Dear families,

We hope you had a wonderful half-term break and managed to get some well-deserved rest. It has been fantastic to see the children settle back into school life so smoothly. Can you believe we are already halfway through the school year? It’s incredible to see the progress the children have made, and with another half of the year still to go, we are excited to see them continue to grow and achieve.

Our pupils consistently demonstrate our school values—resilience, respect, compassion, independence, curiosity, and ambition—and we are so proud of their efforts. Learning this week has been truly inspiring, and we look forward to seeing even more great achievements in the coming months.

You may have noticed some of the improvements we are making around the school. From the new carpet in the reception office area to freshly painted walls and wet pour (durable, slip-resistant rubber surface) in the Early Years outdoor area, these upgrades reflect our ongoing commitment to providing a high-quality learning environment for all our students. Keep an eye out for more exciting updates as we continue to enhance our school!

Our recent celebration assemblies have been filled with moments of pride, recognising achievements both in and out of school. It’s wonderful to hear about children excelling in activities like gymnastics, martial arts, and more. We love celebrating these successes, so please encourage your child to bring in any trophies, medals, or certificates they receive—we would love to share their achievements with the school community.

Next month, the learning and fun continue with World Book Day, which takes place next week. We are so excited to see the children dressed as their favourite book characters and look forward to the fantastic work they will produce as part of the competitions running throughout the week. Stay tuned for a special post at the end of next month showcasing all the creativity and enthusiasm from this wonderful event!

As we enter the holy month of Ramadan, we recognise this special time for many of our families. Ramadan is a time of reflection, kindness, and community, and we send our best wishes to all who are observing. May this month bring peace, happiness, and blessings to you and your loved ones.

Thank you for your continued support.

Ms M Nwankiti

Headteacher 

A Gentle Reminder – Parking Safely Outside School

We want to address an ongoing concern regarding parking outside the school. Unfortunately, we have noticed an increasing number of cars stopping or parking on the zigzag lines at drop-off and pick-up times.

These lines are there for a crucial reason – to keep all children, parents, and staff safe. Parking on them:

🚫 Obstructs visibility – It makes it harder for children to see oncoming traffic and for drivers to see pedestrians crossing.
🚫 Puts children at risk – Young children can be unpredictable when crossing roads, and restricted visibility increases the chance of accidents.
🚫 Causes congestion – Blocking these areas slows down traffic and creates unnecessary hazards for everyone.

Please do not stop or park on the zigzag lines at any time. Let’s work together to keep all of our children safe. Thank you for your cooperation and understanding.

BSL COMPETION AT RODING PRIMARY SCHOOL

At Roding, we were delighted to host a British Sign Language (BSL) competition this half-term, where children took on the impressive challenge of signing up to 30 animal names. This was no easy feat, requiring focus, skill, and a deep understanding of BSL.

A huge well done to all the children who participated—you demonstrated fantastic dedication and determination! A special congratulations to our winner, I.S in Year 6, who signed all 30 animal names flawlessly in record time! 🏆👏

We can’t wait for the next exciting BSL challenge at the end of this half-term—stay tuned!

COFFEE AND CHAT MORNING

I am delighted to introduce a new monthly ‘Coffee & Chat’ morning, designed to provide a warm and welcoming space for parents to come together over a cup of tea or coffee. This is a wonderful opportunity to meet other parents, share experiences, and seek advice—whether about school, the local area, or simply for a friendly conversation.

Building a strong, supportive community amongst parents is incredibly important, and I hope this initiative will offer a meaningful way for you to connect with each other and with us at Roding.

The next session will take place on Thursday 24th April, and we would love for you to join us! If you’re interested, please RSVP by emailing me at admin@rodingprimary.co.uk.

I look forward to welcoming you and sharing a coffee together!

Warmest regards,

Angie

Safeguarding and Parent Liaison Administrator

SPANISH CLUB

A huge well done to all of our amazing children who took part in Spanish this half term! We are so proud of you for embracing the challenge of learning a new language and for demonstrating our school values along the way.

Keep persevering, and who knows—perhaps one day you’ll be teaching others Spanish too!

'THE BIGGEST FOOTBALL SESSION EVER'

Next Friday, 7th March, Roding will be partaking in 'THE BIGGEST FOOTBALL SESSION EVER' alongside schools across the country. The FA campaign 'Let Girls Play' is part of a strategic ambition to give all girls access to play football in schools and push for equality. Roding has seen a girls' football team compete this year in Redbridge, and we hope to continue the tradition. 

Next Friday lunchtime, children from across the school - boys and girls - will be able to take part in football practice drills at lunchtime, from penalty taking, dribbling, passing to marking. Please send your children to school next Friday in their PE kit so they can enjoy the fun!

NETBALL TEAM SUCCESS 

A huge congratulations to our netball team for securing 3rd place in the league! They displayed incredible resilience, determination, and teamwork throughout the season. We are immensely proud of their hard work and dedication—well done, team!

Keep aiming high! ✨