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Headteacher News for May 2026
Dear Parents and Carers
 This month, we wanted to share some information about attendance and punctuality. National expectations surrounding school attendance continue to increase, and we know that working together with families makes a real difference.
Attendance and Punctuality at Tetherdown
At Tetherdown, we know that good attendance and punctuality help children feel confident, included, and ready to learn. Thank you for continuing to support your child in building positive habits every day.
 Why Attendance Matters
Coming to school every day helps children:
- Keep up with learning
- Build friendships
- Feel part of the school community
- Develop confidence and routines
Even small amounts of absence can add up quickly. Missing just one day every two weeks means almost four weeks of learning lost over the year.
Being on Time
Arriving before the start of the school day gives children time to:
- Settle calmly into class
- Organise belongings
- Prepare for learning
Children who arrive late can feel rushed and may miss important parts of the morning routine.
Reporting Absence
If your child is absent, please contact the school office on the first day before 9am and provide a reason, together with your child's full name and class. This helps us ensure all children are safe and accounted for. Our website has details on Reporting and Pick Up.
When Should Children Stay Home?
According to NHS guidance, children should stay home if they:
- Have a high temperature
- Are vomiting or have diarrhoea (48 hours after symptoms stop)
- Have a contagious illness
Children can usually still attend school with mild colds, coughs, or sore throats if they feel well enough. Our website has details on when to keep children at home.
Working Together
We understand that absences sometimes cannot be avoided. Our aim is always to work closely with families to support strong attendance and punctuality so every child can thrive.
Thank you for your continued support.
Wishing you all a restful half-term break, and we look forward to seeing the children back at school on Monday, 1st June.
Annie Ashraf
Headteacher
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20 May 2026
The Singing Mermaid Shines — “Year 1 dazzled us with a magical assembly inspired by Julia Donaldson and Lydia Monks’ The Singing Mermaid, filling the hall with colour, confidence, and creativity! 🌊🎶✨
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20 May 2026
Time‑Travel Adventure — Our young historians enjoyed an inspiring trip to Verulamium Museum — curiosity in full swing! 🔍🏺
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20 May 2026
Tag Rugby Triumph — Our tag rugby team delivered an outstanding performance, showing teamwork, speed, and determination on the field! 💨🏉✨
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20 May 2026
Team Spirit - Our pupils shone on the court, showing teamwork, skill, and determination throughout our tournaments! ⭐
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Friends of Tetherdown (FoT)
A huge thank you to everyone for your continued support of the Magic Show and Online Auction. Together, we raised an incredible £5,746.50 for the school!
We’re continuing to fundraise to support further improvements to the playground, including exciting additions such as a new slide and mud kitchen to help make playtimes even more fun and engaging for the children.
What’s Coming Up?
😂 Comedy Night – June
Tickets are on sale now for what promises to be a fantastic evening for parents and carers:
https://app.classlist.com/parent/#/events/view/1450120640?s=832640692&utm_source=SCHOOL&utm_medium=SHARED_LINK
🪩 Silent Disco – June
The children will also be enjoying a Silent Disco during school hours in June — more details to follow soon.
☀️ Summer Fair – Sunday 12th July
Please save the date for one of the highlights of the FoT calendar!
Whether you want to join the committee, or simply have an idea to share, or want to sign up to be a regular volunteer for individual events, please get in touch: chair@friendsoftetherdown.com
Thank you again for all your support!
The FoT
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Confident Parenting
A Child-in-time counsellor works at Tetherdown 1-day per week - Tuesdays.
A more recent addition to their services is "Confident Parenting". Parents can book a private online session to discuss a range of issues. Please see below.
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For further information about SENDIASS and what is on offer please go to our SEND pages.
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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 |
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Inside, parents will find useful advice on;
- OFSTED News
- NSPCC advice on AI
- New Children’s Book Reviews
- St John Ambulance Advice on illnesses
- Dietary Advice for Children
- Screentime to Greentime
- Advice on getting your child to read more
- SEND advice
- Adult Education Advice
- How to Learn a New Language
- Plus more….
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Haringey May Holiday Activities
Please find below link to activities taking place across Haringey for young people during the May Half Term (the booklet is also attached):
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Playground Supervision Reminder for Parents of Y2, Y3 and Y4
We have observed that some children are being left unaccompanied in the playground between 8:30 and 8:50 am. Please be reminded that during this time, an adult must be responsible for supervising your child. The only exception is if your child is attending choir, and independent travellers, where a member of the Senior Leadership Team (SLT) will be monitoring them.
If you are unable to stay, we kindly ask that you arrange for another adult to supervise your child. During this time, we have noticed children arriving on scooters and engaging in active games such as running, which can pose a risk. Please remember that our playground is shared by vulnerable groups, including older grandparents and carers and young children.
We kindly ask that you encourage your child to remain close to you to ensure everyone's safety and comfort. Thank you for your cooperation in keeping our playground a safe and welcoming space for all.
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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.
Message from Community Police
Car crime has increased around the roads near Fortis Green. Please ensure your car is securely locked and keep your keys away from the front door.
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UPDATES AND LOOKING AHEAD
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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.
Changes to Tetherdown Run Extracurricular Club Registration (including Sports Clubs) and Payment
We will be opening extracurricular clubs for registration for the new academic year 2026-27 soon after we return from the half-term break so look out for an email with further details. In addition, club registration will be changing to first come first served – an outline is below:
- Registration and payment is first come, first served.
- Payment will be required at point of registration via ParentPay.
- Payment will serve as confirmation of your place.
- Extracurricular clubs will be capped. You will be advised of the cap.
- Updated T&C will apply.
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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. Dates for catch-up clubs are listed in the Club Timetable section below. NO extra-curricular clubs run on school closure days (i.e. INSET days, bank holiday or half-term).
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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.
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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.
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Wraparound Care: After School Club
Tetherdown School offer a Tetherdown After School Club 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 Goy
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.
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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
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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.
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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
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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!
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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.
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Gentle Reminders
Reporting Absences and Pick-up
Reporting Absence
We always require absence information, including unplanned absence, to be reported daily before 9am.
- If your child is absent please call the school office before 9am.
- Leave a clear message with your child’s full name and class and a brief reason for the absence (e.g. religious holiday).
- 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.
Nomination for Collection (Permission)
If a pupil is in years 7 to 11 and the parents wish for them to be approved to collect their Tetherdown sibling, they must complete this form and receive permission from the headteacher. The headteacher will take up to two weeks to decide upon receiving this form. A meeting, either face-to-face or online, may be required by the headteacher to finalise this decision. The 'designated child' mentioned in this form is the child in Years 7-11 who has a sibling at Tethedown that you would like us to give permission to collect. For details go to our Reporting Absence website page.
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For absences and pick-up arrangements report to:
020 8883 3412
admin@tetherdownschool.org
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.
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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.
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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.
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.
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.
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.
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DIARY DATES TO 26TH JUNE 2026 | |
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