Dear parents and carers,
A very warm welcome to the academic year 2026-27, and our first newsletter. The children have settled back very well into the routines of school life and Reception have started full time this week.
We look forward to our first PSA event of the year with Reception Parents Drinks on Thursday 24th September at 8pm in the school.
SCHOOL FUND REMINDER
A reminder
Drop off time
Thank you for your support with this. You will notice the gates are being closed very promptly at 8.55am.
Clubs
It has been great to see the school buzzing with a full range of before and after school clubs. We were really pleased that Ofsted recognised the substantial offer we provide. Also, welcome to Cameron Daniel-Murphy from Sports Fanatics who has taken over Excel's external football clubs.
Curriculum Bulletins/Meet-the-Teacher
All the autumn term curriculum bulletins were sent out on Monday of this week, and we have already had three meet-the-teacher events this week.
A reminder for next week. For the Y1 event, please drop the children at the classroom door and make your way to the hall for an 8.50am start. KS2 events start at 8.30am and the children will leave at 8.45am.
Y3 - Tuesday 22nd September
Y6 - Wednesday 23rd September
Y1 - Thursday 24th September
Living Values
We have 12 living values and focus on 6 each year, with one per half-term. This half-term, the living value is 'Cooperation'. As well as promoting this in classes, Mrs O'Brien runs weekly assemblies:
Monday, Years 1-3, with Reception joining later in the Year, and
Thursday, Years 4-6
and sends out a positive postcard to one child in each class, once a half-term as nominated by the class teacher.
Parent volunteers for prospective open mornings
We are looking for current parent volunteers to help with prospective open morning tours. Our year 6s lead the tours, but it is good for there to be a parent perspective on the tour.
The timings are 9.30-10.30am on the dates below. If you feel you are able to help, please email me on headteacher@sheenmount.richmond.sch.uk
Thursday 24th September, Thursday 15th October or Thursday 19th November.
Celebration Assemblies
A reminder of this weekly event taken by myself. We have a KS1 (and later in the year joined by reception) and KS2 assemblies. One individual or group from each class shares their work and then one individual is nominated for the celebration book by their class teacher. We then email the celebration book words home to you, so you can share your child's achievement and celebrate this. They also receive a sticker for the celebration book.
Parent Presentations
We had the PSA AGM last night and next Wednesday is the secondary school presentation by myself at 8pm online. On Wednesday 14th October is the Headteacher Review presentation and an opportunity to ask questions.
The links will be sent in separate emails.
Daily Mile
Having installed the track in the heatwave, its use was fairly limited. Whilst children can absolutely make use of it at play time, most of the idea is for teachers to use it with their class in the middle of the day to get some exercise. They will not always/only do a mile, and it is not necessary for children to wear PE kit.
Staffing
Congratulations to Mrs Howard (née Bolton) who is pregnant and her baby due in February. We informed Moles class parents at the beginning of term.
Congratulations to Mrs Clark (née Breckon) who got married in the holidays.
Writing Competition
Look out for an email from Mrs Clark about the Richmond Writing Competition. The work needs to be produced at home, but submitted by the school.
International Language Day – Friday 2nd October
Look out for an email from Miss Herring as we celebrate this event and consider all the different languages and cultures at our school.
Uniform – Cotton T-shirts
There have been requests for a cotton PE T-shirt to be available for purchase, as well as those made of the lighter material.
Sheen Sports have managed to be able to provide this. Please go into the shop or purchase from here- https://sheensports.com/product-category/schools/sheen-mount-school/
Changes at JAG
Following Max's departure from the company, a new team was brought in to lead the provision. They have been making some positive changes and ensuring the wraparound care offer is as strong as possible. Maisie will be the new manager and they have Georgina overseeing the provision and regularly visiting.
School Hall for Hire at the Weekends
Our weekend rentals have come to an end, and we are looking for regular events to rent the hall space at this time. Please contact
info@sheenmount.richmond.sch.uk for any enquiries
Project Indoors – Fundraising Project
This information is on the attached PSA AGM slides.
We are approaching another substantial fundraising year and another 2-day cycle is planned. We are raising our expectations and widening the net this year, seeing if we can involve walkers and runners as well.
The idea is that participants would take the train or be driven out to a point and then make their way back to school to arrive at the same time as the cyclists.
We could/would have:
Walkers - 10km, half marathon, (or possibly shorter to involve children)
Running - 5km, 10km, half-marathon, marathon, possibly ultra marathon....?!
In order for this to happen, we need parent volunteers to organise the different distances; the route will be planned and the same for everyone, with the only variation be the distance covered.
If you would like to offer to help (and therefore participate), please fill in this form. Participant forms will come later, once we have sufficient volunteers.
https://forms.gle/DtcnSEY8Gpn5eJXn7
School Fund
A letter will be coming out giving all the information for the school fund. It was referenced at the PSA AGM and on the attached slides and our parent trustee of the fund is going to explain match-funding.
PSA
AGM
A great turn out for the PSA AGM last night with over 70 families on the call. The accounts for 2025-26 were shared, a new committee was voted in and plans for Project Indoors were discussed, as well as completing the final work from the departing committee. In addition, there will be a renovation to the playground surface outside the Year 3 classrooms using existing funds.
Please see attached the slides from the AGM.
Air conditioning question/survey
This is a simple yes/no question around exploring this more in the future. There are lots of feasibility and costs to consider.
https://forms.gle/Xe6BmYggGu1XnC5b6
Events
The new committee have proposed a range of events and dates for the year, combining both fundraising and community events, and we look forward to them all.
Community
London Cycling Festival-Kingston
Celebrate the London Cycling Festival on this free family-friendly Kingston ride (Sunday 20 September)
Taking place on Sunday 20 September 2026, and designed with all ages and abilities in mind, this family-friendly group ride is a great opportunity to boost your cycling confidence and discover new local routes.
The easy-going 6.5 mile adventure will start from Beverley Park before using a mix of traffic-free cycle routes and quiet roads to explore, with marshals keeping everyone safe throughout.
Click here to join in the fun or to find out more.
Orleans House opportunity
https://www.orleanshousegallery.org/events/play-explore-draw-summer-family-activity/
Richmond Libraries events
https://www.richmond.gov.uk/services/libraries/library_services_for_children_and_teens/library_events_for_children_and_teens
Should you wish to contact me directly, please do so on headteacher@sheenmount.richmond.sch.uk
Best wishes
Tom Holmes - Headteacher
