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January 2025 Edition

"Trust is when we share with each other and know we will take care of what’s important."

• 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

Welcome back to a brand New Year and a new term. As we embark on the New Year and welcome our children back to school, we are reminded of the endless possibilities that lie ahead. The start of a new term is a moment to reflect on the past, while looking forward with renewed hope and optimism. For our children, each new day presents an opportunity to grow, to challenge themselves, and to set personal goals that inspire both academic achievement and personal development. We encourage them to approach this term with confidence, knowing that every step forward, no matter how small, is progress.

The journey ahead is one of discovery, resilience, and learning, and we are committed to providing an environment where every child can flourish. In the coming weeks, there will be new experiences and challenges that will help shape their futures—whether it’s mastering a new skill, building lasting friendships, or learning to overcome obstacles with determination.

As parents and educators, it’s important that we continue to support and encourage our children, fostering a positive mindset that empowers them to believe in their potential. Together, let’s look ahead with hope and excitement for all that this new term will bring. We are excited to witness the growth and achievements of every child as we work together to make this year one of success, joy, and meaningful progress.

Keep an eye out for the January SEND Newsletter out soon!

We are delighted to share that Ms Gomes has welcomed a beautiful baby boy! She is grateful for the kindness, generous gifts, and well wishes she received from the school community and would like to thank everyone for their thoughtfulness. While she has been enjoying this special time with her family, she is now excited to officially share the news with everyone and looks forward to returning to school!

Many thanks to all parents who have had their say in our Parent Survey . We value your opinion and appreciate any thoughts and suggestions on how we can best improve our practice.

Parental voice is important to us. Each year we carry out a parent survey. The responses are carefully analysed and woven into our School Development Plan. Results will be published and sent out on completion.

Koala Class presented a heartfelt class assembly focused on the theme of trust. The children did a wonderful job in exploring what trust means, both in their relationships with each other and in the wider world. Through a series of songs, role-play activities, and thoughtful reflections, they demonstrated how trust is an essential part of friendship, family, and our school community.

The assembly was a beautiful reminder of the importance of trust in building strong, supportive relationships. Koala Class performances were thoughtful and engaging, with each child contributing to the message in their own unique way. It was inspiring to see how they understood the concept and how they are learning to nurture trust in their everyday interactions.

A big thank you to all the parents, staff, and pupils who supported the assembly. We are incredibly proud of Koala Class efforts and look forward to seeing how they continue to build trust as they grow and learn together.

We are delighted to invite parents to join us for their child's upcoming Class Assembly. This is a wonderful opportunity to see the hard work and creativity your child has put into their learning, as well as to celebrate their achievements with the school community. Please read the following leaflet for more details on the date, time, and any special preparations. We look forward to welcoming you and sharing this special occasion together.

We are delighted to invite you to join us for the Kangaroo Class Assembly where the children will be celebrating the vibrant traditions of Chinese New Year. This year, the festivities will be especially meaningful as we welcome the Year of the Snake.

The children have been working hard to learn about the significance of Chinese New Year, including traditional customs, symbols, and the importance of family reunions. They will share their knowledge through songs, performances, and a special presentation. Please see the attached flyer for more information.

We look forward to seeing you there.

Don't forget that we are hosting our Parent Maths Drop-In, where you will have the opportunity to learn about the methods and approaches we use to teach Maths at our school. Each class will be set up with Maths resources for you and your child to enjoy. This session is designed to help you understand how we support your child’s learning and provide you with useful strategies to reinforce their Maths skills at home. Walk straight into your child's classroom on the day of the Maths Drop-In, and we look forward to seeing you there! All parents and carers are welcome. Please refer to the attached flyer for more details.

Please remember, there is a 'Word of the Week' for every subject.

In this Jessop Journal, we cast a spotlight on some of the vocabulary learnt in Maths this term.

What Maths word of the week has your child been learning?

Nursery - Tomorrow

Reception - Altogether

Year 1- Equal

Year 2- Pound

Year 3- Portion

Year 4 - Remainder

Year 5 - Algorithm

Year 6 - Investment

Please reinforce the learning by asking them what it means.

Early Reading Development

At Jessop we use the Essential Letters and Sounds (ELS) program for reading. In EYFS and KS1, children are taught 20 minutes of phonics everyday. Ask your child what sound they are currently learning?

We encourage children to continue applying their phonics learning to support their spelling in KS2, particularly for those tricky words. You are never too old to use phonics!

At Jessop we teach reading discreetly, this means it is taught as a single subject. Each day we have a different focus.

On Mondays it is ‘Text and Talk,’ the children are introduced to their new text for the week. Children are exposed to a variety of different text types and genres. The children hear the text being read to them and identify new vocabulary and meaning of words.

On Tuesday, the children become ‘Word Detectives’. The children answer retrieval questions. This is where they can find the answer in the text. Children use their skimming and scanning skills to find their answers.

On Wednesday, children use their ‘Thinking Caps’. They answer a variety of inference questions. They are taught the skills that help them use your prior knowledge and textual information to draw conclusions, make critical judgments, and form interpretations of a text.

Thursday is our ‘Building Blocks’ lesson. This is where children look at the grammar and structures of the text they have been reading.

On Fridays, children answer opinion questions. We call this our ‘Points of View’ lessons. Children are encouraged to express their opinions and make links to the text and their own experiences in the world.

The children revisit the text daily reading it aloud, independently and with their peers.

Try reinforcing the day's learning with focussed questioning during home reading time!

Please help support your child with their spellings by looking at the spelling rules, sounds and patterns in each word. Practising spellings daily (or as much as possible) will help your children to learn and remember each word.

In KS1, children will need to choose five spelling words to put into sentences.

In KS2, children will need to write a sentence for each word, using neat, joined handwriting.

This will give the children the opportunity to understand the meaning of each word, put the word into context and allow them to practise their handwriting.

The children will complete a Spelling and Times Table test during the week.

Let's help Jessop Primary School win up to £1,500 to transform their playground into a vibrant, nature-filled space for learning and play!

Jessop Primary is shortlisted for Tesco's Stronger Starts funding, and they need your vote. This fantastic initiative supports projects that give children a healthier start, and our project, "Outside Space and Biodiversity", aims to revitalise the playground with more plants and greenery. Create exciting opportunities for wildlife exploration and foster a deeper connection with the natural world.

Kenneth Baffoe, Jessop Primary head of school said: "This project is about more than just a playground; it's about creating a space where our children can thrive, connect with nature, and build a brighter future. We're incredibly grateful for the community's support."

Benjamin Wallace, Year 2, added: "I really want to learn more about minibeasts and having more plants in the playground would mean more insects to see! It would be so cool!"

It's easy! Simply visit any Tesco store between mid-January and the end of March 2025 and use your blue token to vote for "Friends of Jessop PTA - Outside Space and Biodiversity."

Together, let's help Jessop Primary blossom!

Thursday 23rd January

8.55am - 9.20am Parent Maths drop in

Friday 24th January

9.30am and 2.00pm Open morning Nursery and Reception - Please book on-line

Friday 24th January

10:30am - Year 3 Elephant Class Assembly

Wednesday 29th January

Creative Composition Performance to parents (Elephant Class)

Monday 3rd February

Spanish Week

Tuesday 4th February

KS2 Bikeability (Tuesday - Friday)

Friday 7th February

9.30am and 2.00pm Open morning Nursery and Reception - Please book on-line

Monday 10th February

E-Safety Week

Monday 10th February

Bikeability Year 4 (All week)

Tuesday 11th February

Safer Internet Day

Thursday 13th February

Federation Virtual Spanish Workshop

Friday 14th February

9.30am and 2.00pm Open morning Nursery and Reception - Please book on-line

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.

https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/is-my-child-too-ill-for-school/

https://assets.childrenscommissioner.gov.uk/wpuploads/2022/12/aaa-guide-for-parents-on-school-attendance.pdf

You will be able to access our current term curriculum learning (Knowledge Organiser) from the links below.

https://jessop.lambeth.sch.uk/early-years-foundation-stage/

https://jessop.lambeth.sch.uk/key-stage-1/

https://jessop.lambeth.sch.uk/lower-key-stage-2/

https://jessop.lambeth.sch.uk/upper-key-stage-2/

https://www.bjsfederationofschools.co.uk/

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.

When we need particular support from our parent community, we post for help on our 'Call to Action' page on the schools website, and send the direct page link in an email to our parent community. So signing up is really easy!

Perhaps you would like to be a secret reader (reading a story to your child’s class), or would like to support us in maximising children’s opportunity to practice their reading skills.

New this week! We are looking for parents to help us prepare, organise and sort resources for our SEND learners. If you would like to support these children by giving some time to the school, please click on the link above.

We need you. Click on the title to find out more.

Our January SEND Newsletter is out soon, find out more about Zones of Regulation, meet our Federation Inclusion Team, and lots more!

For more information on any of the above and more, press below to visit the schools website and follow us on Twitter!