Heads Up
CEO’s Welcome
Dear Colleagues,
As I write this, I cannot help but be aware of the excitement of Christmas starting to build in our schools I’m also aware of all the advertising references to the bargains supposedly to be had in stores this week The commercial aspects of holiday sales can often overlook the real celebration of Thanksgiving. This is a special time in the United States when families come together to give thanks for the blessings and the harvest of the past year. It is also celebrated at various times of the year in Canada, Liberia and St Lucia
Any celebration that brings families together is always a good thing. We will see this ourselves in the UK over the coming weeks as families make plans for being together at Christmas and New Year
I hope you, your families and friends enjoy the excitement of being together throughout December as we prepare for this festive season.
Best wishes, Tom
Tom Canning CBE
Attendance
Attendance Data
Below is the attendance and persistent absence data from across the Trust for the period of Monday, 10 Nov 2025 to Friday, 21 Nov 2025.
Trust Ofsted Training
Sarah Lack, Deputy CEO led the session.
Excellent presentations from:
Emma O’Connor - Head Teacher - Tollgate
Primary School
Alma Begum, Head Teacher - Shaftesbury
Primary School
Shahina Hussain, Assistant Head Teacher and Safeguarding Lead - Shaftesbury
Primary School
Autumn walk
This week in the Nursery, we explored our local area with an exciting Autumn walk to the park.
The children discovered signs of the season, collecting colourful leaves, conkers and acorns
We brought these natural resources back to Nursery to support our learning about Autumn
In Reception
In Reception, our theme for the term is, ‘Celebrations’. We read the ‘Birthday Invitation’ story and discussed the different ways we celebrate our birthdays. We also decorated biscuits with icing sugar, food colouring and lots of sprinkles for Ella’s birthday tea party. The biscuits looked colourful and they tasted delicious.
This week in computing
This week in computing, children are learning to identify and address bugs within programs on the Scratch platform. They are attempting to debug these programs through a process of trial and error to find effective solutions. They now understand that a program may sometimes contain a performance bug, which could manifest as the sprite incorrectly drawing a circle.
Tate Modern
Year 4 visited Tate Modern to explore different art movements, styles, and cultural narratives They delved into a range of artists and art styles, using ‘I am curious’ booklets to draw various art forms and compare the latest artworks
As the pupils travelled through central London, they were able to see key landmarks such as the Shard, Blackfriars Bridge, London Bridge, the London Eye, and St Paul’s Cathedral. The pupils observed media images of pop art by Roy Lichtenstein, prompting a range of questions They also drew and described Henry Matisse’s work on “The Snail.”
Exploring Indonesia
Year 5 has been immersed in an exciting project exploring Indonesia, focusing on the country’s rich culture and fascinating wildlife. As part of this, they’ve been busy creating their own traditional-style puppets, drawing inspiration from Indonesia’s diverse array of animals. This hands-on activity has been coupled with learning about Gamelan, the captivating traditional Indonesian ensemble music. The children have been thoroughly engaged, developing their artistic skills while gaining an understanding of this unique part of the world, its creatures, and its vibrant musical heritage.
Children in Need
Last week, pupils came to school wearing yellow or spots in support of Children in Need. It was great to see so many pupils supporting such a great cause. In total, we raised an amazing £400! This will go a long way in helping many children in need. Thank you to everyone for your donations.
Nursery
Children in Nursery enjoyed exploring the play dough today, using their hands and a variety of tools to bring their ideas to life. They pressed cutters into the dough to make shapes and patterns, and practiced rolling, squashing, and stretching the dough. This hands-on activity encouraged creativity, strengthened fine motor skills, and sparked lots of lovely conversation and imaginative play.
Odd Socks Day
Last week, pupils and staff at Monega wore odd socks to support Anti-Bullying Week. We wore odd socks to celebrate what makes us all unique. We recognise the importance of individuality and uniqueness and encourage children to be proud of what makes them different.
Anniversary of The Armistice
Some pupils from our School Council represented Monega at the Anniversary of the Armistice at the Cenotaph, Central Park. The children laid a wreath on behalf of the school.
Year 4 British Museum
Our Year 4 pupils had an amazing day at the British Museum, diving into the fascinating world of Vikings as part of their history learning. From seeing real artefacts to discovering how Vikings lived, traded, and travelled, the children were captivated by the stories behind these incredible objects. It was a fun and inspiring experience that brought history to life!
Children in Need
Last week as part of Children in Need, the children (and staff) came to school dressed in their favourite clothes. As a school community we raised £246.15. This money will be donated to charity and will be used to help those children in need.
Formal Pathways Rememberance Month
This month our Formal pathways children have been very busy learning about Rememberance day and its signifcance.
The children took part in a number of different activities including, painting, cooking, singing and creative arts. As part of their art sessions the children created a rememberance wreath using a varity of different tools, media and materials.
Year 6 Fundraiser
This term our Year 6 children held a Fundraiser event after school. As part of this the children created and sold toys, baked goods, cards and decorations. This was an incredible opportunity for our children to understand how to run and generate business.
The children raised £339 77 which will go towards their end of year show and celebrations Thank you to our Year 6 staff for overseeing this successful event
Send PE
In the SEN PE session, the children start their day with Get Set for Learning by doing some 'heavy work' activities. Some children enjoyed lifting the big tyres and rolling them across the floor, whilst others helped to build the shape house and climb inside. Some of our children also enjoyed bouncing up and down on the trampolines. After the session was over the children were calm and ready to tackle their next learning session.
Reception Healthy Teeth
Our Reception children have been learning all about the importance of looking after their teeth and how to keep them clean and healthy. They practised cleaning teeth using large models of mouths and pictures of teeth, ensuring that they know the correct way to keep them clean They also discussed the importance of regularly visiting their Dentist.
Remembrance Day
We took part in Remembrance Day celebrations by creating a Poppy display in our school office.
Children from Reception classes made Poppies from the bottom of recycled plastic bottles and painted them Red and Black
Money Matters Workshop
It was Year 5’s turn to take part in the Money Matters Workshop The children took part in many different activities relating to money and how it is used They included: different ways of borrowing money and repaying it, discussing how it can impact you; budgeting – how to budget for a family including food and ensuring you have enough; emotions – how money can affect people’s emotions and how that impacts your life; lastly being a critical consumer – how to spend your money wisely and making correct choices such as ‘Do I need the most expensive version’
The children finished the session with a much wiser understanding of how money can work for you for the better.
Year 6 Money Matters Visit to Mansion House
Year 6 visited a large financial institution in Mansion House, following up on the workshop they took part in previously.
They played a variety of games, learning about bank accounts, financial scams, compound interest and risk and reward The children were given £500 of fake money to use as they wanted and were in charge of making their own financial decisions; to spend, save, lend or keep their money
They also discussed what you can do to protect your money and personal information and also which information you need to keep private.
NPQ Leading Literacy Conference
This is one of many NPQ Welcome Conferences we have been holding in the last few weeks.
This one is the Welcome Conference for that National Professional Qualification on Leading Literacy across a school.
Huge thanks to our literacy specialists - Paul Hussein and Rob Black from Barking Abbey School who facilitate this programme for LDE.
Ambition Teacher Training at LDE
It has been the inaugural year of our Ambition ITT programme in LDE.
The Ambition ITT programme and PGCE is run by our ITT team led by our Director of Teacher Training - Rosetta Robinson (formerly the Deputy Head at Clara Grant Primary School).
We had to collate some stakeholder feedback and thought it would be nice to share that here.
NPQ Leading Behaviour and Culture
Another NPQ being at Tollgate last week - this one is the National Professional Qualification for Leading Behaviour and Culture
This one is facilitated by a friend of the TrustRachel Speed, Head of Quality of Education at Central Park Primary School in Newham and Alice Davies, Deputy Head Teacher at Hornchurch High School in Havering
You can see some of our Boleyn Trust school leaders at the session
NPQ Leading Teacher Development at Stratford Academy
Another successful NPQ Welcome Conferenceheld at Stratford Academy in Newham
This one of Leading Teacher Development and is led by Charlotte Robinson and Mariam Khalik from Stratford School Academy in Newham
Out and About
Various Quality Assurance visits to schools who are new to our Appropriate Body undertaken by Sarah Bartley and Michelle Osborne
Ongoing visits to schools with ITT trainees
Jacqueline Buchan (Deputy Director of LDE TSH) went to Elmhurst Primary School in Newham to chair the London North East Maths Hub Strategic Board (covering Newham, Barking & Dagenham, Tower Hamlets, Redbridge, Waltham Forest, Hackney and Havering)
Secondary NPQH
Another NPQH session this week, was at Cumberland School in Newham - where we launched our Secondary NPQH cohort.
We are very luck to have this programme led by Craig Hewitt - Head Teacher of Stratford School Academy and Thahmina Begum - Head Teacher of Haggerston School (formerly Executive Head Teacher of Forest Gate and Cumberland Secondary Schools)
We are incredibly grateful to all of our led facilitators - who are trained Visiting Fellows of Ambition Institute and represent LDE so well.
Online ECT Clinic sessions
Every term we hold around 40 to 50 sessions across all strands of the Early Career Teacher Programme:
Around 75% of those are online sessions that happen after school and are completely intangible
This week we held clinics for:
All 511 Year 1 ECTs on ‘High Expectations’
All 450 Year 2 ECTs on ‘Working with others and appropriate conversations’
These sessions are all held on Zoom, sometimes for up to 100 participants at a time
This is what it looks like behind the scenes!
Reception –“Very Hungry Caterpillars!”
This week in Reception, we transformed into very hungry caterpillars as part of our exciting hands-on learning experience! The children followed stepby-step instructions to create their very own fruit caterpillar skewers using grapes and raspberries Not only was this a delicious activity, but it was also a fantastic opportunity to develop key mathematical skills.
This task was linked to our Maths learning focus for the week: Time -understanding time includes recognising and sequencing events, following instructions in order, and developing early awareness of concepts such as first, next, and then As the children followed each step to build their caterpillars, they practised sequencing actions correctly and understanding that instructions must be completed in a specific order for the result to be successful.
The children showed excellent concentration, independence, and enthusiasm throughout the activity and certainly enjoyed eating their creations afterwards! It was wonderful to see them applying their understanding of time in such a fun, practical, and memorable way
Remembrance Day
In their RE lesson this week, classes across the school took part in a collaborative project called, ‘Footsteps of the Fallen’. Each class learnt about Remembrance Day, what is means and why we recognise it each year. Each year group represented the ‘footsteps of the fallen’ through different activities such as: finger painting a poppy field; collages using World War I newspaper headlines and flanders field poem; drawing a poppy field and thought about vocabulary associated with war; writing an acrostic poem; and writing letters from the perspective of a soldier. It was an incredibly meaningful and thought provoking week and the footsteps that were created, look amazing!
Year 1Stickman
This week Year 1 started reading the story ‘Stick Man’ in their English lessons.
After we finished reading the text, we went exploring in the local park to see if we could spot Stick Man Sadly, we found lots of sticks but no Stick Man Despite this, the children enjoyed retelling and acting out the story of ‘Stick Man’ with their regular sticks
Year 6 Investigate Microscope Faults with ELWA
Year 6 took part in a hands-on sustainability workshop led by Lisa from the East London Waste Authority. Working in pairs, pupils were challenged to investigate, dismantle and diagnose faults in a range of old gadgets including a microscope.
The session encouraged problem-solving, teamwork and careful observation as pupils explored how everyday devices are built and how they can go wrong. It also gave them a clearer understanding of what happens to electronic items once they reach the end of their life.
As part of Rosetta’s ongoing commitment to reducing e-waste, we have had a pink recycling bin on site Children have been encouraged to bring in their old batteries and small electronic items so they can be disposed of safely and responsibly
Year 6 showed fantastic curiosity and determination throughout the workshop; we are proud to see them becoming confident, environmentally aware learners.
Litter
Year 6 visited our local area to investigate the issue of litter and consider why it might be happening During the walk, the children discussed possible causes and explored ideas for how we can work together to tackle the problem They also began thinking about the types of questions they could ask the local community, ready to create a litter survey for next week As part of this, we looked at different question types and how each one can help us gather useful information
Odd Socks Day
For Anti-Bullying Week, the children learnt about what bullying is, what they can do to reach out and help others, and how they can support themselves. The children learnt that bullying is Several Times On Purpose and that as a school, we stand against bullying. For Odd Socks Day, the children and staff wore odd socks to show that we are all different and we should respect our differences.
Children in Need
Children and staff wore pyjamas to school to help raise money for the charity Children in Need By turning a simple dress-up day into something meaningful, we learned that even small actions can make a big difference to the lives of children who need support
Handwriting
Handwriting is a big focus at Shaftesbury. We follow the Nelson Scheme and do handwriting practice everyday. The improvement in pupil’s handwriting has been incredible. The children are proud to show off their writing in every subject.
Cooking
The children on our semi-formal pathway have been making pizzas on the last day of term as part of their ‘My Body’ unit in the curriculum where they take part in weekly cooking sessions, in order to develop their independence and to try and encourage a more varied diet. The children were chopping a range of vegetables and meats to put on their pizza’s. They used their communication and fine motor skills to chop, spread, sprinkle, mix and measure.
Khalid’s classmates, Mariya and Muhammad from 6E planned and prepared the activities for us with specifically Khalid in mind As part of a developing school initiative pupils who are formal learners join those on pathways to plan, support and build caring relationships with one another Both children did a brilliant job at organising the cooking session and working with Khalid on this They prepared the table while the pizza’s were cooking and then helped everyone to juice at tea time A big well done to them both
Shaftesbury Social
Staff gathered together to enjoy a fun evening of good food, chat, singing and playing a quizwhich did get quite competitive!
Staff Wellbeing
At Shaftesbury we celebrate all faith and religion- here we were celebrating Diwali and thanking staff for all the hard-work and dedication. We wanted them to know it does not go unnoticed!
Year 4 Spark Curiosity with Circuit-Building Science Lesson
Year 4 have been lighting up the classroom with their latest science topic on electricity. This week, pupils took part in a hands-on practical lesson where they explored how electrical circuits work by building their own.
Working in small groups, the children experimented with a range of components, including wires, bulbs, batteries, buzzers, and switches They investigated how each part functions within a circuit and tested different combinations to see what would happen There was plenty of excitement as buzzers sounded, bulbs lit up, and switches successfully controlled the flow of electricity
The lesson not only strengthened their understanding of electrical circuits but also encouraged teamwork, problem-solving, and scientific thinking Our Year 4 scientists thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to apply their learning in such a practical and engaging way
We can’t wait to see what they explore next!
Cross-School Moderation with Tollgate and New City Primary Schools
Recently, Clara Grant Primary School took part in a valuable cross-moderation session hosted by New City Primary School alongside colleagues from Tollgate Primary School. This collaborative event brought together Year 3 and Year 4 teachers from all three schools to review and compare English books, focusing on pupil outcomes and approaches to adapting learning for different needs.
The session provided an excellent opportunity for professional dialogue, allowing teachers to share best practice and reflect on the consistency of standards across schools Our team explored how writing progression is evidenced in pupils’ work and discussed strategies for ensuring high expectations while supporting individual learners.
Moderation is a key part of maintaining robust assessment practices, and working with partner schools strengthens our understanding of what excellence looks like in English. We are proud of the contributions our teachers made and the insights they gained, which will help us continue to refine our approach and deliver the very best learning experiences for our pupils.
Dutch Trainee Teachers Visit Clara Grant Primary School
This week we were delighted to welcome a group of trainee teachers from Eindhoven in the Netherlands to Clara Grant Primary School Their visit was part of an international exchange programme aimed at comparing educational practices between the UK and the Dutch system The group spent the day observing lessons across the school with a particular focus on Early Years and Key Stage 1. They were incredibly impressed by the high standards of teaching and learning they witnessed, noting the strong emphasis on creativity, pupil engagement and inclusive practice. Our approach to fostering independence and curiosity in the youngest learners stood out as a highlight and they commented on how well our classrooms promote both academic progress and personal development.
The visitors were also keen to learn more about our curriculum design, assessment strategies and the ways we support children’s wellbeing alongside their academic achievement They shared insights into the Dutch education system, sparking valuable discussions among staff about similarities and differences in pedagogy, classroom management and teacher training
It was a fantastic opportunity for professional dialogue and cultural exchange and we are proud that Clara Grant Primary School could showcase the exceptional work happening in our classrooms every day. We look forward to continuing these international connections and learning from each other to ensure the very best outcomes for all children.
Nursery Reading Event
Our Nursery was delighted to welcome parents into school for a special reading event The session began with families joining their children for some shared reading time, creating a calm and cosy atmosphere across the classroom Staff also took the opportunity to offer helpful tips on effective reading strategies and to emphasise just how important early reading experiences are in supporting children’s language development, imagination and love of books
The morning continued with an immersive storytime experience featuring the much-loved classic We’re Going on a Bear Hunt With actions, sound effects, and plenty of excitement, the children and their families were drawn into the adventure, enjoying every moment of the journey through long grass, thick mud, swirling snowstorms and of course, the bear’s cave!
It was a wonderful opportunity for parents to engage with their children’s learning and to see firsthand how stories can spark curiosity and joy in the Early Years We look forward to hosting more events like this in the future
Christmas Card Competition
Congratulations to Ethan from our Resource Provision as he recently won a prestigious competition! His creativity has shone through as he won the Family Fund Christmas Card Competition. Ethan beat off a number of competitors and the judges said that his fireplace design really stood out and that he fully deserved his first-place award. We are so proud of his achievement and can’t wait to see his design spreading festive cheer!
Resource Provision Learning
Recently, the Formal Classroom in the Resource Provision learnt all about Bonfire night. They recreated their own firework pictures and even created explosive fireworks to represent the amazing colours they see when they look up at night. Last week their learning focused on Remembrance Day. They learnt about Poppies, what they represent and about the Soldiers and the heroic work they did helping to save the country. The children then ended the week by recapping what they had learnt in a written piece.
Show Racism the Red Card Day at Tollgate Primary School
Recently, our school proudly took part in Show Racism the Red Card Day, a national initiative dedicated to promoting equality and challenging discrimination Pupils across the school engaged in meaningful discussions about the importance of respect, inclusion, and standing up against racism
As part of our celebration, we created a powerful video where our children shared their thoughts on why this cause matters and how we can all make a difference in our community. Through art, dialogue, and collaboration, we reaffirmed our commitment to ensuring that everyone feels valued and respected at Tollgate Primary School.
Together, we can make a change because every voice matters.
Year 5 Visit the British Museum
Recently, Year 5 had an exciting visit to The British Museum to learn more about the Vikings. They discovered how the Vikings traded goods, travelled across seas, and developed their own unique culture. The children explored fascinating artefacts and displays that brought the Viking era to life. Afterwards, they explored other parts of the museum, learning about different periods of world history and how past civilisations have shaped the world we live in today. It was an inspiring and educational trip that everyone enjoyed.
