Autumn Term Newsletter #11
28th November 2025
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Dear Parents and Carers,
Please note: with a shortened week and a very busy Thursday, this week's newsletter is a condensed version. Normal features will return next week!
We have welcomed a range of visitors into school this week. We started on Monday with Matt Turmaine MP joining us for a special edition of Question Time with Year 5 & Year 6. The children asked a range of excellent questions and challenged him on a range of local issues. Today we have had a team from the Trust come in to conduct our School Review: Primary Directors, Sarah King and Aaron Wanford; Inclusion Director, Sara Crute-Mussell; headteacher at Roselands, Emma Fowler and Trust Learning Partner, Millie Chapman. Together they visited lessons, talked to pupils and looked at books to review our provision. There was a lot of positive feedback and some next steps to consider.
Values: This week respect has been at the heart of what we do. In Monday's assembly we considered how we interact with each other and behave around the building. It has been lovely to have so many more greetings and conversations with children around the building as a result. Next week, we continue the review of our core values making resilience our focus.
Votes for Schools: In connection with Parliament Week and the MP visit, Votes for Schools explored 'Should school prepare you to vote at 16?'. Children reviewed the change to the law lowering the voting age and considered if they were ready to vote.
Long Weekend: School is closed on Friday 28th November (tomorrow) and Monday 1st December creating a longer weekend for all. Please be sure to be back bright and early on Tuesday 2nd December.
I hope you all enjoy the extended weekend spending quality time with the people who matter the most.
Best wishes,
Mr. Matt Morey - Headteacher
Upcoming Dates...
Upcoming Dates...
Fri 28th Nov - School Closed
Occasional Day - school shut to pupils and staff
Mon 1st Dec - Inset Day
School closed to pupils for staff training
Fri 5th Dec - Pantomime Trip
The whole school will be off to Watford Palace Theatre to enjoy the story of Jack and the Beanstalk
Sat 6th Dec - Xmas Fair, 12-3pm
School will host a range of stalls, activities and games for all of our community to come and enjoy
Attendance
Attendance
Attendance is a disappointing 91.4% this week as we head into the long weekend. Excellent attendance is vital for successful learning. Lots of sleep, plenty of water and a balanced diet can help to keep childen healthy and in school. Cusco currently sit top with 95.4%. Learning is cumulative and each lesson builds on the last.
Class Attendance Summary:
1. Cusco 95.4%
2. Rome 95.3%
3. Kingston 94.0%
4. Jakarta 92.9%
5. Cairo 92.5%
6. Rio 92.5%
7. Tokyo 91.7%
8. Colombo 90.2%
9. New York 88.8%
10. London 85.8%
11. Kampala 84.7%
Matt Turmaine MP Visit
Matt Turmaine MP Visit
On Monday morning, to launch Parliament Week in school, our local MP, Matt Turmaine, joined the Year 5 and Year 6 for a session of Question Time. Members of the JLT joined the MP on the panel to answer questions from the audience.
Matt ended his visit with a school tour popping in to see the other classes, introduce himself and answer any questions the children might have.
School Review
School Review
Five senior colleagues from the Trust were in school today to review the provision at Lanchester. They were keen to see the behaviour and culture progress in school, alongside the pedagogy that we have implemented and embedded. We visited lots of lessons, explored a host of children's books and spoke to pupil groups. The day was really productive and showcased lots of the great work underway at Lanchester. There are some useful next steps to help us refine our systems and continue to improve.
Stagecoach Special Offer
Stagecoach Special Offer
Let Your Child Shine at Stagecoach!
Looking for a place where your child can build confidence, make new friends, and discover their creativity? Come and try Stagecoach Performing Arts at LANCHESTER SCHOOL— where every child is a star in the making!
Special Offer!
Sign up for a 2-week trial before the end of November, and if you stay for the term, you’ll receive 10% OFF your term fees!
It’s the perfect time to jump in and see what Stagecoach is all about.
Singing
Dancing
Acting
Confidence, creativity & FUN!
Don’t miss out — join the Stagecoach family today! Limited availability. Book now and let the adventure begin!
Friends of Lanchester
Friends of Lanchester
Our brilliant Winter Disco made £1200, which will all go back into supporting the school and our children. We really want to raise at least double this at the Christmas fair but need your help!
We’re only a week until our Christmas Fair and we have lots of festive fun planned for all. We’re very low on volunteers and don’t want to have to scale back your fun.
Please do sign up for a volunteer slot and help us make these events a success. Sign up here:
https://volunteersignup.org/YPJQW
Christmas Fair
Join us on Saturday 6th December for an afternoon full of festive fun.
Come along for Santa’s Grotto, fun games, music, and plenty of delicious treats. With festive stalls, goodies, and activities for all ages, it’s the perfect way to kick off the festive season.
Donations
Thank you for all of the hamper and chocolate tombola donations. We’ll still be collecting next week.
Please see your year group theme below:
Reception - Get baking - kids baking set, sprinkles, cookbooks, food, drink, anything to bake!
Year 1 - Family night in - popcorn, sweets, drink, chocolate, hot chocolate, crisps, takeaway voucher, anything film or movie related
Year 2/3 - Christmas festive treats hamper - anything related to Christmas including fairy lights, cakes, sweets, chocolate, drinks, biscuits, hot chocolate etc.
Year 4 - Book lover - kids and adults books in good condition, pens, bookmark, reading lamp, magazines.
Year 5 - Pamper hamper - baby, child and adult pamper related items such as bubble bath, eye mask, face mask, lip balm.
Year 6 - Toys and games - toys, sports items, anything science, craft or games
If you have items for any other hampers, we’d be very grateful.
We’re also collecting cakes and bakes on Friday 5th December or the morning of Saturday 6th December to sell at the Fair. Please bring in and leave on the glass foyer. No nuts please.
Christmas cards
If you missed out the first time, the shop is open until Monday 1st December for cards, mugs and other gifts in your child’s design.
Elfridges
Throughout the week of 8th December, our pop us seasonal shop, Elfridges, will open. Children will have the chance to come to school and choose presents for friends and family. They can then take them home, wrapped and labelled, ready to hand out.
There will be a wide range of gifts for males and females of all ages. Gifts will range in price from £1-3.
We really need help to run this so if you can volunteer for a couple of hours, we’d be very grateful!
Dates for your diary
Saturday 6th December - Christmas Fair
W/C Monday 8th December - Elfridges
Monday 15th and Thursday 18th December - Christmas Craftanoon
Don’t forget to follow us on
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/friendsoflanchester or Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/friendsoflanchester/ or contact us by email: friendsoflanchester@gmail.com
Thanks for your support!
Friends of Lanchester committee - Tracey Bravo, Lawrence Brown, Louise Brown, Helen Gibson, Chloé Harper and Laura Robson
On Behalf of 'Friends of Lanchester CFS'
Registered Charity 1161580
Lanchester Primary School, Hempstead Road, Watford, WD17 3HD
Tel: 01923 224160 Email: office@lanchester.herts.sch.uk
Website: www.lanchester.herts.sch.uk
Headteacher: Mr Matt Morey
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