Second Lockdown update – 6th November

With the second lockdown now in place, we have a clearer picture of what we will be able to do for the next four weeks.

Our staff will still be teaching in nearly all of the schools, delivering lessons as normal, with stringent attention to social distancing and hygiene. This is in accordance with Government guidance, keeping schools open.

Under the lockdown regulations no one is allowed to leave home for extra-curricular music or drama tuition. The Kettering Road Music and Arts Centre will be closed to visitors, and we will not be able to deliver face-to-face sessions for our County Groups, Contemporary Centres, Early Years, Musical Stars, Youth Theatre, or Individual Tuition.

Where teaching cannot take place, we will be aiming to deliver as much of this activity on-line as possible: Teachers will contact parents about individual lessons; County Groups please watch your Teams accounts; and for other activities we will contact you directly.

For those who would like to see the current guidance for themselves, you will find it under “Stay at home: Education and Childcare” in the following document: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/new-national-restrictions-from-5-november#stay-at-home

Our NMPAT Virtual Centre continues to meet on-line and preparations are well underway for the Christmas film performance of A Muppet Christmas Carol. As a “Lockdown Special” all existing County Group members are welcome to join the Virtual Centre for this term at no extra charge. To register please visit Bit.ly/NMPATVC

We would like to thank everyone who has supported us in the reopening of our activities: students, parents, staff and supporters. I would like to thank everyone who has been to Kettering Road and thank you all for the way in which you have embraced our social distancing and COVID secure measures. It is such a shame that the new lockdown regulations will put a pause on these activities.

We are all hoping for a swift end to this new lockdown and promise you that as soon as the regulations allow, we will reinstate as much face-to-face activity as we can.

Peter Smalley, Chief Executive