Latest News | Drapers Mills Primary Academy

UPDATE: Re-opening in January

Thu 31 Dec 2020

Dear parents / carers.

You may be aware that the Government has just announced that the opening of Secondary schools and a few Primary schools will be delayed. This does not affect us at Drapers Mills Primary Academy and we will be open to all children on Monday 4th January as previously arranged.

I hope this message finds you all well and enjoying the holidays and we look forward to seeing you next week.

Best wishes.

Mr Manclark

Headteacher

BAFTA Kids at Home for Christmas with Place2Be

Sat 19 Dec 2020

Christmas greetings from presenters Leah & Ricky Boleto, Lindsey Russell and Ben Shires as they share their favourite festive films and TV shows; Christmas traditions; what they’re looking forward to watching this year and well-being tips for the whole family.

You can see their video message HERE.

COVID-19 UPDATE: Changes to self isolation period

Mon 14 Dec 2020

Good afternoon to you all. Because of a change in government guidelines reducing isolation periods from 14 to 10 days (see HERE for further details), children and staff in the following year groups who have been asked to isolate are able to return back to school tomorrow (Tuesday 15th December).

Year 6 (originally not due back until 15th December)

Year 3 (originally not due back until 16th December)

Year 5 (school dinner children, originally not due back until 4th January)

We are really looking forward to seeing everybody at school for the last few days of term.

Mr J Manclark

Headteacher

SAVE THE CHILDREN: Xmas Jumper Day

Thu 10 Dec 2020

Although Save the Children's Xmas Jumper Day is meant to be tomorrow, Friday 11th December, the school have decided that because many children are self isolating this week we will defer this until next week.

We would be happy for children to wear their Xmas jumpers with their school uniform on the last day of term, Thursday 17th December. This is completely optional. Children are free to wear their school uniform as normal if they do not want to wear a Xmas jumper.

If parents are in a position to make a £1 donation, the school will forward this to Save the Children charity.

Thank you all.

Mr J Manclark

Headteacher

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT: School closed on Friday 18th December

Wed 09 Dec 2020

Dear Parents / carers

You may have seen the recent Government announcement that schools will have an additional closure day on Friday 18th December. The Government have made this decision because staff may need to continue to work in the first week of the Christmas holidays to support track and trace.

I can confirm that the school will be closed to pupils on this day and our last day will now be Thursday 17th December. We apologise for the late notice but we have only just been informed by the Government.

IMPORTANT: If your child develops symptoms and is tested positive for COVID-19 over the Christmas holidays, the Government have issued clear guidance about when you should inform the school and when this can be managed by NHS Test & Trace.

When you need to contact the school:

If your child has symptoms either on Friday 18th or Saturday 19th then tests positive for COVID-19 on or before Wednesday 23rd December, please contact TKAT Centre between 10:00 and 14:00 by either phoning 07841 967 584 or Emailing to covid@tkat.org

When you make contact please be sure to tell us your child’s name, Year group, when they first developed symptoms and the date you received confirmation.

When you should not contact the school:

If your child has developed symptoms after Saturday 19th December or more than 48 hours after they were last in school. In this instance, please contact NHS Test & Trace. If your child has a positive test result which returns after Wednesday 23rd December. In this instance, please contact NHS Test & Trace.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank parents and carers for their ongoing support during this difficult term, wishing them a happy Christmas and a prosperous new year. Let’s hope that 2021 is a more positive one for us all.

The new term starts on Monday 4^th January when we look forward to seeing all children return.

Yours sincerely

Mr J Manclark

Headteacher

IMPORTANT advice to all parents: Another case of Covid-19 in school.

Mon 07 Dec 2020

Dear Parents / carers,

We have been made aware that one of our Midday Meal Supervisors at Drapers Mills Primary Academy has a confirmed positive case of coronavirus.

The children in year 5 who have school dinners and who would have been in close contact with the individual who tested positive have received a letter informing them that they must stay at home for 14 days. Children in year 6 may also have been in close contact but as they are already isolating because of an additional case within their year group, no further action needs to be taken.

We know that you may find this concerning but we are continuing to monitor the situation and are working closely with Public Health England. This letter is to inform you of the current situation and provide advice on how to support your child. Please be reassured that for most people, coronavirus (COVID-19) will be a mild illness.

Unless your class or bubble is closed, the rest of the school remains open and children in other year groups should continue to attend as normal if they remain well.

Full communication can be found HERE.

Yours sincerely

Mr J Manclark

Headteacher

IMPORTANT advice to all parents: Another case of Covid-19 in Year 6.

Fri 04 Dec 2020

Dear Parents / carers

We have been made aware of another child in year 6 who has tested positive for COVID 19.

We know that you may find this concerning but we are continuing to monitor the situation and are working closely with Public Health England. This communication is to inform you of the current situation and provide advice on how to support your child. Please be reassured that for most people, coronavirus (COVID-19) will be a mild illness.

The children and staff in the year group who would have been in close contact with the individual who has tested positive for coronavirus (COVID-19) have received a letter informing them that they must stay at home for 14 days.

All classes in year 6 have now been closed for this period.

The rest of the school remains open and children in other year groups should continue to attend as normal if they remain well.

Full communication can be found HERE.

Yours sincerely

Mr J Manclark

Headteacher

IMPORTANT advice to all parents: Single case of Covid-19 in Year 3.

Fri 04 Dec 2020

I

Dear Parents / carers

We have been made aware of a member of staff in year 3 who has tested positive for COVID 19.

We know that you may find this concerning but we are continuing to monitor the situation and are working closely with Public Health England. This communication is to inform you of the current situation and provide advice on how to support your child. Please be reassured that for most people, coronavirus (COVID-19) will be a mild illness.

The children and staff in the year group who would have been in close contact with the individual who has tested positive for coronavirus (COVID-19) have received a letter informing them that they must stay at home for 14 days.

Both classes in year 3 have been closed for this period.

The rest of the school remains open and children in other year groups should continue to attend as normal if they remain well.

Full communication can be found HERE.

Yours sincerely

Mr J Manclark

Headteacher

IMPORTANT advice to all parents: Single case of Covid-19 in Shakespeare Class (year 6)

Wed 02 Dec 2020

Dear Parents / carers

We have been made aware of child in Shakespeare Class (year 6) who has tested positive for COVID 19.

We know that you may find this concerning but we are continuing to monitor the situation and are working closely with Public Health England. This communication is to inform you of the current situation and provide advice on how to support your child. Please be reassured that for most people, coronavirus (COVID-19) will be a mild illness.

The children and staff in the class who would have been in close contact with the individual who has tested positive for coronavirus (COVID-19) have received a letter informing them that they must stay at home for 14 days.

Shakespeare class has been closed for this period.

The rest of the school remains open and children in other year groups should continue to attend as normal if they remain well.

Full communication can be found HERE.

Yours sincerely

Mr J Manclark

Headteacher

IMPORTANT advice to all parents: Single case of Covid-19 in Butterworth Class (year 2)

Tue 01 Dec 2020

Dear Parents / carers

We have been made aware of child in Butterworth Class (year 2) who has tested positive for COVID 19.

We know that you may find this concerning but we are continuing to monitor the situation and are working closely with Public Health England. This communication is to inform you of the current situation and provide advice on how to support your child. Please be reassured that for most people, coronavirus (COVID-19) will be a mild illness.

The children and staff in the class who would have been in close contact with the individual who has tested positive for coronavirus (COVID-19) have received a letter informing them that their child must stay at home for 14 days.

Butterworth class has been closed for this period.

The rest of the school remains open and children in other year groups should continue to attend as normal if they remain well.

Full communication can be found HERE.

Yours sincerely

Mr J Manclark

Headteacher