Latest News
Keep up to date with all the latest news happening in school at the moment.
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Headteacher Letter
Tue 19 May 2026Dear Parents and Carers
I hope that this letter finds you, your friends and family in good health.
I am writing to remind you that from Monday 1 June 2026, we will extend our mobile device ban to include Year 10 pupils. This change follows guidance issued by the Department for Education in January 2026.
I recognise that this will be a significant adjustment for Year 10 students, and we greatly appreciate your support in helping to make the transition as smooth as possible. Please take time to discuss this change with your child so they understand the new expectations.
From this date, any pupil who brings a mobile phone or gaming device into school will be required to leave it at reception for the duration of the day. For those who may need access to a phone in case of an emergency, we have phone pouches available.
If your child brings a laptop into school, these arrangements will remain unchanged. Please be assured that all pupils will continue to have full access to school technology throughout the day.
Year 11 mobile phone use from 1st June – 16th June
Year 11 pupils will be able to bring their phones into school but will be expected to keep these in their bags and not visible to younger pupils during break and lunch times.
Year 12 and 13 mobile phone use Term 6
Year 12 and 13 students will continue to be able to bring their phones into the Phoenix Building but will not be allowed to take those phones into the main school or use them in front of younger pupils.
I am pleased to report that our increased designated number has been approved by Kent County Council. This is very welcome news and will support Laleham Gap School in its long-term financial planning.
I would like to extend my sincere thanks to all parents who attended the Friends of Laleham Gap School charity quiz last Friday. Your support was greatly appreciated and contributed to the success of the evening.
I would also like to thank staff and the trustees for organising such an enjoyable event. I am delighted to share that the event raised a total of £240 in support of the school.
Save the Date - Please join us for our annual Cheese and Wine evening on Wednesday 17 June at 6pm in the Wave building.
Wishing you a happy, healthy and sunshine filled half term. See you in term 6.
Best Wishes
Les Milton
Headteacher
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UKHSA Meningitis
Tue 17 Mar 2026The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) confirmed that there has been an outbreak of invasive meningococcal disease in the Canterbury area, with 13 cases identified since Friday 13 March. Two people have died, and a number of others are seriously ill in hospital. The outbreak is linked to a social venue, Club Chemistry, in Canterbury.
Some sixth form students may have socialised in Canterbury and may have visited venues in the city in recent weeks. KCC is in communication with the UKHSA South East Health Protection Team and will act immediately on any advice they provide.
Symptoms to watch for Meningococcal disease can progress very quickly, but it is treatable with antibiotics if caught early. It is essential that you are aware of the symptoms. They can appear in any order, may not all be present, and can initially resemble a bad cold, flu, or even a hangover. The key symptoms include:
• A high fever
• A severe or worsening headache
• A stiff neck
• Sensitivity to bright light
• Drowsiness, confusion, or difficulty waking
• Nausea and vomiting
• Cold hands and feet, limb pain, or pale and mottled skin
• A rash of red or purple spots or blotches that does not fade when you press a glass against it
The glass test:
Press the side of a clear glass firmly against the rash. If the spots do not fade and you can still see them through the glass, this may be a sign of meningococcal septicaemia. Call 999 immediately. On darker skin, check paler areas such as the palms of the hands, soles of the feet, inside the eyelids, or the roof of the mouth.
If your child does not have symptoms but you are concerned, you can call NHS 111 for advice.
A message to share with your son or daughter UKHSA advises that if a friend goes to bed feeling unwell, you should check on them regularly. This is particularly important for young people who may dismiss early symptoms as a hangover or cold. Looking out for each other could save a life.
Further information NHS meningitis symptoms page: www.nhs.uk/conditions/meningitis/symptoms GOV.UK meningitis guidance:
www.gov.uk/government/publications/meningitis-signs-and-symptomsposter UKHSA is leading the public health response to this outbreak and is working with the NHS to identify and treat close contacts. If we receive any information that is relevant to Laleham Gap School students or families, we will share it with you immediately.
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Headteacher Letter
Tue 17 Mar 202617 March 2026
Dear Parents and Carers
I hope that this letter finds you, your friends and family in good health.
YR8 Residential Trip
Our Year 8 students are eagerly looking forward to their upcoming residential trip with PGL at Grosvenor Hall. During the visit, they will have the opportunity to take part in a range of exciting and adventurous activities, including abseiling, climbing, and team-building challenges. Evenings will be filled with campfires and social activities, giving students plenty of time to relax and enjoy time together. We can’t wait to hear all about their adventures when they return!
St Patricks Day
☘️ Today all staff and students are invited to wear green to mark St Patrick's day. We continue to appreciate your support in celebrating our national days. This is an important part of us celebrating diversity and understanding identity.
Tomorrow at 9.00am please join us for our Parent Coffee morning in the Wave Building. During the session, we will discuss several key topics, including:
- The mobile phone ban for Year 10 pupils
- The Education White Paper
- The designated number consultation
Mr. Payne will provide a brief update on the LPPA Award and our ongoing fundraising campaigns. In addition, Chloe Henderson, our new Occupational Therapist, will share insights into her work within the school so far. We look forward to seeing you there.
Please see attached information directly from the Department for Education regarding the school’s white paper. I am happy to discuss any questions that you have regarding this at our coffee morning tomorrow. If you are unable to attend but have questions, please email me at secretary@lgs.kent.sch.uk.
You may have noticed in the Wave carpark we now have a barber bus permanently parked. Our intention is to use this for a small number of secondary phase pupils who have vocational interest in hair and beauty. We are in the process of refurbishing the bus, and I am seeking anyone who has access to kitchen worktops and the skills to install them. I am also looking for people who have skills in vehicle vinyl wraps. If you can help, please contact me at secretary@lgs.kent.sch.uk.
Please do not forget Red Nose Day on Friday. Bring a £1 to wear non-school uniform and/or buy a red nose for £2. Thank you for your support in helping the pupils raise money and awareness for those in need.
Best wishes
Les Milton
Headteacher
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Headteacher Letter
Mon 23 Feb 202623 February 2026
Dear Parents and Carers
I hope that this letter finds you, your friends and family in good health.
Welcome back to term four. I trust you have had an enjoyable half term holiday. It has been lovely to see so many smiling faces returning today.
My main purpose for writing today is to reduce any anxieties surrounding todays education White Paper (Every child Achieving and Thriving) and accompanying media spotlight.
Key points:
- No change until 2029
- EHCP’s will remain
- This is a White Paper which will be consulted on before it can become a bill, before it can be an act of parliament (long and slow process)
Wednesday 18 March at 9.00am Parent Coffee morning in the Wave Building.
A chance to catch up with staff and other parents over coffee and some cake. This will be an opportunity to discuss the mobile phone ban for YR10 pupils, the Education White Paper, and designated number consultation.
Friday 6 March we will be celebrating World Book Day/ Career Dress up day. A chance for us all to dress up as characters from our favourite books or as ‘what we want to in the future’. Full details to follow shortly.
If you would like more information on today’s announcements, please continue to read.
The following is an extract from today’s White Paper
After legislation takes effect, children with an existing EHCP will have a needs assessment as they approach the end of each phase of education. The local authority will determine whether they require a Specialist Provision Package and therefore a continued EHCP; if so, a new EHCP will be created based on the relevant Package, supported by an Individual Support Plan setting out day-to-day educational provision. If they do not require a Package, they will move to an Individual Support Plan in a mainstream school and receive support through the Universal and Targeted layers. The first cohort to transition will be pupils at the end of primary, secondary and post-16 in 2029/30, with assessments from September 2029 and moves to the new system from September 2030; those moving to Individual Support Plans will keep their existing EHCP until the end of that academic year. All children transitioning from an EHCP to an Individual Support Plan will retain the right to request a mainstream placement, and no child will move from a special school or college unless they choose to do so.
This means that all pupils who have a special school place in September 2029 will be able to stay in a special school until the end of their education, unless they choose to move to a mainstream setting. Below are two links for the full details.
In the White Paper a timeline has been published which you can see below:
If you would like to discuss with me or have any specific questions, please email me at secretary@lgs.kent.sch.uk
Best wishes
Les Milton
Headteacher
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Headteacher Letter
Fri 30 Jan 202630 January 2026
Dear Parents and Carers
I hope that this letter finds you, your friends and family in good health.
Wednesday 11 & Thursday 12 February Drama Club Production
Join us for this year’s Drama Club Production of OLIVER!
We have a range of students from year 7 to year 11 showing off their performing arts skills. The story will take us to 1830’s London where we follow the tale of Oliver Twist, an orphan who gets drawn into a gang of pickpockets.
Will he be able to take the right path?
With memorable songs including “Food, Glorious Food”, “Consider Yourself” and “As Long As He Needs Me” you are in for a thoroughly enjoyable evening!
Bookings details to follow.
The Department for Education released new guidance on the 19th of January 2026 regarding mobile phones in schools.
Under the title, Prohibiting the use of mobile phones in school, it states that all schools should be mobile phone-free environments by default; anything other than this should be by exception only. We will implement this change in term 6, so it will only impact our current Yr10 pupils.
The guidance also states:
Schools should consider whether students in the sixth form should be permitted access to their mobile phone at certain and limited times and locations, reflecting this period of education as one of increased independence and responsibility, without compromising the school’s policy on the use of mobile phones for other pupils. This should include prohibiting the use of mobile phones by sixth-form students in front of younger pupils. We will be discussing this further with staff and pupils.
We will also provide opportunities for us to discuss meeting individual needs of some pupils with them and their families.
Schools in England should ban mobile phones all days says education secretary - BBC Newsround
Monday 2 February is YR10 and Primary parents evening. A chance for you to connect with teachers and better understand your child’s progress in a friendly and supportive environment.
Term ends Friday 13 February and term four starts Monday 23 February.
Wednesday 18 March at 9.00am Parent Coffee morning in the Wave Building A chance to catch up with staff and other parents over coffee and some cake. This will be an opportunity to discuss mobile phone use in school.
Best Wishes
Les Milton
Headteacher
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Merry Christmas from LGS!
Fri 19 Dec 2025Wishing you a very Merry Christmas from everyone at Laleham Gap. Please enjoy the digital Christmas cards made by our Year 7's!
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Headteacher Letter
Fri 12 Dec 202512 December 2025
Dear Parents and Carers
I hope that this letter finds you, your friends and family in good health.
Thank you to those of you who joined us for the coffee morning on Wednesday 12 November. It is a great opportunity for you to meet other parents. Mr Payne gave an update on the Parent Partnership Award, and we also had a member of the child centred policing team visit to talk about partnerships with schools and they ways they can support staff and children.
We have a busy few weeks coming up in December. Some dates for you to note are as follows:
Yr 10, 11, 12 & 13 Christmas Dinner Thursday 11 December
Friday 12 December Primary Christmas Fair
Yr 7, 8 & 9 Christmas Dinner Tuesday 16 December
Christmas wrapping room Wednesday 17 December
Primary Christmas Dinner and Xmas Factor Thursday 18 December
Secondary Talent Show Friday 19 December
Christmas is a time for sharing, giving, and celebrating together. As we enjoy the festive season, we kindly remind everyone that our school is a nut-free environment. If you are sending your child in with any form of food item, please ensure they are shop bought, sealed and nut free.
Term ends Friday 19 December and starts back on Monday 5 January 2026. Wishing you all a very happy Christmas and a Peaceful New Year.
Best Wishes
Les Milton
Headteacher
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Children in Need - Non Uniform Day
Wed 19 Nov 2025Dear Parents and Carers,
Due to a number of national events, mock examinations, and school activities that coincided last week, we decided to postpone celebrating Children in Need. However, some children and families have contacted us to ask about making a donation.We have therefore arranged to mark Children in Need this week with a non-uniform day on Friday 21 November.
All children are invited to wear their own clothing for the day. There is an optional donation of £1, which will go directly to the Children in Need charity.
Thank you for your continued support.
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Headteacher Letter
Fri 17 Oct 202517 October 2025
Dear Parents and Carers
I hope that this letter finds you, your friends and family in good health.
Last Friday the school held our Hello Yellow and Mental Health Awareness Wellbeing Day. Pupils paid £1 to join in on a non-uniform day and were encouraged to wear their favourite item of yellow clothing. We raised £75 for the Hello Yellow charity. We also held a cake sale to raise funds for the Still Water charity and raised £245.
Our next Parent Coffee morning will be on Wednesday 12 November from 9am in the Wave building. It will be an opportunity to catch up, but there will be some updates from appropriate staff regarding the Leading Parent Partnership Award around changes that have been implemented based on parent feedback. We also have a member of the Child Centred Policing Team coming in to explain more about their partnership with local school and some of the ways in which they will be able to support staff and children.
Term 2 for pupils starts back on Wednesday 29 October. There will be staff training on Monday 27 and Tuesday 28 October.
I wish you all a peaceful and restful half term.
Best Wishes
Les Milton
Headteacher
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Child Centred Policing Team Collaboration
Tue 16 Sep 2025Dear Parents and Carers,
I hope you have had a good start to the school year and that your children have returned to school successfully and have begun to settle.
I am writing to let you know that last week, Laleham Gap welcomed a visit from the Child Centred Policing Team to discuss collaborative work and support for children and families. Some pupils may have seen officers or their vehicles around the school, but please be assured this was a planned and positive visit, marking the beginning of a closer working relationship with Kent Police.
The Team work closely with schools and will be visiting us regularly. Their aim is to help children and families understand the supportive role of the police, in a safe and educational way. Their visits will be starting from this week. Among other things, they will:
- Support the delivery of lessons from the Police Education (PolEd) curriculum;
- Attend parent events such as Question and Answer sessions or coffee mornings; • Support education days where the officers will talk to children about their roles, uniform, equipment and vehicles;
- Arrange bike security marking schemes to help in the event of a lost or stolen bicycle.
You will see officers visiting the school over the coming weeks, including at drop-off and pick-up times. We are also exploring suitable dates for a parent coffee morning with the team. If you see them, please feel free to say hello and help reassure your children that this is a positive partnership - no one is in trouble.
This initiative expands the relationship that we already have with Kent Police as an Operation Encompass School.
If you’d like to learn more about how schools and agencies work together to support families, please refer to the Working Together to Safeguard Children guidance. A short explanatory video is also available on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?
These links will be active in the digital version of this letter, which will be uploaded to the school website this week.
Please also note that we continue to work towards achieving the Leading Parent Partnership Award, and we are always looking for new ways to support and engage with you.
I look forward to meeting with you at our next parent centred event to answer any questions or listen to ideas you may have, or, simply catch up. Please look out for further details soon.
Kind regards,
Mr Payne
Assistant Headteacher
(Safeguarding and Wellbeing
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