Embedded Files
3rd October 2025
Message from the Headteacher
Message from the Headteacher
Welcome to this week’s bulletin! As we settle into the new term, I’d like to take a moment to acknowledge the vital role you play in your child’s education. Your continued support, involvement, and partnership help create a strong foundation for their learning, both in and out of the classroom. We truly value the strong relationship we share with parents and carers, recognising that effective communication between home and school is essential for helping every pupil reach their full potential.
This week, I encourage you to engage in conversations with your child about what they are learning at school. Celebrating their successes, no matter how small, can boost their confidence and enthusiasm for learning. We will continue to share updates about your child’s progress and school events to keep you fully informed. I visited a number of classes recently asking children about their morning readiness for school, breakfasts and bedtimes. Many of our pupils know that breakfast is important to have and having a healthy breakfast is crucial to support their concentration in class. Please replace sugary cereals and snacks in the morning with healthier options. A number of children are also saying that they have very late bedtimes. Please click on this link to understand the importance of getting enough sleep. https://cambspborochildrenshealth.nhs.uk/sleep/
Your active involvement and support are invaluable to us as we work together to provide the best possible learning environment for your child. By staying connected, sharing your insights, and celebrating your child’s progress with us, you help create a strong, supportive community that nurtures every pupil’s growth and success. We truly appreciate the trust you place in Grafton Primary, and we look forward to continuing this journey with you, united in our commitment to your child’s education and well-being.
Warm regards,
Junaida Bana
Headteacher
🛝 KS1 Playground Update: New Drop-Off and Pick-Up Arrangements for Year 2 Clyde and Avon Classroom
We are pleased to inform you that the building works in the KS1 playground have now been successfully completed. We truly appreciate your patience and cooperation throughout the construction period, and we are excited to have this new space fully open and safe for our children to enjoy once again.
Starting from Monday, children in Clyde and Avon classes will enter and be dismissed via their classroom doors that open onto the new decking area.
📅 In the mornings: Please bring your child to the decking area, where the class teacher will welcome them at the classroom door.
🕓 At the end of the school day: Teachers will release the children from the same location.
We kindly ask that you wait next to the decking area during both drop-off and pick-up times to ensure a smooth and safe transition for all children.
We hope that this newly developed space will not only enhance the school environment but also provide additional opportunities for learning, play, and other enriching experiences for your child.
🌟 Parents’ Evening 🌟
🌟 Parents’ Evening 🌟
Booking Opens on 8th October at 4:30pm!
Booking Opens on 8th October at 4:30pm!
We’re looking forward to welcoming you to our upcoming Parents’ Evening on 22nd and 23rd of October, an important chance to meet with your child’s class teacher, discuss their progress, and share how we can work together to support their learning.
📱How to Book
Appointments can be booked through the Arbor App. If you haven’t already, please download the app in advance to ensure you’re ready to book when slots become available.
Booking your appointment is quick and easy:
Open the Arbor App
Log in using your school account
Choose your preferred time slot with your child’s class teacher
If you need help accessing Arbor or booking your appointment, please contact the school office — we’re happy to help.
We look forward to seeing you at Parents’ Evening and celebrating your child’s learning journey together!
📱 Don’t Miss Out - Turn On Your Arbor App Notifications!
To make sure you don’t miss important updates, reminders, or messages from school, please check that notifications are enabled on your Arbor App.
This includes:
🔔 School news & updates
📅 Event or club changes
⚠️ Emergency messages
📌 Reminders for trips, key dates and more
🍽️ Breakfast and After School Clubs – Drop-Off & Collection Procedures 🚪
As part of our continued commitment to maintaining a safe and secure environment for all pupils, we are making a small change to our Breakfast Club and After School Club procedures.
Breakfast Club:
From now on, all children attending Breakfast Club should be dropped off at the main Reception entrance. This change allows us to monitor who is entering the building and ensures all children are safely guided to the correct area during the early morning period.
After School Club:
Similarly, all children attending After School Club should be collected from the main school entrance. This helps us maintain a consistent, secure handover process and ensures each child leaves safely with the correct adult.
We understand that any change to routine can be an adjustment, but the safety and wellbeing of our pupils remains our top priority. Thank you for your support in helping us keep the school environment safe, organised, and consistent.
If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact the school office.
🛑 PLEASE WAIT PATIENTLY AT PICK-UP TIME 🛑
🛑 PLEASE WAIT PATIENTLY AT PICK-UP TIME 🛑
For the safety of all children, we ask parents and carers to:
✅ Wait calmly behind the collection area
✅ Do not call your child over
✅ Let staff release each child to the correct adult
✅ Be patient – this helps keep everyone safe
👩🏫 Teachers will release children one at a time when they see the correct adult. Let’s work together to make home time safe, calm, and organised.
🚗 Parking Reminder – Keep It Safe & Considerate
🚗 Parking Reminder – Keep It Safe & Considerate
Please help us keep our school community safe by parking responsibly during drop-off and pick-up times.
Recently, we’ve received several complaints from our neighbours about cars blocking driveways. Some individuals have started sending in photographs, including vehicle registration numbers, of vehicles parked irresponsibly. The images clearly show that certain parents are not following appropriate parking guidelines.
Here’s how you can help:
✅ Park in designated areas – even if it means a short walk
✅ Keep clear of yellow zig-zags and driveways
✅ Turn off your engine while waiting
✅ Avoid blocking the road or stopping on corners
Together, we can create a safe and respectful environment for all.
🎉 Mr. Nourish Birthday Card Prize Winners 🎉
We are excited to announce the winners of the Mr. Nourish Birthday Card Prize! Thank you to everyone who participated and made this celebration so special.
Congratulations to our winners:
Year 1 Clara - Squirel Class
Year 2 Ronnie - Severn Class
Year 3 Zayaan - Farook Class
Year 4 Alaya - Ali Class
Year 5 Simra - Craig Class
Year 6 Isaac - Turner Class
Special award for Betty (Avon Class) for writing thoughtful words.
Your creativity and effort truly stood out! We hope you enjoy your prizes and continue to spread joy with your wonderful artwork.
Keep an eye out for more exciting events and prizes from Mr. Nourish!
🎄 Christmas Fayre – Stall Bookings Now Open! 🎄
🎄 Christmas Fayre – Stall Bookings Now Open! 🎄
We’re thrilled to share that plans for this year’s Christmas Fayre are in full swing, and it’s shaping up to be a truly magical event for the entire Grafton Primary community! This festive celebration promises fun, joy, and plenty of holiday spirit for families, friends, and neighbours alike.
Please take a moment to check out the Christmas Fayre poster, which includes all the important details you’ll need — and don’t forget to mark your calendars so you won’t miss out!
📅 Date: Tuesday, 3rd December
🕰️ Time: 3:30 PM – 5:30 PM
📍 Location: Grafton Primary School
Our wonderful PTA is now open for stall bookings! Whether you or someone you know has a talent for crafts, gifts, games, delicious food, or festive activities, we would love for you to join us and share your creativity. Running a stall is a fantastic way to get involved in this well-loved community event, meet new people, and most importantly, help raise valuable funds that directly support our school and its pupils.
🛍 Interested in running a stall?
Please get in touch with the PTA team at: pta@graftonprimary.co.uk — they’ll be happy to provide all the information you need.
Let’s come together as a community to make this year’s Christmas Fayre the best one yet! Thank you so much for your continued support and enthusiasm — we can’t wait to celebrate the festive season with you all.
Grafton Parent Teacher Association – How can YOU help?
We’d love more Grafton grown-ups to join the PTA! You don’t need to give up all your spare time—help when you can. Whether it’s sharing ideas, baking for a sale, or giving a little time at events, every bit counts! No amount of support is too small!
📍 Come and see us in the KS1 Hall on Parents Evening – 22nd & 23rd October
🕵️♂️PTA Myths – BUSTED! 🔍
🕵️♂️PTA Myths – BUSTED! 🔍
❌ Myth 1: PTA is just for mums
✅ Truth: Everyone’s welcome – mums, dads, carers, staff!
❌ Myth 2: You can only join at the start of the year
✅ Truth: Join anytime!
❌ Myth 3: PTA is cliquey
✅ Truth: It’s friendly, fun, and a great way to meet others!
❌ Myth 4: I don’t have time
✅ Truth: Help anytime, big or small — from donations to event support!
❌ Myth 5: Must attend every meeting
✅ Truth: Just one meeting or an hour here and there helps!
❌ Myth 6: Events only during school hours
✅ Truth: Most happen outside school hours – all help welcome!
❌ Myth 7: Kids are too noisy
✅ Truth: Bring them along! We’re child-friendly!
🙌 Every bit of support counts. Let’s make great things happen for our Grafton children!
SWAP Plus: A Support Programme for Parents and Carers
SWAP Plus: A Support Programme for Parents and Carers
The Sycamore Trust UK is delighted to launch SWAP Plus — a five-week programme designed to support parents and carers living in Barking & Dagenham who care for a child, young person, or adult aged 5–19 with verbal communication difficulties.
This in-person programme offers practical strategies, advice, and a supportive space to connect with others who understand the challenges of supporting a child with communication needs. Whether you're navigating early years or the transition to adulthood, SWAP Plus is here to help.
📅 Programme Dates:
Wednesday 12th November
Wednesday 19th November
Wednesday 26th November
Wednesday 3rd December
Wednesday 10th December
🕚 Time: 11:00am – 1:00pm
📍 Location: Sycamore Trust UK, 27-29 Woodward Road, Dagenham, RM9 4SJ
To be eligible for the programme, participants must:
✅ Be a resident of Barking and Dagenham
✅ Care for a child or young person aged 5–19 with communication difficulties
Below forms must be completed for your child to be included in the programme.
If you know a parent or carer who could benefit from this support, please do pass on this information.
No Earrings on PE or Swimming Days
🏃♀️🏊♂️ For safety reasons, children must not wear earrings on PE or swimming days.
🚫 Earrings cannot be taped over – they must be removed at home before school.
⚠️ Children wearing earrings will not be able to take part in the lesson.
🧥❄️ Cold Weather Reminder! ❄️🧥
As temperatures continue to drop, we kindly remind parents and guardians to ensure that children come to school dressed appropriately for the weather — including a warm coat each day.
Staying warm helps support student comfort, health, and readiness for outdoor activities.
Thank you for your continued support and care.
Lost Property – Please Claim Your Child’s Items!
Our lost property box near Reception is full of jackets, jumpers, lunchboxes, and more.
📍 Visit before or after school to check for your child’s missing things.
🗓️ Please collect items by Friday, 24th October. Unclaimed belongings will be donated or recycled. ♻️
💡Label all your child’s items to help avoid losses!
📅 Dates for the Diary
Keep up with key events and activities this term
Wed 15 Oct
⚕️Height and Weight Team Visit - Year 6
Fri 17 Oct
🪔 Year 4 Diwali Assemblies to Parents
Simmonds: 9:10am
Ali: 2:45pm
🏊♂️ Swimming: Year 5 Bonnin & Attenborough 10:30 – 11:15am
Tue 21 Oct
📷Individual / Siblings Photographs
🪔 Year 4 Diwali Assemblies to Parents
Worthington: 9:10am
Farah: 2:45pm
Wed 22 Oct
📷Individual / Siblings Photographs
👨👩👧👦 Parent’s Evening 3:30 – 7:00pm
Thur 23 Oct
🍲 Special Lunch Menu – Celebrating Black History Month
👨👩👧👦 Parent’s Evening 3:30 – 7:00pm
🛑 Half Term
🏫School Closed: 27th – 31st October 2025
🛑Mon 03 Nov
🧑🏫Staff Training Day - School closed to children
Thur 06 Nov
📚Year 6 SATS prep workshop for parents/carers
Mon 10 Nov - Fri 14 Nov
👥Anti-Bullying Week
Mon 10 Nov - Thurs 13 Nov
🧩Reception 'Phonics & Play' parent sessions 9:00-10:00am
Mon 10 Nov
🧑🏫Headteacher's Forum 4:00-5:00pm
🧦Odd Socks Day - Wear Odd Socks with School uniform
Thur 13 Nov
🧑🏫Headteacher's Forum 9:00-10:00am
Mon 17 Nov
🍜Special Lunch Menu -Harry Potter Themed
Thur 27 Nov
🚑London Air Ambulance Talk (Rights Ambassadors)
Wed 03 Dec
🎄Christmas Fayre 3:30-5:30pm
Thurs 11 Dec
🍽️Christmas Dinner/Christmas Jumper Day
Mon 15th & Tue 16th Dec
🧑🎤Reception classes Christmas Sing-a-Long
Thurs 18 Dec
🧑🎄Non-uniform (party clothes) Class parties
Fri 19 Dec
❄️End of Term 12:30pm
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