Caring Curious Courageous

Enabling all children to learn and grow

Dear families,

It's been a short but extremely busy term which included: International Day, Number Day, Children's Mental Health Week and Carnival Day and many more trips and workshops.

Tonight the children will be bringing home their 'draw and talk' art activity, which is about the children's sense of belonging. I am sure they will want to share them with you over the holidays.

I would like to take a moment to thank Mrs Qualter, one of our SENDCos, who has been with us for 11.5 years. Mary has had a huge impact on many of our children during her time at The Vineyard. I wish her well and we will all miss her.

We would like to wish all our families who are observing Ramadan a peaceful month.

I hope you all had a lovely half-term,

Frances

Frances Bracegirdle

Headteacher - headteacher@vineyard.richmond.sch.uk

What is happening over the next two/three weeks?

• Half Term – Monday 16.02.2026–20.02.2026

• Year 4 Multiplication Tables Check Workshop – Friday 27.02.2026 | 3.15-3.35pm
      Year 4 families are invited to come in to find out more about this statutory test that year 4 children have to take and how they can help at home

• PTA Book Week Family Quiz Wednesday 04.02.2026 | 3.30-4.30pm               Please see below for how to book your tickets. There will be a quiet room where member of the senior leadership team will be reading stories. 

• World Book Day 05.02.2026 | all day                                                                      Come dressed up as a book character or in clothes you feel comfortable reading in                                                                 ​​​​​​

It is time to say goodbye to the wonderful Mrs Qualter

After 11 ½ years, it is time for me to say goodbye to The Vineyard.

I joined the school as a newly qualified teacher and over the years I have been incredibly fortunate to grow both professionally and personally, from classroom teacher to taking on the role of SENDCo. Supporting children and their families, and working alongside such dedicated colleagues, has been a true privilege.

As many of you know, I am preparing to begin a very special new chapter as I get ready for baby number two and also our move out of London. While it is not easy to say goodbye to a school that has shaped so much of my career and my heart, I am excited about this next adventure and the precious time ahead with my growing family.

Thank you to the staff, parents, and most importantly the children, for making my time here so special. I will carry many happy memories with me and will always look back on my time at The Vineyard with great fondness.

I wish the whole school community continued success and happiness in the years ahead.

Best wishes,

Mary Qualter

Safeguarding - River Safety 

We have been asked to share with families some water safety resources following an incident with children recently with The River Thames. Below are resources which we would encourage families to read and familiarise themselves with:

https://capt.org.uk/drowning/

Water safety for Teenagers and young peoples

Staying safe around water

Water safety London Fire Brigade

Winter water safety- Royal Life Saving Society  

Safer Internet Day 

Safer Internet Day was marked this year by discussing the pros and cons of artificial intelligence (AI) and how it links to the children’s own experiences. In our assemblies, we talked about how AI is created by humans and, like people, is not perfect and can sometimes make mistakes.

The children learned that AI can be useful for things like listening to music or communicating in different languages, but that it should be used carefully, especially when looking for accurate information. We also discussed the importance of sharing information safely online to protect ourselves and others.

This is a fascinating topic to continue exploring at home. Here is a link you may find useful.

Mrs Hampton, Computing Lead

Learning Bulletins for Spring 2 

Please find the learning bulletins for the second spring half-term below. These detail the learning for each year group for every subject. You can also find some suggested activities to support your child's learning. 

Gems       Reception      Year 1      Year 2       Year 3       Year 4       Year 5       Year 6

Ms Reilly and Mrs Dempster 

Assistant Headteachers for Teaching & Learning

Neurodiversity Celebration Week

We are currently planning Neurodiversity Celebration Week, which is taking place in the week beginning 16th March. We have booked workshops for that week which we are excited about. If you have any suggestions for activities we can do, or if you would like to come and speak to the children or parents about neurodiversity, please do get in touch. We also plan on purchasing some new books for all the classes to read. If you have any suggestions, please do let us know! 

Miss McArdle, Assistant Headteacher 

International Day at The Vineyard

During International Day, we came together to celebrate the incredible families who make our community so special. It was a joyful occasion filled with learning, laughter, and connection.

We are deeply grateful to the wonderful volunteers who generously gave their time, shared their stories, and helped create such a warm and welcoming atmosphere. Thanks to their efforts, the children enjoyed fascinating talks about China, Turkey, Scotland, and many other countries, discovering traditions, languages, and celebrations from around the world.

A highlight of the day was our “Snack and Tell,” where children tasted delicious treats from different countries. From sweet pastries to savoury snacks, it was a wonderful way to explore new flavours and celebrate our diverse heritage together.

The children also took part in creative activities, including making colourful cultural masks inspired by traditional designs and creating beautiful beadwork bracelets using bright patterns and shapes. These hands-on crafts gave everyone a chance to express their creativity while learning about art from around the world.

It was truly a memorable and meaningful day, and we thank everyone who helped make it such a special celebration for our school community.

Half Term Challenge!

The search is on to find the school’s most extreme reader, 2026. 

Could it be you? 

To enter: submit a photo of you in an extreme reading situation to your year group inbox. 

Closing date: Wednesday 25th February 

Book Week – w/b 2nd March

We are delighted to announce that Book Week is fast approaching, and we have an exciting programme of events planned for all children across the school! 

Throughout the week, pupils will take part in engaging workshops designed to inspire creativity and a love of reading. We are also thrilled to be welcoming visiting authors, who will share their stories, talk about their writing journeys, and answer children’s questions, as well as providing opportunities for book signings. Please see the PTA section below for more information.

One of the highlights of the week will be our Dress-Up Day on Friday, when children are invited to come to school dressed as a favourite book character. We can’t wait to see the wonderful costumes and creativity on display!

Our fantastic PTA will be hosting a Book Week Quiz after school – a fun event for families to take part in together. Please see the PTA section below for more information.

Book Week is always a joyful celebration of reading across our school community, and we are very much looking forward to sharing it with you and your children.

Hugo Jones and Kara Lucey, Reading Leads