Author: OGPS

OLIVER GOLDSMITH PRIMARY SCHOOL
“Inspiring a love of learning”

Tel: 0208 205 6038
admin@olivergoldsmith.brent.sch.uk
www.olivergoldsmith.brent.sch.uk

Dear Families,
The summer sunshine has arrived to kick start what I hope will be a lovey half term break for you all. The temperature gauges are set to rise in the coming days so enjoy the holiday but do remember to stay safe in the sun! SLIP, SLAP, SLOP! Slip on thinner and cooler clothes, slap on a hat to protect the head and slop on plenty of sun cream!
Staff news: My apologies for this not being in the last newsletter, but we are delighted to share that Mrs Bhatti, Year 5 teacher, had her baby. We send congratulations to her. Also, I can share that Mrs Ali is expecting a baby - she will be leading her class for the rest of this school year and starting her maternity leave in the summer break; exciting times ahead!
Half Term High Points: It has been a busy half term with many highlights! We saw wonderful assemblies from Year 1 and Year 5 sharing their learning with the school and their families. Children visited a range of places to enhance their learning such as the Tower of London, London Mithraeum (Roman Museum), Wembley Stadium and Hertfordshire Zoo. We are always very grateful for your voluntary contributions which help to fund these visits as well as the parent helpers who come along and join the adventure!
I do want to give a special mention to our Year 6 pupils who sat their SATs assessments very recently. The staff and children worked hard to prepare for them and we were really proud of the way our pupils rose to the challenge.
Heading into the last half term of the year: The final half term sees a number of lovely events taking place for children and families, do look ahead to page nine and make sure you add key dates to your diaries. Letters with more information will be sent out closer to the time of events. As well as an ending, it is a time where we begin to look to the next school year with transition time to new classes or transition days to high school for our current year six children. It’s an exiting time to both reflect back on all we've done this year as well as look to the future!
Uniform: The holiday is a great time to check on school uniform. Hopefully warmer days will allow for summer uniform items to be worn. A reminder that on NON-PE days, children should be wearing ALL BLACK FOOTWEAR. Also, we seem to be finding children wearing items of fashion jewellery to school; these items should be left at home. I have sent a copy of our Uniform Policy home alongside the newsletter with all the details.
May I wish you happy half term break. Eid Mubarak if you are celebrating Eid ul Adha during the holiday.
Mr. James Simmons
Headteacher

School Newsletter: The Goldsmith Gazette
Edition Number: 197 Date: Fri 22nd May 2026

Nursery Duck Adventure!
Children in our nursery were really excited to see eggs hatch into ducklings this half term. They watched the process unfold right in front of their eyes each day and made good friends with the new arrivals! Children across the school have had the chance to go and visit the nursery to both see the ducklings and hear our nursery children them all about what happened! Our youngest children really enjoyed showing off their new little friends to the rest of the school!
French Day 2026!
Today was our annual French Day! Children look brilliant dressed in the colours of the ‘Tricolore’ and have spent the day taking part in lots of activities helping them to discover more about French life and language! A high point each year is the trip to the French Café in the school hall to sample some French foods!

PE Days
Children have TWO PE lessons each week. On the days that children have PE they should wear their PE kit TO SCHOOL rather than their school uniform.
Our School PE kit is as follows;
Plain grey or black shorts or plain grey or black track suit bottoms (no logos or designs)
Plain white t-shirt (no logos or designs)
School jumper or cardigan (school logo)
Trainers suitable for being active (these can be any colour)
Here are PE days for SUMMER Term 2026 - We do our very best to keep to these days, if there is a change for any reason, we will text families to let you know.

Year Group	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
1M	PE Day		PE Day
1N	PE Day				PE Day
2B			PE Day		PE Day
2M		PE Day	PE Day
3C	PE Day	PE Day
3S	PE Day	PE Day
4D	PE Day		PE Day
4L	PE Day			PE Day
5B	PE Day			PE Day
5AV	PE Day			PE Day
6P				PE Day	PE Day
6S				PE Day	PE Day

Wrap Around Care at OGPS
Our breakfast club and after school club is run by SchoolFriend Clubs; this is the same company who have run our after school club provision for many years. If you want your child to access the breakfast club or after school club, you will need to book a place by 8pm the night before.
To read more about SchoolFriendClubs, please see their website
https://www.schoolfriendclub.com/
To book a place for your child/children you need to first register with the company through their website. Once registered, you can then book places for the days that you need. You will need to book by 8pm the day before you need a space AND you MUST pay for provision IN ADVANCE.
To register and book a place at Breakfast Club, please use the following link…
https://www.schoolfriendclubbookings.com/
If you have any issues, please contact SchoolFriendClub directly rather than our school office as we do not have access to their booking system. You can contact them in the following ways…
Telephone: 0333 355 7374
Email: office@schoolfriendclub.com
OGPS IS A NUT FREE SCHOOL: We have children with severe NUT allergies so we ask that children do not bring nuts, snacks or foods that contain nuts into school. Thank you for your support.
Celebrating Birthdays at OGPS: We know that children like to celebrate their birthdays with others, but at OGPS the long held tradition is that children do not bring in cakes, sweets or other food items but instead parents either give out an alternative small gift such as stationery (pen/pencil) or donate a book to the school on behalf of their child. Thank you for supporting our healthy school approach!

It’s Good To Be Green…
Don’t forget we have a recycling station for batteries in our entrance reception area! Please send them into us rather than putting them in the ordinary bin at home! Every little bit of recycling helps!

Parking Reminders:
Coniston Gardens & Kingsbury Road: Remember that cars should not be stopping or parking on the zig-zag lines for the safety of our children; nor should they be blocking residents driveways to help us maintain positive relationships with our neighbours.
Cars should NOT STOP or PARK on the yellow zig-zag lines BETWEEN THE TIMES SHOWN
Cars should NOT be blocking residents’ driveways to help us maintain positive relationships with our neighbours.
Cars should NOT be performing dangerous manoeuvres such as three point turns outside the main gate of the school or end up driving onto the pavement.
Cars should NOT be parked in Holy Innocents Church car park on Kingsbury Road; it is their PRIVATE PROPERTY AND NOT A PUBLIC CAR PARK.
Cars should NOT be parking in the disabled bar marked along Coniston Gardens.
Finally, please switch off your car engine if you are waiting around the school area to help reduce emissions in our local area.
If you do see a vehicle obstructing the pavement, stopped or parked on the yellow lines or blocking a neighbour’s driveway, contact Brent’s Parking Enforcement Team 020 8937 4972.
Please remember that the school car park and Holy Innocents Church car park SHOULD NOT be used by family members when dropping children off or picking up.
The school car park SHOULD NOT be used by family members when dropping off or picking up children to or from the Breakfast Club, After School Club or other clubs.

Parking Reminders:
Car Parking on Coniston Gardens
Brent Council have made Coniston Gardens a SAFER SCHOOL STREET. Cameras are used to issue fines to drivers who use the road during prohibited times. See the next two pages for more details...
Please remember that the school car park and Holy Innocents Church car park SHOULD NOT be used when dropping off or picking up.
The school car park SHOULD NOT be used when dropping off or picking up children to or from the Breakfast Club, After School Club or other clubs.
Cars should NOT be stopping or parking on the zig-zag lines at the times specified for the safety of all our children.
Cars should NOT be stopping or parking on the yellow lines at the times specified for the safety of all our children.
Cars should NOT be blocking residents’ driveways to help us maintain positive relationships with our neighbours.
Cars should NOT be performing dangerous manoeuvres such as three point turns outside the main gates of the school or drive onto the pavement.
Cars should NOT be parking in the disabled bar marked along Coniston Gardens.
Finally, please switch off your car engine if you are waiting to help reduce emissions in our local area.
If you do see a vehicle obstructing the pavement, stopped or parked on the yellow lines or blocking a neighbour’s driveway, contact Brent’s Parking Enforcement Team 020 8290 8300.

SAFER STREET: CONISTON GARDENS
Our School Street Scheme SZ32 is now in operation. A map below highlights the school street zone which is in Coniston Gardens between the junction of Kingsbury Road and Mardale Drive NW9.
All restrictions apply as per the signs and unauthorised vehicles entering the zone during these times will be issued with a Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs).
The objective of the School Street is to make the school run safer, healthier and more enjoyable for the whole community, as well as for children travelling to school; not to penalise parents. For those who need to rely on the car for children to travel to school, they can park slightly further away and walk the last part of the journey.
Pupils, parents and carers holding a blue badge should discuss this with us, we can then arrange for an exemption from the restrictions. Please note you should still avoid parking on school keep clear markings and be mindful of pedestrians and cyclists within the zone.
Our community neighbours at Shree Swaminarayan Mandir, opposite the school, have kindly agreed for families to use their car park facilities. They are happy to support the school by offering this from 8.30-8.50am and 3.00-3.30pm. We are really grateful for their help. Please see the next page for details on how to access their car park.
When parking in their car park, please be mindful as you drive/reverse your car, I have had some families saying there have been near misses with drivers not fully checking before moving their vehicle. Please be mindful of smaller children around the cars!
Please park away from the school and walk the last few minutes as this will help families avoid tickets, reduce congestion and pollution and create a safer and more healthy space for all our children.

A place to park with thanks to our community neighbours:
Our neighbours at Shree Swaminarayan Mandir, opposite the school, have kindly agreed for families to use their car park facilities. They are happy to support the school by offering this from 8.30-8.50am and 3.00-3.30pm; you can access the car park as per the map below. We ask that you use their facilities with respect.
Also, please avoid parking on the double yellow lines or pedestrian crossing white zig zag lines by the school gate on Kingsbury Road.
Please remember that Holy Innocents Church car park SHOULD NOT be used by family members when dropping children off or picking up. It is private property.

PLEASE DO NOT STOP/PARK ON DOUBLE YELLOW LINES OR WHITE ZIG ZAG LINES AROUND THIS AREA.

ENTRANCE TO THE TEMPLE CAR PARK HERE CAN BE FOUND HERE.
PLEASE DRIVE/PARK WITH RESPECT.

Key Dates for the future
Please Note:
Applications for leave of absence are only granted in exceptional circumstances.
Holidays or visiting sick relatives are not considered exceptional circumstances.
A Reminder of school timings;
7.45-8.35am Breakfast club (only if booked in advance)
8.35-8.45am Soft start time - drop off time – gates close 8.45am
8.45am Registration (when children must be in their classroom)
Lunchtime Lasts for 60mins (11:20—12:20pm for Reception and KS1, 11.50am-12.50pm for KS2)
3.15pm End of the school day - pick up time - children collected by 3.20pm
From 3.15pm Afterschool Club wrap around care provision and other clubs
Term Dates for 2025-26
Autumn Term: Monday 1st Sept 2025 to Friday 19th Dec 2025
Mon 1st Sept & Tues 2nd Sept 2025 are CPD Days – no children in school
Children (Y1-6) start on Wednesday 3rd Sept 2025
Half term week Monday 27th Oct to Friday 31st Oct 2025
Children break up for Christmas Holidays on Fri 19th Dec 2025 at 1.30pm
Spring Term: Monday 5th Jan 2026 to Friday 27th March 2026
Monday 5th January 2026 is a CPD – no children in school
Children return to school on Tuesday 6th Jan 2026
Half term week: Monday 16th Feb - Friday 20th Feb 2026
Children break up for Easter Holidays on Fri 27th March 2026 at 1.30pm
Summer Term: Mon 13th April 2026 to Monday 20th July 2026
Children return to school on Monday 13th April 2026
Half term week Monday 25th May to Friday 29th May 2026
Children break up for Summer Holidays on Thurs 16th July 2026 at 1.30pm
Friday 17th July 2026 is a CPD Day – no children in school
Monday 20th July 2026 is a CPD Day – no children in school
To confirm the Staff Training days (CPD days) are as follows for 2025-26
· Monday 1st September 2025
· Tuesday 2nd September 2025
· Monday 5th January 2026
· Friday 17th July 2026
· Monday 20th July 2026
In order to help families plan their holidays, we publish dates well in advance.
The dates for the 2026-27 academic year can be found on the last page of this newsletter as well as on the school website.

Key Dates for the Summer Term 2026…
Please Note - Some dates may change, we will update families with any changes.
Summer Term Part 2
Mon 1st June: Back to school - gates open at 8.35am as usual
Mon 8th June: OGPS Proms Week
Fri 12th June: Reception Assembly - (letter to come)
Weds 17th June: Class Photographs
Fri 26th June: Learning Adventure Day “OG Neuro-Diversity & Disability Champions”
Fri 3rd July: KS1/KS2 Sports Day (letter to come)
Mon 6th July: EYFS Sports Day (letter to come)
Weds 8th July: Performing Arts Concert
Sat 11th July: OGPS Summer Fair 12-3pm
Mon 13th July: Transitions Day - meet new teachers/class
Weds 15th July: Y6 Leavers Assembly - (letter to come)
Thurs 16th July: End of Summer Term - Children finish at 1.30pm
Where new events are added, we will update newsletters, send letters and
send texts to keep families up to date.

Term Dates for 2026-27
Autumn Term: Tuesday 1st Sept 2026 to Friday 18th Dec 2026
Tuesday 1st Sept 2026 is a CPD day – no children in school
Children (Y1-6) start on Wednesday 2rd Sept 2026
Half term week Monday 26th Oct to Friday 30th Oct 2026
Children break up for Christmas Holidays on Friday 18th Dec 2026 at 1.30pm
Spring Term: Monday 4th Jan 2027 to Thursday 25th March 2027
Monday 4th January 2027 is a CPD day – no children in school
Children return to school on Tuesday 5th Jan 2027
Half term week: Monday 15th Feb - Friday 19th Feb 2027
Children break up for Easter Holidays on Thurs 25th March 2027 at 1.30pm
Summer Term: Monday 12th April 2027 to Wednesday 21st July 2027
Children return to school on Monday 12th April 2027
Half term week Monday 31st May to Friday 4th June 2027
Children break up for Summer Holidays on FRIDAY 16th July 2027 at 1.30pm
Monday 19th July 2027 is a CPD day – no children in school
Tuesday 20th July 2027 is a CPD day – no children in school
Wednesday 21st July 2027 is a CPD day – no children in school
To confirm the Staff Training days (CPD days) are as follows for 2026-27
· Tuesday 1st September 2026
· Monday 4th January 2027
· Monday 19th July 2027
· Tuesday 20th July 2027
· Wednesday 21st July 2027
In order to help families plan their holidays, we publish dates well in advance. The dates for the 2027-28 academic year will be published in the autumn term of 2026 when they have been ratified by the Board of Governors.

OLIVER GOLDSMITH PRIMARY SCHOOL
“Inspiring a love of learning”
Find out more by visiting our school website or search for us on Facebook and Instagram as olivergoldsmith1938