Caring Curious Courageous

Enabling all children to learn and grow

Dear Families,

The days are getting longer, and we are seeing much more sunshine, spring is definitely on its way! Please scroll through the newsletter to read about our spring bird-watching activity taking place across the school, an initiative designed to support our mental wellbeing.

We are coming to the end of a very successful Book Week. It has been wonderful to visit classrooms and hear children enthusiastically sharing their favourite books with one another. The library, as ever, is full of eager readers, and it really does feel that the children at The Vineyard genuinely enjoy reading. Developing a love of reading is an important part of the puzzle that helps to build a lifelong love of learning.

A huge thank you to Mr Jones and Kat Parr Mackintosh for organising such a fantastic programme of author visits and workshops. We have welcomed Thomas Taylor, author of Malamander, who spoke to Upper Key Stage 2; Momoko Abe, author of Avocado Asks, who worked with Reception and Year 1; and Susanna Lloyd, author of Who Ate Steve? (a brilliant book), who led a KS2 assembly and workshops for Years 1 and 2. The book week quiz took place on Wednesday hosted by Mr Jones. Thank you to the volunteers who helped with selling cakes, books and looking after the teams.

Next week we are looking forward to welcoming Guy Bass, who will be visiting Years 3 and 4 on Monday. We are also excited that the Polka Theatre will be leading a workshop for Reception and Year 1 (date to be confirmed).

None of this would have been possible without the support of Kat and the PTA, so I would like to take this opportunity to say a huge thank you.

At The Vineyard, we are proud of the warm, inclusive and tolerant community we are building together. We are committed to ensuring that every child and family feels welcomed, respected and able to participate fully in school life. If there is ever anything that makes you feel this is not the case, please do let us know so that we can address it together.

Our thoughts are with those affected by the unrest in different parts of the world. We understand how upsetting and frightening it must be. We continue to value the kindness, understanding and sense of community we see across our school. Our diversity, and the respect and sensitivity that it fosters, is one of our many strengths.

We would also like to wish a very happy Holi to all of our families who celebrated.

Warm regards,

Frances Bracegirdle

Headteacher - headteacher@vineyard.richmond.sch.uk

What is happening over the next two weeks?

• Family Teacher Meetings – Tuesday 17.03.2026 | 3.30-7pm and Thursday 19.03.2026 | 3.30-6.30pm
  Please make an appointment so that you can meet with your child’s teacher and find out about how they are progressing at school – a letter was sent from the office on how to do this. If you have any questions please email info@vineyard.richmond.sch.uk or call 0208 948 0195. If you can no longer make your appointment please let us know as soon as possible so it can be rearranged.

• Neurodiversity workshops -  18.03.2026 and 19.03.2026                                    These a part of celebrating neurodiversity week and will take place during the school day

Safeguarding

The Government are doing a consultation on age restrictions for social media and online gaming. If you would like to have your say, you can do so here. 

Wellbeing Activity – Spring Bird Watching Across the School! 🐦

This half term, our children will be taking part in a special Spring Bird Watching activity led by our Wellbeing Team (Miss Foster, Miss Reilly, Miss McArdle, Miss Kliczek & Miss Gabriel). Each classroom has a bird tracker and identifying features sheet attached to the windows, giving pupils the chance to observe the outdoors and notice the birds and environment around them.

Even if they don’t spot every bird, the aim is to pause, connect with nature, and take note of subtle changes in their surroundings. Research shows that spending time observing nature can reduce stress, improve focus, and support overall mental wellbeing.

Children will have the opportunity to try this during registration or break times, with those showing initial interest helping to spark curiosity in their classmates. It’s a fun, optional activity designed to encourage mindfulness, movement, and awareness of the world outside the classroom.

We’re excited to see the children engaging with the natural world and developing their observation skills this spring!

Ms Reilly, Assistant Headteacher and Mental Wellbeing Lead 

Updated Staff Lists

We have updated the staffing on the website so you know the names of all the staff who work in the phase of the school your child is in. See this link – Staff List

Children’s Mental Health Week 2026 - “This is My Place”

This year, The Vineyard Primary School celebrated Children’s Mental Health Week with the theme “This is My Place”, exploring where and when children feel they truly belong: at home, school, with friends, or in a team. Feeling a sense of belonging helps children feel happy, safe, and ready to learn, while also boosting confidence, resilience, self-esteem, and communication skills.

Pupils took part in a special Draw-and-Talk Island activity, creating their own islands to show what makes them feel their best selves. They added drawings, photos, magazine cutouts, fabric, or any materials that inspire them, and brought their islands home to discuss with their families. We hope the children enjoyed sharing these with you over the half term!

The week also included positive affirmations at registration, mindful five-minute post-lunch sessions, movement breaks with GoNoodle, a Great Outdoor Play (where all staff and children played outside for 15 minutes together), “Express Yourself” day, assemblies on mental health and wellbeing, and wellbeing stories. It was a fun and engaging week designed to help every child pause, connect, and celebrate the people and places that make them feel happy and safe.

To support families discussing mental health at home, below is the key language and definition of mental health that we share with our children.

Here are some images of the children's and adults islands

Ms Reilly Assistant Headteacher and Mental Wellbeing Lead

Tuesday 24 March – Music Day!

On Tuesday 24 March we will be celebrating everything to do with musical instruments! During the day, Kidenza, a mini orchestra, will deliver performances to all children. This activity is generously funded by the PTA.

Children’s concert

Tue 24 March, 6.00pm-8.00pm

Music Day does not end at 3.15pm! In the evening, we are proud to present our second annual children’s concert.  Anyone taking instrumental or voice lessons (in or outside school) is welcome to perform to a friendly and supportive audience of families.

This concert will have two or three intervals of around 5-10 minutes, and there will also be a breakout room for anyone who needs a longer break from the concert.

Sign up by clicking this link here if your child would like a performance slot. If your child would like to participate in the performance, but needs specific adjustments in order to do so, please email music@vineyard.richmond.sch.uk before Tuesday 17 March.

Tickets for this event are free, but donations are welcome. All funds donated will go towards future music activities in school.

Curiosity at Play Podcast – calling all children! 

We’re excited to share that Lily Bracegirdle, former music teacher at The Vineyard, is returning to school to record a special episode of her own podcast Curiosity at Play, a podcast exploring playful, human-centred learning. Eight students will have the chance to share their ideas, thoughts and creativity in a fun and friendly conversation. Parental permission is required for students to participate. All recordings will be anonymised and will be audio only. Children’s names and the school will not appear in the final episode. Families will be able to review the recording before it goes public. If your child would like to take part, please sign up using the Google form: https://forms.gle/msPNnuzL8VL2DakPA

*Please note, there are only eight spaces for the podcast episode. The recording will be happening on the afternoon of March 26th in one of our classrooms.