Message From Miss Gladstone
As we come to the end of a wonderful Autumn term, I would like to take this opportunity to say a huge well done and heartfelt thank you to all of our wonderful children. Their hard work, enthusiasm and determination shine through every day, and it has been a joy to see the positivity with which they have embraced each new learning opportunity.
I would also like to extend my sincere thanks to our dedicated teachers and additional adults, who work tirelessly to provide the very best education and care for our children and, of course, to our parents and carers, for your continued support and partnership; it truly makes such a difference.
I would like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a peaceful, restful Christmas break. We look forward to welcoming everyone back to school on Tuesday 6th January 2026 and to all that the new term will bring.
Christmas Discos And Santa Visit
The children were also treated this week to some extra festive fun, with a very special visitor arriving in classrooms and our much-loved Christmas discos taking place in the school hall. It was wonderful to see the children come together to celebrate this special time of year.
The hall was filled with excitement, music and sparkle, and it was lovely to see so many festive and sparkly outfits as the children enjoyed celebrating the end of a great term with their friends. Smiles, laughter and Christmas cheer were everywhere!
A big thank you to all the staff who organised and supported these events, helping to create such memorable moments for our children and bringing the festive spirit to life.
Christmas Performance
Another truly special occasion this week was the children’s nativity in Church. The children were amazing, as always – conducting themselves beautifully and performing with such confidence and enthusiasm, making the celebration a joy to watch. A particular well done goes to our Year 5 class, who retold the Christmas story so thoughtfully and confidently. Their hard work practising throughout the term was clear to see and they should be extremely proud of themselves for such a wonderful performance.
Thank you to all the staff who supported the children in preparing for the service, and to our families for joining us and helping to make it such a meaningful and festive event for our school community.
Christmas Lunch
Our Christmas lunch on Tuesday was a truly lovely occasion and a wonderful way to share some festive cheer together. It was a joy to see the children dressed in their festive clothing, full of excitement and laughter, as they sat down to enjoy their delicious Christmas dinners.
A huge thank you must go to our incredible catering team and our wonderful cook, who worked so hard to prepare and serve such a fantastic meal for everyone. The food was thoroughly enjoyed and the care and effort that went into it was very much appreciated by both children and staff alike.
The children had a fantastic time, especially enjoying pulling crackers and sharing special moments with their friends. It was a celebration filled with smiles, fun and festive spirit.
Another huge thank you to everyone who has supported our PTA; your generosity and support made this event possible, and we are so grateful for all that you do for our school community.
PTA Thank you
Thank you to all the generous businesses and individuals who contributed to this year’s raffle:
Kushty Beauty, Tweak East, Love 2 Swim, Science Museum, Castle Cinema , E5 acupuncture, art-K Hackney, Fit This Gym, House of Beauty, Plonk, Pages, Blue Tit Hairdressers, Gail’s (Narrow Way), Caseys Clapton, Marks & Spencers (Narrow Way), Clarins, One4All, Sons, The Chesham Arms, Anya Godek Fitness, Kobido, and friends and parents’ generosity.
Elisa Wins The Competition!
Elisa in Year 5 has won the competition to design the Mayor’s Festive Card.
Congratulations to Elisa on this fantastic achievement — a brilliant recognition of her creativity and talent.
Safeguarding Reminder
A gentle reminder that all parents and carers should remain in the playground during pick-up times and not enter the school building. This is an important part of our safeguarding procedures and helps us keep all children safe.
If you would like to speak with your child’s teacher, please feel free to ask them for a quick chat outside, or alternatively, you can book an appointment through the school office. We are always happy to help and want to make sure communication remains open while keeping everyone safe.
Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.
Spring 1 WAMHS Coffee Mornings – Solihull Approach To Parenting
The WAMHS Coffee Mornings will be returning in Spring 1, with the theme of the Solihull Approach to Parenting.
This approach is an evidence informed approach which supports emotional regulation and understanding of our children’s needs and how to have quality interactions with them.
We will be kicking off with our ‘Dad’s and Significant Males’ coffee morning, which was a great success in Autumn 2 so please share the dates and information with everyone. All parents and carers are of course, invited to all of the coffee mornings.
Calling all carol singers and bucket shakers!
Our final PTA Christmas events are our two carol singing fundraisers. Please raise your voices, jingle those bells, and help us spread some Christmas cheer – whilst raising much needed funds for SJSJ – at one of our upcoming carol singing events.
The dates and times are;
Thursday 18th December at The Narrow Way outside M&S; 5pm-6.30pm
Friday 19th December at Highbury and Islington Station; 3pm-6pm (two sessions)
We will be in touch with all the details via WhatsApp or email. Please note that all children need to be accompanied by an adult.
You don’t have to be a brilliant singer – all voices welcome, big or small. Sheets with all the words will be provided. Just bring your enthusiasm, sparkles and Christmas spirit!
Winter Weather Reminder
As the colder winter weather has now arrived, we kindly ask all parents and carers to ensure children come to school dressed appropriately for the conditions. Please make sure your child has a warm coat, scarf, gloves, hat, and any other items needed to keep them comfortable during outdoor play and travel to and from school.
Thank you for helping us keep everyone warm, healthy, and ready to learn!
Careers Assembly – Can You Inspire Our Pupils?
As part of our ongoing work to help children think about their futures, we are looking for parents and carers who would be willing to come into school to speak in assembly about their job.
We would love our pupils to hear about the wide range of careers that exist and the different skills people use every day. You might talk about what you do, what skills and qualifications are needed, and what a typical day looks like in your role.
By sharing your experience, you can help our children see the many different paths available to them and start thinking about how they can prepare for adult life.
If you would be interested in taking part, please contact the school office. We’d love to hear from you!
Morning Gate
Please can we remind all parents and carers that the school gate opens at 8.50am, ready for school to start promptly at 8.55am. We kindly ask that parents or carers do not come into the school playground or building with their child/ren.
Teachers and support staff are generally not available in the mornings as they are settling the children straight into assembly – should you need to speak with an adult, please go directly to the school office and Miss Nifa will be more than happy to assist you in arranging a suitable time.
Thank you for your continued support in ensuring that all children come into school in a calm manner and ready for a day of learning.
Late Collection Charges
We would like to remind all families that a late collection charge of £5 for every 5 minutes will be applied if a child is not collected promptly at the end of the school day or from after-school clubs.
Please ensure that you are collecting your child on time to avoid any additional charges.
We also kindly ask that you check your ParentPay account regularly and clear any outstanding balances as soon as possible.
Thank you for your cooperation and continued support.
School Uniform
As part of our ongoing efforts to maintain a smart, inclusive and focused learning environment, we’d like to send a friendly reminder about the school uniform policy here at St John and St James.
Our school uniform consists of the following items:
- Grey trousers or black jogging bottoms
- Grey skirts or tunics
- Plain red, white, or grey socks or tights
- Red or white polo shirts, shirts, or blouses
- Red sweatshirts(with or without the school logo)
- Red cardigans(with or without the school logo)
- Sensible black shoes
- Plain black trainers
During the summer months, children are also permitted to wear:
- Grey school shorts
- Red and white gingham summer dresses
Please also be reminded of the following additional guidelines:
- Footwear must be black, either sensible shoes or plain black trainers.
- Jewellery should not be worn, except for small studs in the ears.
- Hair accessories should be simple and in keeping with the uniform (e.g., plain headbands, clips, or ties).
- Tights or socks should be plain red, grey or white.
- School uniform MUST be labelled with your child’s name.
We appreciate your support in helping ensure that your child arrives at school in the correct uniform each day. If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact the school office.
Thank you for your continued cooperation in maintaining our school’s standards.
Online Safety Guides Added To The Padlet
ParentZone is an online resource designed to support parents to increase their knowledge and awareness of an ever changing online world. Being a parent in a connected world can feel overwhelming, but with ParentZone, you are not alone.They are here to help with articles, videos and our Tech Shock podcast, all designed to give you the confidence to support your child online.
Please visit – https://parentzone.org.uk/guides or please see the St John and St James SEND Support Padlet, with resources and signposting available to
all parents.
Parent Training Programmes Added To The Padlet
Throughout the Autumn term, there are a range of Parent Programmes across Hackney available for you to sign up to and access in person and online.
To explore the available courses and sign up, please visit the SJSJ Padlet, where you’ll find links and further information.
Each programme includes contact details for self-referral. If you need any assistance, please contact Mr Watson or the school office.
Keeping Our Children Safe at Home and In School
Safeguarding is EVERYONE’S responsibility. Our attitude is, it could happen here.
At St John & St James we are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. We expect ALL staff, volunteers and visitors to the school to share this commitment.
If you have any concerns about the safety of a child, please speak immediately to our Designated Safeguarding Lead, Joshua Watson.

If Mr Watson is not available, you can always speak to one of our school’s Deputy Safeguarding Leads:
