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Some thoughts for the starting school year
Elephant Class delivered a wonderful assembly on our school value of Caring, showcasing thoughtful performances, heartfelt messages, and inspiring reflections on kindness and compassion. The children worked incredibly hard to share their understanding of what it means to care for others, and we couldn’t be prouder of them! A huge thank you to all the parents who attended and supported the children—it meant so much to them to have you there. Your encouragement and involvement make these moments even more special!
Kiong Hi Fat Coi Ang Pau Na Lai - happy Chinese New Year may blessings and prosperity always be yours, don't forget my red envelope!
Kangaroo Class put on a fantastic assembly to celebrate Chinese New Year, marking the Year of the Snake with vibrant performances and fascinating facts. The children shared the traditions and stories behind this special festival, showcasing their learning through song, and drama. It was a wonderful celebration of culture, and we were so proud of their enthusiasm and hard work. Thank you to all the parents who joined us—it was a truly memorable event!
As part of our school programme, all KS2 children had the opportunity to learn how to look after their bikes and ride safely, both in the playground and on the road. This fantastic initiative is run by professional cyclists who are passionate about helping children develop confidence and essential cycling skills. Those who missed out in Year 4 will have another chance to take part later this academic year. If you’d like to find out more about Cycle Confident, they also offer free cycling lessons for adults! Click the link below for more details. 🚴♂️https://www.cycleconfident.com/sponsors/lambeth
During E-Safety Week, our fantastic Digital Leaders led a whole-school assembly, reminding everyone how to stay safe online. Later in the week, children explored these important topics further in class assemblies, sharing their own experiences and understanding. A highlight of the week was our very first e-safety video, starring our Federation Digital Leaders! Staying safe online is a shared responsibility, so please continue to discuss these key rules at home:
- Never share personal information (name, address, school, passwords).
- Think before you post – once something is online, it’s there forever.
- Be kind and respectful – treat others as you would in real life.
- Only talk to people you know – never respond to strangers online.
- Tell a trusted adult if you see something upsetting or unsafe.
Let’s work together to keep the internet a safe place for everyone!
MFL Week was a fantastic celebration of the many cultures within our school community! Parents came in to share stories in their first languages and spoke about their countries of origin, giving children a wonderful insight into different traditions. A special Spanish meal was cooked for everyone to sample, and it was a huge hit—so delicious! Year 4, 5, and 6 also had the exciting opportunity to connect with students from Spain, gaining a glimpse into school life abroad. A big thank you to everyone who made this week so special!
Support Our We Love Reading Project!
We are so grateful to the parents who have already contributed £1 to support our We Love Reading project. Your generosity allows us to invite real authors into school, inspiring our children and fostering a lifelong love of reading. Reading is an essential skill that opens doors to learning, creativity, and future success. Without your support, we wouldn’t be able to offer these fantastic experiences. If you haven’t yet contributed, it’s not too late—please send in your £1 donation with your child. Every little helps, and together we can keep the love of reading alive!
On Tuesday 4th of February 2025 our elated Year 6 left at 1:05 pm; about to participate in an amazing experience.
The pupils walked to Herne Hill Station Hall where they were going to participate in a workshop with David Farr. Coincidentally, David had already visited Jessop Primary School the previous year, so the pupils got to see the phenomenal talk twice. The lively year sixes were joined by the year sixes of Judith Kerr Primary school. The students were given the opportunity to see the new front cover for David Farr's new book. This was amazing because they were the first people- apart from the publisher and David himself- to see the cover ever! After an educational and amazing talk, with a heavy heart, the students left the Herne Hill Station Hall.
Jessop Junior Journalists article Holly and Hazel Year 6
As part of our Jessop Love for Reading project, we were thrilled to welcome author Jenny Pearson to our school. Year 4, and 5 pupils had the fantastic opportunity to hear about her journey as a writer, where she finds inspiration, and how she brings her stories to life. She even shared some hilarious clips from Only Fools and Horses to spark creative ideas! The event was filled with laughter, enthusiasm, and brilliant storytelling. A huge thank you to Jenny for an unforgettable visit—don't forget to check out her latest book, Speedwell 3000: Race Against Crime!
Gabby Dawnay Brings Springtime Inspiration to Jessop!
We were delighted to welcome Gabby Dawnay, the talented children’s writer, screenwriter, poet, and illustrator, to our school. Best known for her bestselling If I Had a… series, Gabby inspired our pupils with her latest book, A Field Guide to Spring. She encouraged the children to unleash their creativity by drawing and writing poems about spring. The event was a huge success, with everyone enjoying the chance to explore nature through words and art. To keep the inspiration going, pupils were given a fun nature walk activity to complete during the holidays. A big thank you to Gabby for a fantastic visit!
Year 1 and Reception had a wonderful visit to meet award-winning illustrator Joelle Avelino, who is of Congolese and Angolan heritage and based in London. Joelle, known for illustrating Mama’s Sleeping Scarf, shared her creative journey and read her latest illustrated story to the children. The pupils were captivated by the beautiful illustrations and engaging storytelling, making it a truly inspiring experience. A big thank you to Joelle for bringing her art to life for our young readers!
Our Jessop Junior Journalist had an incredible opportunity to interview BBC journalist Georgina Morris alongside other schools in a special Zoom meeting. The children asked insightful questions about her career and experiences, gaining valuable knowledge about the world of journalism. Georgina shared some amazing moments from her journey, including her biggest achievement—having afternoon tea with King Charles! However, her proudest moment was using her platform to help raise funds for a very ill child, allowing her to fulfill her dreams and create precious memories with her loved ones. A truly inspiring experience for our young reporters!
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 practice their handwriting.
The children will complete a Spelling and Times Table test during the week.
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.
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.
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