A belated building dedication at Eden Primary in Haringey was organised to show how the school had made its “house into a home” since opening in 2011.

Parents and staff at the cross-communal primary — one of the government’s first free schools — enjoyed performances and speeches from the 60 reception class and year one pupils. “It is really caring at this school because the mummies and the daddies are kind and help each other,” said one of the young students.
Eden head Jo Sassienie and school co-founder and governors’ chair Peter Kessler spoke about its progress. Ms Sassienie thanked parents of the first pupils for taking “a leap of faith”.

Demand is being sustained with 30 more students enrolled for the September academic year.
As part of the celebrations, a time capsule filled with items made by the children was buried and Olympic triple jumper Yamile Aldama gave an expert lesson in the rudiments of hop, skip and jump.

Eden parent Sara Borchard said: “This school just felt right from the first moment — all-inclusive and friendly.”

It accepts children from all strands of Judaism and has a handful of non-Jewish pupils. “On iss-ues where different sects of Judaism clash, then we celebrate the clashes,” Mr Kessler said. Eden will also be running adult learning activities.