Message from Mrs Bana

"When parents and schools work together, children learn more, achieve more and thrive.”

At Grafton Primary, we know that strong partnerships between home and school make a real difference to children's learning and success.

A big thank you to all parents who attended our Parents’ Evenings at the end of last term. It was lovely to see so many of you celebrating your children's progress and discussing their next steps.

We have a number of parent workshops planned, and I encourage you to come along. These sessions are a great way to learn more about what your child is learning and how you can support them at home. Our Headteacher Parent Forum also gives parents the chance to ask questions, share ideas and hear from visiting professionals, including the School Health Team and Nourish, our school catering provider.

There are also simple ways to make a big difference at home – reading regularly with your child, talking about their learning, encouraging good routines and keeping in touch with school.

We really value your involvement and look forward to seeing more parents at our upcoming events. Working together, we can give every child the best possible opportunities to succeed.

Together We Learn, Together We Achieve.

Inset Day – School Closed

Please note that school will be closed to all pupils on Friday 20th November for an INSET day. School will reopen as usual on Monday 23rd November.

The Importance of Good Attendance

Regular school attendance is essential for children to make good progress, develop friendships and feel part of our school community. Even occasional absences can add up and affect learning.

Did you know how quickly absences add up?

In a typical school year of 190 days:

• 95% attendance means missing around 2 weeks of school.

• 90% attendance means missing around 4 weeks of school.

• 80% attendance means missing around 7.5 weeks of school.

Children who miss school regularly can find it harder to keep up with lessons, particularly in reading, writing and maths. Good attendance also helps children build confidence, friendships and positive learning habits.

Children whose attendance falls below 90% are classed as persistently absent. If your child's attendance falls into this category, you will receive a letter from school or our Education Welfare Officer (EWO).

As a school, we have a duty to keep parents regularly informed about their child's attendance when it falls below 90%, even where absences have been authorised. Please remember that all absences count towards your child's overall attendance percentage, including authorised absences.

How can you support your child's attendance?

• Make sure your child attends school every day unless they are genuinely too unwell to attend.

• Book appointments outside school hours wherever possible and take family holidays during school holidays.

• Establish a consistent bedtime and morning routine to help your child arrive on time.

• If your child is worried about coming to school, please speak to us so we can work together to help.

• If your family is experiencing difficulties affecting attendance, please contact the school as early as possible. We are here to listen and offer support.

Thank you for your continued support in ensuring your child attends school regularly and arrives on time. 

Every day in school counts!

🚗 Keeping Our School Community Safe: Parking Reminder 🚸 

We would like to remind all parents and carers of the importance of parking considerately and safely when dropping off and collecting children from school.

We have recently received serious concerns from local residents regarding inconsiderate parking, including vehicles blocking driveways, obstructing dropped kerbs and restricting access to residential properties. There have also been reports of damage to vehicles and confrontational behaviour when residents have raised concerns.

We understand that parking around the school can be challenging, particularly during busy drop-off and collection times. However, this does not excuse parking in a way that causes inconvenience, distress or danger to our neighbours and other road users.

Please remember:

🚫 Do not park across residents' driveways or dropped kerbs.

🚗 Do not obstruct entrances, exits or access to residential properties.

🚸 Park safely and considerately, keeping roads clear for pedestrians and other road users.

🤝 Be respectful and courteous to local residents at all times.

👮 Observe all parking restrictions, as enforcement officers may take appropriate action where necessary.

We have a responsibility as a school community to maintain positive relationships with our neighbours and to ensure the safety of everyone in the local area.

Please help us by setting a positive example and showing consideration for those who live around our school. We would like to avoid any further incidents and ask everyone to work together to make the area safer and more pleasant for all.

Thank you for your understanding, cooperation and continued support.

Reminder: Class Fundraising Order Deadline  Thursday 12th November

A friendly reminder to all parents and carers that the deadline for placing orders as part of our class fundraising initiative/Christmas Cards/holiday cards is Thursday 12th November.

Please ensure that all orders are submitted by this date, as no further orders can be accepted after the deadline.

This initiative is a fantastic opportunity to raise much-needed funds for our school, helping us to provide valuable resources and opportunities for our children. Every order makes a difference, and we are incredibly grateful for your continued support and generosity.

If you are planning to place an order, please don’t leave it until the last minute!

Thank you for supporting our school and helping us make a difference!

Autumn 2 - Curriculum Maps

To help you to support your child's learning at home, the Autumn Term Curriculum Maps are now available on the school website. We encourage you to take a look, as they offer valuable insight into what your child is learning and how you can reinforce this at home. You can also access the maps by clicking on the link below: 

Reception, Year 1, Year 2, Year 3, Year 4, Year 5, Year 6,  ARK

Year 5/6 Football Tournament Success! ⚽

On Tuesday 2nd November, Mr Stefan and Mrs Morina took our Year 5/6 football squad to compete in a football tournament, and what a fantastic day it turned out to be!

From the very beginning, the boys were full of excitement, enthusiasm and determination, showing how eager they were to get out on the pitch and represent Grafton Primary School. Their positive attitude and readiness to compete were evident from the first whistle, as they got off to a brilliant start in the group stages with a 1–0 victory against Manor Primary School. The highlight of the match was undoubtedly one of the best goals of the day, scored by Andi (Year 6), who produced a fantastic finish to secure the win.

The boys continued to build on this impressive start throughout the tournament, demonstrating excellent teamwork, determination and resilience. They went on to complete an incredible run of eight games unbeaten, finishing top of their group and securing their place in the final. Every player contributed to the team's success, and their hard work and commitment were clear for everyone to see.

A particularly special moment came in the semi-final, where the boys showed tremendous composure under pressure. With the game going to penalties, Alfie (Year 6) stepped up and confidently scored the winning penalty, sending Grafton through to the final!

Unfortunately, despite their outstanding efforts, the boys narrowly missed out on lifting the trophy after the final was decided by a penalty shootout. Although the result didn't quite go our way, I genuinely couldn't have been prouder of every single player. To go eight games unbeaten, finish top of the group and reach the final is a fantastic achievement and something the boys should be incredibly proud of.

More importantly, the boys represented Grafton Primary School exceptionally well throughout the day. Their attitude, sportsmanship, teamwork and determination were a real credit to themselves and the school. They supported one another, showed respect to their opponents and gave absolutely everything in every game.

Well done, boys! You should all be extremely proud of what you achieved. You were fantastic ambassadors for Grafton Primary School and did the school incredibly proud. The result may not have gone our way in the final, but your effort, commitment and team spirit made it a day to remember!

A huge well done to everyone involved! ⚽👏 

Free peer mentoring programme for parents and carers in your communities

The Mayor of London’s Violence Reduction Unit has partnered with Lifeline Projects to launch the Community Parenting Academy, as the next step for Parent Carer Champions across London to grow their skills, build confidence, and step into community leadership roles.

The Community Parenting Academy involves a free, accredited course designed to help parents and carers build confidence, strengthen relationships with their children and develop practical skills to become peer supporters and mentors for their communities.

Parents will receive an OCN Level 2 Award in Peer Mentoring upon successful completion of the course. A Level 2 Award is equivalent to one GCSE.

The programme combines parenting skills, peer support, and community mentoring to help families and communities thrive.

Interested parents can consider starting their journey by attending our next online immersive learning day and register their interest using this link.

Community Parenting Immersive Learning Day:

Date and time: 11th November, 10am-4pm

Location: Barking and Dagenham (venue details given upon sign up)

Resources for you to support families with the cost of living

The rising cost of living continues to put pressure on many Londoners, particularly as we head into the winter months.

That's why we've put together the Mayor's Cost of Living Hub - an online resource bringing together information and support that is available from the government, local councils, charities, advice centres, and more. It helps Londoners find trusted advice and support to make life more affordable. Through the Hub, families can understand how to maximise their incomes, reduce household bills and costs, and access the financial support and benefits they may be entitled to.  

Visit the Mayor’s Cost of Living Hub to find out what support is available to share with your school.

We are currently developing resources to support how you communicate with families. Please reach out to fairness@london.gov.uk  if you are interested in receiving them.

🗓️ Dates for Diary

Keep up with key events and activities this term

 Monday, November 09 

🏫New Reception Parent tours 3:30 – 4:30pm 

Tuesday,  November 10

🐟🦐 Seafood Workshops with CJ Jackson Y1-6 Rights Ambassadors

Tuesday-Friday 10-13

📚 Reception 'Phonics & Stay' sessions for parents/carers 

Thursday, November 12 

🎓Y6 SATS preparation workshop for parents/carers 9am

Deadline for order class fundraising/Christmas card orders

Friday, November 13 

🧸Children in Need (Non-Uniform) wear spotty clothing 

🏛️Y6 Kapoor Visit to RAF Hornchurch Heritage Centre 

November 16 – 20

🚫Anti-Bullying Week 

🧦Odd Socks Day (wear odd socks with school uniform) 

✍️Y1 Writing parent/carer workshop 

💬Y5 Anti-bullying Week workshop (KS2 am) 

🏛️Y6 Banksy visit to RAF Hornchurch Heritage Centre 

Tuesday, November 17 

📚Y4 Valence Library Visit (Ali class) 

Wednesday, November 18 

📚Y4 Valence Library visit (Worthington class) 

🏫New Nursery Tours 2:00 – 2:30pm 

💉Flu Vaccination Day 

Thursday, November 19 

🔢Y3/4 Multiplication Times tables parent workshop 9am

Friday, November 20 

🚸Inset Day - school closed for children 

Monday, November 23 

🏫 New Nursery Tours 3:30 – 4:00pm 

🏛️ Y6 Hadid visit to RAF Hornchurch Heritage Centre 

Tuesday, November 24 

📚Y4 Valence Library visit (Simmonds class) 

Wednesday, November 25 

📚Y4 Valence Library Visit (Farah class) 

🎭Y6 Arc Theatre Counter hate & extremism performance 

Thursday, November 26 

☕SEND coffee morning 

Thursday, December 03

🏫Head Teacher Forum 9-10am

Friday, December 04

🎸 Rock Steady Music Concerts 

🏛️Y6 Turner Class visit to RAF Hornchurch Heritage Centre 

Monday, December 07

🎶Y5 CMS music concert 9:15-10:00am

🎄Y4 Carol Service at St. Mary's Church (2 classes) 2:15-2:45pm

Wednesday, December 09

🎉 Christmas Fayre 

Thursday, December 10

🎄Christmas Jumper

🍽️Christmas Dinner Day 

Friday, December 11 

👼Y1 Nativity for parents/carers (2 classes) 

Monday, December 14 

👼Y1 Nativity for parents/carers (2 classes) 

Tuesday, December 15

🎵Reception & Nursery Classes Christmas Sing-a-Long 

Wednesday, December 16 

🎵Reception & Nursery Classes Christmas Sing-a-Long 

Friday, December 18 

🕧School Closes for children at 12:30