Spring is Blooming at Broadford!

 Spring has officially arrived, and our outdoor space is bursting with life! Here is a quick update on the new growth and arrivals in our garden.

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🐸 New Life & Habitats

A huge thank you to a kind parent for their generous donations! Our pond is now thriving with new plants and wiggly tadpoles, and our new wood pile habitat is already becoming a five-star hotel for local mini-beasts.

🌷 Flowers & Trees

The garden is looking brighter than ever thanks to:

• Flowers: Vibrant tulips and miniature "tête-à-tête" daffodils.

• Trees: Newly planted Walnut, Oak, Scots Pine, and Willow trees.

🛑 Look, Don't Pick!

We are teaching the children to be guardians of our environment. We’ve asked everyone to enjoy the plants and trees without picking or pulling at them. These plants provide vital food and shelter for our wildlife, and we want them to stay healthy for everyone to enjoy.

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Thank you for helping us keep Broadford green and wild!

Finding Our Voice: Bringing Oracy from the Assembly to the Dinner Table

 If your child came home today talking about PERFECT PARTNER POSITION don't worry, it’s not a new yoga move!  Simply put, Oracy is the skill of learning to talk and learning through talk. Following our recent school assembly, we are excited to launch our first Oracy mission.

It’s about more than just chatting; it’s about giving our children the tools to express their ideas clearly and listen to others with empathy.

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🤝 The 'Perfect Partner' Position

In school, we’ve been practising the "Perfect Partner Position." It sounds fancy, but it’s all about being physically and mentally present when we speak to someone.

As you can see on the postcard above, we encourage the children to be:

• Knee-to-knee: Facing each other directly.

• Listening with their eyes: Showing the speaker they have their full attention.

• Ready to listen: Staying quiet and focused on the conversation.

Try this at home: Next time you’re discussing what to have for a snack, see if you can 'copy the talking position' together!

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🚀 Your First Home Talk Mission!

To help bridge the gap between school and home, we’ve created a Home Mission for you. This week, we are focusing on Shared Decision Making.

Oracy helps us understand different views, even when we don't agree. We challenge you to choose something small to decide together:

1. What to watch on TV.

2. What to eat for a weekend treat.

3. What to play for family game night.

Use these 'Sentence Stems'

If the debate gets a little heated (we know how important pizza topping choices can be!), try using these sentence stems to keep the conversation productive:

• "I agree with you because..."

• "Can you tell me more?"

• "I think something different..."

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💡 Why Does This Matter?

Teaching children to listen first and include everyone doesn't just make for a quieter house; it builds confidence. When a child feels heard, they are more likely to share their brilliant ideas and open their minds to new ones.

We can’t wait to hear how your home missions go! Feel free to share your "shared decision" success stories.

Let’s get talking!

SEND Education - Coffee events

 Please see the attached flyers from the SEND Education Support Service with details of the following coffee events for parents/carers of children with communication and interaction differences.

Family Coach Volunteers needed - message from Havering

 

Volunteers needed to support local families

Havering Early Help Service are recruiting Family Coach volunteers to provide vital support to local families. A Family Coach is someone who is matched with a family for a period of six months, helping them to achieve their goals and reach their potential. Training will be taking place on Friday 24^th April 10am-2pm and Friday 1^st May 10am-2pm.

If you have a passion for helping others or would like some experience volunteering with families or children, we would love to hear from you. To find out more, please email the Volunteer and Advocacy Team at earlyhelpvolunteer@havering.gov.uk.

Broadford Primary School Mini Marathon - Thursday 22nd April 2026

 

Thursday Graduations!

 What an incredible afternoon we shared at Broadford Primary School on Thursday! There is nothing quite like the buzz of a graduation ceremony—the culmination of ten weeks of curiosity, persistence, and pure imagination. Our pupils didn't just attend a course; they dove head-first into their passions. Seeing the pride on their faces as they showcased their final projects was a reminder of why we do what we do.

Our four specialist streams offered something for every kind of creator and thinker. Here is a look at the incredible work celebrated during the ceremony:

• Fashionistas: Our budding designers took the world of high fashion by storm! Taking inspiration from the vibrant aesthetics of LOL Dolls, these students designed and constructed their own bespoke bags. The attention to detail and "runway-ready" flair was truly impressive.

• Artopia: This group proved that art has no boundaries. From intricate clay sculptures and delicate stone painting to the innovative world of junk modelling, these children transformed everyday materials into extraordinary exhibits.

• Masterpiece Makers: Looking through the children's art books felt like a trip to the Louvre! Our young artists tackled the greats with confidence, recreating iconic works including Van Gogh’s Sunflowers and Starry Night, as well as Vermeer’s Girl with a Pearl Earring. Their ability to capture color and emotion was breathtaking.

• Puzzle Book Fanatics: For those who love a mental challenge, this course was a masterclass in logic and fun. These students moved from solving puzzles to creating them, designing their very own original puzzle books filled with riddles, crosswords, and brain-teasers.

While the graduation certificates are a wonderful memento, the real reward is the growth we’ve seen. Over the last 10 weeks, these children have developed:

1. Resilience: Learning that the first draft (or the first clay mould) isn't always the final one.

2. Collaboration: Sharing techniques and cheering on their peers.

3. Confidence: Stepping up to the podium to be recognised for their unique talents.

"Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up." – Pablo Picasso

To our graduates: keep that spark of creativity alive! You have shown us all what is possible when you dedicate yourselves to something you love.

A huge thank you to the staff who led these sessions and to the parents/carers who joined us for this special celebration. We couldn't be prouder of our Broadford community.

Tuesday Graduations

 

Today we officially celebrated the completion of another three fabulous University of Broadford courses. 

Here is a look back at the incredible showcase our graduates put on for their families and friends.

Sketching Stars

Sketching Stars was a fun and imaginative course where children explored creativity through drawing and experimentation. Throughout the sessions, they filled their sketchbooks with a variety of images, using different types of media such as pencils, markers, crayons, and paints. The course encouraged young artists to try new techniques, express their ideas freely, and build confidence in their artistic abilities while enjoying the process of making art.

Maths Masters

Maths Masters was an exciting and engaging course where children developed their problem-solving skills through a range of fun challenges. From cracking secret codes to mastering fractions and even exploring the basics of algebra, students built confidence in their mathematical abilities step by step. The course encouraged logical thinking, curiosity, and resilience, helping young learners discover that maths can be both rewarding and enjoyable.

Around the World in a Term

Around the World in a Term was a vibrant and interactive course that took children on a global adventure without leaving the classroom. They began in Australia, exploring Aboriginal art and creating their own inspired pieces, before travelling to Italy to make—and taste—delicious homemade pizza. The journey continued to Brazil, where students crafted colourful shakers in preparation for a lively carnival celebration. Along the way, children discovered new cultures, traditions, and creative activities, making learning both fun and memorable.

We would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to all the parents and families who joined us to celebrate the children’s achievements. Your support, encouragement, and involvement means so much, and it was wonderful to share these special moments together. The children were incredibly proud to showcase their hard work, and your presence made the celebration even more meaningful.