Latest News

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

• Wider re-opening of Drake Primary: Parent survey for all pupils

  Thu 11 Jun 2020 Headteacher

  Dear Families

  Firstly, I would like to thank you for the excellent work you have done at home to prepare your children for returning to school. When teachers talked to the children in classrooms, many already understood and knew exactly what to do with ‘safe spaces’ and hand washing. You will not be surprised to hear that the children’s behaviour in all year groups has been exemplary. 

  Learning does look different at the moment, and pupils have done really well to manage the change to classrooms.  As you know we have focused this terms curriculum on learning key knowledge and skills needed for transition to new year groups. We have also focused on sport and, of course, PSHE and children’s positive mental health. Mrs Booth has ensured additional learning through music, the Big Sing and a Ukulele project.  We will be having a virtual sports day at home and school later in the term.

  The high school has contacted year 6 pupils and is setting plans for a virtual transition at the moment. Mrs Hall, Mr. Woolacott and Mrs. Goff are working with high school colleagues to undertake transition meetings.

  We have received a great deal of emails and messages of support and praise for all that the staff have done in order to open on June 1^st to Reception, Year 1 and Year 6 pupils and this has been gratefully received by everyone.

  In recent days I, like you, have been watching the news and it is clear many decisions are left to us in our local communities. At Drake and Little Pirates, we are well supported by Norfolk County Council who have provided templates for the risk assessments that you have seen on our website. Chris Snudden (Director of Learning and Inclusion) and Sara Tough (Executive Director of Children’s Services) meet regularly with head teachers and are well aware of what is happening across the county in schools. At Drake we are proud to be one of only 52% of schools nationally, that opened for pupils in Reception, Year 1 and Year 6, in addition to the children of key workers . This was only possible as a result of the entire staff team and our governing body working together to make it happen and I know you have really appreciated the commitment to our school and the children that everyone has shown.

  As we look forward to planning to open to more pupils, we will need to know more about how many pupils we might expect to welcome back to school; we can then see what would need to be in place for the required social distancing, cleaning, staggered start and finish times, breaks and lunches. This will clarify if we need to ask our local authority to support the wider opening of Drake Primary with additional resources. Unfortunately, given recent announcements, we now have a short time to plan so I would ask all families, including those who are already here in school with their year groups or in our Key Worker Rooms, to complete the questionnaire as soon as possible (see the link on our website and on Parent Hub). I know that these decisions are not easy but we will close the questionnaire at midday Monday 15^th June.

   

  https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=lOM_8mowLU-yDq7UATSAseUnbvrjOndHmB42zncZPqdUOVAzMUc4UU1ONEVNNUwxQzZFUlFJMFNNUS4u

   

  Thank you for all your support,

  Louise Rosen.

• Help us win £5000 for the school library!

  Mon 08 Jun 2020 Mr Hughes

  Please follow this link:

  https://www.nationalbooktokens.com/schools

  and fill in the nomination form to help our school win lots of money to spend on library books!

  The more nominations we have, the greater our chance of winning.

  Thank you!

• Entering school grounds

  Fri 05 Jun 2020 Mrs Rosen

  Dear Families,

  Please remember not to enter or attempt to enter the school or school grounds. Any communication with school should be via email, telephone or post. In order to maintain staff and pupil safety please remain socially distanced near the school gates at drop-off or pick-up. Thank for your support.

• Children coming to school

  Thu 04 Jun 2020 Mrs Rosen

  Dear Families, 

  Please do not send children into school if they display any signs or symptoms of illness at all. Although coughs and sneezes may just be hayfever or colds, we cannot be certain and staff and other pupils may be put at risk of coronavirus infection. If you are in any doubt, please keep your child at home. Thank you for your support.

• Reopening update

  Mon 01 Jun 2020 Mrs Rosen
  Dear Families,
  Thank you to everyone who dropped off their child today for being so polite, patient and respectful of social distancing. You all made a potentially difficult process much easier.
  
  Please remember not to just drop children off and leave as this may put others at risk.
  
  The school’s current provision for Reception, Year 1 and Year 6 is set for this week and we will not be taking in any additional pupils. We will review this during the week in time for Monday 8th June. If you are still thinking of sending your child back to school in any of those year groups, please contact the school office by email: office@drake.norfolk.sch.uk