Noticeboard

Dear parents / carers.

Often, as we come to the end of a school term we have to say a few goodbyes. Unfortunately, this term is no exception and it is with huge regret that we will be saying farewell to a number of our fantastic staff members. Miss Barrett (year 3 teacher), Mrs Kirkpatrick (year 3 teacher) and Miss Ellison (teaching assistant) will all be leaving us for pastures new at the end of this term.

I am sure you will join me in thanking them for all the hard work and commitment they have given to Drapers Mills Primary Academy and for everything they have done for the school in their time with us. They have all been with us for a number of years (Miss Barrett has been with the school since 2002 !!!) and their contribution to our school's recent successes cannot be measured.

We are losing good friends and we wish them all the very best for the future and they will be sorely missed.

This will mean that as from January there will be some changes to the adults teaching in some of the classes. These have been highlighted below: -

Reception: Mrs Baker (Carle) and Mrs Urban (Murphy)

Year 1: Mrs Feuillatre (Freedman) and Mrs Olive (Donaldson)

Year 2: Mrs Bratch (Butterworth) and Mrs Taylor (Andreae)

Year 3: Mrs Hurley & Miss Pope (Browne) and Miss Moore (Blyton)

Year 4: Mr Chantler (Allsburg) and Mrs Marks (Baddiel)

Year 5: Mrs Osborne (Tsang) and Ms Rees (Sachar)

Year 6: Mrs Jennings-Payne (Rowling) and Miss Lehan (Cowell)

The children will be meeting their new teachers before they break up for the Christmas holidays.

Mr J Manclark

Headteacher

A celebration of some of the fantastic learning that the children have been doing in school this week. 

Unfortunately, the increasing levels of staff absence due to sickness (including Covid) is making it extremely difficult to ensure that all classes in school have adults available to teach them on a daily basis and even more difficult to ensure that children are safe and sufficiently supervised during their breaks.

So that there are sufficient adults in school to ensure the safety of all involved, I have made the extremely difficult decision to close years 3 and 4 until the end of the day on Friday 10^th December.

The children are to return to school on Monday 13^th December to enjoy the final week of term.

If staff return from their absence and we are able to do so, the children may be invited back to school earlier. This will be reviewed next week and communicated with parents.

Work will be organised for the children to complete whilst they are not at school. Your child’s class teachers will be in touch shortly.

I appreciate and regret the inconvenience this may cause and hope that you understand that this decision has not been made lightly. We will, of course, keep you updated of any changes to this arrangement.

Yours sincerely

Mr J Manclark

Headteacher

Unfortunately, due to an increasing level of staff absence due to sickness, I have made the extremely difficult decision to close the year 3 classes. Pupils in Browne and Blyton classes are therefore being asked to stay away from school for the next 48 hours, returning on Thursday 2^nd December when staff will be returning from their Covid-19 isolation period.

Work will be sent home with the children to complete whilst they are not at school.

I appreciate and regret the inconvenience this may cause and hope that you understand that this decision has not been made lightly.

Yours sincerely

Mr J Manclark

Headteacher

Dear Parents / Carers

We have been advised by Public Health England that there has been a number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 within the school setting.

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 school setting remains open and your child should continue to attend as normal if they remain well.    

Unless your child is showing symptoms there is no need for them to be absent from school, however, it has been suggested that they should take a PCR test if they have been in close contact with an individual that has tested positive. Positive cases have been found in the following classes: -

• Butterworth Class ( year 2)
• Blyton Class (year 3)
• Browne Class (year 3) 
• Baddiel Class (year 4)
• Sachar Class (year 5)
•   Tsang Class (year 5)

You can obtain a PCR test via Get a free PCR test to check if you have coronavirus (COVID-19) - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) or by calling 119. 

When ordering a PCR test it is important to check the box (online) or tell 119 ‘I’ve been told to get a test by my health protection team’ and not ‘I’ve been told to get a test by my school or nursery’. Further guidance can be found at Guidance for contacts of people with confirmed coronavirus (COVID-19) infection who do not live with the person - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

The school are currently reviewing it's current Covid-19 control measures with the local Health Protection Team and will share any changes with parents in due course.

Thank you. 

Mr J Manclark

Headteacher

COVID-19 UPDATE: Because of an increase in the number of positive cases reported in both our local and school community, there are a couple of contingency measures that the school are putting into place immediately to reduce the risk of transmission: -

* Staff will return to wearing face-masks in public areas, including at the start and end of each day when meeting with parents.

* Parents will be asked to wear face-masks if they enter the school building - including the Reception area.

Staff will continue to ensure that across the school there are high levels of good hand hygiene, with children, staff and any visitors washing and/or using alcohol gel when the enter or leave the school building. They will also ensure that any working areas are well ventilated at all times. 

Parents are asked to ensure that if children show any symptoms of Covid-19 they do not come to school and arrange to be tested.

We thank you for your ongoing support and will keep you updated of any further updates. 

Mr Manclark

Headteacher

A celebration of some of the fantastic learning that the children have been doing in school this week. 

A celebration of some of the fantastic learning that the children have been doing in school this week. 

A celebration of some of the fantastic learning that the children have been doing in school this week. 

A celebration of some of the fantastic learning that the children have been doing in school this week.