Friday 3rd July 2026

Dear parents and carers of Stepney Park,

Summer Fair. Thank you to all of you who came to our Summer Fair on Wednesday; it was, as ever, lovely to bring the whole community together. I enjoyed lots of the fair, but I was especially impressed by the Year 6’s sales skills. Their work to make the items for sale and then to sell them has raised a lot of money for charity - the total is still to be confirmed at the time of writing. I’d also like to say a huge congratulations to the school choir for their passionate performances that I think were enjoyed by many. Lastly, a particular thank you to the teachers Fiona and Danny, who did a large amount of the organisation for the fair.

Crocs and sandals. We have noticed an increasing number of children wearing crocs or sandals to school. I’d like to remind parents that we don’t allow children to wear these in school because they are not suitable for much of the physical activity that children are engaged in through the day, whether this be in PE lessons, in the woodlands or at break or lunchtime.

Uniform Swap. As in previous years, we will be organising a uniform swap for parents to donate any uniform they no longer need, perhaps because it is too small or because children are moving on to secondary school, and to take some donated uniform for free. Here are the arrangements this year:

• Please donate any uniform you don’t need in the week of the 13th July. There is a box for this purpose in the main entrance but children can also give it to their class teacher.

• Children should keep enough uniform for themselves to wear as they will need to stay in uniform throughout - please only donate what you don’t need.

• Children in year 6 are the exception to this rule. As they are moving onto secondary school and won’t need their uniforms, they are welcome to donate all their uniform and wear their own clothes from Wednesday 15th July. However, they may want to keep a T-shirt for signing at the end of the year.

• We will have all donated uniform washed ready to give away in the last week of term.

Residential Trips. As you may know, we have two residentials at Stepney Park: a one-night trip to Gilwell Park in year 5 and a two-night trip to Mersea in year 6. The deadline for parents to sign up children for next year’s year 5 residential recently passed and I’m delighted that so many parents have chosen to send their child on this trip. Residentials offer so much for children’s personal development: they develop independence, overcome challenges and deepen friendships. As adults, many of us can still remember our own residential trips in primary school and I hope that our residential trips will also build fond memories for those children whose parents choose to send them.

All the best for the week ahead,

Richard.

Headteacher, Stepney Park Primary School.