Latest News

Keep up to date with all the latest news happening in school at the moment.

• Key worker daycare

  Thu 28 May 2020 L Hughes

  Our daycare provision for children of key workers is now full and we have no room to accommodate any more pupils. We will review all of the provision we offer at the end of each week and we will keep you informed of all developments as soon as we can. Please contact the school office by email with any enquiries. Thank you.

  office@drake.norfolk.sch.uk 

• latest update from the government regarding schools reopening

  Tue 26 May 2020 gov.uk

  Schools and nurseries on track to open to more children from 1 June

  The Prime Minister has confirmed that schools and nurseries across England remain on track to open to more children from 1 June, subject to the Government’s five tests being met. Primary schools will welcome back children in Reception, Year 1 and Year 6, while nurseries and other early years providers will begin welcoming back children of all ages.

  Full details of this announcement can be found here:

  https://www.gov.uk/government/news/pm-confirms-schools-colleges-and-nurseries-on-track-to-begin-phased-reopening

• Daycare for Critical worker families

  Wed 20 May 2020

  Daycare for Children of Critical workers.

  Since March 20^th we have provided Childcare for children of critical workers. We are currently allocating our remaining daycare spaces. All existing families and those who have emailed to let us know they require a space have been accommodated.

  If you previously used Little Pirates for Breakfast and/or After School club and require this facility please email littlepirates@drake.norfolk.sch.uk to notify them of your needs.

• Newsletter from the Library Service

  Wed 20 May 2020

  Please follow the link below to read an edition of a specially curated resource newsletter from the Library Service for those now home-schooling children.

   

  https://norfolkels.files.wordpress.com/2020/05/may-2020-resource-email.pdf

• Reopening 1st June

  Tue 19 May 2020 Louise Rosen

  Please see the letter to all families for details about reopening on 1st June.

  https://www.drake.norfolk.sch.uk/news/

• Gov.UK Guidance on implementing protective measures in education and childcare settings

  Tue 12 May 2020 Department for Education

  Guidance on implementing protective measures in education and childcare settings can be found here:

  https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-implementing-protective-measures-in-education-and-childcare-settings

• Gov.UK Guidance Opening schools and educational settings to more pupils from 1 June: guidance for parents and carers Updated 11 May 2020

  Tue 12 May 2020 Department for Education

  Information for parents and carers to help prepare for the wider opening of nurseries, schools and colleges from 1 June. Read existing guidance about what parents and carers need to know about schools, colleges and other education settings during the coronavirus outbreak.

   

  These are very challenging times for our country. Measures put in place to reduce the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) have been hard for us all, but have kept people safe and saved lives. Keeping people safe continues to be the government’s priority.

  Since 23 March, in line with the scientific advice, nurseries, schools and colleges have remained open to a priority group of children and young people, children of critical workers and vulnerable children. We have been clear that we would review this arrangement in line with scientific advice. We are now past the peak of the virus and the Prime Minister has set out a recovery strategy, while also ensuring that safety remains our absolute priority. This means it is time to begin the phased return of children and young people to nurseries, schools and colleges in a way that is measured, reduces risks and is guided by science.

  Why can more children now attend school and childcare settings?

  We want to get all children back into education as soon as the scientific advice allows because it is the best place for them to learn, and because we know it is good for children’s mental wellbeing to have social interactions with other children, carers and teachers.

  As a result of the huge efforts everyone has made to adhere to strict social distancing measures, the transmission rate of coronavirus has decreased. We anticipate with further progress that we may be able, from the week commencing 1 June, to welcome back more children to early years, school and further education settings. We will only do this provided that the 5 key tests set by government justify the changes at the time, including that the rate of infection is decreasing and the enabling programmes set out in the recovery strategy are operating effectively. As a result, we are asking schools, colleges and childcare providers to plan on this basis, ahead of confirmation that these tests are met.

   

  https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/closure-of-educational-settings-information-for-parents-and-carers/reopening-schools-and-other-educational-settings-from-1-june 

• The Prime Minister's Sunday Briefing

  Sun 10 May 2020 Headteacher Louise Rosen

  This afternoon our Prime Minister announced changes to England’s response to the Coronavirus outbreak.  On Monday in Parliament he has assured us that a document giving further detail will be shared with ministers. As your Headteacher I have no more information than you do so await the promised documents to understand fully the details outlined at the weekend.

  In the meantime, at Drake and Little Pirates, we will continue to make provision for all our families with two teams of staff one on site for families of critical workers and vulnerable children who cannot be looked after at home. At the point of closure, we had to redesign the delivery of an entire curriculum from birth to 11 years. Teachers, leaders and support staff have undertaken an unprecedented piece of work. A virtual staff room and professional development room were also set in place.  The leadership team is on site every day to support both teams. Also on site is a rotating team of site staff, cleaners and cooks, ensuring the school is clean and pupils have a hot meal. Each day every piece of equipment used must be disinfected or set aside for 36-72 hours, every door handle, table surface, book, toy and window opener is cleaned over and over again all through the day. On site staff have been worried for themselves and for their families, but we have ensured a safe and happy place for the children who need us to be open. The pastoral team meets weekly and reviews all vulnerable families and parents who call us with worries or concerns. Every day phone calls are made to families supporting them through these difficult times. Safeguarding has remained a key focus – our safeguarding and health and safety policies have been updated to reflect the changing context.  No one is untouched by this.

  As part of our work we have been exploring ways to safely reopen for pupils. We are acutely aware the impact of closure has had for pupils of all ages.  The leadership team and the governing body are in regular contact with both local and national bodies, however we have not been given any guidance about how we should proceed to reopen. When our school closed at Drake and Little Pirates we had to design a virtual learning world in a matter of days on our own, what is in place currently protects the NHS and Saves Lives. Any change will have to continue to do the same.

• Forest School News

  Mon 04 May 2020

  Check out our Forest School page for some exciting, award winning news!