support relating to the following issues:
Citizens Advice
Benefits advice
Food bank vouchers
Disability Living Allowance applications
Cost of Living information
Training and employment advice
Activities for children during half-term breaks
Advice on support available within Lambeth
Our Children Centre team have a great deal of knowledge and expertise and are a fantastic asset to have working with us at Jessop. Please feel welcome to pop in and find out more during their opening times.
Central to raising standards in all schools and ensuring all pupils can fulfil their potential, is the need for children to attend school regularly to benefit from their education.
There is a strong link between good learning, high achievement, rapid progress and developing good social skills with excellent attendance.
We want to take this opportunity to outline our expectations for school attendance this academic year.
If your child arrives at school from 9.01am they will be marked as LATE, if they arrive after 9.30am they will be classed as “late after the register is closed” and their attendance is classed as absent for the morning session. As the registers would have already been returned to the Department for Education.
Regular poor punctuality can also have a negative effect on your child’s attendance as well as their academic learning. Being 6 minutes late each day equals 30 minutes of missed learning every week.
If your child’s attendance drops below 90%, we will need to share our concerns with the Local Authority Education Welfare Officer at Lambeth Council.
It is important to us that any concerns or questions you may have are dealt with as efficiently as possible. The structure we have in place is designed to do just that.
The structure
1) Your first port of call is -Your child’s class teacher
(email via the admin team to request a meeting)
2) You may contact the leader of your child’s phase
This includes issues regarding communication and organisation
(email via the admin team to request a meeting)
Should you be dissatisfied with the handling or outcome…
3) You may raise your concerns with Mr Baffoe
(email via the admin team to request a meeting outlining the nature for the purpose of the meeting)
Leaders are required to share items (as appropriate) with Mr Baffoe on a weekly basis, even if the matter is being handled by them.
We request that you do not field your concerns to FoJ but instead work directly with the school staff as outlined above.
