Issue No 09 -18.07.2025


{item_alt_tag}
{item_alt_tag}

End of Academic Year 2024-25 News

Dear Parents and Carers

As we reach the end of the year, I want to extend my heartfelt thanks for your unwavering support. There is so much to celebrate, but I’ll highlight just a few of the many things we’re proud of.

For the 14th year running, we remain in the top 5% nationally for SATs results—an incredible achievement made possible by our dedicated staff and the tremendous efforts of our Year 6 pupils. This year, we also reached a new milestone: 100% of our Year 1 pupils passed the phonics screening! 

Our commitment to nurturing the whole child continued through the OPAL play project, which has had a significant impact on children’s emotional and social development. Thank you for your generous donations and to Carmela Capone and Sonia Da Silva for their inspiring leadership. Looking ahead, Louisa Koschyk will take the lead (from Carmela Capone) as we introduce a sandpit, nets for balls, plant trees, enhance biodiversity, and deepen our understanding of the power of play. 

We’ve also made strides in Computing and Oracy. Virtual reality has brought History and Geography lessons to life, while our two donated 3D printers—showcased at our successful Summer Fair—have sparked excitement and innovation. Our student film competition revealed outstanding creativity, and a recent computing curriculum audit confirmed real progress: children are using technology both confidently and safely. Your continued support has enabled us to provide more devices, helping all learners thrive.

In Oracy, our investment in the Voice 21 programme is already lifting standards across subjects. Children are developing the confidence to speak clearly, think critically, and use rich vocabulary across the curriculum. 

A heartfelt thank-you goes to Jenny Roberts and Barbara Keith, our Friends of Tetherdown co-chairs, who are stepping down after three exceptional years. Their commitment has left a lasting legacy—please do consider joining the team and getting involved. 

We are also deeply grateful to our school governors, whose time, expertise, and guidance help steer our school and ensure we remain ambitious for every child. 

Lastly, a note on school funding. With only £8,000 allocated for building maintenance, the pressure is real. If you’re able, please consider setting up a direct debit to support the school maintenance. 

Light bulbPlease follow the link Keep the Lights on - JustGiving to donate — and thank you so much for helping us keep our school the wonderful place it is, for your time, generosity, and continued belief in our incredible community. 

Warm wishes

Annie Ashraf

Headteacher


LATEST NEWS

17 Jul 2025
Exciting News: Tetherdown is Now on Instagram!
Tetherdown launches its own Instagram account!
Read more
16 Jul 2025
EYFS, KS1 and KS2 Sports Day - A Day to Remember
What a brilliant Sports Day we had! Both KS1 and KS2 pupils brought their energy and spirit to a fun-filled day of activities.
Read more
16 Jul 2025
PE and Sport
It’s been a fantastic summer term packed with energy, enthusiasm, and sporting success!
Read more
16 Jul 2025
Year 6 Junior Citizens Trip
A hugely informative morning receiving showcases and presentations
Read more
16 Jul 2025
Year 6 Wightman Road Mosque
An enormously interesting morning at Wightman Road Mosque
Read more

{item_alt_tag}
{item_alt_tag}

INCLUSION NEWS


{item_alt_tag}

Tetherdown families can now subscribe to receive Haringey's SEND newsletter by using this link.

For further information about SENDIASS and what is on offer please go to our SEND pages.


Review: Incel and Misogyny Talk at Tetherdown

The recent talk on Incel Culture and Misogyny at Tetherdown was a great success. Ms Desai (Haringey Prevent Officer) delivered an insightful and approachable presentation, clearly explaining how young children - often through seemingly innocent online searches - can be exposed to harmful misinformation and led toward dangerous corners of the internet.

Due to high demand and strong parental interest, we hosted two sessions of the talk. The overwhelming turnout highlighted the importance of staying informed and engaged with our children's digital lives.

Ms Desai emphasised that the best way to protect our children is through open dialogue -by remaining curious, available, and non-judgmental about their online interests. She also shared useful tools that can help parents monitor internet activity, including browser history and chats on popular apps.

A big thank you to Ms Desai for shedding light on such a crucial topic and equipping us with practical tools to help keep our children safe online.

Ms McMeakin

Designated Safeguarding Lead at Tetherdown


{item_alt_tag}

Markfield - together for inclusion logo

Markfield Autism Support Services

If your child has recently be diagnosed or on the wait list to be diagnosed for Autism please read on.

Markfield is providing a range of services for Haringey parents/carers of children on the waiting list for autism assessments or recently diagnosed.

Markfield offers a range of support services for parents and carers of children with autism:

  • 1:1 advice appointments
  • Help with Disability Living Allowance (DLA) applications
  • Online and in-person group meetings
  • In-person parent meetings: the last Friday of every month, 10am to 12pm, Markfield community centre, N15 4RB. Just drop in – no need to book
  • Monthly club for autistic young people aged 12 to 17: for more information, visit our website 
You can contact Markfield by email at familyadmin@markfield.org.uk or via telephone: 020 3667 5233 or 07762106044

COMMUNITY

Breakfast and Afterschool Club Resources via Tesco for the Token/Counter Scheme to Raise Funds for School

(also sent via ParentPay)

We are pleased to share with Tetherdown families the following email received from Tesco - so please vote !

FROM TESCO

We are delighted to let you know that your application to Tesco Stronger Starts has been successful, and your project will be put forward to a customer vote in Tesco stores.

Voting will commence in store from the first week in July 2025 until the end of September 2025.

Project: Tetherdown Primary School Extended Day Clubs

  • Our breakfast and after-school clubs would like to support the wellbeing and creative play of our children aged 4 – 11 with new games, puzzles and creative art materials.

The project with the highest number of votes across your region will receive £1,500 (or the amount that was requested up to this value), the second placed project £1,000 (or the amount that was requested up to this value), and the third placed project £500.

To re-iterate, if you are first in the vote, you will receive the amount that you requested in your application (or the amount that was requested up to £1,500).

What happens next?

Stores which will vote on your project

Please see below a list of stores taking part in the voting on your project. Feel free to share this list of stores amongst your supporters and within your community.

  • 2062 Osidge Express N14 5JP
  • 2131 Brent Cross Superstore NW2 1LZ
  • 2296 Colney Hatch Extra N12 0SH
  • 2309 Hendon Brent Street Express Express NW4 2DX
  • 2456 Canons Corner Edgware Express HA8 8AF
  • 2544 Finchley Superstore N3 1XP
  • 2729 Golders Green Express Express NW11 8HB
  • 2939 New Barnet Express EN4 8QX
  • 4567 North Finchley Exp Express N12 9QH
  • 4627 Mill Hill Broadway Express Express NW7 3DA
  • 5655 Edgware Hale Lane Express HA8 8NP
  • 5733 Hendon Beaufort Park Express NW9 5AA
  • 5781 Barnet High Street Express EN5 5SJ
  • 6059 Barnet Greenhill Express EN5 1ES
  • 6412 London Whetstone Express N20 0BU
  • 6537 Cricklewood Broad Express NW2 3DR
  • 6541 New Southgate Friern Express N11 3LX
  • 6806 Hendon - 14-16 Vivien Avenue Express NW4 3YA
  • 6826 New Edgware Express Express HA8 8TE
  • 2646 New Exp London NW Express NW9 5TT
  • 2643 Regents Park Road Express Express N3 3HP

To check the location of any of the above stores, please go to the Tesco website here: http://www.tesco.com/store-locator/uk 

To vote, you will need to make a purchase within store of any value. You will receive one token per transaction, and it's not necessary to purchase a carrier bag in order to receive a token.


{item_alt_tag}

{item_alt_tag}

Parking Issues on Grand Avenue at drop off

We kindly ask for your cooperation regarding parking on Grand Avenue, particularly in front of our neighbours’ driveways. Recently, we have received concerns from residents who are feeling increasingly frustrated, especially as some parents dismiss the issue by saying, “It’s just a few minutes.” However, as you can see, there are often several cars causing blockages, preventing residents from leaving their homes.

This does not align with our school’s values of kindness and respect. We kindly remind everyone not to park across driveways or on the zig-zag lines, as these areas must remain clear for safety and accessibility reasons.

To help manage the situation, we will be requesting the traffic warden to visit regularly to ensure compliance. We truly appreciate your support in making drop-offs and pick-ups smoother for everyone, including our neighbours. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.


Tetherdown families can now subscribe to the Haringey School News by using this link.


UPDATES AND LOOKING AHEAD


Clubs & Activity Camps

The lunchtime and extracurricular club information is available on our Clubs & Activity Camps website pages, which includes registration and timetabling information and a wealth of other information. In addition to emailing club promotional materials to parents directly, we also publish any advertising provided by the clubs at our school on our website and in the newsletter from time to time.

*****

NO extra-curricular clubs run during the first week of a new term or the last week of term. Catch-up clubs (e.g. due to cancellations) run in the last week of term and occasionally the penultimate week of term. Dates for catch-up clubs are listed in the Club Timetable section for the academic year displayed. NO extra-curricular clubs run on school closure days (i.e. INSET days, bank holiday or half-term).


Stevensons Uniform Company

Our uniform company, Stevensons are now selling Tetherdown sun hats if you would like one. They also have available PE t-shirts in a larger size.

For details on how to order sun hats or PE-kit please go to our School Forms & Supplier Links on our website.


Wraparound Care: Breakfast Club

 

Breakfast Club offers an exciting variety of healthy breakfast choices for the children these include: croissants, brioche buns, fruit yogurt, juice and cereal.

Ad hoc Bookings

Breakfast Club is currently able to take a limited number of ad hoc bookings. If you would like to use the Club’s ad hoc services, please contact our Senior Play Leader Ms Geen-Moore on the email provided below, no later than 9:30am a day prior to your request or by Friday if your request is for a Monday morning. 

Ad hoc spaces are charged at a slightly higher rate of £10 per session per child (via ParentPay) and are only available on Monday and Friday only due to no capacity on other days.

Please note that due to limited availability, to attend you must receive a confirmation email from Ms Geen-Moore.

Contact - Ms Geen-Moore

E: breakfastclub@tetherdownschool.org

Days, Times and Cost click here.

Wraparound Care: After School Club

 

Tetherdown School offer a Tetherdown After School Club which is run in collaboration with The Elms Group, delivering high quality extra curricular activities with an outdoor and creative play focus. There are different sessions available to register which you can find below under Days, Times and Cost. Children who attend after school club are provided with a fruit snack in the 3:30-4:30 session and then a light snack including a sandwich/wrap, fruit and raw vegetables in the 4:30-5/6 sessions. For further details visit our website wraparound care: after-school club pages.

Contact - Ms Woodward

For information about vacancies/waiting lists and payment queries for after school club please email the named contact above in the first instance.

E: afterschoolclub@tetherdownschool.org

Days, Times, Cost and Timetable of Activities click here.

School Lunch and Snacks in School

 

We have updated our website to clarify the types of snacks permitted in school, packed lunch and food sharing rules. Please visit the specific website pages below for further details. These pages are all located under the Parents tab.

School lunch and menu - updates regarding packed lunch

Snacks in school - information about breaktime snacks; extracurricular snacks; sharing food and birthday and treats

OFFICE REMINDERS


PLEASE REMEMBER WE ARE A NO NUTS SCHOOL

Products containing nuts (including for staff as some may also have allergies) must not be brought into school under any circumstances.

Considerate Driving and Parking Please!

If you must drive to school to drop off your child(ren) please consider our neighbours when parking near the school.  We have received complaints that some parents are parking across driveways and blocking house owners in.  It would be far healthier for children if parents could park a little way from the school and walk or scooter to school.  Scooters may be stored at school.  We do not have bicycle storage


Tetherdown School Communications to Parents

We have a brand-new website please ensure your explore our website regularly so not to miss any important communications. This should be your 'FIRST PORT OF CALL' for information.

The Parents page is dedicated to you! - here you will be able to find answers and links to everyday questions and queries you may have as well as further useful information and support - to name a few...

  • Calendar - check this regularly
  • Term dates
  • Key Letters
  • School Day & Wraparound Care
  • Health & Welfare

Please do not hesitate to contact the school office if you have explored the website, and you cannot find what you are looking for.

Parent Communication to Tetherdown

Please remember when emailing the admin mailbox to ensure you put your child's full name and class. There are over 400 pupils on roll and as you can imagine finding any child with only their first name can be tricky!


ParentPay - Communication from Tetherdown

ParentPay is the schools Communications and Payment System All communications sent directly from the school are sent using ParentPay only.

Parents will receive an email from platform@parentpay.com - when you receive messages from this email you can be assured this is an official direct school communication.

Any undelivered emails to parents the school are notified - we have not been notified of any undelivered messages to date.

Text and Email Alerts

Parents are advised to set up text and email alerts to ensure that you do not miss any important information from Tetherdown. Details of how to do this can be found on our Payment & Bookings System pages. If you have missed an email please search your mailbox for platform@parentpay.com messages and check junk mail.

If you are having any problems receiving official school communications please contact the school office after you have checked your mailbox and junk mail and not ParentPay.

Thank you for your continuing support.


Gentle Reminders 

Reporting Absences and Pick-up

 

Reporting Absence

We always require absence information, including unplanned absence, to be reported daily before 9am.

  1. If your child is absent please call the school office before 9am.
  2. Leave a clear message with your child’s full name and class and a brief reason for the absence (e.g. religious holiday).
  3. Unwell pupils: If your child is unwell, we ask that you report your child as off ‘sick’ and briefly describe their sickness (e.g. temperature, headache or has vomited etc). By describing your child’s sickness this will enable the school to track and manage a sudden increase in occurrences of the illness and identify whether we have a localised outbreak of the illness (e.g. virus).

Reporting Pick-Up

If your child is going home with someone different to their regular person collecting them, please remember to communicate arrangements via the admin email before 2:45pm stating your child’s full name and class and who is collecting them.

Please do not email teachers as they are unable to check emails during the teaching day.

*****

For absences and pick-up arrangements report to:

020 8883 3412

admin@tetherdownschool.org

Official Appointments

 

If your child is going to be absent for an appointment such as:

  • medical (e.g. dentist, hospital appointment) or an
  • an official appointment (e.g. visa application, passport office)

Families must provide proof of the appointment to the school office via email. Please remember to include your child's full name and class in all correspondence.

You do not need to fill in the absence request form for medical appointments, or official appointments.

All other Leave Requests

Please complete an exceptional leave of absence form for all other leave requests. You can find this form on our website under the Parents tab. Click here to go to access online absence request form.

Extra Curricular Club Cancellation

 

Extracurricular Club Cancellation

Recently, one of our extracurricular club providers needed to cancel their club. Communications are sent to families as soon as we are made aware of cancellations.

Please can families note the process below for any future club cancellations. This information is a standing item in our newsletter and on our website clubs and activity camps page. Thank you in advance.

  • If your child's extracurricular club at the end of the school day is cancelled by the provider, parents are advised to make alternative pick-up arrangements for their child and to notify the school office via email of the new arrangement no later than 2:45pm. Parents should not assume that the Tetherdown after-school club can take their child following a club cancellation if they cannot make alternative pick-up arrangements. 

  • Children who normally attend the Tetherdown after-school club directly after the cancelled extracurricular club (e.g. tennis) can go straight to after-school club at the end of the school day, however you will be charged accordingly for this session via ParentPay.

Children Leaving Tetherdown

 

If you are planning on leaving Tetherdown it is important that you inform the school as soon as possible. Please fill in the destination form which can found on our School Forms & Links page.

Medicines in School

 

As a reminder that medicine cannot be given to your child to bring into school. The school can administer prescribed medicine only (the parents form on our website must be filled in). Any over the counter medicine must be administered by a parent / nominated carer. Please refer to our Health & Welfare pages for further details.

Forgotten Items

 

The school does not accept forgotten items. We aim to promote independence and responsibility in our children. This includes snacks and packed lunches, water bottles, PE kits, instruments etc. We can accept medical and reading glasses. If a child has forgotten their lunch one will be provided and will be charged via your ParentPay account.

Unhealthy Treats

 

We are a healthy school and as such we kindly ask that children do not bring in sweets or cakes/biscuits to hand out to their friends on their birthday. A class book donation is always much appreciated. We will share your book-gift with the class and insert a special book plate to mark the occasion of your child's birthday.


DIARY DATES TO 16TH SEPTEMBER 2025

Last day of summer term - school closes 2pm
All Day
21
July
Staff Inset Day (no pupils)
All Day
22
July
INSET DAY 1 - No pupils
All Day
01
September
INSE DAY 2 - No pupils
All Day
02
September
Autumn Term - Pupils in School
All Day
03
September
Y3 Meet and Greet
8:50am – 9:15am
08
September
Y5 Meet and Greet
2:50pm – 3:15pm
08
September
Y2 Meet and Greet
2:50pm – 3:15pm
09
September
Y4 Meet and Greet
2:50pm – 3:15pm
10
September
Y1-6 Family Picnic
12:15pm – 1:15pm
12
September
Year 6 PGL Parent Meeting
6:30pm – 7:30pm
16
September