Booth Wood Academy January Newsletter 2026

Joyful January

A Busy and Brilliant Start to the Spring Term It has been a fantastic start to the Spring term. Although the January weather has been wet and grey, life inside school has been vibrant and full of activity. This month has brought a variety of sporting fixtures—many of them successful wins for our teams—along with exciting trips, visits from members of our community, a wonderful Community Day, and lots of hard work in classrooms as pupils began their new topics. Here are some of the highlights from across the school so far:

• Cherry Class Cherry Class have loved learning about space. A favourite activity was heading out onto the playground to act out the different planets in the solar system—an imaginative and active way to bring their topic to life.
• Year 1 Year 1 have been enjoying their focus book this term and have been busy writing postcards. They are already looking forward to using their new skills to send postcards to friends and family during their summer holidays.
• Year 2 Year 2 have been exploring dance, trying out a range of styles and even creating their own routines. Their confidence and creativity have really shone.
• Year 3 Year 3 have had a brilliant start to Forest School this term. They have enjoyed working in teams, developing resilience, and taking on outdoor challenges together.
• Year 4 Year 4 have been investigating states of matter in science. Their favourite moment was a class competition to design and build the strongest bridge—teamwork and engineering skills all in one!
• Year 5 Year 5 had an exciting trip to Cadbury World, complete with a workshop on the rainforest. This hands‑on experience has supported both their geography and topic learning.
• Year 6 Year 6 have finished reading Mortal Engines, a gripping text that inspired some excellent pieces of writing. The story sparked great discussions and imaginative work.

Booth Wood Community Day

A Wonderful Afternoon Together On Thursday 29th January, the whole school took part in our Community Day, and it was truly a wonderful afternoon. We welcomed 25 special guests from our local community—many of whom do not often have the chance to leave their homes. Thanks to the generosity of Mr Sharp’s mother, who kindly arranged all transportation, our guests were able to join us for this memorable event. Upon arrival, our visitors were served tea, drinks, and cake before enjoying a special performance from each class. The Year 6 pupils, who have been studying World War Two, sang several songs that many of our guests recognised. It was heart‑warming to see them joining in and sharing memories from their own lives. Between performances, children mingled with our guests, chatting about life in school today and listening to what school was like 60 or even 70 years ago. These conversations were a highlight for many and created a beautiful connection between generations. Our guests shared some truly touching feedback:

• “I just wanted to say thank you for inviting me to the afternoon's entertainment. I really enjoyed this – thank you!”
• “I have had an amazing afternoon. The children are so respectful and well behaved. I have really enjoyed being with the children; I haven’t been able to speak to children in a long time and this has been so nice.”
• “I would just like to thank you for such a lovely afternoon. Please thank the children for me and tell them they did very well. The singing and poems were beautiful.”

Our pupils also reflected on the event:

• Head Boy: “It was good to see people come to our school and listen to all our classes sing. Many knew and joined in with the WW2 songs.”
• Year 1 pupil: “I was excited because there were loads of people.”
• Another 1 pupil: “I felt proud because I was able to sing and make people happy.”
• Final Year 1 pupil: “I felt scared at the start because there were so many people, but then I felt happy.”

It was a truly special event for all involved. A huge thank you to Mr Sharp for organising the afternoon so beautifully, and to his mother for ensuring our guests could attend. Community Day reminded us just how powerful kindness, connection, and shared experiences can be.  

Spotlight Attendance

Attendance Winners!

The class with the best attendance each week wins 15 minutes extra break time.   It has been so close between all the classes this month but year 5 have taken the lead with 98.%!

Class Winner of the Month

Cherry Class - 97% Year 1 Class - 96% Year 2 Class - 95% Year 3 Class - 97% Year 4 Class - 90% Year 5 Class - 98% Year 6 Class - 97% Whole School - 95.8%

spotlight SAFETY

Internet Safety

Internet Matters – Supporting Parents in the Digital World Internet Matters is a trusted website that provides clear, practical advice to help parents support their children as they navigate the online world. We encourage all parents and carers to explore the resources available—it’s an excellent way to stay informed about internet safety, online trends, and how to guide children in developing healthy digital habits. This week, we’ve included an informative video from the Internet Matters website specifically for parents who would like to learn more about Roblox and how to help their children use the platform safely. You can explore more resources here: https://www.internetmatters.org/

School Uniform

At Booth Wood Academy, we believe that wearing the correct school uniform plays a key role in promoting pride, equality, and a positive learning environment. A smart and consistent uniform helps pupils feel part of our school community and supports the high standards we strive for every day. Please take a moment to read our full Uniform Policy, which can be found on our school website here: https://www.boothwoodacademy.co.uk/Uniform

Uniform Swap Stall

As a school, we are pleased to share that we will be running a free uniform swap stall during Parents’ Evening (Monday 9th - Tuesday 10th February) . Families will be welcome to browse the rail and take any clean, good‑quality, pre‑loved school uniform items that they may find useful. To help make this possible, we are kindly asking for donations of pre‑loved school uniform that is: clean, in good condition, suitable for re‑use and new school logo or no school logo If you are able to donate, please send any uniform items to the school office by Friday 6th February. Your contributions will help us offer a wide range of items for families to choose from. As a school community, we are committed to doing our part to help the planet by reducing, reusing and recycling the resources we already have. This uniform swap is a simple yet meaningful way to support one another while also being environmentally conscious. Thank you in advance for your generosity and support.

Forest School Uniform

Cherry Class

• A long‑sleeved top, or a short‑sleeved top with a long‑sleeved jumper or fleece worn over it.
• Long trousers, such as joggers or leggings.
• Wellington boots (school can supply these if needed).
• If your child brings their own wellies, please ensure they also bring an additional pair of shoes to wear inside the classroom, as wellies are not permitted indoors.
• Warm, thick socks during the winter months.

Year 1–6

• PE kit with wellington boots or sturdy outdoor footwear
• These shoes/boots are for Forest School use only.
• During wetter months, pupils must bring an additional pair of shoes for indoor use, as muddy footwear cannot be worn inside the school building. or
• Older clothing to change into Pupils may bring older clothes specifically for outdoor sessions. They will be required to change into them during breaktime immediately before their Forest School session and change back into their school uniform afterwards. If the session is at the end of the day, pupils may go home in their Forest School clothing.
• Waterproof trousers and coats, or a sunhat, as appropriate for the weather conditions.

New Club Staring!

LAMDA Speech & Drama Lessons

  We are delighted to be offering LAMDA Speech and Drama lessons at school with Kyle, a qualified LAMDA teacher.   LAMDA lessons help children develop confidence, clear communication and expressive reading skills in a positive and supportive environment. Sessions are tailored to each child and focus on building self-belief, creativity and strong speaking and listening skills — all of which support learning across the curriculum.   Lessons take place weekly during the school day and are available as individual or small-group sessions. Pupils may also have the opportunity to work towards nationally recognised LAMDA qualifications, with exam entry always optional.   LAMDA is suitable for all children, including those who are quiet or shy, as well as those who enjoy drama, storytelling or performing. No previous experience is required.   For further information about availability and fees, please contact stageandspeecharts@outlook.com and the flyer on the school website https://www.boothwoodacademy.co.uk/External-Clubs

Family support

Loughborough Area Food Bank

Booth Wood Academy is an E-Referral partner with the food bank.

The foodbank provides a minimum of three days nutritionally balanced tinned and dried food that has been donated by the local community. THIS SERVICE IS COMPLETELY CONFIDENTAL.

If you would like to use this service, please contact Mrs Morley on Cmorley3@boothwoodacademy.co.cuk and she will provide you with further details.

New Springs Church

New Springs Church offer a local food bank. No referral needed. You can buy 12 items for £3. Address: 4 Belton Road (W-EXT) Next to the new Home Bargains by the canal Timings: Thursday 10-1pm and Saturday 10-12noon

School Nurse

The school nurse services can offer a range of help and support for families. They can be contacted by leaving a message on: 0116 215 6290 or they offer a Parent Chat Text Service on: 07520615382

Universal Free School Meals and Free School Meals

As you may be aware, Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 are eligible to access the Universal Free School Meals Scheme  (UFSM) which gives free meals for all children in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2. In addition to this, some of these children may be eligible for free school meals (as well as universal school meals) which entitles families to apply for additional support from the Loughborough Welfare Trust and school  for uniform, school trips and 50% off breakfast and after school clubs.   Regardless of eligibility, if you are struggling financially then please call the school office and complete our form for financial assistance. 

Mental Health and Well-Being Support

Mrs Morley provides support with mental health and wellbeing for both parents and children.  Please call the school office or email for further information at: cmorley3@boothwoodacademy.co.uk