Whole School Newsletter 1st May 2026

Keeping it EP this Week 

In workshops with scientists from The Francis Crick Institute, all children in Years 1–6 took part in a range of exciting experiments, from taste-testing and exploring the senses to investigating electricity and lasers! As part of their preparation for secondary school, our Year 6 pupils will work with them again later this term, focusing on this transition. For more quizzes, crafts and experiments, The Crick website is a great resource for all our curious young scientists.

Our Dawn Chorus Choir joined schools across the borough for the Camden Choir Festival - a wonderful evening of music, energy and collaboration. We are so proud of the children for their performance and, knowing how daunting a large audience can be, for rising to this challenge with such apparent aplomb!

Message from the Heads

We are mindful that recent events in Golders Green may be particularly unsettling for our Jewish families and you are held firmly in our thoughts. At Eleanor Palmer, we are proud of our diverse community and of the care our children show one another every day. We will continue to uphold the values that matter most: kindness, respect, empathy. 

Our staff are here to listen, support and reassure, and remain attentive to the needs of all our families.

At times when events beyond school feel worrying or distressing for any members of our community, we are reminded that school remains a place of warmth, safety and belonging for every child and family.

 

Natalie Stevenson and Sally Hill

Next week: 

Monday 4th

• Bank Holiday - school closed

Tuesday 5th

• Year 5 week 3 of ShiftED DT workshop (arrive to school early) back for lunch
• Year 2 London Zoo
• Year 3 and 4 Football Squad train

 

Wednesday 6th

• 8-8:45am Choir 
• 3:30-4:30pm Year 1 & 2 Multi-Sports Club
• Y3 & 4 Football Squad match on Hampstead Heath - supporters welcomed! Pick up 5pm at Heath

 

Thursday 7th

• 3:30-4:30pm Year 1 & 2 Multi-Sports Club
• Reception to London Zoo

 

Friday 8th

• 3:30-4:30pm Gym Club
• Year 4 host Snack Sale

Overview of key dates 

Summer Term 

• Monday 4 May - Bank Holiday 
• Year 6 SATs tests Monday 11 - Thursday 14 May
• Friday 15 May - No Club EP or Gym Club due to staff event
• Sunday 17 May Run Kids Run
• Thursday 21 May - CBC Night
• Half term Monday 25 - Friday 29 May 
• Monday 1st June - INSET day
• Wednesday 1st July - Nursery closes at midday 
• Saturday 4th July - Summer Fair!
• Friday 10th July am - Nursery Sports Day
• Monday 13th July am - Sports Day Rec-Y6
• Friday 17th July - Last day of term ending 1:30pm 

Snack Sales this term

• 8 May Year 4
• 5 June Year 3
• 12 June Year 2
• 19 June Year 1
• 26 June Reception
• 10 July Nursery

Information and Diary Dates

Competition to become a Children’s Booker Prize Judge

The Children’s Booker Prize is a new annual award celebrating the best books for readers aged 8–12. The Booker Prize Foundation is looking for three children from across the UK to join the judging panel and help choose the 2027 winner. The competition has 3 rounds and the deadline for entry to Round 1 is 2nd June. We are encouraging children to take part in this fantastic competition and, as schools can only make a limited number of entries, ask that families make submissions directly. Lots more information can be found HERE 

 

RUN EP RUN

EP run again at Run Kids Run 2km fun run on Sunday 17th May from 11am! Alongside 9 other Camden schools, children run on a pedestrianised loop around the Kings Cross development - running at their own pace to help fundraise for EP. Nursery and Reception have a shorter 1km race.

Following the school-wide vote, children chose orange as the team colour this year. We will be selling Team EP 2026 t-shirts for £10 each, with profits to the fundraising target. Obviously purchase is optional, and children can wear another top for the race. More news on how to buy t-shirts when they come

Next steps:

• Register Here Register your child/children – register each child individually. You can register up to 4 children on one submission. Children must register in order to join the race.
• Sponsor Here Ask for sponsorship - tell friends, family, neighbours and ‘everyone you know’ about the run and ask for sponsorship by sharing this link Remember to tick the ‘Please Add Gift Aid box’ to add 25 for every £1.
• Contact businesses/employers – requests by children are very effective - write to employers, contractors or businesses to ask for support. Many companies know the benefits of corporate social responsibility for their business and are happy to contribute. In past years we have raised an extra £1-2k by reaching out this way!
• Can your company can Match Fund or sponsor the event - ask in the office for more information on match funding if needed

• Volunteer on the day – we need 5-10 parent marshals and a first aider. Please let Tania know asap if you can help.

Congratulations to those in our community who joined last week’s London Marathon, what an inspiring and uplifting event! For anyone who has applied to run the marathon in 2027, perhaps you might consider Keep it EP as your chosen charity to support? 

 

Summer Fair Artwork Competition

To help promote our fair, our sponsors Martyn Gerrard will print posters and it is always lovely to use children’s designs for these. We are running a competition to design a Summer Fair poster - the prize is the art in print! 

Word details are optional, but children might  include Eleanor Palmer School or Saturday 4th July 12-3pm in their drawings. We look forward to seeing the brilliant designs!

Deadline for entry - drop-off next Friday 8th May

 EP Cookbook Recipe

Courgette Terrine with Garlic Tomato Coulis

Many thanks to Lucas and Axel’s family for this vegetarian French recipe. 

Served cold, this is a refreshing dish. Tasty and easy to make!  

Serves: 6 to 8 people

Prep time: 15 minutes (+ overnight resting)

Oven temperature: 180 degrees

Cooking time: 25 minutes

Note: you need to steam the courgettes the night before you want to make the recipe

 

Ingredients:

Courgette Terrine

1.5 kg of courgettes

150g of creme fraiche

2 lightly beaten eggs

150g of crumbled feta

50g of grated Comté cheese

50g of grated parmesan cheese

15 leaves of fresh mint (thinly shredded)

Salt & pepper to taste

Butter or oil to grease the dish

 

Fresh Tomato Coulis

1 kg ripe tomatoes 

3–4 tbsp olive oil

2–3 garlic cloves, crushed

Small bunch fresh basil (or ~2 tsp dried)

Salt & black pepper, to taste

Optional: 1–2 small pinches sugar (depending on acidity)

 

Or Speedy Tomato Coulis

2 x 400g tins of crushed cooked tomatoes

2 garlic cloves, crushed

1tbsp Tomato concentrate

Salt & black pepper, to taste

 

Method:

Courgette Terrine

1. Cut the courgettes into thin slices (keeping the skin on) and steam cook them (about 10mins).  Leave them to drain in a colander/sieve overnight, you won’t need the excess liquid.
2. Combine all the ingredients in a large bowl, along with the rested and drained courgette, and mix until obtaining a creamy texture.  Add salt and pepper to taste.
3. Butter or oil an oven dish and pour the mixture into the dish.
4. Bake in the oven (180 degrees) for 20-25 minutes.
5. Remove from the oven, leave to cool to room temperature and then chilli in the fridge

 

Fresh Tomato Coulis:

1. Prepare the tomatoes (if fresh) by scoring with a knife, blanching in boiling water (for about 30 secs) and then once cool enough to handle peeling the skins and deseeding, if you want a smoother finish.
2. Gently fry the garlic in the olive oil. (keep it soft, don’t burn it)
3. Add the tomatoes, season with salt and pepper and sugar if needed.  Simmer uncovered for 20-30 minutes until slightly reduced.
4. Take off the heat, add the basil and blend with a hand or jug blender until smooth.
5. Strain (optional but classic) Pass the coulis through a sieve for a silky finish.
6. Once room temperature, chill the coulis in the fridge.

 

Speedy Tomato Coulis:

Put the tinned tomatoes, tomato concentrate, crushed garlic in a bowl and mix.  Season with salt & pepper to taste. 

 

The terrine will last for 3 days in the fridge.  Both the fresh and speedy tomato coulis will keep for 1 week in a container like a jam jar, in your fridge.  It also freezes brilliantly, any leftovers can be used as a pasta sauce or base for a pizza.

Please submit your recipe here - (please don’t send anything copywrited as we can’t include).