St John The Baptist
Newsletter

18.07.25

Dear Parents and Carers, As we come to the end of another academic year, this will be our final newsletter before we break for the summer holidays. There have been so many wonderful moments over the past year, far too many...

Dear Parents and Carers,

As we come to the end of another academic year, this will be our final newsletter before we break for the summer holidays.

There have been so many wonderful moments over the past year, far too many to even begin to list. So instead, I want to take this opportunity simply to say thank you.

Thank you to our families, for your continued support and for working with us to help your children thrive. Thank you to our dedicated staff, who have worked tirelessly throughout the year and who thoroughly deserve a restful summer break. And thank you to our incredible children, who bring energy, curiosity and joy into our school every day. It is a privilege to watch them grow, and we are proud of each and every one of them.

Please note that school remains open on Monday and Tuesday next week. We look forward to seeing the children for these final two days of learning before the summer holidays begin.

Take care of yourselves over the break, and we look forward to welcoming you all back in September, refreshed and ready for another exciting year ahead.

Warm wishes,

Ms Toni Mason

Summer Fayre July 2025

A Wonderful afternoon of fun and community!

Despite the temperamental weather, our Summer Fayre was a truly fantastic event, filled with laughter, excitement, and a strong sense of community spirit.

From traditional games and craft stalls to delicious treats and entertainment, there was something for everyone to enjoy. A huge thank you goes out to all the parents and carers who generously gave their time to help set up and run the stalls.

We’re so proud of what we achieved together – rain or shine!

Here are just a few photos from the day that capture the fun and energy of our Summer Fayre. 📸

Hackney’s Summer Food Support: Free Meals & Clubs for Families

This summer holiday, Hackney offers a range of free food options and family meals for local children, thanks to a strong partnership between Hackney Council, charities, and community groups. Here’s what’s on offer in Summer 2025.

Holiday Activities & Food (HAF) Programme – Hackney Borough

Hackney is delivering the Holiday Activities & Food (HAF) programme during school holidays in July and August 2025. Eligible children (aged 5–16, up to 18 for certain SEND) in receipt of benefits-related free school meals can join a variety of free holiday clubs—sports, drama, arts, mental wellbeing sessions—with a healthy free meal each day.

Clubs run weekdays, 21 July to 29 August, including adventure playgrounds at Hackney Marsh, Shoreditch, and Shakespeare Walk, with food provided on site. SEND-friendly provision is included, with specialist support and inclusive programming. Spaces are limited and allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. Hackney residents get priority. Out-of-borough children may need to provide proof of eligibility. If not yet registered for free school meals, families can call Hackney Council or email PupilBenefits@hackney.gov.uk.

🤝 Kitchen Social / Emergency Free Holiday Meals

The Mayor’s Emergency Free Holiday Meals initiative provides funding for Kitchen Social hubs across London, including Hackney. These hubs offer free meals and safe, friendly spaces during holidays. No eligibility checks needed—open to all families and children in the borough.

Use the Mayor’s postcode search tool to locate your nearest hub delivering meals and holiday support in Hackney.

🍲 FoodCycle Hackney – Community Hot Meals

Every Thursday at 12:30 pm, FoodCycle Hackney serves a free hot meal open to all at the New Kingshold Community Centre, Ainsworth Road, E9 7LP. No booking required, accessible and family-friendly.

🛍️ Hackney Foodbank Summer Lunch Club & Packed Lunches

Hackney Foodbank runs a Summer Lunch Club, providing packed lunches to children during the summer holiday—available at multiple distribution sites across the borough. These include:

St John’s Hoxton Crypt (Pitfield Street, Mondays)
Our Lady & St Joseph Church (Balls Pond Road, Tuesdays)
The Leaside Trust (E5 area, Wednesdays)
St Mary’s Church, Stoke Newington (Thursdays)
Florence Bennett Centre, Hoxton (Saturdays)

Lunches include sandwiches, fruit, juice, and snacks, served on a first-come, first-served basis. The 2025 schedule begins mid‑July through early September (excluding holiday closures).

💷 Hackney Household Support Fund – Holiday Vouchers

The Household Support Fund, active in Hackney until March 2026, issues holiday food vouchers automatically to children eligible for FSM in state schools. These vouchers are distributed through schools, with no direct application required. Residents may also apply for discretionary support via the council’s Here to Help service.

🍽️ Community Kitchens & Nutrition Education (Eat Club)

Hackney residents can also access the Hackney Community Kitchens delivered by Eat Club—family cooking sessions that teach affordable, nutritious meal prep skills. Though not free meals in the traditional sense, these sessions help families cook healthy food affordably and sustainably. Ideal for building long-term food resilience.

📊 Summary Table

Service / Initiative	Who Can Attend	What’s Provided
Hackney HAF Programme	FSM‑eligible children (age 5–16)	Free holiday clubs + daily healthy meal
Kitchen Social Hubs (Mayor’s Fund)	Any Hackney family, no eligibility checks	Free nutritious meal & supportive space
FoodCycle Hackney	Anyone, drop-in	Free hot community meal (Thursdays at 12:30)
Foodbank Summer Lunch Club	Children in need, all ages	Packed lunches at local centres
Household Support Fund	FSM‑eligible children	Food vouchers via schools
Eat Club Community Kitchens	Local families	Cooking courses and nutritious meal workshops

Term Dates for Next School Year

Here are the dates again for the new school year.

A reminder about holidays in term time…

We do not authorise holidays in term time under any circumstances. Parents and Carers, please ensure that you do not book holidays or flights for before term ends or for after term has begun. {lease use these dates if you want to book ahead.

Every day in school matters. All requests for leave during term time are monitored by the Headteacher who may wish to meet with you to discuss your request further.