Subject: Scholastic Book Fair
 

Dear Parents and Carers,

We’re delighted to announce that the Scholastic Book Fair is coming to school next week!

The fair will take place on Tuesday 14^th (after school only), Wednesday 15th & Thursday 16th October. It will be open in the morning and after school, including during our parents’ evenings. The specific times are below:

• Morning: 8:15am – 8:45am
• Afternoon: 3:30 pm– 6:00pm
•  

The Book Fair is a fantastic opportunity for children and families to discover exciting new reads, build a love of books, and even find some early Christmas gifts.
 

Every purchase also helps our school — we receive a commission on all sales, which goes directly towards buying new books for our classrooms and libraries. Your support makes a real difference to our reading spaces and resources.
 

You will find the book fair in the library at the Meadow Lane Site and the entrance hall at the Cator Lane site. Both cash and card payments will be accepted.
 

We can’t wait to see you there and to share in the joy of reading together!

Warm regards,

Anna Hodkin

Deputy Head Teacher
 

Subject: Upcoming Parent Talk
14 October – Smartphone Free Childhood

Dear Parents and Carers,
Many of you have expressed an interest in the Smartphone Free Childhood movement and we are therefore delighted to invite you to a talk on the topic of children and smartphone use.

Dr Laura Spells will be joining us on Tuesday 14 October at 7.30pm to share insights, research, and practical guidance on navigating childhood without smartphones. After working as a GP for 5 years, and having three children during her training, Laura realised she had developed an interest in child and adolescent mental health. She stepped away from General Practice and now works as a Specialty Doctor in CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health).
Laura already had concerns as a parent about the challenges she faced with her own children and smartphone use, however these concerns have been amplified by seeing young patients who are struggling in today's modern world with their own mental health. She has become a passionate leader in the Smartphone Free Childhood Campaign and is eager to help families navigate this complex issue.
This talk is designed for likeminded parents and carers who are curious, committed, or somewhere in between. There’s no expectation or obligation—just an open space to listen, learn, and connect with others who share similar values.

To help us to manage numbers and cover the cost of the speaker (£150) and school security for the evening (approx. £30), we kindly ask for a small contribution from attendees of £3 (£3.38 inc. booking fee). To book your ticket please visit Smartphone Free Childhood - Parent Talk | Tuesday 14th October 2025, 7:30pm | Buy Tickets | Ticketlab

If you would like to be more directly involved in the Smartphone Free Childhood movement at The Lanes, by joining the Working Group to advocate and share information, please speak to one of the Working Group or contact Steph directly. We’d love to hear from you.

Thanks
The Lanes Smartphone Free Childhood Working Group
Steph Holmes (stephaniejholmes@hotmail.co.uk), Rachel Burton, Leanne Hall, Helen Faccio, Tori Hallam