Dear Parents and Carers,

I am writing to explain our decision to use the Multi Use Games Area (MUGA) for basketball rather than football during break and lunchtime.

This decision has been made carefully, with the children’s safety and well being as our main priority. Football on the MUGA is very fast-paced, which can increase the likelihood of collisions and falls. By using the space for basketball instead, the game is slower and contact is reduced making play safer. The grass also provides a softer landing, helping to reduce the risk of injury should children slide or dive.

We have also found that football in this particular space has sometimes led to a higher number of disagreements and overly competitive or aggressive incidents between children. Changing the use of the MUGA supports a calmer, more positive play environment for everyone.

Importantly, this does not reduce football opportunities. Children are now able to wear wellies to access the field throughout the year, allowing them to continue enjoying games of football in a more suitable space. In addition, thanks to the generous donations from parents, we are currently planning to build a football skills wall to further enhance football provision and provide structured opportunities for all children to develop their skills.

We remain committed to offering a broad range of active play opportunities while ensuring that play times are safe, inclusive and enjoyable for everyone.

Mr Marshall

Please see the weekly reminders below.

Whole School

Parents Evening

You should now have received the booking instructions for Parents Evening. Booking will open on Tuesday 24th February and will remain open until 5th March.

Please email n.hardingrickards@coldfall.haringey.sch.uk for help with this.

SEND Support meeting bookings have now closed and we will not be able to book any more. This is due to the need to prepare cover for the teachers in advance and booking has been open since 2^nd February.

Friends of Coldfall updates

👕Reminder that our next second hand uniform sale will be taking place this Sunday 1st March at 10am in the Lower Hall.

To celebrate World Book Day join us in the playground at pick-up to buy a Sage Bar, will you be lucky enough to find a winning Golden Ticket?!

Lots of exciting prizes to be won including:

📘Book Vouchers

☕️Treats for your class - extra OPAL play time, a non uniform day or maybe tea with Mr Marshall!

📚Books

🎟️Summer Fair or Fireworks Vouchers

🦉 Sage Bookmarks

🎁And many more!

🍫Sage Bars will be available to buy in the playground at pick up on Wednesday 4th, Thursday 5th and Friday 6th March.

⭐️Only £1 each - cash and card accepted!

X Table Rockstars

Please note that the school subscription has been renewed for years 1 - 6. You can access the platform with your existing password. Please use this fun platform to help children learn and develop their times tables fluency and speed. Remember to set a limit on use. We would recommend 5 minutes practice daily rather than half hour periods or more.

Contacting Teachers

We politely remind you to please email the school office with enquiries about children rather than directly to teacher’s personal email addresses. It is important for the boundaries around this to be respected in the interests of staff well-being. These will then be forwarded to the appropriate member of staff.

Wellies

Please check your child’s wellies are CLEARLY LABELLED with their NAME. Lots are getting misplaced or put back in the wrong place at break time, and it really helps if they have names in. Also, lots of children have the same wellies, which can cause confusion.

Uniform

Please note, children are not allowed to wear baseball caps to school. This is because they have a hard peak which could cause injury to the wearer if they had an accident, or someone else if there is a collision. Thank you for your understanding in this matter.

We have noticed a number of children wearing jumpers that do not in any way meet our expectations or guidelines around school uniform. Often these are logoed sports tops that. Children who are not wearing appropriate tops will be asked to replace it with a clean, second-hand item from our unclaimed lost property.

Please note, children should be wearing blue jumpers/Coldfall logo jumpers every day including PE days.

Royal Academy young artists competition

We encourage our budding Coldfall artists aged 4 and above to submit an artwork to the Young Artists Summer show. Parents can submit their child's artworks online here: https://youngartists.royalacademy.org.uk/

Submissions are accepted until 5pm on 4th March 2026. Good luck!

Smartphone Free School

Coldfall is a proud and strong supporter of the Smartphone Free childhood movement. Over 170 parents have signed the pact not to give their children a smartphone. Please find out more and sign the pact here:

https://www.smartphonefreechildhood.org/parent-pact

Dates to be aware of:

World Book Day Friday 6th March – dress up as your favourite book character. Reception Book Look is also on this date.

Parents Evenings 11th and 12th March.

Breakfast Club

We strongly recommend that you walk your children to the door of breakfast club in the mornings rather than leaving them at the school gates. (This includes older children) The site is not supervised early in the morning.

Bringing in items late to school

If there is an item that you or your child has forgotten (such as water bottles, clothing, bags, books, musical instruments, lunch or snacks, etc.) can these please be brought to the office NO LATER than 9.30am. Taking items to classrooms during school hours disturbs teaching and learning, as well as the office.

Year 5

Year 5 will be heading to the Tate Modern on 4th March. Please ensure they are dressed appropriately for the weather and in comfortable footwear.

Year 6

On Tuesday 24th March, Year 6 will be participating in the annual Samba competition in the main hall at 3pm. We would love for you to attend. Pupils are encouraged to wear bright colours and accessories for the competition.

We now have the dates of the Year 6 shows!

· Wren Show Monday 13th July

· Toucan show Tuesday 14th July

· Woodpecker show Wednesday 15th July

The Leaver’s Ball will be on 10th July.