Welcome to Elmhurst Primary School!

Elmhurst Primary is a large, highly successful primary school in the heart of London’s East End. The diverse multicultural composition of staff and pupils reflects the local community and there is a friendly yet purposeful ethos about our school. All children, regardless of their individual needs, are encouraged to strive for their personal best and we aim to help.

Drama and Partner Talk play a huge part in our everyday school life. Through these, children express opinions and share their ideas with each other. This empowers them, helps them to generate and develop their own ideas and become more articulate individuals and better writers.

We use the RWInc Synthetic Phonics Scheme with a high rate of success to teach literacy in Key Stage 1 and Year 3. Teachers and teaching assistants work with smaller groups where teaching is specifically targeted to meet the needs of the children in their group. Where appropriate the older children are also taught using RWInc.

In Key Stage 2 the teaching of literacy is also through reading. We use a scheme called SFA which carefully selects interesting books chosen to suit the needs of the children. They regularly read in pairs, discuss in groups and feedback to the rest of the class. Children are also expected and encouraged to read regularly at home.

At our school children are encouraged to give of their best in the classroom and to develop their talents and have fun outside of lesson time too. We have a large number of lunch time and after-school clubs ranging from drumming, Salsa dancing and electric guitar to cricket and basketball. Children also have the opportunity of attending 6 different language classes weekly. We run extra after school booster classes in English, maths and science for years 2 and 6, as well as an Easter and summer holiday school teaching these subjects to our year 6 children. We are rolling out the teaching of French to KS2 children over the next few years and have already made a start in year 3.

Most classes in Key Stage 2 are encouraged to play a musical instrument (we have 60 violins and 60 recorders) taught by a specialist music teacher. All classes do short fitness sessions every day. We have thriving Gifted and Talented programmes taught by a specialist teacher which lead to very high quality musical, dance and drama performances.

Our school site is very welcoming and well maintained with play structures in the playground and a proper sports’ hall. We have excellent resources, a library, a computer suite, computers and interactive whiteboards in every classroom.

Our recent outstanding OfSTED report reflects the work that the Elmhurst team puts into our children. You are most welcome to visit – just give us a call!

Shahed Ahmed, Head Teacher