Oaks Primary Academy Newsletter

To the Oaks Primary Academy community, I extend my sincerest thanks for 5 incredible years working with you all. We have shown that all children are special and capable of inspiring awe and wonder in everyone who meets them but your children have proven to be even greater than that. I have loved every second of my time as Principal of Oaks Primary Academy but since our return in September, the children have filled my heart with pride more than ever before. I have revelled in every moment of every visitor's delight at the learning conversations they have been invited to engage in, revealing the knowledge and wisdom of the next generation. We are in safe hands.

None of this can be achieved without a staff of the highest calibre and I feel truly privileged to have worked with so many talented people in my time at Oaks. I will always be endebted to them and also very proud of them and their countless achievements.

Nor can this be achieved without the support and collaboration of the Oaks community. Our relationship has continued to go from strength to strength, especially during the pandemic, and we are all grateful for everything you have done to make our work easier and which has seen your children thrive and shine.

Together, we have built an academy of the community for the community that models excellence at every turn. Together, we have built an academy that is an IB World School and Ofsted outstanding. Together we have built the future.

Oaks Primary Academy will always hold a very special place in my heart and you have my eternal thanks for sharing your children with me and for all of your support during my time here.

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Stay amazing.

One last time,

have a fabulous weekend...and future.

Mrs Tipple

Notice of additional staff changes from January 2022

Sadly, we must inform you that Mrs Goldfinch-Palmer (Nicola to most of you) and Mrs Featherstone (SENDCo) are leaving Oaks Primary Academy at the end of this current module.

We understand that this is short notice. However, Mrs Featherstone had originally hoped to remain at the Academy into the new year but circumstances have meant that this is unfortunately no longer possible. Mrs Goldfinch-Palmer is off to embark upon a new career which also means she has more time to spend with her family. As these are recent events, we have not been able to share the news with you all sooner and realise that many of you would have liked to pass on your thanks and best wishes to them both. So please share these with the Academy and we will ensure they both receive your kind sentiments.

We would like to express our unconditional gratitude to Mrs Goldfinch-Palmer who has worked in the office at Oaks Primary Academy for three and a half years. In her time here, she has been the centrepin of the Academy and a rock for us and you all. We certainly couldn’t have achieved any of our accolades without her work around the clock.

We welcome Mrs Sarah Goodfellow who will be joining us in January to continue the excellent work of Mrs Goldfinch-Palmer.

We would also like to thank Mrs Featherstone for the amazing work she has done in the Academy and recognise her relentless work for each and every child and their family. Mrs Featherstone’s legacy is one of inclusion, support and nurture for all and robust systems to ensure this continues. We wish her all the best in her future endeavours.

We are delighted to announce that we have access to a highly experienced SENDCo providing outreach support from one of our neighbouring academies whilst we appoint a permanent replacement. Upon our return, she will continue the contact with families as Mrs Featherstone had and so all children will receive their planned educational provision from January onwards.

COVID 19

During the Christmas break please inform the academy office if your child tests positive by email via clo@oaksprimaryacademy.org.uk

If your child/ren have any of these 3 coronavirus (COVID-19) symptoms, even if mild please use the below link to get a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test as soon as possible:

https://www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test

• a high temperature

• a new, continuous cough

• you’ve lost your sense of smell or taste or it’s changed

PCR tests are for people with symptoms, they’re sent to the lab to be checked.

Rapid Lateral flow tests are only for people who DO NOT have symptoms (staff complete such tests twice weekly).

Both tests are free.

Get a PCR test as soon as possible if:

• you've done a rapid lateral flow test and had a positive result or your test sample could not be read (void result)

• you had a PCR test and your test sample could not be read

Merry Christmas from all of us at Oaks Primary Academy

PSQM - Primary Science Quality Mark

Last year, we embarked on a journey to help catapult the quality of our science in school. In order to achieve the Primary Science Quality Mark Award, pupils and all teaching staff required to demonstrate outstanding quality science in all aspects of their learning. To complete this award in a particularly challenging year is an incredible achievement. The science that pupils did at home with their families, whether that was learning how to cook, measuring icicles when we had all of that snow and ice or creating mini volcanoes from ingredients and cooking equipment, all went towards this award. Thank you for all of your support in helping this happen.

For further information about what the PSQM is, please watch the following video. The video was filmed in a school in Cambridgeshire but it represents the 611 schools that were awarded PSQM.