Old Ford Newsletter

November 28th 2025

Principal’s Message

Only 3 weeks to go until the Christmas holidays!

There’s lots going on, so I have included a calendar here at the top of the newsletter so you don’t miss out on anything. (Remember we still are continuing with our wristband attendance rewards – another reason to make sure you’re in school every day!)

Raising Funds for Jamaica

On the 14th of November we had a non-uniform day for Jamaican disaster relief. I am pleased to tell you that we raised £280! Well done everyone!

Autumn Term Calendar

Pop-up Bookshop
Mon 1st - Fri 5th Dec

Find the time each class has been allocated to visit the bookshop by clicking here.

Winter Fair after school
Thu 11th Dec
Winter Concert: KS1-Y3
Mon 15th Dec
10.00am
Winter Concert: Y4-Y6
Mon 15th Dec
2.00pm
Reception Nativity
Thu 18th Dec
9.30am
Last day of autumn term
Fri 19th Dec

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

The Pop-up Bookshop is coming!

The table below tells you when your class will get their chance to go and choose books.

Week 1

Begins 24th Nov

Week 2

Begins 1st Dec

Week 3

Begins 8th Dec

Week 4

Begins 15th Dec

Monday

RE: 14:00 - 14:40

5I: 09:05 - 09:40

4E: 15:00 - 15:25

Tuesday

NC: 09:15 - 10:15


RC: 14:00 - 14:40

3E: 15:00 - 15:25

Wednesday

NE: 09:15 - 10:15


RI: 14:00 - 14:40

1I: 09:10 - 09:50


1C: 09:50 - 10:30


1E: 11:10 - 11:50

3C: 15:00 - 15:25

Thursday

5C: 9:05 - 09:40


5E: 14:50 - 15:25

2C: 09:10 - 09:50


2I: 09:50 - 10:30


2E: 11:10 - 11:50

3I: 15:00 - 15:25

Friday

NI: 09:15 - 10:15

6C: 13:30 - 14:00

4I: 14:30 - 14:55


4C: 15:00 - 15:25

Set of ugly Christmas sweater illustration
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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

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

RC – Souhayl: Souhayl is receiving an Integrity award for having a fantastic learning attitude. He works really hard and always tries his best. Well done!

1C – Namirah: This week I would like to nominate Namirah for an integrity value. Namirah is always trying her best, even when things feel a bit tricky, she still joins in and gives every task a go – that shows amazing courage! You’ve been showing such wonderful perseverance each day, and we are so proud of how you keep going and keep trying. Well done Namirah!

1E – Falaq: Excellence – Falaq this value award is for your excellent extended writing. It was a pleasure to read your excellent sentences describing yourself. You are a natural writer and I look forward to reading all your future pieces of work. Well done Falaq, you should feel very proud of yourself.

1I – Victory-Abie: You are a kind, helpful, caring and friendly member of our class. You’re a pleasure to teach!

2C – Aasiya: Integrity – Aasiya, you showed a huge amount of integrity this week when I was giving out our attendance wristbands. I am so proud of how honest and thoughtful you are. Keep being you!

2E – Issam: Issam is always doing the right thing and showing excellence in lesson. He sits up smartly, focuses well and tries his best to answer questions. Well done Issam – you are an excellent role model.

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

4E – Khadeeja: Excellence – Your behaviour and attitude to learning is impeccable! You are always the first to follow instructions and do the right thing. I have noticed how focused you have been on your work and during our class discussions. You are amazing!

4I – Jaman: Well done for listening carefully to feedback and applying it in the following lesson. Well done!

5C – Teddy: Teddy is doing well in Maths and always aims to consistently embrace challenging, greater depth tasks. Well done – keep it up!

5E – Ameliah: Community – It is so lovely to have Ameliah in 5E. She always volunteers to help and looks after the books in our reading corner to make sure they are neat and tidy. Thank you Ameliah!

5I – Khaled: Excellence – Congratulations Khaled for working very hard to improve your work across all subjects. You have developed your writing skills and I can see that you enjoy sharing your brilliant ideas during class discussions. We are very proud of you! Claudia.

6E – Whole Class (yes, all of you!): I am so very proud of your mature and thoughtful questions during our PSHE lessons! I feel confident you will contribute positively to society. You are able to share you own opinions sensitively and open to other people’s ideas and differences. This is just what we need more of in our modern world… Well done!

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. 
  • Public Health is investing in our resident community projects, the final voting day for Devons Road and Bromley By Bow Centre is on 22nd November, find out more details here.
  • 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