Headteacher's Newsletter 3

Friday 19^th September 2025

Dear Parents and Carers,

We would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to all our parents and carers for supporting another wonderful week of learning here at school. It has been a joy to see the children so engaged and enthusiastic in their studies.

A particular highlight this week was the beautiful Celebration Of The Word led by Class 6P. Centred on Saint Patrick of Ireland, the children reminded us of the importance of courage, faith and bringing the light of Christ into the lives of others. We are grateful to the parents who were able to join us and share in this special moment of prayer and reflection.

As we look ahead to Sunday’s Gospel (Luke 16:1–13), we are reminded of the challenge Jesus sets before us: “You cannot be the slave both of God and of money.” It is a powerful message, encouraging us to choose our values carefully and to live with integrity and faith. This is at the heart of what we try to nurture in our children each day—placing God and love of others at the centre of all that we do.

Thank you once again for your continued support and partnership.

We are a nut-free school

A gentle reminder to all parents and carers that we are a nut-free school. Please ensure that no products containing nuts are brought into school at any time, as we must keep all children safe.

We also kindly ask that do not include any food items if you wish to bring in party bags. This is to protect children with allergies and dietary requirements, and to make sure all pupils can enjoy celebrations safely and inclusively.

Thank you for your understanding and support in helping us maintain a safe and welcoming environment for every child.

What is the Pupil Premium Grant — Could Your Child Benefit?

You may have heard of Pupil Premium, but wonder what it really means for your child and family. In short: Pupil Premium is extra funding given to schools by the government to support children who may face disadvantage — financially or socially — so that all pupils have a fair chance to succeed.

Who is eligible?

Children whose parents receive the following may be eligible:

income support
Universal Credit if you apply on or after 1 April 2018 your household earned income must be less than £7,400 a year (after tax and not including any benefits you get)
income-based jobseeker's allowance
income-related Employment and Support Allowance
Working Tax Credit run-on - paid for 4 weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit
support under part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
child tax credit, and have an annual income that does not exceed £16,190 as assessed by Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs. (If you receive working tax credit as well as child tax credit you will not be entitled to free school meals).
the guarantee element of state pension credit

What does it do?

If your child is eligible, the school gets extra money (the “premium”). This is not money given to parents directly — instead, the school uses it to help in a variety of ways, such as:

Supporting learning with one-to-one or small group tuition;
Providing extra resources (books, equipment, tech support);
Funding enrichment and wrap-around opportunities (clubs, trips) so no child is left out;
Helping with barriers outside the classroom (attendance, wellbeing, etc.)

Why you should apply / register

Registering can make your child eligible for Pupil Premium funding, which can unlock significant benefits.
It makes a real difference for the school in planning extra support. Not applying means your child might miss out on extra help.
It’s completely confidential. Nobody will treat you differently; the goal is to support our children, not to stigmatise.

If you think your child may be eligible, please get in touch with the school office. Let’s make sure every child benefit from the support available.

Year 6 Parents
We invite you to a Transition Meeting on Thursday 2^nd October 2025 at 3:45pm.

This meeting will explain how to apply for your child’s secondary school place using Croydon’s eAdmissions system. We’ll walk you through the timeline, what information you'll need, and answer your questions. You don’t need to figure this out alone — it’s better to get ahead of the deadlines together.

What you need to know about eAdmissions

You apply through the national online system called eAdmissions. You’ll need to create an account. Croydon Council
The deadline for submitting applications for secondary school places in Croydon is 31 October 2025. Croydon Council
If you apply after 31 October, your child may be less likely to get into your preferred schools — late applications are considered after all on-time applications. Croydon Council
If your application is really late (lodged after 8 December 2025 through to 2 March 2026), it won’t be part of the initial allocation round. The remaining places will be offered after all on-time ones are allocated, which may mean fewer options.

Rags2Riches4Schools Clothes Collection

We’re holding a clothes collection in support of Rags2Riches4Schools. If your child has outgrown school uniforms, everyday clothes, or accessories you’d otherwise throw out, please bring them in!

What to donate:

Reusable clothes
Items kids have grown out of
Any clothes in good condition

What we can’t accept:
Unfortunately, worn-out items or anything damaged beyond repair won’t be collected.

Please bring in any items to between Monday 6^th October 2025 and Friday 10^th October 2025.

Every bag helps raise funds and keeps textiles out of landfill. Your support makes a difference!

Swimming Kit Reminder

As swimming lessons begin, please ensure that your child is equipped with the correct kit:

Girls: One-piece swimming costumes only. Two-piece costumes or costumes with skirts are not permitted.
Boys: Swimming trunks must be either jammers or swimming shorts with netting. PE shorts, football shorts, or underwear are not acceptable. Swimming shirts are not required, as lessons take place indoors.
Hats: All children must wear swimming hats. Girls with longer or thicker hair (including braids or weaves) will require larger hats to ensure a secure fit.
Goggles: Strongly recommended to support children’s confidence and comfort in the water.
Towels: A full-sized towel must be provided. Flannels or small towels are not sufficient.

Thank you for supporting us in ensuring all pupils are properly prepared for their swimming lessons.

Achievement Certificates

The achievement certificates this week are awarded to:

Isabella in 3A
Scarlett in 3E
Zander in 4D
Kallarney in 4T
Firewamiri to in 5B
Mikaela in 5C
Leom in 6G
Zachary in 6P

The Headteacher’s award goes to Guilia 5C

The Kindness Award goes to Ivy in 6P

The Swimming Award goes to Anushik in 5B.

Yours faithfully,

Sarah Fizul

Acting Headteacher