This week at Gainsborough…
Autumn 1
This half term we are focusing on:
As Summer term. Our reflections on our current learning tell us we need to focus on the following:
- Improving attendance and punctuality across our school
- Developing a play strategy for children and families
- Embedding our approach to maths teaching and learning
- Developing the application of SCERTS at Gainsborough to support children with communication and language needs
Wear an Upcycled Outfit for National Recycling Day
Well done to all of the children and families who made a huge effort to awareness of National Recycling Day! We saw clothes made from recylced materials, clothes gifted from older siblings and friends, there were clothes that children had made and customised and clothes children wore because they could get one last wear out of them! It was lovely to hear children talk about how they had re-used items of clothing and we are all moer aware of the importance of throwing less away to landfill, well done Gainsborough!
Writer, Reader and Mathematician of the Week!
Each week we celebrate a child from each year group who has excelled in writing, reading or maths across the week. This may be in class work, verbal contributions, home learning, online learning or a great academic achievement. Please celebrate your child’s achievements at home as well!
| Writer | |
| Year 1 | Jerome |
| Year 2 | Theo |
| Year 3 | Ayaan |
| Year 4 | Jasmin |
| Year 5 | Yaacub |
| Year 6 | Asia |
| Reader | ||||||
| Year 1 | Lillian | |||||
| Year 2 | Netsu | |||||
| Year 3 | RJ | |||||
| Year 4 | Tyrell | |||||
| Year 5 | Rafi | |||||
| Year 6 | Aaliyah |
| Mathematician | |
| Year 1 | Anas |
| Year 2 | Idris |
| Year 3 | Yusuf |
| Year 4 | Samuel |
| Year 5 | Yaccine |
| Year 6 | Alexis |
Each week we celebrate an amazing achievement from each class. Children are celebrated in assembly, receive a gold certificate and their name in the newsletter. Please celebrate their learning at home too!
Nursery Geese Class
Ayliz was awarded a Gainsborough Gold award this week for joining in carpet sessions and excellent focus in maths sessions. Well done Ayliz!
Nursery Swans Class
Enzo was awarded a Gainsborough Gold award this week for sharing his ideas really well during carpet sessions. Well done Enzo!
Reception Skylarks
Tiana was awarded a Gainsborough Gold award this week for showing great confidence when sharing her ideas with others. Well done Tiana!
Year 1 Magpies
Larosa was awarded a Gainsborough Gold award this week for her hard work and focus in writing sessions this week. Well done Larosa!
Year 2 Doves
Kyro was awarded a Gainsborough Gold award this week for being an excellent role model in Year 2 and showing a great effort in all subjects this week. Well done Kyro!
Year 3 Wrens
Natalia was awarded a Gainsborough Gold award this week for always raising her hand to ask questions and explain her thoughts. Well done Natalia!
Year 4 Owls
Cheyenne was awarded a Gainsborough Gold award this week for being having a brilliant attitude to all learning and producing an excellent piece of writing this week. Well done Cheyenne!
Year 5 Hummingbirds
Zivah was awarded a Gainsborough Gold award this week for showing great determination in writing, focus in all lessons and producing some incredible writing. Well done Zivah!
Year 6 Herons
Moyosore was awarded a Gainsborough Gold award this week for her positive attitude towards all learning, and completing some excellent homework this week. Well done Moyo!
Coming up at Gainsborough…
Run Gainsborough Run
Run Gainsborough Run is scheduled to take place at the London Community Track, on Sunday 11th October, from 2-4pm. All families have been sent joining instructions so sign up, collect sponsorship money, turn up and RUN! Children have been given sponsorship forms as homework this week and children are asked to collect sponsors for running and donate via a Just Giving Page. All of our fundraising efforts will go towards the redevelopment of the playground. We are aiming to raise £2000 in sponsorship money at this event, can we do it Gainsborough? Yes we can!
Black History Month at Gainsborough
Please join us for our Annual Black History Month Carnival. Throughout October the children will look at a range of figures from history and celebrate black excellence. These figures are linked to their geography and history learning and reading and writing learning. As a school we will celebrate Black History month together by learning and reciting a poem by a black poet, learning about and rehearsing a dance from the Caribbean culture of carnival and we will then perform these for our families during Family Friday on Friday 23rd October.
Black History Month Parent’s in Class and Celebration, Friday 23rd October
Please hold Friday 23rd October from 2.45-5.30pm in your diaries! We are inviting families from Years 1 -6 to 2 events to share and celebrate black excellence.
Parents in Class, 2.45-3.30pm, please join us for our carnival and poetry performance in the playground,
BHM family celebration, 3.30-5.30pm, in the middle and top hall at Gainsborough. We invite families to wear traditional dress, bring a traditional dish to share, and enjoy a meal together as a school community. We will hold a fashion show and some carnival demonstrations for everyone to join in with. We hope to see you there! This is event is free and all families are welcome. Please come along.
Changes to Free School Meals Eligibility from 1st September 2026
There are important changes to free school meals (FSM) eligibility from the start of the 2026/27 academic year, we want to encourage all families who may qualify to register through Hackney Education by the 30th September 2026 in order to be eligible.
What is changing?
From 1st September 2026, all children from households receiving Universal Credit are entitled to free school meals, regardless of their household income. Previously, eligibility for families receiving Universal Credit was generally limited to those with annual household earnings of £7,400 or less.
Families receiving certain other qualifying benefits may also be eligible, including income-related Employment and Support Allowance, the guarantee element of Pension Credit, and support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999. Some families with no recourse to public funds may also qualify under separate criteria.
This is in addition to the Mayor of London’s free school meals initiative
All children attending state-funded primary schools in London already receive a free school meal through the Mayor of London’s universal free school meals initiative, alongside the national universal infant free school meals scheme.
The new benefits-based eligibility arrangements are separate from this existing provision. Your child will continue to receive their free school meal at school, whether or not you qualify for benefits-based FSM. However, if your family meets the eligibility criteria, it is still very important that you register.
Why is it important to apply?
Registering for benefits-based free school meals helps ensure that your child receives any additional support to which they may be entitled. It also enables the school to identify pupils who qualify for additional government funding.
Under the new arrangements, there are two categories of benefits-based FSM. Families receiving Universal Credit with annual household earnings of £7,400 or less, and families meeting certain other qualifying criteria, may be eligible for targeted FSM. This category continues to attract Pupil Premium and other disadvantageous funding for schools. Families receiving Universal Credit above the earnings threshold qualify for expanded FSM, which provides entitlement to free meals but does not automatically attract Pupil Premium.
Pupil Premium is additional funding that schools use to improve educational outcomes and provide support for eligible pupils. This may include additional teaching and learning support, small group or one to one tuition, educational resources, and assistance with activities such as trips and after school clubs. Accurate registration therefore helps us secure the funding available to support our pupils and the wider school community.
How to apply
If you have never applied for benefits-based free school meals, please complete an application through Hackney Education, even if your child already receives a free lunch at school.
You can find the eligibility information and application link here:
Hackney Education – Apply for free school meals
You can also access the online application through the Hackney parent portal:
Hackney Education – Parent Portal
If you have applied previously, Hackney Education has advised that existing applications will be reassessed under the new criteria. Families will be notified of their entitlement using the email address provided on their application. If you have not received an update, please contact Hackney’s Pupil Benefits team.
You should complete the following Google form to reconfirm your eligibility under the new criteria:
Families with no recourse to public funds should contact Hackney’s Pupil Benefits team for advice about the appropriate application process rather than completing the standard online form.
If you need assistance with your application, please contact the school office. You can also contact Hackney Education’s Pupil Benefits team on 020 8820 7000 or by email at PupilBenefits@hackney.gov.uk.
We encourage all families who may be eligible to apply as soon as possible. Even if your child already enjoys a free school meal, registering for benefits-based FSM can make an important difference to the support available to your child and the additional funding our school receives.
