Whole School Newsletter 28 November 2025
Keeping it EP
Our ingenious teachers have once again been taking classes on trips which enrich and deepen their learning this week.
Four teams from Year 5 and 6 visited South Hampstead High School this week to join in a debating tournament; the fourth year we have taken part in this initiative. Teams won several of their rounds and it was a fantastic experience - speaking on unseen motions with limited prep time really pushed the children to think on their feet, work collaboratively and listen and respond to their opponents’ points. We look forward to taking more teams to a competition in the new year and building on this success.
Meanwhile in a different type of competition, a team made up of Years 3, 4, 5 and 6 travelled to Kingsgate school to compete in a range of games. This was a wonderful opportunity for our oldest pupils to lead and play alongside the younger children - they all did EP proud!
At London Zoo, our Year 5 class enjoyed a workshop based in the rainforest enclosure, developing their knowledge of animals and their habitats. They really enjoyed learning from the zoo scientists.
Year 1 went on a tremendous trip to St Paul’s Cathedral to develop their understanding of London’s landmarks in their ‘We Love London’ topic. Some climbed all the way to the top of the dome - some 1,000 steps up and down! - and took in the view of our great city. Later in the week, they recreated the Great Fire of London by burning their Tudor houses. What a week for their class!
Keep it EP - our EP
Every week, you’ll read about the trips, experiences and opportunities that make Eleanor Palmer such a rich place to learn. What we want to be transparent about is this: many of these experiences are only possible because families choose to support the school through Keep it EP.
Whether it’s a visit, a competition at another school or specialist workshops, these enriching moments rely on funding beyond our core budget. Regular donations - however small - make a real and lasting difference. They help us plan ahead and ensure that opportunities like these remain part of everyday life at EP, not occasional extras.
If you’re in a position to support, you can sign up or donate here. Thank you to everyone who already gives — your support directly benefits every child.
Coming up next week
We are looking forward to next Friday’s Winter Fair 3-5pm - school ends as usual at 3:30pm, so there is 30 minutes of child-free browsing before pick up!
Across the Week
Monday
- 8-8:50 Year 5 & 6 Dodgeball Club
- 3:30-4:30 Junior Football Development Club
Tuesday
- 8-8:50 Y1 & 2 Multi-Sports Club
- Year 4 perform at The Old Vic for 12 Choirs for Christmas performance
- Football Squad match - supporters welcomed! Pick-up from Talacre at 5pm.
Wednesday
- 8am Dawn Chorus choir
- Year 5 are watching Bugsy Malone at Acland Burghley
Thursday
- 8-8:45 Year 3 and 4 Dodgeball Club
Friday
- 8-8:50 Junior Girls’ Multi-Sports Club
- Variety Show rehearsal for all children performing on the day
- WINTER FAIR 3-5PM
- No Club EP
- No Gym Club
Autumn Term Reminders and Notes:
Winter Concert
The school is already filled with song as we prepare for the Winter Concert held at Acland Burghley School on Monday 15th December at 2:30pm. It is an unticketed event and we will share full details shortly - we anticipate the concert will last for around one hour.
We would like children in Year 1-6 to wear either a red, green or black top for the concert. For Nursery and Reception, please wear white or light grey. Please don’t go out and buy something new!
Christmas Lunch
On Tuesday December 16th the whole school enjoys a Christmas lunch together, with traditional or veggie options. If your child usually eats a packed lunch and would like to have a school Christmas lunch on this day, please complete the form below by Friday 5th December. There is no associated cost. If your child currently eats school dinners, there's no need to complete. Christmas lunch sign-up and menu Some children choose to wear Christmas jumpers or outfits, antlers or sparkle on Christmas lunch day - but this is very much optional.
Club EP Spring Term
Bookings for Club EP Spring Term will be open from 9:30am Saturday 6th December. Following feedback, bookings will open for the whole Spring Term. A reminder that the Club EP offer is to support working parents and is over-subscribed. Please only book for the purposes of essential childcare.
If you don’t have the app, the Arbor site can also be found on right hand side of the EP website under this symbol.
Future bookings show immediately as a debt within Arbor. Please clear existing debts before rebooking.
Christmas Cards
Reminder that the deadline to order cards with Xmas4Schools is this Sunday 30th December for delivery to school.
Free books until you’re 5 with Dolly’s Imagination Library!
Camden Council has just launched the Imagination Library in its libraries, giving children a free book a month until they are 5. If you register by 3rd December, your child will receive their first free book in January! It’s a wonderful way to build a home library and foster a love of reading from an early age — perfectly complementing our commitment at EP to supporting literacy, curiosity and widening children’s horizons for all families. Register here
Autumn Term Dates
- Friday 5th December - Winter Fair (No Gym Club or Club EP)
- Winter Concert - Monday 15th December at Acland Burghley Hall, likely start will be 2:30pm
- Tuesday 16th December - Christmas lunch
- Friday 19th December - Winter Variety Show and last day of term. School ends at
- 3:30pm with no Club EP
- Christmas Holidays - Monday 22nd December - Friday 2nd January inclusive
- Monday 5th Jan is an INSET day - Children back Tuesday 6th January.
