Old Ford Newsletter

December 12th 2025

Principal’s Message

It’s almost the end of the term and it has been a very busy one. We’ve had a lot going on this term, not least a full term of swimming in our on site swimming pool. Thanks to our great swimming teachers Nadia and Charlotte, our pupils in Y4, 5 and 6 have made really good progress in their ability.

The swimming lessons end today, but all class teachers in the above year groups picked 10 pupils in their classes who have shone this term for a fun ‘Splish and Splash’ swimming session today. These pupils were nominated by their teachers for excellent effort and behaviour this term. Well done if this is you!

No clubs 15th-19th December

Because we have so many exciting things going on in the final week of term, there will no clubs taking place. They will begin again next term.

Pines and Needles

We’re excited to share that Old Ford Academy has kindly been donated a beautiful Christmas tree by Pines and Needles.

As part of their gift, they are also offering parents 10% off Christmas trees from their London pop-up stores and online shop.

🎄 Discount Code: SCHOOL10
Follow @pinesandneedles for festive activities at local stores, and visit www.pinesandneedles.com for full details and all store locations across London.

This week's Cake with Kevin Value Award Winners! EYFS and KS1

RC – Zohaib: Zohaib is receiving an excellence award for his amazing attitude to learning. He always listens and focuses really well. He works hard in all his lessons and really enjoys learning. We are all very proud of him. Well Done!

RI – Amelia: Integrity. Amelia has settled into Reception so well, you are always doing the right thing and you are trying so hard when working with adults. You have already made so much progress in Phonics and writing. Well done Amelia, keep up the good work.

1C – Zoha: Zoha has shown fantastic excellence in her learning this week. She contributes confidently during whole-class carpet sessions and listens beautifully. She shares her sentences clearly and models excellent writing, using conjunctions to extend her sentences with correct grammar. We are very proud of her brilliant effort and attitude.

1E – Kaiden: Community. Kaiden you always show kindness and warmth to your friends. You always look out for those who need help. All the teachers in year 1 feel so happy to have you. You superstar! Keep shining.

1I – Sara: You consistently make honest and responsible choices. Very well done. Keep it up!

2C – Yaqub: Yaqub – Well done for being so kind, caring and thoughtful towards everyone and anyone. I have noticed you helping others and you always use kind words. You are amazing and we are so lucky to have you in 2C!

2I – Zaid: For showing exceptional writing skills. Your ideas are clear, creative and beautifully expressed. Keep writing with confidence!

This week's Cake with Kevin Value Award Winners! KS2

3C – Sophia: Well done for producing an amazing comic superhero in your art lessons. You really took pride in your work, took your time and ended up with a superb outcome!

3E – Wasim: Integrity: For being sensible and responsible on our trip. I was very impressed.

3I – Khairah: Excellence – Khairah has been an outstanding student and this behaviour has reflected in her producing outstanding work! Well done Khairah.

4C – Nalah: Well done for always trying your best, displaying a lovely smile and having amazing manners!

4E – Zain: Well done for working hard in all areas of your learning. You take part in class discussions and listen well to other children’s ideas. During PE you showed great team work , ensuring that everyone was included.

5C – Suhana: You are doing amazingly well in your Maths lessons. You are always on task, complete challenges eagerly and do so with a smile on your face. Well done Suhana!

5E – Shakir: Excellence- Well done, Shakir, for trying really hard in your assessment this week. You have done fantastic work, putting great effort into everything you’ve been doing in class – all with a great big smile.

5I – Olajide: Congratulations Jide for making a great effort to adapt to your new school. Well done for working incredibly hard to improve your writing skills across all subjects, and for developing the confidence to share your ideas with the rest of the class. We are very proud of you. Claudia.

6C – Zaara: Excellence – you have been making a huge effort in class recently. I have noticed that you have been making more contributions to class discussions and have been an excellent role model to others with your learning behaviours. Keep up the great work!

6C – Atifa: For making the effort to complete Reading Plus at home and for being really mature and reflective about a situation once you looked at it from their point of view… I’m proud of you Atifa!

 

Autumn Term Calendar

Help Your Child to Communicate

How can I be more punctual?

Be prepared

Go to bed at a reasonable time

Give yourself more time in the morning

Be aware of the time

Social chat bubbles with different language words in speech bubble shape, concept illustration for international communication and translation. EPS10 vector.

Fire Safety

Members of the Fire Brigade have been in our school recently, talking to pupils in Year 2 – Year 5 about fire safety, and what to do in the event of a fire. Use the links below to download the documents.

Key Stage 1 Fire Plan

Key Stage 2 Fire Plan

Charge Safe

Free Home Fire Safety Visit

Community Resources for Families

  • The government has launched their Best Start in Life supporting the Plan for Change target of 75% of children being school-ready by 2028. Visit the Best Start in Life website and sign up for personalised weekly emails.
  • There are Young V&A Autumn activities for all ages, including sensory sessions!
  • Young Community Languages- for ages 6-18. These free sessions help children learn their heritage language or an additional community language.
  • Have you ever considered volunteering? The Early Help service allows parents to come together, learn new skills and prepare for work. 
  • The new expanded funded early education entitlements are available now – discover more about the 2-year-old childcare extension.
  • The Disability Services Advocacy Team are holding online sessions to raise awareness of the different Disability Services benefits and grants – PIP, DLA, IIDB and AtW.
Captivating melody of music notes and signs on abstract dark background musical banner concept.

Online safety

We are still getting reports of pupils on social media apps such as Snapchat.

As you know, an important part of our curriculum is teaching pupils about esafety. We know that a lot of our pupils spend a lot of their time online, either through online gaming or on social media apps. This can sometimes lead to contact with inappropriate people
and/or exposure to inappropriate language. We strongly recommend that you monitor your children’s usage of the internet and that you are aware of what they are doing online.

Most social media apps have an age limit of 13+. If you are allowing your children to access these apps you are putting them at risk!

Read more about e-safety for you and your child.

Academy Council

Our next meeting will be on Tuesday 13th January at 9.15am.

 

See the minutes from previous meetings here
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Start and end of the day

Please remember that there are no staff on duty in the playgrounds before and after school so parents/carers should supervise their own children. Children should not be playing with balls or on the climbing frames.

To keep children safe please do not park on the double yellow or zig-zag lines when you are collecting or dropping off. Tower Hamlets parking enforcement officers are conducting regular patrols in the area.

When collecting your child at the end of the day please wait until all pupils are in their lines before speaking to the teacher and collecting your child. We need to make sure that all of our pupils go home with the right adult!

Hands holding a mobile phone
A blue pen rests next to a name tag for a child on a soft fabric.

Unauthorised Absences in Term Time

We follow government guidance on term time holidays and we do not authorise pupil holidays during term time. We encourage parents/carers to take their holidays during one of the scheduled holiday breaks.

You can be fined or face legal action for taking your child on holiday during term time.

Read the government guidance here

Bow Foodbank

Did you know Bow Foodbank now operates out of Bow Community Hall?

Tuesday 10am – 12pm
Tower Hamlets residents only

Tuesday 12.30pm – 4pm
Click and Collect, order by 1pm Sunday.

Wednesday 2pm – 7pm
Open to all

Thursday 10am – 1pm
Tower Hamlets only

Friday collection 8am – 12pm
Order by 9pm Wednesday

 

Bow Foodbank is open to all, there’s no need for a referral or voucher. Visit them at:

Bow Community Hall
1, William Place,
E3 5ED

See you soon!

We are now closed for the holidays! We hope you enjoy your break and we look forward to seeing you back at school on  Tuesday 6th January.