Newsletters

24/25 - Summer 2, Week 2

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Dear parents and carers,

We hope you had the chance to watch Jamie’s Dyslexia Revolution on Channel 4 last Monday, where William Ford proudly featured as the only school in the UK selected to showcase our inclusive approach to education. If you missed it, the programme is still available on the Channel 4 streaming platform, 4OD. It was a joy to see our school, pupils and staff celebrated on national television, and to also be featured on BBC Breakfast the same morning as part of the build-up. These opportunities highlighted the care, ambition and inclusive ethos we work so hard to embed each day.

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While our school was making headlines, we were also delighted to welcome the parents of Year 2 pupils from Village Infants into William Ford this week. They had the opportunity to hear from me, meet the 2025–26 Year Three team, and tour the school during a normal working day. We always value the chance to show parents the calm, purposeful and welcoming environment we provide- and how ready we are to support their children on the next stage of their journey.

Community Month also continues in full swing. This week, our Year Four pupils visited Barchester Care Home, where they sang four songs for the residents and then read aloud some of their own stories. The pupils’ kindness, confidence and creativity truly lit up the room. The feedback from care home staff and residents was glowing - it was a powerful reminder of the difference children can make when they step out to serve others.

We’ve also had a number of other visitors to the school this week who have praised the learning environment, the behaviour of our pupils and the strength of our provision. Thank you to all families for your continued support in making William Ford a place we are proud to share with others.

In Collective Worship, we focused on the story of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead (John 11:1–45). We thought about how Jesus brought hope even when everything seemed lost, and what it means to be a good friend - even in difficult times. Pupils reflected on how they can show care, comfort and encouragement to others, just like Jesus did.

I pray you all have a wonderful weekend.

 

Mr. David Huntingford

Headteacher

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Barking and Dagenham has a fantastic advice and support service for parents and carers of children with SEND who live in the borough. Please look at their local offer to see what support they can offer from family support groups to help with filling out forms.  

Information, Advice and Support - Barking and Dagenham SEND Local Offer 

 

Bikeability

Only 9 spaces remaining on our next course dates are 8th and 11th July.

To register please fill in this form 

https://forms.office.com/e/jf0MjQDitm

The Bikeability programme is the Government approved National Standard for Cycling, which sets out the training and skills essential for making cycling trips on today’s roads.

The Bikeability programme consists of 8hrs of training over 2 days. Two hours are playground based (Level 1) where the instructors can assess the child’s cycling skills. Your child will need to achieve this level before progressing to Level 2. Six hours are set aside for road training in 3 x 2hr slots (Level 2) on quiet roads but with real traffic conditions.

In order for your child to participate they must be able to ride a bike.

Please ensure that your child has a roadworthy bicycle* and a helmet, without this your child will not be able to participate.

*a roadworthy bicycle must have…..

· Two working brakes (front and back)
· Tyres pumped up
· Handlebars and wheels are fixed tight
· Saddle is fixed tight and when you sit on the saddle your feet should touch the ground on tiptoes if feet are flat the bike is possibly too small or the saddle needs lifting.
· Clean and oiled chain to ensure smooth running
· Run through the gears to check they are operating correctly

NEW LUNCH MENU FROM 30TH JUNE 2025

The new menu from 30th June has been loaded onto ParentPay. Please access your children's accounts and PREBOOK their lunch. If it has been booked previously, the new menu would have removed those bookings, so please access to rebook.

  1. Log in
  2. Click - Book Meals and places
  3. Click Make or view bookings
  4. Scroll to the next available date (this will not have a lock in the corner)
  5. Select day 
  6. Select red or green meal (please note that meat IS NOT HALAL)
  7. Select dessert
  8. Confirm Booking 
  9. Repeat for each day through to 23rd July

Year 3 parents 

please remember to grant consent for your child to take part in the Walton on the Naze trip on 7th July  click here: https://forms.office.com/e/yjhRbywxYD

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Well Done to all the Year 4 pupils who have completed the Key Stage Two Multiplication Table Check over the last few weeks.

we are all so proud of your hard work.

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The Wild Robot by Peter Brown 

Book Review 

Last half term year 3 read The Wild Robot as part of our Reading and English lessons. A robot called Rox lives on an island with animals. She doesn’t know how she got there and needs to survive on the island. I enjoyed reading this book. 

Michelle 3A 

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Roman Day [In-person]
All Day
17
June
Whole school Workshop and Assembly - Christian Foley [In-person]
8:00am – 8:30am
18
June
France Residential Y4 and Y5 [In-person]
All Day
from 19 Jun until 20 Jun
19
June
France Residential
All Day
from 19 Jun until 20 Jun
19
June
Y6 Swimming wk3
8:00am – 8:30am
20
June
Eastbrookend country park trip y6
All Day
24
June
Eastbrookend Country Park Y6 Trip
All Day
25
June
Greek Day [In-person]
All Day
27
June
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06 Jun 2025
Layers of the Rainforest
This week Shelby and Davianna tell us about their learning in geography.
Read more
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Year Three

Children have been working hard this week in year 3. 

What we have learnt about this week 

This week, we have started our new unit of work in Geography. The children will be helping the Morgan Family relocate to the coast as the children take on the role of estate agents and advisors.  

In PSHE, the children have been learning about the life cycle of a human and in the coming weeks, how our bodies change as we get older. Please talk to your children about this and if you have any questions, do speak to you child’s teacher. 

What we will learn about next week 

Next week, we will continue with our mass and capacity of work in Maths. The children will be learning to estimate and read scales when measure weight and capacity. Please help you children practice this skill in the kitchen by weighing ingredients for cooking. They children will also be starting a new unit of work in RE, studying the Sikh religion. Discuss with your children what they already know about Sikhism and if they have any questions, help them to understand by using the internet or books if you are also unsure. This is a great opportunity to learn about a new religion for everyone. 

 

 

 

Year Four 

Despite it being a 4 day week, year 4 have continued to work extremely hard.  

What we have learnt about this week 

This week in Year 4, we have had an exciting and engaging focus across various subjects. In Maths, our exploration of shapes has enabled the children to identify and classify 2D and 3D shapes, enhancing their understanding of geometric properties. In Science, we shifted our attention to human teeth, where students have been learning about their functions and the importance of dental hygiene. In History, our studies of Roman towns have brought the past to life, allowing students to appreciate the complexities of Roman life and architecture. Finally, our English lessons have been centred around writing diary entries, where children have used their creative skills to express their thoughts and experiences imaginatively. 

 

What we will learn about next week 

As we prepare for another exciting week, I would like to share our focus areas for the coming days. In Mathematics, we will continue to enhance our understanding of shapes, exploring their properties and applications in everyday life. This week in Science, students will delve into the fascinating topic of teeth, examining their various layers and functions, which I believe will spark their interest in human biology. In Geography, our lessons will centre on the environmental impact of rainforests. Students will investigate the vital role these ecosystems play in our world and the importance of their conservation. Additionally, we will be celebrating Roman Culture and History with a dedicated Roman Day. This event promises to engage the children in the rich heritage of the Romans, fostering a deeper appreciation for this significant historical period. 

 

 

Year Five

This week, Year 5 have had a successful and productive week despite it being only a 4-day week! 

What we have learnt about this week 

This week in English we have been looking at various spelling, punctuation and grammar strategies and the pupils also completed a Reading and Spelling, Punctuation and Grammar assessment. 

In maths we also worked on our mental arithmetic skills and reasoning strategies, whilst also completing our maths assessments. 

In geography, we looked at the impact of flooding on communities and how it can be prevented. The pupils prepared a presentation to present their findings, in their role as Flood Risk Consultants.  

What we will learn about next week 

Next week, we will be looking at what different religions believe about God and the afterlife, in RE.  

In maths, we will be looking at conversion, looking at converting between g and kg and cm, m and km.  

In English, we will be looking at using and integrating dialogue and writing plausible predictions.  

We hope you have a wonderful weekend! 

 

Year Six

Year 6 have worked incredibly hard this week! Well Done 

What we have learnt about this week 

Year 6 have been working incredibly hard in preparation for our upcoming production, ‘School of Pop.’ The children have shown outstanding dedication during rehearsals—learning their lines with enthusiasm, demonstrating patience while waiting for their scenes, and consistently encouraging and supporting one another throughout the process. Their teamwork and positive attitude have truly shone. 

In addition to their performance preparations, Year 6 have also been making excellent progress in their Design and Technology project, where they are designing and creating healthy starters or desserts. Their creativity and thoughtful planning are evident in the imaginative dishes they are developing. 

Moreover, in Maths, the children have been tackling challenging problems as part of our Investigation lessons. They have embraced these tasks with curiosity and resilience, applying their reasoning skills and working collaboratively to find solutions. 

Well done, Year 6! Your hard work, creativity, and perseverance are something to be proud of. Keep it up! 

 

What we will learn about next week 

As we look forward to another week, Year 6 will continue their efforts during rehearsals for our production. Also, not just Year 6, but the entire school will be welcoming rapper and poet Christian Foley to the school on Wednesday the 18th of June. Christian uses rap and poetry to help children develop their reading and writing skills. It’s going to be a phenomenal day for all the children. The year six children are especially excited about his arrival.  

have a wonderful weekend and we look forward to seeing you all next week! 

 

 

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Each week, staff select three children from each class who have shown effort and commitment to upholding an aspect of our school vision, shown at the bottom of the page. Congratulations to this week’s ‘stars of the week’ for their tremendous endeavours!

 

Working diligently

 

Acting generously

 

Promoting peace

Year Three

3A

Name: Connor

For: great work in phonics.

 

Name: Teddy S

For:  acting generously in the classroom

 

Name: Elie

For:  always being ready and focused to learn 

3F

Name: Jermaine

For: working hard in all lessons

Name: Tiana

For: alwasy being a kind and polite member of 3F

Name: Hassan

For: coming to school more settled and working well in class

3M

Name: Isaiah

For: working hard during testing week

Name:  Myla

For: being willing to help with classroom jobs

Name: Sabrina

For:  taking a calm and concentrated approach to her tests this week
 

Working diligently

 

Acting generously

 

Promoting peace

Year Four

4IW

Name: Theo

For: making great effort in all his lessons

 

Name: Maddison

For: showing kindness towards children in the class room

 

Name: Emilis

For: settling well into 4IW and sharing good ideas. 

4L

Name: Rio

For: working hard in English to edit his work.

Name: Demi

For: helping to keep the classroom clean and tidy

Name: Iqrah

For:  being kind to others in school

4N

Name: Jameel

For: a positive attitude and displaying kindness on our care home visit.

Name: Rodiatu

For: a positive attitude and displaying kindness on our care home visit.

Name: Adesewa

For:  a positive attitude and displaying kindness on our care home visit. 
 

Working diligently

 

Acting generously

 

Promoting peace

Year Five

5H

Name: Sanjel

For: great effort with his reading and making great progress

 

Name: Joseph

For: all his help this week, especially in his role for Rights Respecting

 

Name: Divine

For: her calmness in class this week helping us to have a peaceful classroom

5P

Name: David

For:  His attention to detail in French and his hard work.

Name: Ayaana

For: Her great attitude to learning and always being happy to share.

Name: Jade

For: Her great attitude to learning and always being happy to share.

5W

Name: Nathan

For: working diligently and showing great focus

Name: Gregory

For: great effort and knowledge shared in Geography

Name: Rosie

For: being really focused during assessment week. 
 

Working diligently

 

Acting generously

 

Promoting peace

Year Six

6B

Name: Kendra

For: Listening and working well in lessons

 

Name: Mia

For: Her friendly character towards her peers.

 

Name: Ava

For:  Having a calm approach in lessons and towards her peers.

6I

Name: Ayaan

For: an improvement in his listening and concentration in class. 

Name: Belita

For: Always being kind and helpful towards others

Name: Violet

For: Her confidence whilst performing in front of her peers

6L

Name: Alexandre

For: Persevering during our swimming sessions, 

Name: Eliza

For: sharing her brilliant ideas in writing sessions

Name: Michael A

For:  having a calm and relaxed approached to learning
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