Taking Stock: January 2025

• To ensure our children are happy and we explain things well
• To ensure no child leaves our school unable to read
• To ensure children learn a broad vocabulary to access the world around them
• To enhance the educational experiences of diagnosed and undiagnosed children with SEND

When is it too late to say 'Happy New Year'? It's still January, so I think I'm safe!

While the Christmas break seems like a distant memory, January has flown by. January is seen by many as a month for renewal. For new beginnings and fresh starts. At Stockwell, we firmly believe that everyone can start again and that every day is a new day. We started the term by reviewing our five school rules and what these look like in the school. We are:

• Resilient
• Kind
• Respectful
• Hard-working
• Good listeners

We also thought about how these rules link to our January value of 'Trust'.

I am excited about 2025 and all that it will bring. I hope that it will be our best year yet.

We are aware that there have been some teething problems with the BJS Federation Parent App (Weduc).

Ms Boateng has been doing a great job of solving these.

So that we can offer further support, we are also hosting another parent drop-in on Wednesday 5th February.

Do come along so that Ms Parker and Ms Boateng can offer you a hand.

It's nearly International Women's Day. Last year, we flooded the school with positive female role models from diverse backgrounds. We had some fantastic parents, carers and friends in school to talk to the children about their jobs, hobbies and interests. It was brilliant to have our parent community in to talk to the children. Can we do it again?

We are looking for Mums, Aunties, Sisters, Grandmothers, Friends and Neighbours to come in and talk to the children.

If you, or someone you know would be interested, please email the school office via the clericalofficer2@stockwell-pri.lambeth.sch.uk email address

Please let us know:

1. Your job, volunteer work, special interests or skills.

2. What day/ date works for you?

2. What time works best? morning or afternoon?... if there is a preferred time please specify.

3. How long would you like to spend- 15mins/30mins/1hour

4. Preferred year group?

5. Will you need to bring in any specialist equipment? Will you need access to a computer/ a display panel?

We cannot wait to have you all in school for this wonderful, celebratory event.

The Children's Book Project is back!

This term, each child will be gifted 2 books of their choice through the Pop-Up Book Hut. This can be found in the Green Zone.

The children will visit the Pop-Up Book hut during their allocated week. Parents and carers can then visit with their children on Fridays between 3:30 and 3:45 to choose two books to take home and keep. Check below for your child's date.

How exciting! Thank you to Ms Thomas for organising this wonderful opportunity.

Last week, we had Rocksteady in to deliver music assemblies to all of the children. We are looking forward to starting our Rocksteady bands, so don't forget to book a place for your child. These weekly music lessons take place in school and are led by professional musicians who make learning music fun. It’s the perfect way for children to learn new musical skills, make friends and have a great time – all at school! Rocksteady lessons are also shown to amplify confidence, wellbeing and social skills.

Here’s what else you need to know:

• There’s no experience necessary and all instruments for lessons are provided.
• Watch as your child performs in their end of term concerts, showing just how far they have come.
• Children learn up to 300 instrument, band, and performance skills, whilst playing songs they love.
• Children can achieve an Ofqual-regulated Music qualification, accredited by Trinity College London, without having to take a single exam.
• You’ll receive regular progress updates, including photos and videos.

Our Out of School Hours Clubs are back.

This time round we are running:

Gymnastics: (ages 4-8) - Wednesday 6pm-7pm

Cricke: (ages 8-11) - Saturday 10.15am-11.15am

Football: (ages 8-11) - Saturday 11.30am-12.30pm

We will be running taster sessions in school during the next two weeks. Visit bjsfederationclubs.classforkids.io to book a place for your child.

Please see our community events below for clubs at our Federation Schools.

The boys played Clapham Manor and started the game really well. However, the boys started to slow down, allowing Clapham Manor to capitalise on this and win the game 3-0.

In the second game, Stockwell started quickly, scoring early through Tariq. Kings Avenue made it difficult, but we quickly hit 3 more, with Luay scoring the goal of the game. Stockwell ended the match 4-0 winners.

Player of the day: Karim 5H

The girls' league continued on Wednesday. The team showed a much more positive performance with better individual games and their team play much improved. Unfortunately, after a hard-fought game against Van Gogh the girls lost 1-0. They remain on six points in the league and look to build on this positive match next week.

Don't forget to drop off your old, unwanted clothes. The donations will go to new homes that need them and we will raise money for the school. We have already filled the bank once, so keep your items coming please. Every time we fill the bank it raises money for the school.

Fill up a bag and pop it in.

Have a look at the poster below for more information.

The clothes bank is located outside the Main Hall.

To learn more about the curriculum for your year group/s this term, visit the school's website to access the knowledge organisers.

Homework is issued on a Friday and is due back in on a Wednesday. Please make time to help your child with their homework. All tasks are based on what the children have been learning in school. While the children can learn independently, they might need your help to get started.

All children should be reading at home daily. Please remember to make a comment in your child's reading record after you have listened to them read.

February

• 3rd - 7th - MFL Week
• 5th - BJS Federation App (Weduc) parent Drop-In
• 5th - 5AP Junior Roadwatch Session
• 6th - Writing Parent Drop-In
• 7th - Number Day
• 7th - Year 2 and 5 Fire Safety Talks
• 10th - 14th - E-Safety Week
• 11th - Safer Internet Day
• 13th - PTA Non-Uniform Day
• 13th - PTA Disco
• 13th - Year 6 SATs Parent Workshop
• 13th - Federation Spanish Workshop
• 14th - Year 2 Trip to Southbank Theatre
• 14th - 5H Junior Roadwatch Session
• 14th - Reception Trip to London Aquarium
• 14th - End of term (3:30pm)

Half Term Break

• 24th - Term begins for all pupils
• 26th - Year 4 and 4 Multiplication Check Workshop
• 28th - Maths Drop-In

March

• 6th - World Book Day
• 6th - BLC Maths Masterclass
• 7th -Year 3 Battles in Brixton (WW2) Day - Imperial War Museum/ Sleepover
• 10th - 14th - Science Week
• 11th - Year 2 Scooter Training
• 17th - Year 3 Trip to Wonderlab
• 21st - Comic Relief
• 24th - 28th Spring Enterprise Week
• 25th - Singing Festival (Year 4-6 Choir)
• 25th - SEND Coffee Morning
• 26th - Year 2 Trip to Science Museum
• 28th - Spring Enterprise Event
• 26th/ 27th - Parent/ Teacher Consultations

As we grow up, we’re inevitably exposed to new and challenging feelings – whether it’s sadness, fear or rage. These emotions can be tough to handle when we’re still learning about the world – and even once we’ve passed into adulthood – which is why emotional literacy is a vital life skill.

Of course, when emotions are running high, it can be tricky to help young people process these feelings in a healthy way, but it’s incredibly important that we do so as parents and educators. This free guide from the National College provides you with expert tips on teaching children to recognise their own emotions and deal with them in a mature manner.

Visit The National College to access more resources.

We have an active PTA, called Friends of Stockwell, who do a brilliant job of fundraising for the school and bringing the community together. It is great to see new faces taking part. Every parent is a Friend of Stockwell. I ask that everyone gets involved. If you can spare an hour per term (that's three hours per year), your contribution would make a huge difference.

Please email friendsofstockwell@gmail.com to get involved.

The Friends of Stockwell Primary School PTA have been busy this year! We’ve organised 2 movie nights, a disco, a summer fair and a winter fair, raising an incredible £1879. We’ve also raised another £250 from Easy Fundraising, the clothes recycling bin and the Asda Cashpot scheme.

We’ve used this money to support pupils at the school - we’ve contributed £1415 towards school trips to make these affordable to everyone, £480 to class Christmas presents, and added to parent contributions towards Secret Santa so families who need it get vouchers to help over the festive season.

We’re very proud of all the hard work by parents on the PTA. Please join us so we can do even more next year!

Can you help out around the school? Are you a keen gardener? Do you have skills or knowledge that the children would benefit from? Visit our Call to Action page to let us know how you can help.

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 9am 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.

Holidays in Term Time

Education Law states that it is not a parent’s right to take a child out of school during term time to go on holiday. Families must seek permission from the school and your school’s Headteacher is limited in what they can authorise. We can authorise leave if a child is in a performance and a performance license has been granted by the local authority. For any other authorised holiday, there must be extenuating circumstances therefore we cannot authorise a holiday because it is cheaper outside of term time.

Well done to the attendance winners below.

We have been hit by a sickness bug, which has seen our attendance fall to below 95%. Let's see if we can end the term on a high. Can we get back up to over 95% by the holidays?

School uniform should be worn throughout the school day. While we do not enforce that all school uniform should be branded, children should be wearing the correct colours (white t-shirt tops, navy trousers/ skirts/ pinafore dresses, sensible black shoes). Football boots/ coloured trainers are not school uniform and should not be worn.

Children should be changing into their PE kits for PE lessons (blue or black tracksuit bottoms, plain white t-shirt, trainers). We have made arrangements for girls and boys to be able to change separately, so the expectation is that all children change for PE.

While our supplier of school uniform is WearAbouts, we do have some items available for sale from the school office. Please check with us to see if we have what you need in stock.

If you have a concern, please see your child's class teacher in the first instance.

If they are unable to resolve the problem, please speak to your child's phase leader.

If they are unable to help, please see one of the school's Assistant Headteachers.

If you are still dissatisfied, please see the Head of School.

We let space around the school.

You can hire the school hall, and grounds, on a regular basis or as a one off.

Need a space for a party?

Looking for a pitch for your team?

Contact the school office on:

clericalofficer2@stockwell-pri.lambeth.sch.uk

to make an enquiry.

What are Pre-School, Nursery and Reception learning about? Find out below.

Years 1 and 2 are incredibly busy with their learning. Find out more on our website.

Are you keen to find out more about the learning in Years 3 and 4? If so, have a look by clicking the button below.

Please check our website, to find out what the children in Years 5 and 6 are learning about.

We are delighted to to have on site our Children Centre where the team works with families at Stockwell 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

Parenting Support and Advice

ESOL classes

Vaccination clinics

Access to Midwives and Health Visitors practitioners

Take Your Pick sessions

Baby and Toddler session

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

In these difficult times any of us can find ourselves in challenging situations. Should you need support, please contact Mrs Fraga or Mrs Bonsu who can support with food vouchers discreetly.

Our Children Centre team have a great deal of knowledge and expertise and are a fantastic asset to have working with us at Stockwell. Please feel welcome to pop in and find out more during their opening times.

The children's centre can now support children up to 11, so do pop in to see what they can offer.

Are you a parent of a child or young person under the age of 18, who has special education needs and/or disabilities (SEND)? Is your child displaying behaviours that you are finding difficult to support, and that are impacting on the quality of life of you and your family? If so, this training is for you...

Click here to sign up

Should you have any additional questions, please email Natalia Kurysz at natalia@positivesupportgroup.com.

An amazing opportunity for our young children living in Lambeth!

Parents can register with Dolly's Parton's Imagination Library and receive a free book each month through the post, from birth up until their child's fifth birthday.

The flyer is attached, or visit this link: Register for the Imagination Library

We are looking for two enthusiastic, hard-working individuals to work in our new homework club! You will be assisting a lead tutor in delivering our new program, ‘Educational Enrichment at The Trust.’

We are also recruiting a qualified teacher/tutor to lead our new homework club in our brand-new building! Working in a team of three (one tutor and two assistants), this is a great opportunity for an enthusiastic educator to support local young people in furthering their education.

Interested? Please send your CV and cover letter

to info@thetrust.org.uk Interviews will be held the week commencing 24th Feb

Please see below for wallet friendly family events in Lambeth and the local area.

Check out the flyers below to see the clubs on offer at Jessop and Bonneville.

The Gaia Centre provides support for Lambeth residents affected by gender-based violence, including domestic abuse. It’s closed on 29th March and April 1st, 2024, but has an out-of-hours on-call service: 07725245779. Normal hours are 8am-6pm Monday – Friday. It also offers services for young people and advice for practitioners. Tel: 020 7733 8724, E: lambethvawg@refuge.org.uk.

Helpline support is available:

• National Domestic Abuse Helpline, 24/7
• Women’s Aid live chat, daily 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
• Men’s Advice Line, weekdays, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
• Samaritans Helpline, 24/7
• Childline 24/7
• In emergencies, call 999

Support online:

Kooth is a free online mental health and wellbeing service available to all young people in Lambeth aged 10-25. It is a self-referral service, where young people have access to fully-qualified online counsellors until 10pm every single day of the year. There is also a range of other support including: an online interactive magazine, discussion boards, self-help tools, and wellbeing activities.

The new Lambeth microsite to accompany the ‘It’s Not That Deep’ campaign is aimed specifically at young people and contains information for those experiencing harassment, those wanting to become allies, and those who are doing the harmful behaviour.

You can view useful resources on emotional wellbeing and mental health support services for children in Lambeth.

For the latest Lambeth VAWG news and campaigns please go to: https://linktr.ee/lambethvawg

We have an engagement hub with a specific page focused on what we can do to improve public safety for women and girls which asks residents and visitors to tell us where in Lambeth they feel safe and unsafe by placing a pin on the Map. Please sign up for email updates about the project using the ‘follow’ button on the new site.

A new child comes into care every day in Lambeth. Many of these children will need the love and stability that a foster carer can provide.

What is fostering?

Being a foster parent means caring for someone else’s child as part of your family. Foster carers look after children who are unable to live with their parents, through no fault of their own. You'll be given lots of training and support, as well as allowances to cover living costs, the costs of food, travel and for the time you'll need to invest in supporting any child in your care.

Who can foster?

Lambeth Fostering welcome applications from everyone with a passion for caring. You just need to be over 21, have a spare room, good written and spoken English, and permanent UK residency.

Find out how you can be the difference: www.lambeth.gov.uk/be-the-difference

Have you downloaded the Weduc parent app?

Stay abreast of school events, book trips, clubs and give permission.

If you are finding it difficult to find your way around the app, check out our guide below.