Dear families,

As we edge closer to the final term of the academic year, I find myself reflecting on the eventful Spring term we've had, brimming with learning and achievements. The Summer term promises to be equally exciting, so I encourage you to keep an eye out for our upcoming events calendar.

I'm thrilled to share some wonderful news with you all. After months of perseverance, we've finally secured a bus from Stagecoach, generously donated free of charge. This project has been in the pipeline since last summer, and we're excited to transform it into a Reading bus. A heartfelt “Thank You” goes to our PFA for their financial support from previous fundraisers, making this dream a reality. Special recognition must go to our School Business Manager, Mrs C Durrance, whose tireless efforts brought this project to fruition.

Our recent World Book Day was a resounding success, celebrating the joy of reading and storytelling. It's always a delight to see our pupils' enthusiasm for literature shine through on this special day.

I'm also pleased to report that we've achieved two consecutive weeks of 96% attendance. Thank you, parents and carers, for ensuring your children attend school regularly, maximising their learning opportunities. Your commitment to their education is truly commendable.

Miss A. Durrance (not to be confused with Mrs. C. Durrance, School Business Manager) is returning to Turkey after working with us again over the winter months. She is getting married in Turkey and has decided that this will be her final return to Roding. Miss Durrance has loved working with us, and we wish her all the best in her next adventure!

As we've moved our clocks forward, we're welcoming more sunshine and longer days. With warmer weather on the horizon, please ensure your child is dressed appropriately for the changing seasons and that all uniform items are correctly labelled.

While I'm immensely proud of our school community, I must address a sensitive issue. The vast majority of our families are wonderfully supportive, but unfortunately, a small number have shown disrespect towards our staff. I kindly remind everyone that many of our staff often work long hours, including unpaid weekends and holiday time, to ensure the best education for your children. We're here to support you, but disrespectful behaviour towards staff will not be tolerated.

As we approach the final stretch of this academic year, let's continue to work together, fostering a positive and respectful environment that allows our pupils to thrive. Your support and engagement are crucial in making Roding Primary School a place where every child can reach their full potential.

To our families who have celebrated Eid, I hope it was a joyous occasion. And to those observing Lent, I wish you a blessed Easter when it arrives.

Looking ahead, please note that the last day of the Spring term is Friday 4th April, with the school day finishing at 2:15pm. Pupils will return on Tuesday 23rd April at the normal start time.

Thank you for your continued support and cooperation. Here's to a successful end to the Spring term and an exciting Summer term ahead!

Ms M Nwankiti

Headteacher 

RODING ATTENDS THE ROYAL ALBERT HALL 

 

Our talented choir recently had the incredible opportunity to perform at the prestigious Royal Albert Hall as part of the Redbridge Choral Festival. After a long journey into London, the children were buzzing with excitement to be part of such a grand event.

Performing alongside 2,000 other singers from schools across Redbridge, our pupils sang beautifully, filling the iconic venue with music. This year’s festival theme, ‘Stars of Tomorrow’, was a powerful reminder of the bright futures that lie ahead for these young performers.

A huge well done to our wonderful choir, who dedicated themselves to rehearsing multiple times a week—both in school and at home. Their hard work and commitment truly paid off in an unforgettable performance.

It was a long and tiring day, with some children returning home after midnight, but the experience was absolutely worth it. Congratulations to all involved—you made Roding proud!

DEAF INFORMATION MORNING 

A huge thank you to everyone who joined us for our Deaf Information Morning! It was wonderful to meet so many members of our local community and come together to gain a greater understanding of the fantastic work we do here at Roding in deaf education.

A special thank you to Mrs. Man, who worked tirelessly to organise this event—your dedication and hard work truly made it a success. And of course, thank you to all who attended; your support and engagement mean so much to us.

If you would like more information about our deaf provision, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. We look forward to continuing this important conversation with you and welcoming you to future events! 

CHICKS VISIT RODING

Over the past 10 days, we’ve had some very special visitors in school—our adorable chicks! The children loved watching them grow, learning about their life cycle, and caring for them during their time with us.

Now, the chicks have returned to the farm, where they will continue to thrive in their new home. It has been a wonderful experience for our pupils, bringing learning to life in such an exciting and memorable way.

Thank you to everyone who helped look after them—we hope to welcome more little visitors in the future!

RODING CELEBRATES WORLD BOOK DAY

World Book Day was a fantastic celebration of our love of reading! It was wonderful to see children and staff dressed up as their favourite book characters, bringing stories to life in the most creative ways.

Throughout the day, pupils took part in exciting activities, from shared reading sessions to storytelling workshops, all designed to inspire a lifelong love of books. A huge thank you to everyone who joined in the fun and made the day so special!

Let’s keep the joy of reading alive—remember, a book is a dream you hold in your hands!

A BRONZE, SILVER AND GOLD WINNER - ARPIT 

A HUGE well done to Arpit, who achieved a BRONZE medal for using a special technique in Karate. He also achieved a SILVER medal for scoring a century in cricket (100 runs) and a GOLD medal in Karate yet again after scoring 8 points against his opponent. Keep up the hard work, Arpit. It is good to see that you are using the school values of resilience and independence to help you succeed outside of school as well! 

We know mornings and afternoons can be busy, and getting your child to and from school is a priority. However, we must emphasise the importance of being considerate to our neighbours.

We urgently ask all parents and carers to avoid blocking driveways, obstructing pathways, or double parking. These actions create congestion, pose safety risks, and cause frustration for other road users and residents.

Additionally, please remember that the school car park is strictly off-limits for parents and carers. This includes after school when collecting your child from a club.

For everyone’s safety, children should never be in the car park or use it as a walkway.

Parking responsibly is essential for keeping our streets safe and accessible, especially for our youngest learners.

Whenever possible, consider walking, biking, or using public transport to reduce traffic and promote healthy habits for your child.

Let’s work together to ensure a safe and smooth drop-off and pick-up experience for everyone, while maintaining positive relationships with our neighbours.

Thank you for your cooperation and for being a valued part of our school community.

YEAR 1 AT THE V&A MUSEUM

At the beginning of March, our Year 1 pupils had a fantastic trip to the V&A Museum of Childhood in Bethnal Green. The children were thrilled to explore the museum’s wonderful collection of toys and games from the past, bringing their learning to life in an exciting and interactive way.

They took part in engaging activities, asked brilliant questions, and discovered how toys have changed over time. It was a wonderful day of hands-on learning, sparking curiosity and excitement in our young historians!

A huge thank you to our staff and parent volunteers who helped make the trip such a success. Well done, Year 1, for representing Roding so beautifully!