Headteacher Introduction
Dear Parents,
As Lent term draws to a close, it is wonderful to be able to share the latest newsletter with you all detailing the amazing things happening at the school It was wonderful to see so many of you at the open morning sharing enjoyment in the excellent work produced by children along with experiencing the classroom environment in action
This term, we are particularly proud to have be awarded the coveted Dyslexia Friendly Quality Mark from the British Dyslexia Association This is a rigorous and highly sought after accolade with less than 1% of schools in the country having received this prestigious award This highlights the excellent SEND coverage for our pupils and a strong indicator for our school community of the bespoke nature of our innovative ‘Adaptation Not Differentiation’ approach to SEND
We once again enjoyed a highly successful Reading Festival celebrating the love of story and books with this year’s theme being ‘Mystery’ and adventure writing Bedtime books event was a special time in classes with stories around the fire and delicious hot chocolate Our second literary and cultural festival, The Eisteddfod, was held in March where the children’s creative talents were reflected in abundance through singing, reciting poetry, country dancing, art and story writing
Our contextualised curriculum continues in earnest punctuated by stimulating trips and educational visits Year 1 were hob-knobbing with royalty during their visit to Buckingham Palace and had a great time musing around Mews Also focusing on their historical work, Year 3 visited Butser Farm as part of their Anglo-Saxon topic while Year 6 explored World War II though visits to the Churchill War Rooms and Bletchley Park where they were able to experience how the Enigma code was used and the beautiful grounds of the park. Many classes were involved in our horticultural work visiting Barnes Wetlands Centre and Holland Park Ecological Centre, exploring their connection with nature and the environment The sporting prowess of our teams competing in Ealing competitions is of the highest standard and once again they achieved highly in the borough making us all so proud!
We hope all mums enjoyed receiving their Mother’s day cards and gifts which the children worked hard to design and create The Easter bonnets this year were a triumph, with many colourful and varied entries
I wish you all a happy and peaceful Easter
Dr Jones
Headmaster
Contextualised Curriculum
This half term, learning has been enriched through a wealth of inspiring visits, creative projects, and interactive workshops. With real-world experiences woven into the curriculum, pupils have continued to make meaningful connections in their learning - both inside and outside the classroom.
Reception pupils embarked on an exciting journey through space this term, including in a wonderful experience in a Space Explorer Dome, allowing pupils to experience the wonder of our Universe up close Their Space Exhibition also showcased the children's enthusiasm and understanding of the topic, providing a wonderful opportunity for them to share their learning with others
To deepen their understanding of the natural world, Year 1 and Year
2 visited the Holland Park Ecology Centre There, to build on our school focus of the Southfield horticulturalist, they investigated pond life and explored the surrounding environment These hands-on experiences ignited their curiosity and brought their science curriculum vividly to life
Year 3 explored the world of art through their visit to the Victoria and Albert Museum, making meaningful links to their Art curriculum Year 4’s half term was marked by problem-solving and reflection, as they visited the Bank of England for the 'Women in Banking' workshop, which introduced them to inspiring historical figures and encouraged thoughtful discussion around finance
Year 5 began their exciting journey with the Primary Shakespeare Company through an immersive introduction to Hamlet. Watching a professional actor perform and unpack the iconic play allowed pupils to engage deeply with Shakespearean language and storytelling
Year 6 delved into their World War II studies through a series of impactful visits They explored the Army Museum, the Churchill War Rooms, and Bletchley Park, gaining powerful insights into the war effort, leadership, and the importance of code-breaking These visits brought their History learning to life in memorable and moving ways. This half term has been a rich tapestry of discovery, creativity, and real-world learning, and we look forward to even more exciting opportunities ahead next term.
Dyslexia Award
We are incredibly proud to share that Southfield has been awarded the British Dyslexia Association’s prestigious Dyslexia Friendly Quality Mark We are thrilled to receive this award, which recognises very few select schools that excel in providing high-quality learning experiences for pupils with Dyslexia
Achieving this was a rigorous and reflective process, with months of gathering evidence that showcased our Dyslexia-friendly practices across all areas of school life From supportive classroom environments and impactful interventions, to our knowledge-based and contextualised curriculum, every aspect of our provision was thoroughly explored On Verification Day, the accreditor met with our passionate staff, governors, and parents – and most importantly, our wonderful pupils, who shared their learning experiences with pride and confidence The BDA were particularly impressed with our approach to ‘Adaptation, not Differentiation’, ensuring that all children – including those with Dyslexia and Dyscalculia – can access learning and achieve highly The accreditor praised Southfield’s approach, noting that “learning is rooted in putting every child at the centre”
At Southfield, we ’ re proud of how we support pupils who face barriers to learning, and we were delighted that the report highlighted this, noting that “pupils’ self-esteem is promoted through having high expectations of pupils with Dyslexia” Through our TRUE values, we create a culture of belonging, high expectations, and care During the visit, our pupils made us exceptionally proud, saying: “Our teachers support us; they invent new ways of learning. If you ’ re struggling, they will change it so that you are able to take part Lessons are in depth, engaging and so interesting so that you enjoy learning” We are thrilled to receive this award and remain dedicated to providing high-quality, inclusive education for pupils with Dyslexia and Dyscalculia
Reading Week
Our recent Reading Festival was a fantastic celebration of books, creativity, and intrigue, with this year’s theme of ‘Mystery’ capturing the imaginations of children across the school
One of the week’s most exciting highlights was a ‘Forensic Science Workshop’, where pupils became detectives, examining footprints, fingerprints and even DNA to crack a case! This hands-on experience not only deepened their understanding of evidence-gathering but also reinforced the importance of observation and logical thinking
Our creative pupils also learnt the art of bookmaking, carefully crafting their own books from paper and card This skill will stay with them as they continue to explore storytelling, both as readers and as budding authors
Of course, no Reading Festival would be complete without our annual costume day Once again, the children amazed us with their imaginative outfits From classic literary heroes to enigmatic detectives, the corridors teemed with vibrant characters, bringing beloved stories to life
For our younger readers in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2, a magical Bedtime Books session provided the perfect end to a busy day Wrapped up in pyjamas with hot chocolate and biscuits, they shared stories in their classrooms, set against the warm glow of a roaring fire a truly special moment that reinforced the joy of reading for pleasure
Finally, we were delighted to close the festival with a visit from Alligator’s Mouth bookshop, specialists in children’s literature Their recommendations inspired both children and staff, leaving everyone with exciting new books to explore
A huge thank you to everyone who took part and made this week such a success We can’t wait for next year’s Reading Festival!
Southfield Horticulturalist
Following on from our introduction to the Southfield Horticulturalist in Michaelmas term - where we looked at a variety of different British Wildlife species and had the incredible opportunity to see them up close at the British Wildlife Centre - this term, our focus has shifted to the wonderful world of ‘Pond Life’ We have been delving deeper into the pond ecosystem, microhabitats and uncovering the diverse range of plants and animals that thrive in British ponds and how they interact with their environment.
Each year group took a closer look at a specific plant and animal, understanding more about how their unique physical characteristics help them to survive in their habitat and the vital role that pond plants play in their lives
Year 1: Dragonflies and Reeds
Year 2: Newts and Waterweeds
Year 3: Frogs and Waterlilies
Year 4: Pond Skaters and Bulrushes
Year 5: Damselflies and Pond Algae
Year 6: Pond Leeches and Water mint
In addition to learning about living things in a pond, we also looked at the equipment that is needed for pond dipping and learned how our investigations can be carried out safely and responsibly We then had the chance to put our learning into practice, as each year group carried out their very own pond dipping at a local nature reserve, including Holland Park Ecology Centre, London Wetlands and the Horniman Museum
We found all sorts of wonderful creatures, from pond crustaceans to unique amphibians, witnessing first-hand the brilliant biodiversity found in these freshwater habitats We’re very much looking forward to taking our exploration even further by looking at the living things we have in our very own pond in the Horticultural Garden, comparing and contrasting it with the ponds we encountered on our school trips
Sports Competitions
This half term has been extremely successful for our sports stars in Southfield The dedication and commitment of our pupils to their weekly training sessions in football, cricket, and netball have truly paid off Week after week, we have witnessed their incredible progress, and their hard work is reflected in their outstanding achievements in various competitions
In Years 5 and 6, our girls’ football team competed in the Super League finals after finishing in first place during the preliminary rounds Over the course of the day, they played an intense seven matches, showcasing skilful footwork, consistent passing, and multiple goals Their determination and resilience saw them secure an impressive third-place finish in the Super League This is an incredible achievement, especially considering that the team only began training at the start of the year. The whole school is extremely proud of them!
Turning to the younger year groups, our Year 3 and Year 4 boys participated in their first football league competition, and they certainly made their mark Their teamwork, cohesion, and positivity were evident throughout the tournament The boys demonstrated their attacking prowess by scoring a remarkable nine goals in one match, securing a dominant victory Despite facing tough competition, they finished the day in a respectable fifth place in the league Beyond their performance on the field, their sportsmanship and exemplary behaviour were recognised by staff from other schools, earning them well-deserved praise We eagerly anticipate their next league day to see how they progress further in the competition
We are incredibly proud of all our students for their dedication, teamwork, and sportsmanship We cannot wait to see more of your fantastic achievements in even more sports over the next half term!
Book Day
Easter Bonnet & End of Term Celebrations
Reception
Year 1
Year 2
Year 2 have had another fantastic half term, with lots of exciting learning and opportunities!
We started off the term with our Reading Festival Week and World Book Day, where we thoroughly embraced this year’s mystery theme We attended an exciting forensics workshop, where we got to be detectives on a physical crime scene It was amazing to see the effort everyone put into their costumes on World Book Day, becoming a variety of different book characters! Another highlight of the week was our Bedtime Books event, in which the children came back to school in the evening, with pyjamas and teddies, enjoying a hot chocolate and biscuit whilst listening to some interesting stories
In addition to World Book Day, we also celebrated our wonderful Eisteddfod Festival There were so many fantastic performances, with so much great talent in Year 2 Whilst it was a very hard decision, the chosen finalists bravely performed in front of Reception, Year 1, 2 and 3! There were performances in singing, dancing, poetry and music, as well as some lovely art and creative writing pieces
As part of our Southfield Horticulturalist, we have been learning about the British pond with a special focus on newts The children have found this very interesting and are excited to begin pond dipping in our school pond during the Trinity term Futhermore, we had an incredible trip to the Holland Park Ecology Centre, where we were able to take part in a pond dipping workshop, identifying some fascinating creatures!
As well as all these activities, our History topic of the Tudors has brought a lot of excitement this term, with the children learning all about Henry VIII and his children, as well as what life was like for people in Tudor England In Maths, we have learnt all about mass, capacity and volume, as well as beginning our learning on fractions We have also enjoyed learning about plants in Science and studying the well-known poem ‘Tyger’ by William Blake in our English lessons
Year 2
Key Stage 2 Year 3
Year 4
Year 5
During the second half of the Lent term, Year 5 focused on non-fiction writing, linking directly to our knowledge-based curriculum Our English lessons were enriched by our studies in Geography, History, and Science, allowing pupils to develop a deeper understanding of the world around them We also continued our bi-weekly Creative Writing sessions, selecting picture books that aligned with key themes explored in our lessons
In Maths, we focused on fractions, decimals, percentages, measurement, and data handling Pupils developed their understanding of equivalent fractions, mixed numbers, improper fractions, and how to apply fractions in real-world contexts Our bi-weekly Real-Life Maths lessons continued to provide hands-on, practical applications, making strong connections between our mathematical learning and realworld scenarios
Our Geography focus this term was Australia and its biomes Pupils explored the diverse landscapes of the country, from the arid deserts of the Outback to the lush rainforests of Queensland and the Great Barrier Reef They examined how different biomes support unique wildlife and plant life, as well as how human activity impacts these environments
In History, our topic was the Transatlantic Slave Trade Pupils learned about the conditions aboard slave ships and the experiences of enslaved people, gaining an understanding of the immense hardships they faced They also studied individuals who fought against slavery, such as William Wilberforce, Olaudah Equiano, and Thomas Clarkson, and discussed the long-term impact of the slave trade on different societies
In Science, we explored living things and life cycles Pupils investigated the life cycles of various animals, including frogs and butterflies, and compared the ways different species grow and reproduce Through hands-on activities and observations, they gained insight into metamorphosis, pollination, and the role of habitats in supporting life
Year 5
Year 6
We spent the second half of Lent term, focusing on nonfiction genres Our writing linked directly to our knowledgebased curriculum, supported by topics in Geography, History or Science We continued to have our bi-weekly Creative Writing sessions where we contextualised the picture books by choosing those with themes which we discussed during lessons In Maths, we focussed on ratio, shape, algebra and more advanced multiplication and division work and fractions Again, our bi-weekly Real Life Maths lessons continued, and links were made between our topic and weekly Maths lessons In Geography our focus has been on South America. Students gained knowledge about the past civilisations and empires of the continent They also described physical geography, including the Andes Mountains and the Atacama Desert as well as human geography such as agriculture and industry in Brazil and the Amazon Rainforest.
Our topic for History covered “World War II” leading on from their previous topic from Lent 1 – ‘The Rise and Fall of Hitler’ This topic included the Battle of Britain and The Blitz from a military context and the role of empire In our previous topic, students learnt about soldiers experiences in the trenches and the general public’s role in WWI – in this topic students focused more so on the role of intelligence and code-breaking in winning the war Pupils also learned about the global significance of the Holocaust and were introduced to the concept of ‘genocide’ They developed a sense of what life was like for the Jewish people during this time
We also visited the Churchill War Rooms and Bletchley Park to contextualise and enrich the unit further In Science, we learned all about Light: how light travels, how the eye sees light, experimenting with shadows, the colour of light and the children even built their own periscopes
Year 6
