13th February 2026
save the date
Every Thursday in term time – Tiny Tiddlers - 8.50am – 10.30am Monday 23rd February – Academy open Tuesday 24th February – PTA AGM – 9am Monday 2nd March - Pre-loved Uniform sale - 3.10pm Wednesday 11th March – Tea & Talk: How we teach phonics in nursery – 8.50am Wednesday 18th March – Tea & Talk: Getting ready for the year 4 multiplication check – 8.50am 25th March - Tea & Talk: Year 1 - what is the phonics screening - 8.50am Friday 27th March – Academy closes for Easter break – 1.30pm finish Monday 13th April – Academy open
PRINCIPAL Message
Dear parents/Carers, This half term has been a busy one. On our return, we held parent consultation meetings, sharing children’s work and progress with families and discussing next steps. The children have been working hard on their target areas, with achievements celebrated along the way.
Our Tea & Talks continue to be well attended and provide valuable information for parents. Miss Wise recently led a session supporting early writing for Reception and Year 1 children, focusing on how they learn and develop their writing skills and how parents can help their child at home. We will be holding further sessions after the half term break, if you would like to attend those relevant to your child please email mrsalexander@darlinghurstacademy.org.uk
During assemblies, we have continued our focus on Health and Safety, welcoming further visits from Essex Fire and Rescue Service, who have shared important advice on how to stay safe at home and in the local area.
Year 6 were visited by The Jazz Centre 'Let's Improvise' group. They enjoyed attending a workshop, which included a special assembly and engaging, hands-on sessions throughout the day. The final part of the programme will take place after half-term.
We welcomed visitors to the academy linked to areas of the Connected curriculum and Faith and Well-being.
We welcomed families into the academy to help plant 250 trees as part of our Community Tree Planting event with the Southend Forest Project. A huge thank you to everyone who gave up their Sunday to support this fantastic initiative.
Last week, year 6 held their fundraiser with a very busy cake sale. Thank you for your support — we hope you enjoyed the sweet treats!
This week, we took part in Children’s Mental Health Week. This year’s theme was “This Is My Place”, based on the idea of belonging, encouraging everyone to reflect on where they feel safe, valued and connected. ‘Belonging’ is one of our academy values, so we were able to talk about what belonging at Darlinghurst looks and feels like for our children and wider school community.
Remember, you belong wherever you feel loved and accepted for who you are. At Darlinghurst we all take action to show belonging: Be happy and help to make our school a caring, welcoming place
On Tuesday it was ‘Safer Internet Day’. The Theme was ‘Smart tech, safe choices – exploring the safe and responsible use of AI’.
We know that AI technologies are used in everyday systems:
- Voice Assistants, games, smart TVs, search engines and traffic lights.
They help us in our everyday lives; to find information, suggest things and make our digital devices more secure. However, we need to teach our children how we can use AI technologies safely and responsibly raising awareness of the risks involved with using this technology. We also looked at the question, ‘Does my Voice Assistant know how I feel? We discussed that while some AI technologies can respond with kind and supportive words, this does not mean they truly understand how someone is feeling. We reminded the children that if they are ever feeling sad or worried about something, it is important to speak to a trusted adult. We reminded the children that AI cannot understand our emotions or fully grasp different situations. Nothing can replace how amazing our human brains are or the power of genuine human connection! Here is an AI poster created using AI technology using a set of pre-prepared notes to inform children about AI use and Risks.
We are proud of our school, and our uniform policy reflects the values we uphold.
Wearing the correct uniform: - Promotes a sense of pride in the school -Encourages a feeling of belonging -Clearly identifies children as part of our school community - Minimises distractions in the classroom - Promotes equality in appearance among students On our return to the academy on Monday 23rd February, please ensure your child wears the correct uniform each day and that all items are clearly labelled with their name. PE kit may be worn on your child's allocated PE day. Wishing all of our a families a wonderful half term break.
Mrs Nicholls
attendance
proud to be me
darlinghurst academy
Pavilion Drive Leigh on Sea Essex SS9 3JS
contact us
T. 01702 478379 E. generalenquiries@darlinghurstacademy.org.uk