Monday 13th May 2024

Dear parents and carers of Stepney Park Primary School.

Year 6 SATS

We wish our Year 6 children good luck with their upcoming SATs, which are taking place this week. They have worked really hard to get ready and they are very excited to be showing off everything they have learned in the last 8 years. Well done Year 6!

Crime reporting in our school area

I know many of our parents share my concerns around the fact that drug dealing is happening in the streets around the school. Parents may have noticed adults waiting on the pavement (sometimes in groups) in anticipation for a pre-arranged drug delivery. A car will then stop by the curbside and drugs are purchased; in Smithy street this happens at least 4 or 5 times a day, but we know it also happens in Redmans road.

We have complained about this to the police many times, as we naturally don’t want our children to be exposed to this. I know some parents have complained to the police as well - thank you for doing this.  A drug deal was even ‘witnessed live’ by a police officer during polling day and this has finally resulted in proper action: we now have live CCTV two cameras in Smithy Street.

The cameras look like this:

The police have also promised us that they will have additional patrols by plain clothes police officers in our street for now. 

We hope that the measures will act as a deterrent against any criminal behaviour and that they will help to protect our children’s childhood and keep them safe.

As a reminder: please report any suspicious behaviour (either by phone or by email) to the police as soon as you can. 

Valuables

Please do not send your children into school with valuables of any sort, including money or even mobiles phones, as we cannot guarantee that we can keep them safe. Please note that mobile phones are not permitted in school. 

Weather is warming up

Spring has finally arrived, and at last we have had some warmer and sunnier weather.  Children may come into school wearing a sun hat, a cap and sunglasses. Although our playground has plenty of places with shade, many children choose to not be in the shade on sunny days, so applying sunscreen and wearing lighter summer clothing (such as dresses and t-shirts) is also advisable.

Uniforms

Please remember:

• No tracksuit bottoms, even on PE days

• A skirt needs to be worn over leggings

• T-shirts and jumpers need to have a school logo

Free BT Broadband offer for 12 months

BT have made an exclusive offer to eligible parents/carers in Tower Hamlets until the end of July 2024, as they want to ensure that they can help those most in need during the current cost-of-living crisis.

The offer is available to any parent to a child in our school who receives any of the benefits outlined below. (The family should currently not have a broadband contract with BT or EE.)

Details are as follows:

• Contract duration: 12 months 

• Speed: 36 Mbps 

• Data: Unlimited 

• Eligibility Criteria to qualify, you must be receiving at least ONE of the following benefits: 

  • Universal Credit (all claimants) 

  • Pension Credit (Guarantee Credit) 

  • Employment and Support Allowance 

  • Jobseeker’s Allowance 

  • Income Support 

If you meet the above eligibility criteria, please contact admin to receive your BT Voucher.

Half term holiday

We hope you will enjoy the half term holiday, which will start on Friday May 24th at 3.30 pm.  School will reopen on Monday Jun 3rd. There will be many exciting events happening in the last half of the summer term, including sports days, a family Eid event, a pass-it-on fortnight, performances in Yr 1 and Yr 6 and more besides. Please keep an eye out for the relevant dates in the parents' newsletters.

Thank you for reading this newsletter and hope to see you soon.

Kind regards.

Edith Philipsen

Headteacher- Stepney Park Primary School