Anson Primary School Happy, Confident & Creative
Newsletter Text
You can read the latest newsletter here and use the translator tools (or your own translator) to read the content.
30th January 2026
NATIONAL STORYTELLING WEEK
Created by the Society for Storytelling, National Storytelling Week is a fantastic annual event and joyful celebration of the power of sharing stories.
The theme for National Storytelling Week 2026 is “Soundtrack your story”. Many people have their own musical story - whether it’s in the songs we love and the music we dance to, through British Sign Language and the rhythms we feel, the soundscapes of everyday life, or the soundtracks we hear in films and games. Music connects us to words. It helps us express who we are and how we see the world.
Research highlights that exploring stories through lyrics can be an effective way to engage young people with reading for enjoyment and writing for pleasure. Slightly more than 3 in 5 (60.7%) children and young people age 8-18 regularly read song lyrics digitally. Writing song lyrics is also popular among children and young people age 8-18, with slightly less than 1 in 5 (17.8%) reporting that they write lyrics on a screen at least once a month. Throughout the week, we will explore the magic of storytelling through sound, lyrics and rhythm.
The staff have also come together to create a link between music and reading with our version of the Masked Reader, inspired by the Masked Singer. You can watch the staff on Anson TV or by clicking the image below. Can you guess the teacher behind the mask? www.youtube.com/ansonprimary
WHERE HAVE THE GLADSTONE DUCKS GONE?
It has been six-months in the making but this week Daphne and Mira (5K) released their film, Where have the ducks gone?
The filming began in July 2025, when the girls noticed that the ducks had disappeared from the famous pond which sits in front of the ruins of Dollis Hill House in Gladstone Park. They set about trying to work out where the ducks had gone and how to get them back. Following emails to Brent Council workers began clearing the issues in the park and in association with Friends of Gladstone Park the pond area was transformed. By January 2026 the ducks had returned and there are even sightings of moorhens and wild geese.
The film is the story of the transformation of the pond from the moment Daphne and Mira noticed the ducks had vanished, through research into the disappearance and the clean up operation.
The pond is now well worth a visit this spring to see which birds come back to this wonderful section of the park.
Congratulations to Daphne and Mira on a remarkable project:
https://youtu.be/UEqtiNSGG2w
THE POWER OF READING
Sharing stories with young children is one of the most powerful ways to support early literacy and language development, according to research by the National Literacy Trust (NLT).
By sitting with children and sharing stories at home and at school we can improve young children’s communication and vocabulary.
For parents it is about being confident to create rich, language-filled home learning environments. Parents involved in the NLT programmes report that their children pay more attention to stories and interact with books more often, which helps build children’s early literacy engagement.
The NLT also emphasises that sharing books and stories from a very young age supports the sounds, rhythms and meanings of language, builds early listening skills, and strengthens emotional bonds between children and caregivers. Even babies benefit from hearing the patterns and cadence of speech, laying a foundation for future reading and communication.
Overall, the Trust’s research highlights that story experiences don’t just teach words — they nurture curiosity, confidence and a lifelong love of reading.
27th January
RUTH AMOS
What a week! On Wednesday we celebrated Big Me Day at Anson and launched our most ambitious project to date.
Ruth Amos, our Patron of Innovation and Creativity, spent the day working with children in high energy workshops designed to get the children innovating.
The challenge is simple: build the largest Rube Goldberg machine ever seen in a primary school!
What is a Rube Goldberg machine?
A Rube Goldberg machine is an overly complicated contraption designed to perform a simple task in the most roundabout, elaborate way possible, using a chain reaction of cause-and-effect steps. Named after cartoonist Rube Goldberg, these devices often involve everyday objects, simple machines (levers, pulleys, inclined planes) and clever physics to achieve a mundane goal, like pouring a glass of water or turning a page. You can watch a Kids Invent Stuff Machine by clicking the image or here.
Our machine will run the length of the school with each class designing one of the 14 sections of the machine. Each section will be related to life at Anson so that our machine will showcase the school, the creativity, the collaboration and the ambition of everyone. We cannot wait to see what the children will design. It is a project which will push everyone to be resilient and think creatively. We will be sharing the journey with you all.
FESTIVAL OF FOOD
Food is an important part of many cultures.
Just think about the breaking of the fast, the festive feasts, the family dinners, summer picnics and birthdays!
To celebrate food, we will be hosting a Festival of Food this February.
Entry is free - all you need to do is to bring your favourite dish from your culture, religion or wish list. Then, share it with the community. All the food will be in the Dining Room and you can try as much or a little as you desire. We want to join the community together and simply chat over great food.
ASTHMA FRIENDLY SCHOOL
We are delighted to announce that Anson Primary School has met all of the criteria to be awarded an Asthma Friendly school certification.
The award recognises the work the school has done to ensure best practice is followed such as the recording of all incidents, holding an emergency asthma kit on site and fostering good communication with parents/carers at home.
The school has worked hard to build relationships with families to ensure students have in date medication available and to provide support and communication.
This has been awarded by the Central London Community Healthcare NHS Trust in recognition of the work carried out to support children and young people in our school with this health condition.
We would like to thank Miss Callaghan for her work in this area and every parent who chased their GP for care plans and up to date medication. Together we have made a difference to every child with asthma.
NORWEGIANS
Last week we were visited by 31 educators from Norway.
The educators were in London for the BETT Show (a large education conference held annually in the city). As part of their trip they came to Anson to see the UK education system in action. They visited every classroom, took part in radio interviews and shared their love of learning. The children were incredible and were such ambassadors for Anson and the UK education system. It was a proud day!
ARTIFICAL INTELLIGENCE
The UK Department for Education guidance highlights that generative AI tools can pose risks for children, especially those under 11, including inaccurate, inappropriate or misleading content, privacy issues, and online safety concerns if used without strong safeguards.
At Anson, we assess benefits versus risks and only allow pupil use with close supervision, filtering, age-appropriate tools and clear policies in place.
The guidance emphasises that AI cannot replace trusted adults and that outputs need human review to ensure safety and accuracy and that includes you.
There is lots of advice for parents and so we will be hosting a special coffee morning on Monday 9th February at 9am.
Join us for a great AI chat.
16th January 2026
BIG ME DAY
On Wednesday we celebrate Big Me Day at Anson. This is the day when children come dressed up as their future career.
Please don’t spend any money on expensive costumes. A chef can bring a wooden spoon, a writer can bring a pen, a vet can bring a cuddly animal.
As part of our day we are delighted to welcome Ruth Amos to Anson. Ruth is an award-winning British inventor, entrepreneur and former Young Inventor of the Year. Now, she can also add Patron of Innovation and Creativity at Anson to her CV.
Over the next six-months the children from Reception to Year Six will be working alongside Ruth on an ambitious engineering project. We won’t share all the details until after the launch event - but it will be a huge challenge.
Ruth also runs Kids Invent Stuff (as seen on The One Show, BBC News Online and Tomorrow’s World Live). This is available on the YouTube Channel where Primary aged children have the chance to get their invention ideas built by real engineers. The channel aims to give more primary school kids the chance to engage with real engineering projects and engage them in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics). Our work with Ruth follows similar lines. On Big Me Day 2026 we are looking to inspire every pupil to think creatively and dream big. It’s going to be an amazing project where every member of staff and every child will need to collaborate to succeed.
FRIENDS OF ANSON MEETING
On Friday, 6th February we will be hosting an Extraordinary Meeting of Friends of Anson at 9am in the Dining Room.
The meeting has been triggered by the sad news that our Chair of Friends of Anson, Nandini, is leaving the school as her family relocates to pastures new. When I became Headteacher I wanted to create a parent and school partnership which pulled our community closer together, created memories and raised money for the school. Nandini was duly elected as Chair of Friends of Anson and has been a huge part of the development of our school. It has been a pleasure working alongside her and the rest of the team and it will be a big loss. I would like to thank Nandini for her time and commitment to our school. The meeting on the 6th will see us elect a new Chair for Friends of Anson. We will be posting more details on the role in the coming days.
FESTIVAL OF FOOD: SAVE THE DATE!
Food is an important part of many cultures.
Just think about the breaking of the fast, the festive feasts, the family dinners, summer picnics and birthdays!
To celebrate food, we will be hosting a Festival of Food this February.
Entry is free - all you need to do is to bring your favourite dish from your culture, religion or wish list. Then, share it with the community. All the food will be in the Dining Room and you can try as much or a little as you desire. We want to join the community together and simply chat over great food. So, save the date!
MORE DETAILS COMING VERY SOON!
BRENT FAMILY WELL BEING CENTRES
The Brent Family Wellbeing Centres provide a range of community-led services that can support you from the moment you know you’re expecting, through pregnancy and birth, until your child is 18 years old (or up to 25 for children and young people with special educational needs). The Centres, offer a wide range of free health, education and welfare services to families and aim to give everyone in Brent the best possible start in life. They are free to use by families that live in Brent. If you wish to use the services provided at any of the Centres, you will need to register your family's details, including all of the children you have. It’s simple and easy to do and once you are registered, you can book and manage your sessions and activities in advance. Create an account by registering on the link above or by clicking here.
WELLBEING WATCH: LOOKING AFTER OURSELVES
Parenting can be rewarding, but it can also be tiring and emotionally demanding.
At Anson, many families balance work, caring responsibilities and busy home lives and so looking after your own wellbeing is not a luxury - it is essential.
In the dark January months sometimes the smallest steps to look after yourself give light.
Try to build short moments of calm into your day, whether that’s a walk, a cup of tea without distractions, or a few deep breaths. Stay connected by talking to friends, family or other parents; sharing worries often lightens the load and helps you realise other families have experienced the same issues.
Be kind to yourself and remember that perfection isn’t the goal – doing your best is enough.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed, Brent has local support services, community groups and charities offering advice and a listening ear.
Seeking help is a sign of strength, not failure. When parents look after themselves, they are better able to support their children too. Visit the Parent Page of the Anson website for services available to our families.
BUDGET LIKE A BOSS WORKSHOP: https://stgabrielscricklewood.churchsuite.com/events/opbrpbld
9th January 2026
NEW YEAR
For many the New Year is an exciting time of new beginnings and fresh starts. Many of you may have set resolutions for the coming months.
On Tuesday we continued our annual tradition of reminding the children that the New Year falls one-third of the way through our academic year. Rather than setting resolutions we use the opportunity to look back on 2025 and reflect on the lessons learned and how we can continue to strive to be better, improve and grow as people.
To do this we looked at 10 family films from 2025 and the messages they gave us. It is a lovely way to draw out how to act as a person in school and society.
For example, Dora the Explorer taught us to be prepared, which should make morning routines easier at home. The Bad Guys 2 showed us it is possible to change and enhance our decision making. DogMan was an example of being creative. Snow White taught us to be kind. Wicked: For Good supported us to get to know people rather than judge them.
Of course, the children are already showcasing the vast majority of these ten movie lessons and this is why the New Year (2026) doesn’t mark the beginning but serves as a reminder to continue the excellent choices children make at our school.
MENUS
The menus from Oasis Catering for the beginning of 2026 are now available on the school website.
Visit the Parents Page and click on School Lunches. In line with our Our Schools, Our World programme Oasis will be keeping our Meat Free Mondays during 2026. You can download the menu from the site.
PE CHANGES
In the Spring Term there are some changes to your child’s Physical Education timetable. Please see below for the days each year group will take part in PE. *Please note this is updated from December.
Nursery
PE: Friday
plus continuous provision
* Reception
PE: Wednesday
plus continuous provision
Year One:
Indoor PE: Monday
Outdoor PE: Thursday
Year Two
*Indoor PE: 2R on Monday
Indoor PE: 2H on Friday
Outdoor: 2H Mon/ 2R Thurs
Year Three
Indoor PE: 3M on Tuesday
Indoor PE: 3A on Friday
Outdoor PE: Wednesday
Year Four
Indoor PE: 4V on Tuesday
Indoor PE: 4B on Friday
Outdoor PE: Wednesday
Year Five
Indoor PE: Thursday
Outdoor PE: Tuesday
Year Six
Indoor PE: 6H on Tuesday
*Indoor PE: 6P on Monday
Outdoor PE: Friday
BIG ME DAY
On Wednesday, 21st January it is our annual Big Me Day celebration where the children show their hopes and dreams for the future.
Every child in the school is encouraged to come to school dressed as their future career as we share stories from people who have lived out their dream. Please remember that no money needs to be spent on costumes for the day. If your child wants to be a chef send them in with a wooden spoon. If they want to be a writer send them in with a pen. If they want to be vet then a cuddly snake with do nicely.
The day will be full of surprises for the children. This year Big Me Day will be the launch our most ambitious project yet. Placing careers in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) at the core of Big Me Day, every child in the school will feed into an almost impossible machine building task unlike anything seen at a primary school before. This year Big Me Day just got bigger, bolder and more brilliant.
WELLBEING WATCH
‘What I wish my parents or carers knew…’: A guide for parents and carers on managing children’s digital lives
Parenting today can feel overwhelming - especially when childhood looks so different from what we grew up with. There’s no manual, and it can be hard to keep up with the fast-changing digital world your child moves through every day.
The Children’s Commissioner has released a guide aiming to make those conversations easier and help you support your child with confidence.
Take a look:
SPRING TERM CLUBS
The Spring Term Clubs begin next week.
Unfortunately Dance, Kickboxing and Portuguese Club will not run due to low numbers of children signing up.
If you are still looking for clubs it is not too late to book.
Head over to the address below to see what is on offer this term:
https://www.ansonprimaryschool.com/parents/school-clubs
19th December
ROCKING STEADY AROUND THE CHRISTMAS TREE
What a way to end the term with the children and staff of Anson rocking the stage with their 4th gig!
We would like to thank Tom from RockSteady for his continued commitment to helping the children shine at each performance. A special mention must also go to some of the children who stepped on to the stage for the first time as part of this event. They were all sensational.
Plus, a huge thank you to Miss Murray for heading straight from her new school to join Playground Sound for the staff performance. Videos of all the songs will be available on Anson TV soon.
GOING FOR GOLD CERTIFICATES
This morning we celebrated over 240 children at Anson who have shown the highest standards of behaviour this term.
During assembly we created the ultimate Golden Mexican Wave as children from Year 6 to year 1 all stood up as their name appeared on our screen. Each pupil received a certificate and a small gift in recognition of their excellence.
Those who have remained ‘On Gold’ this term are on the way to a big reward at the end of the academic year. When a pupil receives certificates in all three school terms, they will qualify for the end of year reward. This could be a party, a film event or a special trip. So congratulations to those awesome ambassadors at Anson. We are very proud of you all.
PLEASE TURN ON NOTIFICATIONS
As you will now be well aware Anson no longer sends text messages to parents.
At a cost of £3,000 a year we could not afford the service. All communication now comes through the School Gateway app. Unfortunately, we sent 300 app notifications earlier this week for the newsletter (issue 434) and only 147 were read. We receive a number of calls, or chat to parents, about content we have already advertised in the newsletter. As you are reading this, please share in your What’s App groups that to ensure parents don’t miss out on news about clubs, events, school dates and emergencies they should switch on notifications in the app. This way they will not miss any news from Anson. Thank you.
SPRING PE CHANGES
In the Spring Term there may be some changes to your child’s Physical Education timetable. Please see below for the days each year group will take part in PE.
Nursery
PE: Friday
plus continuous provision
Reception
PE: Monday
plus continuous provision
Year One:
Indoor PE: Monday
Outdoor PE: Thursday
Year Two
Indoor PE: 2R on Wednesday
Indoor PE: 2H on Friday
Outdoor PE: Monday
Year Three
Indoor PE: 3M on Tuesday
Indoor PE: 3A on Friday
Outdoor PE: Wednesday
Year Four
Indoor PE: 4V on Tuesday
Indoor PE: 4B on Friday
Outdoor PE: Wednesday
Year Five
Indoor PE: Thursday
Outdoor PE: Tuesday
Year Six
Indoor PE: 6H on Tuesday
Indoor PE: 6P on Wednesday
Outdoor PE: Friday
SPRING TERM EVENTS
As always, there is much to be enjoyed during your time at Anson Primary School. The Spring Term is packed with events for families, children and the wider community. Take a look at what is coming up.
January
Tuesday 6th January: Children return to school
Wednesday 21st January: Big Me Day (pupils dress as future careers)
Thursday 22nd January: Battersea Class Assembly at 9.10am
Thursday 29th January: Victoria Class Assembly at 9.10am
February
Thursday 5th February: Mapesbury Class Assembly at 9.10am
Monday 9th February: Children’s Mental Health Week
Tuesday 10th February: Safer Internet Day
Thursday 12th February: Alexandra Class Assembly at 9.10am
Friday 13th February: Festival of Food
Monday 16th February: Half Term
Monday 23rd February: Children return to school
March
Thursday 5th/ Friday 6th: World Book Day (to be confirmed)
Thursday 5th/ Friday 6th: World Book Day Dance (to be confirmed)
Monday 9th March: Science Fortnight
Thursday 12th March: Regent’s Class Assembly at 9.10am
Monday 16th March: Easter Egg Hunt and Egg-hibition Launch
Thursday 19th March: Parents’ Evening (3.40pm to 7.00pm)
Monday 23rd March: Easter Eggs: The Egghibition
Thursday 26th March: Hampstead Class Assembly at 9.10am
Thursday 26th March: Bingo Night
Friday 27th March: Last Day of Term
WINTER HOLIDAY CAMP
Anson will be hosting the Winter Holiday Camp with DFY this Christmas.
The camp will run on the 22nd, 23rd, 29th and 30th of December at the school.
Head over to the website for more details and to book your place:
www.dfy.org.uk/winter2025
FASTER THAN MR PILE
Congratulations to Jana in 4V and Aws (3M) who are the latest pupils to beat Mr Pile’s time of 0.79s per question in TT Rockstars.
2025 - A YEAR OF GROWTH AT ANSON
And finally, I would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a safe and happy holiday. We are back on Tuesday 6th January.
I have spent time reflecting with members of the Governing Body on the many highlights and achievements at Anson this year. From the relocation of classrooms to create our Early Years unit, to national recognition in the press, competition successes and the joy of coming together with Friends of Anson, there is much to celebrate.
Our expansion in September welcomed almost 30 new children and families, reflecting not only the popularity of our school but also demonstrating the strength of our community and the warmth of the Anson Family.
We end 2025 full of positivity and look forward to the adventures 2026 will bring. Thank you for your continued support of the staff and of your children. I wish each and every member of the school peace and happiness. Take care of yourselves and each other. We’ll see you in January for more doses of happiness.