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Edition 11. published 23 May 2025
MESSAGE FROM THE HEADTEACHER
MESSAGE FROM THE HEADTEACHER
Dear Ambler families,
This half-term has flown by and I can’t believe we only have one more half-term to go before the end of this academic year!
We have squeezed so much in this relatively short half-term and there is much to celebrate!
Firstly, a HUGE well done to Year 6 for demonstrating all their DREAMS qualities and smashing the SATs - it was a total pleasure to watch the children apply themselves and demonstrate such confidence in the assessments. A huge thank you to all the staff who supported the children throughout the week.
Year 4’s went on a brilliant residential trip to Cardfields. I was lucky enough to join them on the trip and we had such fun in the sun! We started with a six mile walk in the beautiful countryside and then spent time building dens in the woods. Every evening was spent playing in the late evening sun and we ended one evening with a sing a long around the campfire. It was perfect!
The children have all taken part in Ambler Arts Week and a huge shout out to Ambler Arts who helped arrange the artist in residence - Emily Hopkins. We are very excited to exhibit the creative artwork as part of our summer exhibition on Thursday 10th July.
And finally, we ended the half term with Yr 3 and 4’s Ambler’s Got Talent show. It was full of singing, dancing, magic and even a trombone player! Congratulations to the Yr 3 gymnastics performance team: Sienna, Malaya, Amelie and Olivia.
Events to look forward to:
Yr 6 end of year performance!
Yr 5 trip to Woodberry Wetlands
Yr 4 Kenwood House
Yr 3 Anglo Saxon History workshop
Yr 2 Walton-on-the-Naze seaside trip
Yr 1 Hampstead heath
Have a fantastic, happy, safe half term, we’ll see you on Tuesday 3rd June 2025.
Best wishes,
Mrs McNicholl and the Ambler team
REMINDERS
REMINDERS
Mon 2 Jun - INSET day - school and children's centre closed
Tue 3 June - First day of Summer 2
Fri 6 June - 5G Woodberry Wetlands trip 🦆
Sun 8 Jun - Grow Ambler Gardening Day🌿
Wed 11 June - School Council trip to EcoPark House ♻️
Mon 16 June - Y5 trip to St. Aloysius
Thu 19 June - Y4 Kenwood House trip
Sat 21 June - SUMMER FAIR 🎪🎉
Mon 23 - Fri 27 June - STEM week
Thu 26 June - Fluoride Varnishing, Nursery to Y2 🦷🪥
Thu 26 June - KS1 Ambler's Got Talent final
Fri 27 June - Y6 Chessington trip 🎢
Mon 30 June - Y5 Globe Theatre trip 🎭
Thu 3 July - Y2 Walton-on-the-Naze seaside trip 🏖️
Fri 4 July - Sports Day at Highbury Fields, Y1-Y6
Thu 10 July - Summer Art Exhibition
Thu 10 & Fri 11 July - Y6 Production, 9am
Mon 14 July - 6B Leavers' Assembly, 9am
Tue 15 July - 6G Leavers' Assembly, 9am
Wed 16 July - Y6 Leavers' Dance, 4-5:30pm
Wed 16 July - Nursery Graduation, 2pm
Wed 16 July - EYFS End of Year Party
Tue 22 Jul - Last day of academic year, 2pm finish
COMMUNITY ROOM
COMMUNITY ROOM
A reminder that breakfast club and extended day for years 1 to 6 now runs from the Community Room. Please drop off and collect children from the main entrance on Blackstock Road.
We are planning to reinstate a separate entrance for the Community Room during the holidays. Below is a glimpse of where the new entrance will be.
AMBLER ARTS WEEK
AMBLER ARTS WEEK
Arts week at Ambler has been another success! This year, our theme was sustainable art.
We welcomed our fabulous artists in residence, Emily Hopkins who worked with the children to create a range of 3D art that will be joined together as a large sea-themed installation to be displayed in the school.
Using a range of repurposed, reused and recycled materials, year 5 and 6 created seascape collages using materials such as mesh, buttons, fabrics and chicken wire. Year 3 and 4 practised a range of skills including knotting, twisting, tying and plaiting to make and enhance nets. Years 1 and 2 used the skills of stuffing, wrapping and twisting to create sealife.
Reception and Early years will enjoy their arts week in early in Summer 2, where they will continue with this theme. Reception and Nursery will create sea creatures using repurposed and recycled materials. Toddlers and babies will produce a seascape of their own using paint and a range of ball in a fully immersive and explorative activity.
We can't wait to display the children's amazing creations for the school community to enjoy. We're very proud of their creativity, skill and enthusiasm and display lots of the children's artwork in school.
♻️ IN THE KNOW-SUSTAINABILITY ♻️
♻️ IN THE KNOW-SUSTAINABILITY ♻️
We’re thrilled to announce our new Composting Champions! These eco-enthusiastic children are taking the lead in caring for our planet by collecting our fruit waste each day and taking it to the compost bin. What’s more, they’ve shown such incredible commitment that some have even started bringing in their own cardboard from home to help the compost along — amazing work!
As part of our learning about sustainability, the children have also been thinking about the importance of buying less and reusing what we already have. Here are some of their brilliant ideas:
“We can use our older siblings’ hand-me-downs!”
“I’m going to go to a charity shop!”
Keep it up, eco heroes!
P.E. COMPETITIONS
P.E. COMPETITIONS
A huge well done to all the children who represented Ambler at the Inclusion Festival at the Arsenal Hub and the PESSPA Islington Cricket Festival. All the children were great ambassadors for the school and demonstrated their DREAMS qualities superbly.
ARSENAL TRAINING TRIP
ARSENAL TRAINING TRIP
Some of our Year 4 & 5 children enjoyed a day out at the Emirates Stadium to watch the men's team in an open training session. They got exclusive access to the first team's training session and were provided with a free scarf from the club. A huge thank you to The Arsenal Foundation for inviting us and treating our children to an experience they will never forget.
FREE DAY PASSES FOR AMBLER PARENTS!
Puregym Finsbury Park are offering Free Day Passes for Ambler parents/carers, so you can use their full facilities from gym equipment to classes. Please note, these free day passes expire on 30th June 2025.
To take advantage of this, please come to the school office and collect instructions on how to redeem (limited number available), watch this space for more exciting fitness opportunities with Puregym.
WOMENS ONLY FACILITIES AT PUREGYM FINSBURY PARK
PureGym Finsbury Park is happy to announce that new equipment/ machines are being introduced to the women's only area. This area is a designated area within the gym and comprises of a variety of cardio machinery, free weights, resistance machinery & stretch area. This area is open 24hrs a day for members to use. They also run women only classes.
MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLBEING
MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLBEING
Sophie Smith-Tong
We recently held our Responding to Behaviour coffee morning, which was a great success. It was fantastic to see so many parents in attendance, all eager to reflect on strategies and take away practical ideas to try at home. Thank you to everyone who came along and contributed to the discussion.
As part of Mental Health Awareness Week, we also delivered a series of assemblies focused on the theme of community. Pupils explored the importance of feeling connected and how strong, supportive communities can positively impact mental wellbeing.
Looking ahead to next term, we will be meeting with our wellbeing link governors to review our action plan and reflect on the progress made this year. This will include discussions around the outcomes of the recent parent/carer audit, which we look forward to sharing before the end of the academic year. These insights will help shape our next steps and ensure we continue to prioritise mental health and wellbeing across our school community.
Katy Singer, Educational Psychotherapist, and Latoya Maynard, Child & Family Support Worker, have started their summer term Family Group, with strong parent and child engagement. The group runs until the end of term, with a new one starting in Autumn.
Katy also continues her Strategy Workshops on emotional regulation and wellbeing, along with other therapeutic support for children, parents, and staff. She can be contacted via the school office during her working hours: Tuesdays, Wednesday mornings, and Fridays.
SCHOOL DIVERSITY WEEK
SCHOOL DIVERSITY WEEK
School Diversity Week happens every year in June. Schools around the country celebrate the differences that make our world so special. This year, we’ll be celebrating the different kinds of families that make up our wonderful Ambler community.
Next half term, children can bring in a photo or make a picture of their family. We’ll use them in class to help us think about all the ways that families are different, what makes every family special and what’s the same in every family … like love … and arguments!
You could take some family photos during half term, or get busy with drawing or painting a family portrait. Look out for an announcement on Google Classroom next half term for when and how to submit your pictures. Best of all, our lovely Summer Exhibition on 10th July will feature an Ambler Family Gallery, showing all your fabulous Ambler family pictures. Get snapping and drawing over half term so we can celebrate family diversity this summer!
ATTENDANCE MATTERS
The law requires parents/carers to ensure their child’s regular attendance at school.
Please notify the school if your child cannot attend for any reason (each day they are absence)
Explain the reasons for your child’s absence. Please be specific.
Ensure your child is not absent where this can be avoided (e.g. minor illnesses).
Minor Illnesses and Attendance guidance
There are 175 non-school days for holidays, family time etc. We do not expect parents/carers to take children out of school for a holiday or other term-time leave. Absence may be granted by the headteacher in exceptional circumstances.
If you feel it is absolutely unavoidable to request term-time leave:
You must apply for leave in advance (request forms are available from the school office)
Submit your application at least 4 weeks in advance of the proposed leave dates
Apply before booking your travel .
If you withdraw your child during term time and the absence has not been agreed by the Headteacher, it is unauthorised leave, which may lead to a fine of up to £160 and/or court proceedings.
We understand that every family’s circumstances are different and subject to change. Please email the school office to arrange a meeting with Mrs McNicholl if you have any concerns you would like to discuss.
CARDFIELDS
CARDFIELDS
Year 4 had the best time ever at the start of May! The weather was glorious during their three-day residential at The Cardfields Centre near Chelmsford.
The children enjoyed an action-packed trip, including BMXing, den-making, campfire singalongs and lots of yummy food - it was magical. For more photos, log into Google Classroom.
Thank you to Friends of Ambler for their amazing fundraising efforts. The recent 90’s Night was a smash hit with parents and staff alike, raising over £2,000!
Below are our next events:
Grow Ambler Day - Sunday 8th June
Ambler Summer Fair - Saturday 21st June
See the flyer in this newsletter for more about the summer fair and below a flyer for the Summer DREAMS art competition.
The majority of trips continue to be free because of FoA fundraising. FoA recently funded a trip to the Southbank for our babies, and will be funding year 3's Anglo-Saxon workshop after half-term.
The big project we are fundraising for this year is the redevelopment of the Attic into a STEAM space, to ignite children's curiosity and imagination. The huge amount raised from the Silent Auction will go towards this. Plans are progressing well - watch this space!
Don't forget that we also have the Ambler Community Fund to support families with the cost of clubs, trips and more. If you feel able to contribute to the fund, please donate at: Ambler Community Fund
YEAR 6 FUNDRAISING
YEAR 6 FUNDRAISING
Congratulations to year 6 for all their hard work in preparing for their SATs.
As is Ambler tradition, the children received their leavers' hoodies at the start of SATs week - thanks again Friends of Ambler! Having finished their exams, the children took part in a 5k run in Clissold Park and organised cake sales to raise money for their end of year events.
Last weekend's Car Boot + Jumble Sale led by the year 6 parents and Miss Roberts also raised lots of money.
PARENT GOVENORS
PARENT GOVENORS
In autumn term, we will advertising a number of parent governor vacancies.
Governors are volunteers made up of staff, parents and members of the local community. Becoming a parent governor is a valuable and rewarding way to get involved in the local community and contribute to Ambler's success.
For more information, visit our website: Governance or speak with one of our current governors, Mrs McNicholl or Mr Wong.
UNIFORM GIVEAWAY
UNIFORM GIVEAWAY
Thank you to Friends of Ambler for another successful uniform giveaway event. Brilliant for sustainability and the bank balance!
Thank you to parents and carers for all of the donations.
🛩️ RECEPTION 🧳
🛩️ RECEPTION 🧳
It may have been a quick half term, but we’ve certainly packed in plenty of exciting learning opportunities!
The children have loved returning to the forest, where they’ve been closely observing the changing seasons and exploring nature with curiosity and enthusiasm. We also welcomed families in for a Stay and Play session, giving children the chance to explore their environment and activities alongside their adults. It was a wonderful way to share our learning.
Our journey continued around the world with Emma Jane’s Aeroplane! We packed our suitcases and travelled to destinations on our wish lists, learning about different places and cultures along the way.
We’ve also been busy planting and caring for our own plants, making careful observations and sharing what we’ve noticed with our friends – a great way to build early scientific thinking and collaboration.
With just one half term to go, we’re already seeing how much the children have grown. Their confidence, independence and curiosity are shining through, and it’s clear they’re getting ready for the exciting step into Year 1!
🌿 NURSERY 🌸
🌿 NURSERY 🌸
Our nursery children have had a wonderful time exploring plants this half term. They have enjoyed learning to use a trowel and fork to plant their sunflower seed, and learning what plants need to grow and thrive.
We have discussed the various parts of the plant, above and below the ground and naming them. Through this experience, the children have also enjoyed conversations on the importance of respecting and nurturing living things.
Reading the story "Errol's Garden" inspired the children to create 3D flowers and gardens using recycled and repurposed materials like cereal boxes, bottle tops, buttons, and fabric. It has been a busy and fun filled half term of learning.
♻️BABY ROOM 🎠
♻️BABY ROOM 🎠
We ended this half term with an incredible trip to the Southbank! We visited Replay - A Limitless Recycled Playground. We played in the playground, looked at boats on the river, had a picnic and ended the day with a ride on the carousel! The children, families, and staff had an amazing time and made lasting memories.
🚀TODDLER ROOM🐻
🚀TODDLER ROOM🐻
This half term, in Toddler Room we have been exploring space and reading the story 'Whatever Next'.
As part of our story we have been creating the moon to have picnics and planets in the solar system using different collage materials.
We have been experimenting with different vegetables. Looking at the taste, feel, sound, look and smell. This time we were looking at different peppers.
We have been investigating different textures and ways of changing the texture through cooking biscuits, adding water to cornflour and melting ice.
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