Friday 25th September 2026
Dear parents and carers of Stepney Park,
Online safety. As I’m sure you are aware, the risks to children online are constantly changing. As such, I have taken the decision to significantly tighten the online filters on children’s school google accounts and on school devices.
From now on, all websites are blocked except those that we have expressly chosen to allow for educational purposes. I believe this change will help to keep children safe in light of constantly changing risks. Naturally, we still do a lot of work in school on e-safety and we teach children about what to do if they see something online that they find upsetting. I would also strongly recommend you have these conversations at home and monitor what your child accesses online, whether this is on a school device or a personal one.
As we monitor the effectiveness of this change, I would also be grateful if you could report it to the school if your child manages to access a website on a school device that you think is unlikely to be of educational benefit.
Y6 Residential. Last week, children in year 6 were away on their residential trip in Mersea. Residential trips offer children a unique space to build independence and self-reliance away from the comforts of home. By tackling outdoor challenges and navigating shared living alongside their peers, children build essential resilience, strengthen relationships and boost their self-confidence. They also have a huge amount of fun. But don’t just take it from me, here is what some of them said upon their return:
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Maymoonah said, “Mersea was a great trip! Especially all the activities and the fun we had with our friends! The tents felt like we were on a real adventure.”
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Nawaz said, “I had a great time at Mersea Activity Centre. I enjoyed pedal karts because I got to race against my friends, which was excellent.”
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Sarah said, “While you're away at Mersea, you will be able to build your independence, bravery and maybe even overcome a fear, such as heights! If you’re worried about the food don’t because it was AMAZING and DELICIOUS! There's plenty of food choices too!”
All the best for the week ahead.
Richard.
Headteacher, Stepney Park Primary School.