SSq Newsletter - 6th February 2026

Dear Families,

Thank you to everyone who attended TLC Day last week – it was a great opportunity to share how the children are progressing personally and academically, and we hope you found it helpful and informative.

In assembly on Monday, our Pupil Parliament cabinet gave an update linked to one of their manifesto pledges – improving toilets in school. They shared actions taken so far, asked for feedback, and reminded us that we all have a shared responsibility to look after our school environment, including how we use shared spaces respectfully. After the break, we’ll include a message from the Pupil Parliament right here in the newsletter, sharing next steps.

Next week is Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week, and the theme this year is “This is My Place”. Children will be exploring how they find their place in school, in their friendships, and in the wider world. In Monday’s assembly, we’ll use the brilliant resources from Place2Be to reflect on belonging, identity and self-worth – and this will continue through classroom activities across the week.

It’s also Foundation Subject Week! Children from Year 1 to Year 6 will step out of their usual timetable to dive deeper into the foundation subjects – becoming artists, computing whizzes, geographers and theologians. These focused days are a great opportunity to strengthen specific skills, build subject knowledge, and make creative links across the curriculum.

Matt

NEWS – Year 2 Climb High For History!

Year 2 had a MONUMENT-al trip to the top of The Monument last week. Everyone persevered and climbed all 311 steps to the very top and got a 360 degree view of London from the top. The children enjoyed spotting London landmarks from above, and everyone was so brave! We then walked to Pudding Lane to see where the fire started, and then over London Bridge so the children could see how far people would have had to run to fill up fire squirts and buckets. They used their prior learning to map out the fire spread from East to West and the buildings which were affected. It was a trip to remember for sure!

NEWS – Year 3 Get To Grips With Gaelic Games

Last week, Year 3 experienced their first taster session with local Gaelic Football club, Dulwich Harps. Colin from the club came in to teach the children some basic skills before they attend a school taster session on Peckham Rye in March. The children loved learning a new game and even noticed how similar the skills were to the playground favourite ‘Champ’.

Dulwich Harps offer weekly training sessions and will resume in February – see poster below for more information.

NEWS – Year 4 Escape To The Country

Year 4 visited Canterbury, Kent as part of their History and Geography learning. After a brisk walk to London Bridge (beating the early morning commuters), the team boarded a train that raced them to Kent. The children enjoyed playing, chatting and looking at the view – no screens were needed here!

On arrival in Canterbury, the children and adults took in the wonderful architecture, array of shops and of course the cathedral before visiting the Roman Museum and the Beaney House of Art and Knowledge. The children created their own mosaics – with the parent helpers showing true artistic style with their tiles!

It was a wonderful experience and the children would love to return – maybe for a bit longer next time!

Thanks to all the staff and adults who made this trip possible!

NEWS – PUBLIC CONSULTATION – HAVE YOUR SAY

BIG EDUCATION TRUST – PROPOSAL TO MERGE WITH OASIS COMMUNITY LEARNING

Please read more about this here. Your feedback is important to us. Please take a few minutes to complete our survey and share your thoughts on the proposed merger: please fill in this form to do so.

During the month of February (to join in with the national celebrations of LGBTQ history), we will be sharing and celebrating some inspirational contemporary and historical LGBTQ figures.

This week we shine a light on Zack Polanski

Zack Polanski is a gay British Jewish politician and the current leader of the Green Party. Born in 1982 in Manchester, he studied at Aberystwyth University and worked as an actor and hypnotherapist before beginning his political career with the Liberal Democrats. He joined the Green Party in 2017, and was elected leader in 2025. He is a powerful advocate of the redistribution of wealth, and believes that a tax based on wealth is fairer than one based on income. He has stated that the Gaza war is a genocide, and that what he perceives as the conflation of Jewish people with Israel by the British Government “makes him feel less safe as a Jewish person.” He lives in Hackney with his partner, Richie, who works in palliative care.

COFFEE MORNING – TUESDAY 10th FEB!

As part of Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week next week, we will be running a Wellbeing Coffee Morning for parents and carers on Tuesday the 10th, 9-10am in the Pavilion. Everyone is very welcome to attend – we will be looking at ways we can support ourselves so that we can do the best job we can at supporting our children. We will also be blending flavours to make special wellbeing tea bags to take home! Come and join us then!

Please keep an eye on this information page outlining information from me about various issues.

Attendance Last Week

Well done to Year 2 Otedola Class who had 98% attendance last week. Keep it up folks!

Please contact us daily if your child is off ill or for another reason.

Email [email protected] or phone 0207 7033049 (option 1)

MENU @SSq

Check out what’s on the menu – this week is week 2!

Key Dates for the rest of the academic year

Look out for our Night At The Museum – NEW DATE – Tuesday 24th March.

These are subject to change and we will endeavour to inform you of this as soon as possible.

CINEMA OFFERS IN COVENT GARDEN

A short ride on the 172 tales you to the wonderul Garden Cinema – see their latest offers for families and young children:

The Garden Cinema recently launched its Bring Your Baby screenings – a chance for parents of babies aged 12 months and under to see the latest releases in a relaxed environment, with raised lighting, reduced volume levels, and subtitles where possible. Parents can feel free to get up and walk around during the screening, and babies can cry and coo without bothering other cinema-goers. Recently screened films include No Other Choice, Hamnet and Marty Supreme.

The cinema also hosts family film screenings every Saturday and Sunday morning, and on weekdays during the school holidays. The screenings are 'Pay What You Can', which means you’re free to pay as much or as little as you can afford. On Sundays the films are followed by free fun and creative activities for children. Upcoming films include Frozen, Fantasia and The Tigger Movie.

Full Details: https://www.thegardencinema.co.uk/#by-strand

Upcoming films:

The Smurfs (U) – Saturday 7 Feb at 11am + Sunday 8 Feb at 11am
Frozen (PG) – Saturday 14 Feb at 11am + Sunday 15 Feb at 11am + Tuesday 17 Feb at 11am
Fantasia (U) – Friday 20 Feb at 11am + Saturday 21 Feb at 11am + Sunday 22 Feb at 11am
Wonderful Animated Shorts for 3 -12 year-olds (PG) – Saturday 28 Feb at 11am + Sunday 1 Mar at 11am
Homeward Bound (U) – Saturday 7 Mar at 11am + Sunday 8 Mar at 11am
Little Amélie (PG) – Saturday 14 Mar at 11am + Sunday 15 Mar at 11am
The Tigger Movie (U) – Saturday 21 Mar at 11am + Sunday 22 Mar at 11am
Shaun The Sheep Movie (U) – Sunday 29 Mar at 11am + Tuesday 31 Mar at 11am
Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (U) – Saturday 4 Apr at 11am + Sunday 5 Apr at 11am + Monday 6 Apr at 11am
Aladdin (U) – Thursday 9 Apr at 11am + Saturday 11 Apr at 11am + Sunday 12 Apr at 11am
Encanto (U) – Saturday 18 Apr at 11am + Sunday 19 Apr at 11am
Mary Poppins (U) – Saturday 25 Apr at 11am + Sunday 26 Apr at 11am