The children in years 2, 3 and 5 went to the Tower of London last Friday to support the work the children have been doing in History.  

They all had a wonderful time and came back with lots of interesting facts.  

This week we celebrated World Book Day with the children and staff dressing up as their favourite book character.  The children looked wonderful in their costumes and thoroughly enjoyed the 'drop everything and read' sessions that took place throughout the day. 

Congratulations Holdbrook! We have been awarded with the Gold Stonewall award.  This shows our commitment to have an inclusive school. 

Holdbrook Primary School and Nursery has been graded GOOD in all areas at our last inspection on 18^th and 19^th January 2022. 

We are delighted with this outcome and have included the full Ofsted report for you to read below.

Some of the highlights in the report are: 

• Pupils are receiving a good quality of education and enjoy their learning. 

• Pupils are happy, polite and welcoming to visitors.

• Pupils feel safe and looked after.

• Pupils describe the school as ‘inspirational’ and a ‘community.’

• Behaviour in and around the school is good.

• Parents describe the school as ‘caring, nurturing, inclusive and supportive.’

• Leaders have acted to put right the issues identified at the time of the previous inspection in 2018. 

• Leaders have brought about secure and sustained improvements in the quality of education.

• Pupils get a strong start to their education in the early years.

• Skilled adults support pupils to become confident and fluent readers.

• Support for pupils with SEND is strong.

• Pupils’ personal development is a priority.

• There is a strong safeguarding culture at Holdbrook and safeguarding is effective. 

• Staff are vigilant and skilled at identifying when pupils are not okay. 

A selection of key stage 2 children represented Holdbrook Primary School at the Broxbourne Cross Country Event.  

The children all tried really hard and made us very proud.  

As part of a new initiative which started this week every child at Holdbrook School will be offered a free toasted bagel every morning.

Yesterday we launched Anti-bullying week by wearing our odd socks to school.  

The theme of the week is "One Kind Word".  

What acts of kindness can you show your friends, families and teachers?  

Last week was parliament week at Holdbrook.  

During this week, the children learn about Parliament as part of their PSCHE lessons.  

We also had an assembly to talk about the school council and the children have all voted in their new school council representatives.  

We will be having our first meeting all together at the end of the week.  

I wonder what they will want to discuss.  

Yesterday key stage 2 participated in a workshop and team building session led by the charity show racism the red card.  The children engaged in some wonderful discussions and thought about what racism is and the impact it has on people.  

Today we all wore red to school as we took a stand and together want to show racism the red card.  

Today the school is a sea of yellow as the children and staff have all put on their yellow outfits to support the young minds initiative #helloyellow. 

We had an assembly to think about our feelings and emotions and linked this to the work we have been doing on the zones of regulation.  

I also asked the children to think of yellow things that make them happy and they thought about: ice-cream, flowers and the sunshine.

Today the sun has been shining and they have all had an extra special playtime being kind to their friends.  

Thank you for your kind donations.