Reading together is one of the simplest yet most powerful ways you can support your child’s development.
Whether you’re:

• sharing a cosy bedtime story with a toddler,
• listening to a 7‑year‑old tackle new words with pride, or
• chatting with a teenager about their latest book obsession,

these moments matter. They build literacy skills, emotional resilience, imagination, and a lifelong love of learning.

The disruptions to education during the COVID‑19 pandemic highlighted just how vital regular home reading is. But here’s the encouraging part: you have incredible influence. Just a few minutes of shared reading each day can shape your child’s confidence, curiosity, and future learning.

If you’d like guidance, ideas, or support on how to make reading at home easy and enjoyable, follow this link:
➡️ https://goallin.org.uk/families-5-11/

Let’s keep the joy of reading alive this holiday—one story at a time. 💛📖

Together with Lutley Primary School, your contributions in March made a remarkable impact on local families in need.

Our Combined Contribution

• 149 kg of food donated
• 15.8 kg of non‑food items donated
• Enough to provide:
  • 298 meals
  • 16 toiletry packs

These donations will go directly to supporting vulnerable individuals and families within the Black Country.

A Special Well Done

A huge well done to our Pupil Leadership Team, who led the latest campaign with enthusiasm and dedication. Their commitment to helping others continues to inspire our whole school community.

Thank you once again for your compassion and continued support — together, we are making a difference.

Our pupils were incredibly positive about the experience. They learned how vital the Foodbank’s work is and how the generosity of our families directly supports people across the local community. We are incredibly proud of the maturity, empathy, and enthusiasm the children showed throughout the visit.

We would like to extend a huge thank you to all of our parents, carers, and staff who contributed to the collection. Your kindness makes a real difference.

A reminder to our families

If you or your family are finding things difficult at the moment, financially, emotionally, or in any other way, please remember that you are not alone. We encourage you to come and speak to us in confidence. School may be able to provide support directly or help you access the right services.

Together, we continue to show what a caring and supportive school community looks like.
Thank you for being part of it.

Lunchtime Supervisor - 2 days a week

The session focused on helping children develop key media literacy and online safety skills using the Be Internet Legends code. During the assembly, pupils learned how to:

• Spot misleading information online
• Think critically, especially in pressured or fast‑moving online situations
• Protect their personal data and privacy
• Make responsible and positive choices in the digital world

This is an important part of our ongoing commitment to ensuring our children become confident, safe and informed digital citizens.

Watch the Assembly at Home

Parents and carers can watch the assembly using the link below:

👉 https://www.youtube.com/live/Ulhb0Fw4JC0

We encourage families to view the session together and discuss the topics covered. It’s a great way to reinforce safe online habits at home.

If you have any questions about online safety or would like further advice, please get in touch with school office.

Every child had the opportunity to choose a new-to-them book to take home and enjoy. The donations we received were truly incredible—high‑quality, engaging texts covering a wide variety of genres and interests. We are so grateful to our parents and carers for their generosity in making this event such a success.

Thanks to the overwhelmingly positive response, we are pleased to share that we will be running this event again very soon!

We would also love to see your children enjoying their new books at home. Please remember to send in your photos so we can celebrate their love of reading together.

A huge thank you once again to our dedicated Friends of Lapal volunteers—Siobhan, Joanne and Priyanka—for helping make this special event possible.

Happy reading, everyone! 📚✨

We’re so proud of their commitment and can’t wait to see who will take the trophy next week. Keep up the fantastic effort, everyone!

Cleaner

During the morning, each class will visit the hall where children will have the opportunity to choose a new‑to‑them book to take home and enjoy. All we ask is that every child brings one book from home, in good, readable condition, to swap for another story that sparks their imagination.

This event will be kindly hosted by our incredible Friends of Lapal team, who are helping us make this a memorable and enjoyable experience for all children.

To further celebrate this, we would love you to send in photos of you and your child reading their new‑to‑them book at home, so that we can capture the success and impact of this amazing event.

Please email any photos to the school office: school@lapal.dudley.sch.uk

Please see the attached flyer for more information, and feel free to spread the word—let’s celebrate reading together!

Thank you for your support.

We’re so proud of their commitment and can’t wait to see who will take the trophy next week. Keep up the fantastic effort, everyone!

Marking the Year of the Horse, the children took part in their own zodiac race, found out which animal represents their birth year, and explored the story behind the Chinese zodiac. Creativity flourished as they designed vibrant lanterns and dragon masks in lucky colours, and practised lion dance moves in preparation for a joyful parade around the school to wish everyone a happy new year.

新年快乐 – Xīn Nián Kuài Lè!

We’re so proud of their commitment and can’t wait to see who will take the trophy next week. Keep up the fantastic effort, everyone!

The competition required pupils to use creative thinking in maths with games and tasks including Target 24, a selection of logic puzzles and problem‑solving challenges that tested their reasoning and collaboration.

We are especially proud of our Year 5 and 6 team, who came second in their heat and have secured a place in the finals in June. This is a fantastic achievement and reflects their hard work, determination and passion for maths.

Well done to all pupils involved—they were great ambassadors for our school!

We’re inviting children to take part in our five-day Kindness Challenge to celebrate Random Acts of Kindness Week, which takes place from Feb 16th-20th (but you can do it anytime during the month)! Each day, they will be tasked with doing a specific kind activity and writing about how they felt when they did it. Not only will they be helping other people, they will also be helping themselves…because when we’re kind it improves our own physical and mental health.

The competition is open to children in the UK in Key Stage 1 and 2.
Please read the full Competition Terms & Conditions before entering.
Deadline for entries: 1st March 2026.

Please share photos of your acts of kindness to the school email: school@lapal.dudley.sch.uk so that we can share and promote the kindness of our amazing pupils. 

We are now beginning to plan three exciting events, each one linked to one of our chosen charities, to help raise awareness and make a positive difference. We look forward to sharing the details with you very soon.

Thank you for your continued support. Together, we can make a real impact.

Throughout February, we’ll be focusing on how music can boost our confidence. The Ordinary and Happy Company have shared some brilliant song suggestions to help us think about how singing can make us feel bold and empowered. Why not give them a try at home?

Let’s get Lapal singing… and let’s get confident!

We’re so proud of their commitment and can’t wait to see who will take the trophy next week. Keep up the fantastic effort, everyone!

We are incredibly proud of each and every one of them. What superstars!

To find out more, join us at our teacher training event at Woodside Primary School on Tuesday 10th February from 4.30pm. To book a place or for further details about our course, please email awootton@halesvalleytrust.org.uk. We look forward to hearing from you!

Some of the children measured their heart rate and oxygen levels, discovering what the machine can tell us about our bodies. It was a wonderful hands-on experience and such a special treat for everyone!

During the visit, the officers spent time getting to know the children, explaining what the programme will involve, and answering lots of thoughtful questions. Our Junior PCSOs showed great enthusiasm and curiosity, and we’re incredibly proud of the positive attitude they brought to the session.

Over the next few weeks, pupils will take part in a range of activities that build confidence, teamwork, and leadership skills while helping them understand how they can contribute to a safer school and community.

We’re looking forward to seeing their journey unfold and celebrating their achievements along the way.

The Eco Council are also tackling single-use plastic waste by providing each classroom with a set of reusable cups. These will be used for children who may forget their water bottles, rather than the office providing disposable plastic cups.

We’re so proud of their commitment and can’t wait to see who will take the trophy next week. Keep up the fantastic effort, everyone!

We’re so proud of their commitment and can’t wait to see who will take the trophy next week. Keep up the fantastic effort, everyone!

Using guidance from local health teams, we encourage lunchboxes that are nutritious, tooth‑friendly and full of variety.

What makes a healthy lunchbox?

Try to include the following each day:

🥪 One starchy food
Examples:

• Bread, wraps, pitta, pasta, rice or tortillas

🥚 One protein food
Examples:

• Eggs, tuna, chicken, beans, lentils or hummus

🧀 One dairy (or dairy‑free alternative)
Examples:

• Yoghurt, cheese, milk or plant‑based alternatives

🍎 At least two portions of fruit and vegetables
Examples:

• Apple slices, carrot sticks, cucumber, grapes (cut correctly)

💧 A healthy drink

• Water is best
• Milk is also a good choice
• Sugar‑free squash can be used occasionally

🎥 Cook Together with Change4Life

To support healthy habits at home, families can watch the Change4Life – Cook Together short videos.

These fun, practical videos help:

• Encourage cooking at home
• Build children’s confidence with food
• Make family mealtimes enjoyable

👉 Watch here:
https://www.youtube.com/c/betterhealthfamilies

We would love photos of your wonderful creations. Please send to: school@lapal.dudley.sch.uk

Whilst conditions may improve by the morning, they may also worsen, and we felt it was important to let you know at the earliest opportunity based on circumstances at this moment in time.

Home learning activities have been set for all children and can be accessed through the usual platforms. We encourage pupils to complete these tasks during the closure period, but also to have fun in the snow for those who want to brave the cold!

Please see Tapestry (Reception) or Google classroom (Year 1-6) for home learning information for your child’s year group.

We hope that the weather improves over the weekend and that we can return to school as normal on Monday. If there are any changes to this plan, we will contact you promptly using our usual communication channels.

Thank you for your understanding and support during this time. Please stay safe and take care.

Dudley Council Application Deadlines

📄 Paper application forms
Return by: 15 January 2026 – 5:00pm

💻 Online applications
Submit by: 15 January 2026 – midnight

Late applications may only be considered after all on‑time applications have been processed.

Choose Lapal First ❤️

We would love to be your first choice and welcome you and your child into the Lapal family.
Lapal offers a nurturing, supportive environment where children are encouraged to grow, achieve and thrive from their very first day at school.

If you would like more information about our school or wish to arrange a visit, please do get in touch – we would be delighted to meet you.

https://www.dudley.gov.uk/residents/learning-and-school/school-information/school-admissions/primary-reception-intake/

Living Outside Dudley?

If you currently live under another local authority, please check the application deadlines and procedures with your own council, as these may differ.

Reading has always been at the heart of our curriculum and wider school life. Whether it’s sharing stories together, discovering new authors, or reading purely for enjoyment, we know how vital strong reading habits are for children’s confidence, curiosity and lifelong learning.

To further support our commitment to reading, we have signed up to Authorfy — an incredible literacy platform that brings children’s books and authors to life. Authorfy provides a wide range of engaging resources, including:

• Virtual author visits
• Book recommendations
• Writing and reading activities
• Resources designed to inspire a genuine love of reading

As part of this, we are excited to share the latest edition of Authorfy’s Bookdrop newsletter. This brilliant publication offers:

• Insights into brand-new children’s books
• Author recommendations and highlights
• Practical tips for reading for pleasure at home
• Ideas to help children discover stories they’ll truly enjoy

We encourage all families to take a look and explore the wealth of ideas and inspiration it offers.

Thank you, as always, for your continued support in nurturing a love of reading at home and at school. Together, we can make 2026 a truly memorable year for reading.

School Cleaner

Lunchtime Supervisor (2 days a week and absence cover)

A heartfelt thank you to all our parents and families who joined us and supported the children. Your presence makes these events so special, and it was lovely to see the church filled with such encouragement and community spirit.

We would also like to express our sincere gratitude to St Peter’s Church for their warm hospitality. Their welcome, support, and kindness helped create a perfect setting for our celebrations.

The children were fantastic—singing confidently, playing their instruments with care, and shining with festive cheer. We hope you enjoyed this wonderfully uplifting end to the term.

Wishing all our families a peaceful, joyful, and well‑deserved break as we head into the holiday season.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

We invite you to take a look at the attached PDF newsletter. It offers an overview of the topics explored in school, keeps you updated with our news discussions, and provides guidance on supporting current affairs conversations and media literacy at home.

📅 Friday 19th December 2025
to
📅 Monday 5th January 2026

Pupils can log in and play between 7:30am and 6:00pm daily to boost their scores and help their class climb the leaderboard.

There will be stickers, certificates, and small prizes for the highest-scoring pupils—so get ready to join the fun, embrace the festive spirit, and show off those brilliant times tables skills! ✨

Let the Jingle Bell Showdown begin! 🔔🎉

Dudley Voices for Choice are a user led charitable organisation that supports people with learning disabilities and autism to speak up for themselves. Please find attached their calendar of support you can access during January.

It’s the perfect way to begin the festive break, so please bring along some cash to donate and enjoy a warm treat as we wrap up a brilliant term together.

Thank you for your support, and we look forward to seeing you there!

The children snuggled down to watch a lovely Christmas film, enjoyed delicious chocolate milk and a tasty snack, and soaked up the festive atmosphere. But the highlight of the evening was, without a doubt, a very special visit from Father Christmas himself!

Despite his exceptionally busy schedule, Santa made time to come and see our children, spending time answering their many curious questions and sharing festive cheer with everyone. The children were absolutely thrilled and their smiles lit up the room brighter than any Christmas lights!

We would like to say a huge thank you to the Friends of Lapal for organising this memorable event, and to all the staff who supported and helped make the evening so magical.

It was a wonderful way to build excitement for the festive season—a night the children will remember!

The U10s ran 5K dressed as Elves, while the U17s took on a 12K challenge dressed as Santa at The Dell Stadium running track. Their goal? To bring joy to children spending Christmas in Birmingham Children’s Hospital, Russell’s Hall Hospital Children’s Ward C2, and Sandwell West Birmingham Hospital. The lads plan to personally choose and deliver gifts to these children, putting smiles on their faces during the festive season.

But that’s not all – they also want to create food hampers and gift packages for local families who may be struggling at this time of year. This is about spreading kindness and making a real difference in our community.

We are incredibly proud of the whole team for their dedication to such a wonderful cause. Thank you to everyone who has supported them so far – your generosity is helping to make this possible.

Well done – you’ve shown what true community spirit looks like!

When we arrived, the friendly librarians welcomed us and explained how the library works, sharing all the amazing opportunities it offers. The class then settled down for a festive and humorous story, which everyone loved!

After story time, the children had the chance to explore the children’s section, searching for books they would like to take home. The librarians kindly helped each child choose their books and made sure they were allocated to their library cards.

On the way back to school, there was a real buzz of excitement as everyone shared the fantastic books they had discovered. It was a wonderful trip that has inspired lots of eager readers in 2BG!

Thanks to your incredible support, we raised over £140! A huge thank you also goes to the Co-op for their generous donation of 600 mince pies, which made this event possible.

Because of this amazing contribution, we’re excited to announce that we’ll be selling mince pies and hot chocolates again on Friday 19th December at 2:00pm. Please bring cash and treat yourself to a festive delight while supporting our school.

As always, we are so grateful for the continued support of our school community. Thank you for helping us make these moments special and raise further funds!

The children looked absolutely amazing in their colourful Christmas jumpers and beautiful dresses. The creativity and effort put into their outfits truly brought the festive spirit to life across the school.

Our kitchen team went above and beyond to make the occasion special, decorating the serving counter with festive touches that spread Christmas cheer. In the hall, we played joyful Christmas music and shared the experience together, sitting alongside the children as we all enjoyed a delicious Christmas meal.

It was a day filled with laughter, warmth, and community spirit – a perfect way to celebrate the season together. Thank you to everyone who helped make this day so memorable!

It’s really important that children are out of all nappies well in advance of starting Reception year in school. The only exception should be children with a diagnosed medical need, such as a bladder or bowel condition.

Being out of nappies not only helps children to feel confident, healthy and part of the group, it also means teachers can spend more time teaching and supporting children’s development in other ways.