Harpur Hill Primary School thanks community for support during lockdown

Pupils at Harpur Hill Primary School spell out their gratitude to the community.

Children, staff and governors of a Buxton school have said a huge thank you to the community for its support during lockdown.

Harpur Hill Primary School and Nursery was inundated with gifts and offers of help from individuals, groups and businesses over the four months.

P arents, carers, Buxton Community Church, the Open the Book group, High Peak Scrub Hub, Wild Olive and other friends of the school dropped off home-made cakes, aprons and masks, bath treats, flowers and cards for the staff.

Businesses, such as Morrisons and B&Q, gave Easter eggs, fruit and snacks for the children, books for the library and plants for the school grounds.

Volunteers from the High Peak Food Bank, Buxton Street by Street and other members of the community delivered food boxes and treats to some of the school’s families who were unable to get to the shops.

Headteacher Vicky Giliker said: “All of these gestures are really appreciated and show what a wonderful community we live in. Knowing that people are thinking of us has made a real difference to the children and their families.”

The school was open during lockdown, initially to the children of key workers. Many key worker families changed their working arrangements to look after their children at home and free up places so more youngsters could attend school.

Thanks have been expressed to the key workers in the school’s community, including frontline NHS staff, firefighters, police, care home workers, train drivers, postal and shop workers.

Since June, the Harpur Hill school has welcomed back year 6, nursery, reception and year 1 children, followed by those in years 2, 3, 4 and 5. In the month leading up to the summer holiday, more than 250 children returned to school.

“We are very proud to have welcomed back so many children. They have been amazing,” said Mrs Giliker. “They have adapted to the new routines very quickly and it has been wonderful to hear the school full of their laughter once again.

"These have been unusual times and we want to thank everyone: our families, the children, staff, governors and the wider community for all their support.”