Headteacher's Newsletter

Friday 27^th February 2026

Dear Parents, 

Headteacher’s Newsletter

Lent

School Values: Make a Difference Be Passionate about Learning Be Kind Be Respectful

Lent is a very special time in our Catholic school year. It is the season when we prepare for Easter. Over these forty days, we will be thinking about how we can follow the example of Jesus.

In school, we will focus on three important ways to prepare for Easter: prayer, small sacrifices and helping others.

We will spend time in quiet prayer each day, in our classrooms and together in assembly. Throughout Lent, classes will also take part in reflections on the Stations of the Cross to help us remember Jesus’ great love for us.

The children will be encouraged to make simple Lenten promises, such as being kinder, more patient and more helpful at home and at school. As part of our Lenten charity focus, we will also look for ways to support those in need through fundraising and acts of generosity.

Our Lenten Planner will guide us each week with prayers, themes and small actions that we can carry out both in school and at home. We encourage families to refer to the planner for more details and to continue this journey together. St Vincent's Catholic Primary School Trafford: Key School Events and Dates

Please join us for our Lenten mass in each department on Thursday 12 March at 9:05am.

Open Morning – Wednesday 11 March

School Values: Make a Difference Be Passionate about Learning Be Kind Be Respectful

We are delighted to share that on Wednesday 11 March we will be holding our Open Morning at St Vincent’s Nursery and School.

This Open Morning is for prospective parents who are considering St Vincent’s for their child’s nursery or primary education. It is a wonderful opportunity to see the school in action, visit our classrooms and experience the warm, welcoming atmosphere that helps our children to thrive.

During the morning, prospective parents will be able to:

• See teaching and learning taking place
• Meet members of our staff team
• Explore our learning environment
• Find out more about our curriculum and school life

We are very proud of our school community and look forward to sharing what makes St Vincent’s such a special place to learn and grow. Please let friends, family and anyone who may be interested know about this date. Registration is via the online form, which can be found at the end of the page using the link provided. We look forward to welcoming new families to St Vincent’s.  

St Vincent's Catholic Primary School Trafford: Admissions

Stay and Play Reception Fun

School Values: Make a Difference Be Passionate about Learning Be Kind Be Respectful

This week, we were delighted to host Stay and Play sessions for each of our three Reception classes. It was wonderful to welcome so many parents into school and to share the children’s daily learning environment with you.

It was great to see families exploring the classrooms, engaging with the different activities, and experiencing first-hand the wide range of exciting opportunities available. From creative areas and reading corners to hands-on investigation and imaginative play, our Reception spaces are carefully designed to inspire curiosity, independence and a love of learning.

Thank you for the many kind and thoughtful comments about our provision. We value the strong partnership we share with our families and greatly appreciate your continued support.

Curriculum Highlights

School Values: Make a Difference Be Passionate about Learning Be Kind Be Respectful

Please see the curriculum overviews for the Spring term. These documents outline in detail what your child will be learning in each subject area, as well as the homework they will be set to reinforce their learning at home.

This term, children will build upon their prior knowledge and develop new skills across the curriculum. In English, they will focus on developing their reading comprehension, expanding their vocabulary, and improving their writing through a range of genres. In Mathematics, they will strengthen their understanding of key concepts, practise problem-solving strategies, and develop fluency and reasoning skills. In foundation subjects such as Science, History, Geography, Art, and Computing, pupils will explore new topics, deepen their understanding through practical and investigative activities, and make links across their learning.

The homework set will support classroom learning, helping children to practise key skills, consolidate knowledge, and prepare for upcoming lessons. This may include reading, spellings, maths practice, and topic-based tasks.

We encourage you to take time to look through the overviews carefully so you know what your child will be learning about each week. By working in partnership, we can provide consistent support both at school and at home. Talking with your child about their learning, helping them practise key skills, and showing interest in their work will make a significant difference to their progress and confidence.

If you have any questions about the curriculum or how best to support your child at home, please do not hesitate to get in touch. We look forward to working together to ensure a successful and enjoyable Spring term for all our pupils.

St Vincent's Catholic Primary School Trafford: Reception - EYFS

St Vincent's Catholic Primary School Trafford: Year 1

St Vincent's Catholic Primary School Trafford: Year 2

St Vincent's Catholic Primary School Trafford: Year 3

St Vincent's Catholic Primary School Trafford: Year 4

St Vincent's Catholic Primary School Trafford: Year 5

St Vincent's Catholic Primary School Trafford: Year 6

Stamford Park Willow Tree Project - Meet Vinnie the Duck

School Values: Make a Difference Be Passionate about Learning Be Kind Be Respectful

Everyone worked so hard over the half-term holiday on our litter-picking and recycling challenge. This has helped to keep our community looking beautiful and to help wildlife too.

On Thursday and Friday this week, we welcomed Des Gillan from Willow Goat Crafts into school to help us create an incredible willow sculpture for Stamford Park. Every child from school and Nursery had the chance to take part in this exciting project.

The children did a fantastic job weaving individual pieces of willow to help create Vinnie, who will proudly move to his home on the pond island in Stamford Park in a few weeks’ time.

This has been a wonderful opportunity for the children to think carefully about sustainability, recycling, and caring for the environment. They worked together as a team to create something special for the whole community to enjoy, while also learning about the importance of protecting nature. Their efforts have contributed to a unique piece of art that celebrates wildlife and our green spaces.

Vinnie will help make our park even more beautiful and inspire future generations to care for the planet. We cannot wait for him to be proudly displayed in Stamford Park for everyone to enjoy.

Please sponsor us today: https://gofund.me/a6f267ab3 From Willow to Wonder - please support our Willow Duck project.

Whole School Dates List

School Values: Make a Difference Be Passionate about Learning Be Kind Be Respectful

The key dates have been set for the academic year. On the list, you will see the date, event and location. The full list can be seen on this link St Vincent's Catholic Primary School Trafford: Key School Events and Dates and spring 2 dates can be seen below:

Spring 2 Dates

We are pleased to share the wide range of exciting events we have planned for this half term and look forward to welcoming you to all the parent events.

Attendance and Punctuality Reminders

School Values: Make a Difference Be Passionate about Learning Be Kind Be Respectful

If you have any concerns or need support with your child’s attendance, please do not hesitate to contact the school office to request a call back from our pastoral team. We are here to help and work in partnership with families.

Please note that holidays in term time are not authorised. Before booking any trips, we ask parents to check our term dates to ensure holidays are arranged within the designated school breaks.

You can view the 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 term dates here:

St Vincent's Catholic Primary School Trafford: Term Dates and Times of the School Day

We warmly welcome parents to ask about school life. Your first point of contact is your class teacher. In addition, Mrs Farrell (infant deputy) and Mrs Sutton (junior deputy) and I are available to work in partnership with you to support your child’s learning and wellbeing. We value open communication and welcome all to work together for the benefit of all our pupils.

Yours sincerely,

Mrs A Harrop

Headteacher