| Key Event | Date |
| Forest School Garden volunteering (email Rob) | Monday 21st Aug – 1st September |
| Inset Day – School Closed | Monday 4th September |
| Inset Day – School Closed | Tuesday 5th September |
| Autumn Term starts for Y1-6 | Wednesday 6th September |
| Catkin Class Term starts | Thursday 7th September |
| Reception & Blossom Classes Term starts | Monday 11th September |
| Half Term | Monday 23 October to Friday 27th October |
Laurels Update
Today, we have had said farewell to our year 6 classes of 2023. The children celebrated their time at Brookfield in a special leavers’ assembly, received books, sung and performed on the West African drums. Thanks to all the parents of children in this cohort who have supported the school and community in so many ways. We wish the children the very best as they take this next step in their education and ask that they come back to tell us the achievements beyond Brookfield!
At this time of year, we also say goodbye to staff. Thanks to Bianca, who is moving out of London, and Sophie, who embarks on teacher training, who have supported children particularly in years 2 and 4. Our Nursery teacher Charlotte is leaving Brookfield to become a SEND and EYFS adviser for Camden while our year 2 teacher, Amy, and Assistant Head, SENDCo, Laura will both be joining the staff at Robson House Pupil Referral Unit. We wish them every success in their new roles.
In September, as well as welcoming new children, we will be joined by Simon (Deputy Head), James, Alla and Anna (Class Teachers), Kerry, Oksana and Amarilda (Learning Support Assistants).
Over the summer we look forward to work on the Forest School Garden beginning. If you are able to come and lend a hand over the Summer break with planting, greenhouse building and pond installation, please read below and get in touch with Rob.
Thank you for all your support this year as we have worked together to ‘inspire the best in everyone’. I hope you and your families have wonderful summer breaks and we will look forward to welcoming children in years 1-6 back to school on Wednesday 6th September at 8.45am for Y2 and 6, 8.50am for Y1 and 5, 8.55am for Y4 and 9am for Y3.
Reading Update
Thank you so much for all your support with your children's reading this year. We are so proud of all the children and their amazing progress. Special mention goes to the Reading Progress Prize winners who received their prizes in a special celebration assembly last Friday.
Year 1 winners - Marcus and Artem
Year 2 winners - Ollie and Stephanie
Year 3 winners - Miley and Millie
Year 4 winners - Deacon and Maisie
Year 5 winners - Moqeet and Stephen
Year 6 winners - Jana and Chloe
We now need your help to maintain all their achievements in reading over the summer holidays. The best thing you can do is make sure that they read every day for at least 5 minutes. Let them read to you and to themselves and please read to them too!
Here are some suggested reading lists and activities;
1) The week magazine has a summer 50 reads list that can be found here;
2) Visit our website where there are 3 lists to look at ;
https://www.brookfield.camden.sch.uk/curriculum/recommended-booklists/
3) Visit any library and take part in their Summer reading challenge.
https://summerreadingchallenge.org.uk/
4) Some nice activities can be found here;
https://www.bl.uk/childrens-books/themes/all-activities
5) Play lots of talking games - this works for children of all ages and supports both their reading and writing. Here are a few examples;
Eye spy - this can be with letters, sounds, on a subject, words that rhyme with....
Rhyming and making up raps, poems and songs
The alphabet game- pick a theme and think of something that starts with each letter of the alphabet- e.g. animals; Person 1 Anteater, person 2; baboon .... etc. You can use countries, colours, food, friends, trains, cartoon character.....
Take turns telling a story- each person does a sentence e.g. Person 1; Once upona time there lived a green frog. Person 2: His name was Bob and he was very sad.......
Memory games - e.g. Person 1- I went to the shop and I bought an apple Person 2 I went to the shop and I bought an apple and a pear, Person 1 I went to the shop and I bought and apple, a pear, a toothbrush..... This can be combined with the alphabet game for extra challenge...
6) https://discover.org.uk/ - a fun story telling museum
Lastly please do take photos of your children reading in funny places, cosy places, to their dogs, cats, sisters, cousins.... and send them in! We would love to see them . Have a wonderful summer!
Free School Meals
As you will now be aware, from September, children (Reception - Year 6) will not have to pay for a school dinner. We still require notice if your child wishes to switch from school meals to packed lunches or vice versa. Please contact the office admin@brookfield.camden.sch.uk before you change. This is so that we can submit the correct number of dinners to our meal provider.
You can check if you're eligible for additional funding, and apply here https://www.camden.gov.uk/free-school-meals
Please see the letter from the PTA to support this transition to free school meals for all PTA letter
Our school meal provider, Caterlink are also preparing for this change. Please read the letter below and complete the form if your child has any allergies to food that we are not aware of
Allergy and intolerance form blank
After School Club
After School Club bookings for the new academic year can be made 30 days ahead. After School Club will start on 6th September in the new academic year.
We remind you that we cannot take after school club bookings for reception children until after the first half term is over.
We do not accept on the day bookings, unless of course there is an emergency which means you are unable to come and collect your child at pick up. You will need to call the office to do this.
Bookings are made via your scopay account
More information about After School Club can be found here
Breakfast club is not bookable, simply turn up from 8am (and before 8.30am), and this will be added to your Scopay account.
Parking
Do you have a driveway that you don't use during the morning? Or do you know someone that does? Two staff members are looking for new parking spaces for the September term. Please email r.williams@brookfield.caden.sch.uk if you are able to help. Thank you
Good news! We have enough volunteers to form a PTA committee for 23-24! Exact roles are still to be determined and we aim to consult broadly on the future direction of the PTA in the Autumn term. If you would like to be involved in the wider group which is steering this process or would consider helping organise an event, please let your class rep know.
What we know for sure is that we will spread responsibilities more widely than in the recent past. Which brings us to a BIG THANK YOU to our heroic outgoing committee members. Sophie in particular has been working tirelessly over the past two years to bring the community together and make our events inclusive and successful. Rob has also been going above and beyond his role as Treasurer for a great many years and before that as Chair. Sophie, Nic and Rob all stepped up at a difficult time, as our community recovered from the pandemic and a long period of not being able to hold many events. They have done a fantastic job of rebuilding momentum and our only worry in taking over the reins now is that we will be able to match their effort. It’s lucky there are eight of us!
The new PTA committee
p.s. Following the letter last week, those who wish can set up a regular donation to the PTA at cafdonate.cafonline.org/20837
Forest Garden Volunteering this Summer
Would you like to come and lend a hand installing parts of the forest garden this summer? Once the diggers leave there will be planting, greenhouse building and pond installing jobs to be done. These are likely to be between the 21st August - 1 September. Refreshments provided! Please message Rob the forest school gardener if you are interested: r.logan@brookfield.camden.sch.uk. Any help is much appreciated as we turn the tarmac into the garden the pupils have co-designed!
Meet the Parents
I am delighted to let you know that Meet the Parents is coming back to Brookfield on Wednesday 27th September from 6.30 - 7.30pm. If you are thinking about where to send your child for secondary school, this is a great chance to hear from families at our local Camden secondaries and ask them whatever you want. For more information go to https://meettheparents.info
Parent Webinars
Please see the attached flayer about parent webinars for residents in Camden and Islington. These are aimed at Parents/ Carers of children in Year 5 & 6, and also if you have older children.
Webinar Parents Offer 2023 (1)
Aerial Days Youth Circus Summer School
Monday 24th - Thursday 27th July, 10am to 4pm each day, for children aged 8-17 years. Experiences and new students are welcome to enjoy 4 days of Trapeze, Hoop, Silks, Acrobatics, conditioning, flexibility, Hulahoop, Plate spinning, Juggling, Diabolo, Games, Obstacle courses, fun and laughter in small class groups!
4 days = £300
single day £89
Family Action
For many of the parents and carers at your school, this summer will be more difficult than ever. From juggling childcare to coping with the cost-of-living crisis and searching for affordable ways to have fun, the pressures can really build up.
Family Action are here to support families through the summer and all year long. Please share details of our FamilyLine, a free helpline that offers emotional support and practical guidance via telephone, text, email and live chat for all family members over the age of 18.
You can download our FamilyLine poster here: family-action.org.uk/make-happy-memories
Free Summer Cricket HAF Programme
Please find details attached, of a free cricket course for 7-11 years old children at Camden Primary Schools, for the first 3 weeks of the upcoming Summer Holidays.
Summer HAF Prog Flyer 2023 CAMDEN
Camden Music Lessons
We want to let you know about how we can help people pay for music lessons in school. It might not apply to you, but you might know someone else who we could help.
Families who qualify for Free School Meals can have a half-price music lesson – we just run a quick check with our benefits department.
For next year, we can also offer half-price lessons to families who get Housing Benefit, or Council Tax Support – for these you might have to send us some proof of your benefit.
From September 2023, a term of ten 20-minute instrumental lessons would cost £59.64 for these families.
Everyone can arrange to pay in instalments to make it easier to manage those bills – just contact us to talk about what will be manageable.
People can apply for lessons here https://www.camden.gov.uk/instrument-and-voice-lessons-in-schools .
Mental Health Support
If you're feeling down, anxious or worries, help is available:
- Speak to your GP about how you are feeling
- Refer yourself to iCope. this is a free NHS service in Camden and Islington giving confidential support and therapies. iCope also offers intercultural therapy in different languages
- Read more about mental health services in Camden
Camden Early Help
Everyone needs a little help sometimes. If you're feeling worried about your child, or you want to make a change in your life, Camden Early Help is here for you, your children and your whole family.
What we offer
- Free support service for families with children aged 0 to 19 in Camden
- Practical and emotional support with a range of life issues
- Working with you and your family to help make changes
- Helping you and your family to feel connected in your community.
Please click here for further information
Managing Debt
If you owe money and you’re struggling to pay your bills:
- get in touch with an organisation like Debtline for free and confidential advice
- speak to the organisation you owe money to – for Council Tax arrears, call 020 7974 6414
- ask your energy supplier for temporary credit if you cannot top-up a pre-payment meter
- use Citizens Advice's budgeting tool to set out your income and expenditure
- do not ignore letters or bills about money you owe. Contact a local organisation in the Camden Advice Network or call a national advice organisation such as StepChange
Energy suppliers might be able to let you pay in smaller amounts or take a break from payments. You might also be able to apply for a grant to pay off energy debts.
If you need to take out a loan, do not approach a loan shark or take out a payday loan. Consider credit unions or other ethical loan providers. Find out more at credit-union.coop, call 020 7561 1786 or email info@credit-union.coop.
If you owe a loan shark money, or if you’re being threatened, get confidential help from Stop Loan Sharks.
If you don’t know where to turn, call us on 020 7974 4444 (option 9) or contact Citizens Advice Camden.
Cost of living Crisis Fund
If you're struggling to afford essentials such as food, energy bills or housing, you may be eligible for a £500 payment through our Cost of Living Crisis Fund.
How to apply:
There are several ways to apply for support from our Cost of Living Crisis Fund. you can
- call Citizens Advice Camden on 0808 278 7835
- if you're a council tenant, you can also speak to your neighbourhood housing officer
- if you're a private renter, you can also email us COLprivaterenter@camden.gov.uk or contact Camden Federation of Private Tenants on 020 7383 0151
- Contact one of the organisations in Camden Advice Network
Please see : https://www.camden.gov.uk/financial-support-for-residents1 for further information.
Plastic Free July
For the last week of Plastic Free July, and with the holiday season upon us, here are so tips for a plastic free and eco-friendly holiday!
Going camping or planning a road trip? Bring your reusables with you! Water bottles, travel cutlery and food containers for leftovers are great for on-the-go holidays! You'll always have somewhere to put your leftovers and will never find yourself without cutlery. You'll also be able to drastically cut your plastic footprint! A reusable canvas bag is also very useful to have for any shopping you might do, to avoid single use plastic bags.
Need a refreshment on a sunny day? Remember that ice cream in a cone doesn't create waste and a drink in a glass bottle or an aluminium can in better than one in plastic!
For those heading further afield, have you checked if there are any sustainable hotels at your destination? A growing subsection of the travel industry, many hotels are now targeting the eco-conscious traveller by offering accommodation powered by solar panels, sourcing local produce and with proper waste disposal facilities.
Children Learn to Cycle
If you are in London in August, Camden council are putting on courses for children who are still learning to start, stop and balance.
Courses usually consist of two 45 minute sessions on consecutive days. Training is held in the safe playground area of Haverstock School, near Chalk Farm Underground Station.
Some training bikes are available to borrow, but do bring your child's own well-fitting, roadworthy bike if you can.
Thursday - Friday 3-4 Aug 2023 11.30am - 12.30pm
Tuesday - Wednesday 8-9 Aug 2023 11.30am - 12:30pm
Register here: https://www.camden.gov.uk/register-for-a-course