Last week, RH, 4M and 5W earned the title of our Attendance Champions, all achieving a remarkable 100% attendance. They now proudly share the Attendance Champions Trophy. Their well‑deserved reward is an extra five‑minute break to celebrate their achievement.
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!
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We have had lots of exciting events on in school this week. On Wednesday we attended our first forest school session of the year, where the children proved that mud was certainly no bother in stopping them having fun! There was also lots of new wiggly worm friends made!
On Thursday we were luckily enough to be visited by the falconry centre and got to meet four amazing owls. This was such a wonderful experience to enrich our English unit. The children’s favourite parts were having the opportunity to stroke the largest and fluffiest owl of all and also having two of them fly over their heads!
Last week, our Attendance Champions were 5W, achieving an incredible 99% combined attendance! They were also the very first recipients of our brand-new Attendance Champions Trophy. What an amazing start to the year!
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!
A healthy, balanced lunch helps children to concentrate, learn and enjoy their day. At our school, we want to support families with simple, affordable and realistic lunchbox ideas that children will enjoy eating.
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:
🥚 One protein food
Examples:
🧀 One dairy (or dairy‑free alternative)
Examples:
🍎 At least two portions of fruit and vegetables
Examples:
đź’§ A healthy drink
🎥 Cook Together with Change4Life
To support healthy habits at home, families can watch the Change4Life – Cook Together short videos.
These fun, practical videos help:
👉 Watch here:
https://www.youtube.com/c/betterhealthfamilies
We would love photos of your wonderful creations. Please send to: school@lapal.dudley.sch.uk
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What an incredible battle of mathematical brains and speed! Our Times Tables Rock Stars competition had so many of our pupils rocking their maths skills and the energy was electric. After a nail-biting finish, 5/6D has jingled all the way to the top, claiming the festive crown! A huge well done to every class for their amazing effort—your times tables have never sounded so good! Keep practising, because the next showdown could be yours!
Due to the severe weather conditions and the forecast of continued snowfall, we have made the decision to close the school to all children and staff tomorrow. This decision has not been taken lightly, but the safety of our pupils, families, and staff is our highest priority.
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.
Are you the parent or carer of a child starting Reception in September 2026?
If you live in Dudley, please make sure you submit your school place application on time to avoid missing out.
Dudley Council Application Deadlines
đź“„ Paper application forms
Return by: 15 January 2026 – 5:00pm
đź’» 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.
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.
The children explored how the garden changes during freezing and snowy weather, experimenting with brushing snow using natural materials. They observed ice in the outdoor environment and discussed how water can change when temperatures are cold or warm, noticing ice melting when brought indoors and thinking about where it might stay frozen. Inspired by these experiences, the children followed instructions to create their own ice sculptures using natural and decorative materials, carefully preparing them and leaving them outside to freeze, eagerly anticipating the results the next day.
We are delighted to share that 2026 has been named the National Year of Reading, a celebration that perfectly reflects what matters most to us as a school.
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:
As part of this, we are excited to share the latest edition of Authorfy’s Bookdrop newsletter. This brilliant publication offers:
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.
Please see the links below for our current vacancies.
What a truly magical morning we shared at St Peter’s Church for our KS2 Carols! The atmosphere was filled with warmth, joy, and festive spirit as our children sang beautifully and showcased their musical talents with pride.
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!
As part of our commitment to developing the whole child, we share the latest Picture News resource with our pupils each week. This supports us in teaching children about current affairs, encouraging them to think critically, and helping them develop a deeper understanding of the world around them.
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.
