Anson Primary School Happy, Confident & Creative
Newsletter Text
5th June 2025
Thinking Differently in 2025
On Tuesday we launched our final learning behaviour of the school year as Pink Crayon took centre stage.
As you know, each year we take a well-known children’s story and use the events in the story to help the children understand how they learn and how they can become even better learners. This is all linked to our Learning Behaviours and this term is all about developing our thinking skills.
In the story the pink crayon writes to Duncan to encourage him to be a bit more creative and to look at things in a different way by colouring in pink cowboys, monsters and dinosaurs. We used the idea to demonstrate that sometimes taking a different approach and thinking in a different way can help us when we are struggling with something or even when we just want to make an improvement in something we can already do.
At the end of the term the children will receive their final badge of the year giving them the full set of six crayons to remind them of all the different ways we can grow as learners.
Still Top of the Charts
As May ended we ran our monthly TT Rockstars awards in assembly.
The league table for local schools still shows Anson as the number one school in the local area. This is the 9th consecutive month we have topped the leaderboard and that in itself is a new record. No school has ever been top for a whole year. Can we do it?
Week of Change
The first week of the final section of the Summer Term has seen a wonderful change at Anson with the Reception classrooms now side-by-side in the main school.
While you may not have noticed a difference with that particular move, for. children in Year 1, 4, 5 & 6 there has also been the excitement of a new learning environment. Each year group has settled in beautifully and are already enjoying the energy that a new setting can bring.
As parents you will hopefully have noticed the reduction in congestion at the front of the school as we now have three entrances. Independent travellers continue to enter through the main school entrance, Reception parents enter through the side gate and everyone else continues to use the playground at both ends of the day. We hope it has helped you all feel safer.
EID Mubarak
It is another special time tomorrow as Eid falls on Friday, 6th June.
We hope that members of our community have a peaceful and blessed time. All absences on Friday will be authorised as religious worship. We can’t wait to hear all about the celebrations on Monday.
Summer Fayre
The 2025 Summer Fayre will be taking place on Saturday, 21st June, from 12pm to 4pm.
The event opens the doors to the whole community and is a mixture of food, fun, games, activities and music. This year the event is taking place one-hour earlier to ensure that we can gather together over lunch for some delicious food.
There will also be the annual raffle with some super prizes. Entry to the fayre is free and we cannot wait to see everyone joining us for an afternoon of excitement.
We will be looking for people to help out on the day and we may also seek some donations for some of the stalls in the next couple of weeks. Watch your phones for those requests. If you would like to run a stall please email friendsofanson@gmail.com for details.
Welcome Back to the Future
We hope you have enjoyed a lovely Half Term with your families and managed to dodge the rain showers that inevitably come with a school holiday.
As we enter the second half of the Summer Term we have exciting changes at Anson which we have been planning for some time. As part of our vision for the future we took the decision to move the classrooms into new positions for the final Half Term.
The main reason for this change is to create an exciting Early Years unit between Nursery and Reception. This will allow a better flow for the parents, children and staff and enable us to build the best possible foundation for our youngest learners.
From tomorrow the children and parents in Reception will drop-off and collect their children through the main front entrance of the school using the side gate.
We will be using this final half term to ensure that the new setup works and prepare the area for September.
The children will really enjoy the flow between the inside and outside spaces as well as the access to the Nursery area with a more challenging play structure.
The move means that other year groups are now also relocated as follows:
Roundwood (1R) - now based in old Greenwich.
Queens (1Q) - now based in old Richmond.
The Year One classes will come outside at the end of the day to line up. Parents can collect from the playground.
Battersea (4B) - now based in old Roundwood.
Victoria (4V) - now based in old Queen’s.
Parents of children in Year Four classes should gather under the blue sail at the end of the day.
Hyde (5H) - now based in old Victoria
Parents of children in Hyde should wait outside the classroom near the stage area.
The Year 3 and 6 classrooms will come out at the end of the day as usual. There is no change for Year 2.
We are excited by this change and know that it will help us deliver an even better education for all the children. We look forward to the new adventure beginning tomorrow.
16th May 2025
TOTAL SAT-ISFACTION
This week the children in Year 6 have been sitting their End of Key Stage Two Tests.
We have been so impressed with their focus and effort during each of the test papers they have taken and congratulate them all on trying their best.
They have a long wait until the second week of July to find out their final scores, but each of them can leave knowing that they simply couldn’t have done anymore.
The results are an indication of how well the school is doing compared to other schools across the country.
Whatever the results show (and we hope they are magnificent) we are more proud of the young people that will be leaving us in a few months. Throughout their time at Anson - whether they joined in Nursery of Year 6 - they have shown everyone that the next generation has a lot they will contribute to our society.
For now, we bask in their brilliance, determination and hope they have a restful weekend.
SUNDAY FUN RUN
On Sunday, almost 70 children gathered in Gladstone Park to take part in the Family Fun Run.
On a scorching day they ran twice around the park to raise money for improvements to our playground. At the time of writing the community have raised £1,785 in support of our little runners. We would love for a local business to match fund the total in order to help us make immediate improvements to the space. If you would like to donate, please click the image below.
Thank you to Friends of Anson and all the volunteers for making the first run such a success.
THE ANSON CHICKS
What an exciting week in the radio station at Anson as the Anson chicks arrived, hatched and set up camp!
On Wednesday morning we arrived at 7am to find three chicks had hatched. By the same time on Thursday morning all 10 chicks had made an appearance. Next week, as part of our Eco-Programme, the chicks will be taken to each class. Naturally the children are eggstra excited about those lessons taking place next week.
NEURODIVERSITY
On Monday the team from Brent SEND Advisory Team will be hosting a coffee morning all about ADHD traits and Neurodiversity.
We would encourage all parents to come along to hear advice and support for parenting children with neurodiversity. The session will also be beneficial to parents who may wish to run playdates for friends with ADHD and other neurodiversity. The session may also support parents with similar traits.
Come along on Monday at 9am in the Dining Hall.
QUIZ NIGHT
The Quiz Night begins tonight at 5:30pm.
Tickets will be available on the door, but please note that pizza will not be available to buy as this needed to be pre-ordered.
We hope you will come along and join our quiz, have some fun and spend some time with each other in a great setting.
OPEN CLASSROOMS
The next Open Classrooms takes place on Wednesday 22nd May at 8:45am.
This is an opportunity to come into the classroom and see your child’s work or simply take part in a learning activity together.
The session will end at 9:15am when the big nasty bell rings to tell you the fun is over.
TERM DATES
Autumn Term
INSET: 01/09/2025
Term Starts 02/09/2025
INSET: 24/10/2025
Half Term
Monday 27th October 2025 to Friday 31st October 2025
INSET: 03/11/2025
Term Ends
19/12/2025
Spring Term
INSET: 05/01/2026
Term Starts
06/01/2026
Half Term
Monday 16th February 2026 to Friday 20th February 2026
Term Ends
27/03/2026
Summer Term
Term Starts
14/04/2026
Bank Holiday: 04/05/2026
INSET: 22/05/2026
Half Term
Monday 25th May 2026 to
Friday 29th May 2026
Term Ends
21/07/ 2026
9th May 2025
START OF DAY CHANGES
Many of you will be aware of a road traffic incident on Friday 2nd May involving one of our pupils.
Thankfully the pupil is well, will make a full recovery from their injuries and is already happy to be back at school.
After any incident at or around the school we always reflect on what went wrong, what could be done differently and what lessons need to be learned.
While we know that congestion outside the school was not the cause of this particular incident, it is an ongoing concern for staff and we know it is also a concern for some of our parents and families.
As such, the senior leaders and Governors have met and discussed bringing forward some changes which were due to start after the May Half Term holiday.
These changes are designed to reduce congestion outside the school, improve the atmosphere and access, as well as keeping children and families safe.
THE CHANGES:
Independent Travellers
From Monday 12th May all children who travel independently to school must enter through the main school gate and register at the office if they arrive before 8:45am. This will ensure that the 50 children who travel to school on their own are not unaccompanied on Anson Road outside the school gate.
Reception Families
From Tuesday 3rd June (after Half Term), all Reception parents and pupils will also enter through the main front electronic gate. This term we are changing the location of the Reception classrooms. We are creating an Early Years unit alongside Nursery to ensure our provision for the youngest learners is the best it can be. Works are taking place over the Half Term to prepare the new rooms. The side gate between Nursery and the main school will become the new drop-off and collection point for Reception families.
Other Year Groups
The gate will continue to open just before 8:45am. We cannot let pupils into the playground earlier than this due to the lack of supervision. Parents should wait at the playground gate in a line along the fence. To reduce congestion we advise aiming to arrive at the school just after 8:45am when the gate is already open. Children should be in class by 9am.
Drivers
As always, we urge parents who drop their child by car to stop letting their children out while they are still in traffic with the engine running. Such behaviour has resulted in a number of near misses for our pupils with other motorists and cyclists. We must work together to improve the safety on Anson Road for all pupils and send the right messages to our children about keeping safe. We will continue to monitor the situation and review the changes.
ROCK STEADY
The RockSteady Music School came back with a bang as The Rapping Rabbits, The Rogue Rockers, The Singing Snakes, The Rocking Rhinos and Shadow Doom took to the stage to perform songs for a captivated audience. This was the second gig for many of the children and the progress has been remarkable. We would like to thank Tom from RockSteady for his teaching and support of all the bands. The final concert of the year is in July!
PANATHLON CHAMPS
On Thursday Anson Primary School was crowned champions at the Panathlon Challenge supported by the Jack Petchey Foundation.
As gold medalists at the multi-sport event the children will now go on to represent the whole of Brent at the regional finals in June.
We are so proud of all the children who took part in the event, not just because they won, but the spirit they showed throughout the day. We’ll let you know how they get on in the finals next month.
TT ROCKSTARS
Anson remains top of the leaderboard of local schools for the 8th consecutive month.
We would like to congratulate all the children on their effort in improving their times tables and keeping us at number 1.
SATS WEEK
Next week the children in Year 6 will sit their SATs at Anson.
The SATs test the children on reading, grammar, spelling and maths and help the Government to assess how well Anson is doing compared to schools nationally.
The children have worked really hard this year and we are very proud of their progress. Next week we will simply encourage every pupil to try their best.
QUIZ NIGHT
Quiz Night takes place on Friday 16th May at 5:30pm.
Tickets can be ordered on the School Gateway app or purchased on the door.
However, pizza must be ordered in advanced as this will be delivered by Pizza Bros on the night.
Please login and order your pizza by the end of Wednesday.
ANSON CHICKS
On Monday the Anson chicks are back!
The eggs will be housed in the incubator inside the radio station and we will update families on the status of the chicks next week. Get ready for a puntastic naming ceremony too!
FUN RUN
Join us on Sunday in Gladstone Park for the first Anson Fun Run.
Friends of Anson will be there ready to help stick numbers on the runners from 11:45am. The warm up begins at 11:55am and the run starts at 12:00pm. There are medals for all the runners. Please bring lots of water as it is expected to be a very hot day.
2nd May 2025
WEEKLY RECAP
On Wednesday afternoon I had the absolute joy of sitting in Lego Club and listening to pupils from Year 2, 3, 4 and 5 discussing the story of Romeo & Juliet.
It was a sign that Shakespeare Week 2025 at Anson captured the minds of the children like no other play which has gone before it. Perhaps it is because it is one of his best-known plays. Perhaps it is because it was made so accessible by the animated film Gnomeo & Juliet.
Without doubt it is one of the most important plays for children to understand and the children in Year 4 & 5 excelled this week in their performing of it.
To a player the children were exceptional in their storytelling, maturity and sensitive handling of serious issues. With the support of the staff in Year 4&5, alongside Miss Callaghan, they retold a story that the children across the school seem to have understood better than most children in secondary school probably accomplish.
The play is often portrayed as a story of love between Romeo and Juliet. However, in reality William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet explores the tragic consequences of hatred and conflict, offering a timeless message about the urgent need for peace and kindness. Indeed, Romeo and Juliet are caught in the middle and ultimately the innocents are destined for misery. The theme resonates so much because of the division we see in the world around us. We could argue that the play has never been more needed in our modern world.
We give special thanks and praise to everyone involved in the Anson production of Romeo and Juliet. It will be available on Anson TV very soon. If you take one thing away from the mesmerising performances and the accomplishments of young children with such profound words take away this message: in a world where you can be anything; be kind.
DRESS LIKE A ROCKSTAR: FRIDAY 9th MAY
The RockSteady Music School is back with 5 new performances to entertain the children of Anson on Friday! Just like last term we want everyone to get involved and dress like a rockstar. Think wigs, make-up, inflatable guitars and cool shades. Anything goes as we support the children on the stage and rock out to their terrific tunes!
ANSON FUN RUN & BIG PICNIC
The Anson Fun Run and Big Picnic takes place on Sunday, 11th May, in Gladstone Park.
Before the holiday all the children brought home their sponsorship forms and details of the event. The Fun Run is a fundraising event to try and change the playground at Anson and the activities available for the children.
Sponsorship, which is where children ask friends and families to promise them money if they complete the race, is the main way money is raised at the event. Sponsors can give you money or donate straight to our Just Giving Page.
You can also share the link with friends and family:
The page has so far amassed £500 of sponsorship which is a wonderful start.
To help us organise the event please confirm if your children will be running. This will help us plan drinks and refreshments on the day.
You can simply fill in your attendance using:
http://tinyurl.com/funrunnumbers25
We are hoping this becomes an annual event at Anson. Importantly, the Big Picnic after the event is a chance for us to come together and celebrate the amazing energy of the young people in our lives.
So, get those trainers on an join us on Sunday, 11th May and if your business wants to match fund donations, get in touch!
QUIZ NIGHT
Put your general knowledge to the test at the Anson Quiz Night! A family-friendly quiz on the 16th May written by The Chase question setter and Guardian weekend quiz author Thomas Eaton. Asking the questions – Mr. Pile!
Treat yourself to a pizza from local company Pizza Bros. All pizzas are 12” in size and will be delivered fresh on the night to enjoy during the break in the quiz.
To get your tickets go to the Gateway app.
You can take a “ticket only” for £4 through the app (aged 12 and over - under 12s go free but must be accompanied by an adult).
You can also opt for tickets and a pizza. This will mean paying for tickets and pizza in one transaction in the app. Pizza must be ordered before the night through the Gateway app. No pizza will be sold on the night.
Margherita £12
Pepperoni £12
Veggie Love £12
Please note that Friends of Anson will also be selling soft drinks, wine and beer.
All children without an adult will be refused entry to ensure the event is safe.
ANSON'S BIG GIVEAWAY
Over the Easter Break we have had a big clear out at Anson.
When the weather looks set to be fair we will host a big giveaway on the playground.
Parents can take as little or as much as possible from the books and games and objects on offer.
If you would like to make a donation to the school you are welcome to do so.
The big give-away will take place on the playground at the end of the school day.
DFY CAMP
Please see the newsletter for details of the next DFY Holiday Camp which is being hosted at Newman Catholic College. Unfortunately, due to electrical works which will be taking place during the next Half Term holiday at Anson we are unable to host a holiday camp.
25th April 2025
SHAKESPEARE WEEK
The children in Year 4 & 5 have begun their work on the story of Romeo & Juliet ready for a performance on Friday 2nd May to the school community.
The children have been working hard learning their lines, taking stage direction and working on technical aspects of this ambitious production. By the end of next week they will be ready to perform and I suspect this may be some of their best work yet.
Please watch out for text messages confirming the times but we would expect parents of children in Year 4&5 to be at the school for 2:15pm at the time of writing.
As always you will be astounded by the confidence, maturity and teamwork on show as the children tread the boards.
WEEKLY RECAP
I hope that everyone in the community had a lovely Spring Break.
With so many festivals across our celebrated religions at Anson it was certainly a joyous time for many in our community.
The news of the death of Pope Francis was very sad for members of the Catholic Church. However, it is also true that the next few weeks will give our pupils a chance to witness another iconic historical moment as the black or white smoke over the Sistine Chapel signifies whether a new Pope has been chosen or not. The smoke itself signifies change and this theme of change will run throughout the term at Anson.
One change is our new lunchtime timetable. This began on Wednesday and has seen a smooth start to the new term with more space in the playground, more time for the children to eat and chat and extra time for sport with DFY.
You may have also noticed the new Anson gate. This gate is closed while the children are on site and opens once the children leave. It makes the site accessible for Breakfast Club and After School Clubs but otherwise you will need to ring the bell for access to the school.
The Summer Term always ends with change as we move to our new classrooms ready for September. This year we are moving classrooms around to make the school work more efficiently for pupils and parents. More on that later in the term. For now, it has been lovely to see everyone back at the school safe and smiling.
ANSON FUN RUN AND BIG PICNIC
The Anson Fun Run and Big Picnic takes place on Sunday, 11th May, in Gladstone Park.
Before the holiday all the children brought home their sponsorship forms and details of the event. The Fun Run is a fundraising event to try and change the playground at Anson and the activities available for the children.
Sponsorship, which is where children ask friends and families to promise them money if they complete the race, is the main way money is raised at the event. Sponsors can give you money or donate straight to our Just Giving Page:
To help us organise the event please confirm your attendance using:
http://tinyurl.com/funrunnumbers25
RECEPTION BAKE SALE
The Reception families are preparing cakes and cookies for the Bake Sale next Friday.
The Sale begins at 3:30pm on the playground (or in the Dining Room in the event of wet weather).
QUIZ NIGHT
Put your general knowledge to the test at the Anson Quiz Night! A family-friendly quiz on the 16th May written by The Chase question setter and Guardian weekend quiz author Thomas Eaton. Asking the questions – Mr. Pile!
Treat yourself to a pizza from local company Pizza Bros. All pizzas are 12” in size and will be delivered fresh on the night to enjoy during the break in the quiz.
To get your tickets watch out for the links in the Gateway app. Tickets cost £4 for everyone aged 12 and over. Under 12s go free but must be accompanied by an adult.
Please note that you must order pizza before the night through the Gateway app. No pizza will be sold on the night.
Margherita £12
Pepperoni £12
Veggie Love £12
Friends of Anson will also be selling soft drinks, wine and beer on the night.
All children without an adult will be refused entry to ensure the event is safe.
THE BIG GIVEAWAY
Over the Easter Break we have had a big clear out at Anson.
As the weather looks set to be good next week we will host a big giveaway on the playground.
Parents can take as little or as much as possible from the books and games and objects on offer.
If you would like to make a donation to the school you are welcome to do so.
The big give-away will take place on the playground at the end of the school day.
SUMMER TERM CLUBS
The Summer Term clubs begin next week.
A link was sent out earlier today with a link to the DFY offer.
Clubs this term include Spanish, Sewing, Football, Dance, Crochet, Badminton, Art and a few more.
If you haven’t signed up yet please try to do this on Monday so we can ensure we have all the safety and medical information for the staff involved ready for the clubs to begin.
NEXT HOLIDAY
The school will be closed on Monday, 5th May for the May Day Bank Holiday. The children will return to school on Tuesday 6th May.
ENERGY TOWN
Congratulations to Freddie in Year 6 who won a £50 Amazon voucher for achieving the best score in the country of 530,000 points in the Energy Town competition.
28th March 2025
WE PROMOTE KINDNESS
Unfortunately the newsletter begins with a request for kindness at Anson.
During the last two months our office staff and teaching staff have been on the receiving end of some very aggressive behaviour. This has left some of our staff visibly shaken. I would urge everyone to remember that our staff are all trying to give your children the best chance to learn and grow. We promote kindness to them so they can deliver the same kindness to others. We would appreciate all parents showcasing the same model of behaviour at all times. Thank you.
RED NOSE DAY FUNDING
The School Council spent some time this week counting the money we raised for Comic Relief this year.
We are delighted to inform you that Anson Primary School has donated a total of £307.14 to Comic Relief. This is a wonderful total and will go towards supporting a number of projects in the UK and around the world.
MUSIC SHOWCASE
A music showcase will take place on Wednesday 2nd April at 2:30pm for children in Year One to Year Three. Parents are welcome to attend.
WEEKLY RECAP
This weekend will see many of our community celebrate Eid.
It is an incredibly special time and one which will see our community coming together to pray, feast and enjoy time together as a family. I wish all of our community a blessed and peaceful time.
Many of the important messages observed during Ramadan, particularly around kindness and thinking of others, are relevant to all our community throughout the year. We have a very special school where children are always looking out for each other and thinking about the role they can play in the wider world.
Indeed, this week I have spent time planning a documentary all about Gladstone Park, inspired by a conversation with Daphne and Mira in Year 4. Their thoughts on making our local area a little bit better for everyone is just one example of the myriad of ways our children strive for a better school, a better community and a better world.
The children of Anson continue to give me hope for the future. Over the next few days of reflection, take some time to give them a hug and consider all the positives they bring to our lives now and for the future.
I hope everyone has an incredible weekend and enjoys the celebrations. These are the special moments in life.
LUNCHTIME CHANGES
After Easter we are changing the timings for lunchtime at Anson.
This will not impact on the learning time for pupils at the school. The changes will give the children more space in the playground, access to sport, longer to eat their food and will save money for the school.
Reception and Key Stage One will now have lunch between 11:45am and 12:45pm.
Key Stage Two (Y3-6) will have their lunch between 12:30pm and 1:30pm.
This means the lunch service will now be as follows:
Reception: 11:45am
Year One: 12:00pm
Year Two: 12:15pm
Year Three: 12:30pm
Year Four: 12:45pm
Year Five: 1:00pm
Year Six: 1:30pm
DFY will continue to work with the children over lunchtime with Mr Ogbourne now able to run a session for every year group in the playground.
We are excited about the changes and what this will mean for the children and their enjoyment of lunchtime at Anson.
THE BIG DIG
The Big Dig takes place tomorrow at Anson.
As part of our plans to develop an area of our school for planting and growing food we are coming together, complete with shovels, to help us prepare the land! There will also be a pond added to the site!
Thank you to everyone who has signed up to help out on the day. We can’t wait to see you there from 10am. The day will finish promptly at 4pm.
INTERNATIONAL EVENING
We are looking to bring the community together to celebrate Eid and the rich diversity in our school.
Come along from 5:30pm with your favourite family dish and we will spend the evening sharing food and great conversation. Entry is free, as long as you bring a dish.
HAF PROGRAMME
Anson is playing hosting to the Holiday and Food Programme from the 7th April to 11th April. This will be run by DfY.
You can sign up for your child to join the fun using:
www.dfy.org.uk/spring2025
Some Anson staff will also be supporting the programme.
GLADSTONE PARK
One of our parents is working with a local community group regarding development of the lower end of Gladstone Park (by the pavilion cafe).
This is the link to a survey which is gathering insights into what the community need out of an upgraded playground development. All responses from our school community would be very useful and much appreciated.
https://shorturl.at/FPW7y
SUMMER TERM CLUB
The Summer Term clubs will be released next week.
We are finalising the list of clubs which will be provided by a combination of Anson staff and our friends at DFY.
Clubs include Spanish, Sewing, Football, Dance, Crochet, Badminton, Art and a few more.
We hope to get everyone signed up before the Easter Holiday.
EASTER HOLIDAY
The last day of term will be on Thursday 3rd April.
The children will return to school on Wednesday 23rd April.
21st March 2025
EASTER EGG COMPETITION
On Monday the Easter Egg Hunt begins at Anson. This year 14 eggs will be hidden around the classrooms with all the children winning a very special prize once their class egg is found. There will be no online hunt this year.
However, I am delighted to announce the Easter Egg-hibiton is now open for entries. For those who are new to Anson the idea is simple. Hard boil an egg and then use your creativity to turn it into an outrageous egg-pun. You could build a rocket for your egg-stronaut or create an animal like the 8-tentacled egg-topus. Famous eggs can also exist like Egg Sheeran or Mary Shelley. You can also explore the world of film and TV with Beg and Holly or Sonic the Egg-Hog. The creative ideas are endless. With Eid possibly falling on our original date, entries are now due on Tuesday 1st April - that’s no April Fools! Every entry wins a prize!
WEEKLY RECAP
It is a special time of the year for the many faiths which exist at Anson.
Our Muslim pupils are observing Ramadan while members of the Hindu community have been enjoying Holi. Meanwhile, Christians are taking part in Lent. It all culminates in special events for many of our community with Eid, Passover and Easter all on the horizon.
In school the children have been working hard all term and many of you heard about their progress during your parent meeting with the teachers. So, as we approach the end of this term we always plan some Spring Term fun. This year we have created a special KaraYOLKe event with singers such as Shella Fitzgerald, Eggy Mercury and Lady Goo Goo all performing on the Anson stage and being hidden around the school.
With class assemblies, ice lolly sales, Comic Relief and much more to come - the last few days of term should see everyone enter this special time with smiles on their faces.
TRAVEL AT ANSON
Following on from our session with TfL we have received just 10 responses to our survey sent to all parents.
In collaboration with TfL we are gathering feedback on the big issues facing our community on the roads around the school. We hope to use your feedback to create change. There have been a number of problems already raised including:
traffic and travel congestion
ongoing roadworks and pedestrian safety
safe access for children on Anson Road
how families travel to and from school
local air quality
In order for us to work as a community and get people at TfL and Brent to support any changes for the community, we need many active voices to come together. 10 people won’t create a change, but 100 people might.
As a community we can have more impact.
For example, together we could:
attempt to get Brent to change Anson Road into a bus only street outside the school
make changes to access on Heber Road
improve pedestrian crossing safety in the local area
improve community knowledge of parking restrictions
develop more Park and Stride action among parents
You know the local area better than anyone. What are the key issues? Please share your thoughts:
www.tinyurl.com/APStravel2025
THE BIG DIG
On Saturday 29th March Mr Clargo needs you!
As part of our plans to develop an area of our school for planting and growing food we need an army of green fingered volunteers, complete with shovels, to help us prepare the land! So far we have 4 volunteers and we are very grateful.
Please join us on the day between 10am and 4pm to lend a hand and help us shape the area for the children on Anson.
FAMILY FUN RUN
Friends of Anson are planning a Family Fun Run to raise money for the children of Anson.
The fun run will take place on Sunday 11th May 2025 at Gladstone Park.
All children will be given a sponsorship form before the Easter Holiday so they can begin to gather donations. This will be a very important fundraising event for the school.
ASDA THANK YOU
Thank you to everyone who raised money for Friends of Anson just by shopping at your local Asda supermarket.
Friends of Anson is receiving £110.42 as a result of your weekly shop. Thank you!
COMIC RELIEF
Today we had a lot of fun to raise Money for Comic Relief.
We hope the children enjoyed the day and their disco in the afternoon. We will share the disco again each day on Anson Radio until the Easter Holiday.
HAF PROGRAMME
Anson is playing hosting to the Holiday and Food Programme from the 7th April to 11th April. This will be run by DfY.
You can sign up for your child to join the fun using:
www.dfy.org.uk/spring2025
Some Anson staff will also be supporting the programme.
11th March 2025
A NEW SYSTEM FOR ACCIDENTS
Many of you will have received a little green slip if your child has bumped their head, grazed their knee or lost a tooth during the school day.
The slips allow us to communicate minor accidents to parents and keep a record of the places where accidents tend to happen so we can make changes to ensure the site remains safe.
This process is now moving online with our partners at MediTracker to make tracking the data much more simple.
Importantly, the new online system allows us to store all the medical needs of pupils. This gives us quick access to medical plans, care plans and medication. This is critical on school trips and during residential weeks.
It will also mean that as your child’s medication nears the expiry date, we can be proactive in supporting you to contact the GP for new prescriptions. This is particularly important for children with asthma of allergy pens (epi-pens).
The biggest change you will see is the move from paper slips to emails to inform you of accidents at school. Of course, we will still contact you personally if your child bumps their head, has a prolonged nose-bleed or suffers from a condition which needs your attention.
However, for smaller incidents you will now receive email communication of any issue which has taken place at school. The system will allow us to be much more proactive where medical needs of your child exist and if fully complaint with GDPR regulations. It went live on Monday.
SPRING 2025 PARENTS' EVENING
On Thursday, 20th March, Parents’ Evening will be taking place at Anson.
The evening will run from 3:40pm until 7:00pm and is an opportunity for you to get the latest feedback on your child’s progress this academic year.
Our colleagues at Teachers 2 Parents have updated their portal for this session and so it should be a lot simpler to book your appointment(s).
You will receive a text message or email from Teachers 2 Parents and in a few clicks can book a time slot for meeting the class teachers.
Please note that some parents are invited to appointments earlier in the week directly by the class teacher. This is if we need to provide translations support, discuss high needs or are trying to support families with multiple children at the school. Those parents will not receive a link to the booking system.
We hope to see as many parents at possible at the Parents’ Evening which will take place in the school hall.
TRAVEL AT ANSON
On Friday we hosted a Coffee Morning with guests from Transport for London and Brent Council.
The aim of the session was to try and begin to work on an active Travel Plan for the children and families of Anson Primary School. At the meeting several parents raised some of the issues we face in the local area. These covered a huge range of problems including:
- traffic and travel congestion
- ongoing roadworks and pedestrian safety
- safe access for children on Anson Road
- how families travel to and from school
- local air quality
In order for us to work as a community and get people at TfL and Brent to support any changes for the community, we need active voices to come together. As a community we can have more impact.For example, together we could:
- attempt to get Brent to change Anson Road into a bus only street outside the school
- make changes to access on Heber Road
- improve pedestrian crossing safety in the local area
- improve community knowledge of parking restrictions
- develop more Park and Stride action among parents
You know the local area better than anyone. What are the key issues of transport, travel and pedestrian access in your eyes?
We have created a Google Form for you to share your thoughts here:
tinyurl.com/APStravel2025
THE BIG DIG
On Saturday 29th March Mr Clargo needs you!
As part of our plans to develop an area of our school for planting and growing food we need an army of green fingered volunteers, complete with shovels, to help us prepare the land! So far we have 4 volunteers and we are very grateful.
Please use the link sent to your phones to join the team for the Big Dig Day.
THE HAF PROGRAMME
Bookings are now open for the Holiday and Food Programme at Anson Primary School in the first week of the Easter Holiday.
Each ticket includes 6 sporting activities of your choice per day in a fun and safe environment. There are snacks and 1 free meal per day provided by Oasis Catering. The camp is suitable for pupils age 5-12 years.
The cost is £28.50 per day with sibling & full week discounts available.
4 Free days will be available for children who live or attend school in Brent and are eligible for benefit related free school meals. Please email sara@dfy.org.uk if you are eligible for a free space. Otherwise please head over to the booking page and get your slot in this exciting opportunity for the children of Anson.
https://www.dfy.org.uk/spring2025
7th March 2025
THE DAY THE CRAYONS TOOK OVER
This week we celebrated World Book Day at Anson and I was particularly delighted to share the day with 6 other crayons!
In true Anson style, and as the crayons suggest, the day was all about drawing your attention to the importance of reading.
The day began with a special assembly which painted the picture for the day.
Each of the crayons led us towards a showcasing of the outfits. Red crayon likes to colour emergency services, so all the characters depicting the Police or other services shared their outfit. That led to numerous images of Dog-man appearing in the hall!
While the links may be sketchy, the arrival of the blue crayon led us to character from oceans, deserts and other hot or cold locations such as the wonderful representations of narwals and jellyfish!
The message to the children was clear: World Book Day helps is to find out about new characters, new stories, new adventures and if we take the time to talk to each other about our favourite stories we may unlock a love of reading.
It is such an important skill and I hope that every pupils, whether they dressed up or not, was inspired to pick up a book.
WEEKLY RECAP
This week has been another lovely week at Anson with World Book Day, Camden Arts Centre and sporting adventures all occurring in the last five days.
Arguably the highlight of the week was the visit of author and MBE, Laura Henry Allain. She is the much-loved author of the Jo Jo and Gran Gran books, also available as a series on CBeebies. In assemblies and workshops she shared her love of reading, her joy in writing and connected us to her story from North London, St. Lucia and becoming a best-selling author.
As always, our children were magnificent in their attention and questioning of Laura.
As a writer who was diagnosed with dyslexia it was a particularly powerful assembly for children in Key Stage Two, helping them all to understand that no matter what struggles we may face, if we have a good attitude and never give up we can all find our greatness in lives.
28th February 2025
It’s WORLD BOOK DAY next week!
Research carried out during World Book Day 2024 showed that many children see reading as something they have to do, rather than something they choose to do. This simply isn’t the approach we want to take at Anson. We believe reading should be fun, engaging and be led by the choices of the children.
The 2025 “Read Your Way” campaign encourages
everyone to let go of reading pressures and expectations and empowers children and
young people to have fun discovering reading on their own terms.
It’s exactly the way we feel at Anson when it comes to developing a love of reading.
As parents you should know that children are more likely to love reading if:
1. Someone reads to them regularly.
2. They find time to read.
3. They have books at home and at school.
4. They know a trusted person who can help them find the right books.
5. We all make reading fun for them.
6, They are given a choice in what they read.
On Thursday we will be sharing ways to encourage children to read in a special assembly and we will be dressing up as a staff to try and inspire every children to love the magical and inspiring and entertaining world of books!
What's On
On Thursday we will be celebrating with a special assembly celebrating the Read Your Way campaign.
Children can come to school dressed as their favourite book character or carrying a prop related to their character. They could even wear a mask.
We encourage all parents to remember that you do not need to purchase any costumes, but use what you have around the home to give a nod to a book or comic.
In the assembly we will be sharing a special poem written especially for Anson’s World Book Day celebrations, having a costume parade and revealing some great photographs too.
In addition, the books above are all available at supermarkets and bookshops and can be purchased with a World Book Day token which will be handed out to all the children.
There are a range of books spanning early readers all the way through to independent book lovers.
Whatever you want to read, this World Book Day is all about learning to love reading!
Travel at Anson
On Friday we hosted a Coffee Morning with guests from Transport for London and Brent Council.
The aim of the session was to try and begin to work on an active Travel Plan for the children and families of Anson Primary School. At the meeting several parents raised some of the issues we face in the local area. These covered a huge range of problems including:
- traffic and travel congestion
- ongoing roadworks and pedestrian safety
- safe access for children on Anson Road
- how families travel to and from school
- local air quality
In order for us to work as a community and get people at TfL and Brent to support any changes for the community, we need active voices to come together. As a community we can have more impact.For example, together we could:
- attempt to get Brent to change Anson Road into a bus only street outside the school
- make changes to access on Heber Road
- improve pedestrian crossing safety in the local area
- improve community knowledge of parking restrictions
- develop more Park and Stride action among parents
You know the local area better than anyone. What are the key issues of transport, travel and pedestrian access in your eyes?
We have created a Google Form for you to share your thoughts here:
tinyurl.com/APStravel2025
The Big Dig
On Saturday 29th March Mr Clargo needs you!
As part of our plans to develop an area of our school for planting and growing food we need an army of green fingered volunteers, complete with shovels, to help us prepare the land! So far we have 4 volunteers and we are very grateful.
Please use the link sent to your phones to join the team for the Big Dig Day.
Family Fun Run
Friends of Anson are planning a Family Fun Run to raise money for the children of Anson.
At this stage we are asking for our families to save the date. Hopefully, the fun run will take place on Sunday 11th May 2025 at Gladstone Park. We are just going through risk assessments and planning at this stage but would like as many families to be involved as possible.
HAF Programme
We are looking for Anson to join the Holiday and Food Programme to provide childcare in the school holiday.
On Friday we sent a text message to all parents to gather your thoughts on the viability of running a club in the first week of the Easter holiday. Please share your thoughts.
Jumble Sale
The Friends of Anson Jumble Sale has been cancelled due to a lack of interest.
Please look out for further events in the future.
14th February 2025
PLAYGROUND CHANGES
After the Half Term holiday we will be making changes to the start of the day procedures.
Currently the gates open at around 8:40am with children expected to wait on the playground with their parent until the bell rings.
The idea of this was to reduce congestion on the street and ensure that children were safely in the playground with an adult until the bell rang.
Unfortunately we have seen a growing number of incidents with children falling, tripping or bumping into each other during this period of the morning.
These incidents have revealed that, in some cases, parents have not been on site with their child. In monitoring the playground during the last two weeks we have seen growing numbers of children being dropped off at the school gate by parents leaving many children unaccompanied.
We are unable to staff the playground adequately before school as we are busy preparing the classrooms for learning and the school for the children.
Therefore, after Half Term, the school gate will open at 8:45am and children will head straight into the classroom. This will ensure every child is safe and monitored from their arrival at school.
Please remember that all children must be in class by 9:00am and so the gate will close promptly as soon as it reaches 9:00am.
Any parents still in the playground will be released through the school building.
In order to minimise crowding around the school gate we would advise that families spread themselves around surrounding side streets until the gate is opened at 8:45am.
WEEKLY RECAP
The final week of the first half of the Spring Term has been one filled with huge amounts of love!
This is partly because Valentines Day fell on the last day of the week but also because Alexandra Class celebrated the power of love on the Anson stage.
In their assembly the worlds of DC Comics and Marvel collided. The two organisations were clearly miles apart. The superheroes of DC like to wear capes and have magical powers. The heroes of Marvel have different abilities and seem to argue a lot.
However, they have similar aims and visions and the assembly showed how we can overcome of differences to make a difference. In the assembly it was love that brought the two sides together with with both sides finally realising that teamwork and collaboration were important which resulted in them eventually defeating the devil herself (with the power of dance also involved). Let’s take that love with us as we take a week away from school.
We look forward to seeing everyone on Monday 24th February
PARENT GOVERNORS
Following the nomination process for the election of parents to the Governing Body of Anson I am delighted to inform you of the results.
As there were three nominations and three vacancies, all three nominees have been appointed to the Governing Body without the need for a vote to take place.
The new Parent Governors, for the next four years, are Ms. Z. Bukhari, Mrs. L. Mailer and Mrs. M. Doria.
They begin their posts with immediate effect and I thank them for their commitment to our school.
JUMBLE SALE
The Friends of Anson Jumble Sale will take place on Saturday, 8th March in the Anson playground from 2pm to 4pm.
The whole community is welcome to come along on the day to enjoy the atmosphere and search for bargains.
Stalls will be run by parents of pupils at Anson. If you would like to run a stall it will cost £10 per table.
You should email Friends of Anson to book your slot using:
friendsofanson@gmail.com
Refreshments will be available on the day.
THE BIG DIG
On Saturday 29th March Mr Clargo needs you!
As part of our plans to develop an area of our school for planting and growing food we need an army of green fingered volunteers, complete with shovels, to help us prepare the land! So far we have 4 volunteers and we are very grateful.
Please use the link sent to your phones to join the team for the Big Dig Day.
FIZZ FREE FEBRUARY
In association with Southwark Council we are supporting Fizz Free Feb.
This means encouraging children and adults to go fizz free and cut down on sugar consumption. Give it a go.
FAMILY FUN RUN
Friends of Anson are planning a Family Fun Run to raise money for the children of Anson.
At this stage we are asking for our families to save the date. Hopefully, the fun run will take place on Sunday 11th May 2025 at Gladstone Park. We are just going through risk assessments and planning at this stage but would like as many families to be involved as possible.
YEAR 1 BAKE SALE
On Wednesday 26th February, Year 1 take over the Bake Sale.
Parents in Year 1 will be baking delicious treats for the sale and then the whole community can come together to purchase the treats. £100 from every sale goes towards our school library.
FILM CLUB FIVE
The final Film Club Five podcast of this Half Term features Jessica, Jaydah and Hyusein talking about The Bad Guys.
The podcast features a Top Ten of storybook wolves, a Bad Guys quiz and the usual awful jokes.
7th February 2025
THE MASKED DISCO IS COMING
The Friends of Anson Masked Disco takes place next Friday.
The children will be working on their masks in school so that every child has a mask even if they are not able to attend. This way every pupil will feel part of the fun in some way.
For those coming to the Masked Disco they will receive a physical ticket to make the event even more special and this will also let the Friends of Anson team know about any specific dietary requirements. This is a non-parent event so you can spend the extra hour having a cup of tea with friends.
Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 will go straight to the event at the end of the school day. You can pick them up at 4:30pm.
Year 3, 4, 5 and 6 will go home and come back to school for a 5:00pm disco.
Tickets cost £3.50 and are available on the School Gateway app and we hope to see lots of children there.
WEEKLY RECAP BY MR PILE
Children’s Mental Health week has been a wonderful way of putting the children in touch with their feelings and exploring how we all react to situations.
We began the week with a game-show style assembly exploring the film characters from Inside Out, with particular reference to sadness, fear, anger, disgust and joy. It was a fun way to begin the week.
This week also saw Mapesbury take to the stage in a unique version of The Worst Princess. It was a wonderful retelling of the story and reminded us all that being happy is more important than fitting in to stereotypes.
The week has also seen us begin to examine our progress on sustainability at the school.
As you may be aware, we are part of the Our Schools, Our World programme and this week we met with the leaders of the programme to see what changes we could make in the school to improve our provision. One of the first areas of change will be our waste management, with increased recycling points and much clearer systems inside and outside the school.
Over the next few months there will be some visible changes to the school which will showcase the idea that rather than taking a doom-laden view of climate change we can show the positive action that will make a difference to all the children.
Next week is Online Safety Day and the Digital Leaders will be releasing a special video for you to enjoy.
PARENT GOVERNORS
The Governing Body of Anson Primary School have published their information booklet for nominations.
The Governing Body of Anson Primary School is responsible for overseeing how the school is managed. They are a critical friend that play a role in strategic decisions such as our vision, policies, budgeting and staffing.
If you are interested in putting yourself forward, please fill out the form on the newsletter page and email your nomination to vacancy@anson.brent.sch.uk by Thursday 13th February.
JUMBLE SALE
The Friends of Anson Jumble Sale will take place on Saturday, 8th March in the Anson playground from 2pm to 4pm.
The whole community is welcome to come along on the day to enjoy the atmosphere and search for bargains.
Stalls will be run by parents of pupils at Anson. If you would like to run a stall it will cost £10 per table.
You should email Friends of Anson to book your slot using:
friendsofanson@gmail.com
Refreshments will be available on the day.
PARENT SUMMIT
The American School in London is hosting the 2025 Parent Summit for African Caribbean heritage families.
The summit is for those families at Anson interested in exploring the 11+ to access Independent & Grammar schools in the future. The event is free to attend and runs from 9:30am to 4:45pm.
QUIZ NIGHT IN COMING
Friends of Anson are planning an exciting quiz night for later this term.
You will be able to win prizes, if your knowledge is up to scratch. Regardless, it will be a fun night for all the family with questions written by one of the question writers on The Chase.
So, watch this space for more details - coming soon!
THE BIG DIG
On Saturday 29th March Mr Clargo needs you!
As part of our plans to develop an area of our school for planting and growing food we need an army of green fingered volunteers, complete with shovels, to help us prepare the land! So far we have 4 volunteers and we are very grateful.
Please use the link sent last week to join the team for the Big Dig Day.
FIZZ FREE FEB
In association with Southwark Council we are supporting Fizz Free Feb.
This means encouraging children and adults to go fizz free and cut down on sugar consumption. Give it a go.
DREAM SCHOOL
This week on the Dream School podcast…
Find out how Benedicte will be transforming the entire playground in her Dream School using Maglev