Remote education provision: information for parents
This information is intended to provide clarity and transparency to pupils and parents or carers about what to expect from remote education if local restrictions require entire cohorts (or bubbles) to remain at home.
For details of what to expect where individual pupils are self-isolating, please see the final section of this page.
The remote curriculum: what is taught to pupils at home
A pupil’s first day or two of being educated remotely might look different from our standard approach, while we take all necessary actions to prepare for a longer period of remote teaching; remote arrangements for pupils who require specific support with their learning due to their SEN/individual needs may commence in the days following to ensure that their individual needs will be met.
What should my child expect from immediate remote education during the first day or two of pupils being sent home?
We have materials ready for teachers to use as soon as pupils are sent home. Pupils will have a blend of live lessons, recorded lessons and home study materials.
Following the first few days of remote education, will my child be taught broadly the same curriculum as they would if they were in school?
In the first few days of remote education, we will focus on maintaining our English and maths curriculum. We will include an online fitness session and our music provision will continue.
From week 2 onwards, we will deliver the same curriculum online as we do in school wherever possible and appropriate. In addition to the lessons started in week 1, we will deliver weekly science, humanities and computing lessons. Our art & design and DT lessons will be adapted, but pupils will learn the same concepts and practice the same skills where possible. Resources will be made available to pupils to collect from school if required. Other changes will be made where necessary – for example, practical work in science and PE will be adapted to suit home learning.
Remote teaching and study time each day
How long can I expect work set by the school to take my child each day?
We have planned our remote education (including live online teaching, recorded sessions and independent work) in a morning and afternoon session each day.
Pupils will be set approximately three hours per day for early years and key stage one and fours hours for key stage two.
Accessing remote education
How will my child access any online remote education you are providing?
Teachers will teach using live and recorded sessions which they can access on computers, tablets or phones. Pupils are expected to complete work online or in exercise books.
If my child does not have digital or online access at home, how will you support them to access remote education?
We recognise that some pupils may not have online access at home. We take the following approaches to support those pupils to access remote education:
- We have laptops to lend to pupils who need them for home study – please phone the school office for more information.
- We also have internet dongles which we can lend if you don’t have an internet connection at home. We can also support with home wifi data allowances.
- We have reduced the requirement for printed materials. Where pupils need to write on paper, we have provided exercise books. If your child needs more, please phone the school office.
How will my child be taught remotely?
We use a combination of the following approaches to teach pupils remotely:
- Live online lessons
- Recorded lessons
- Online activities
Engagement and feedback
What are your expectations for my child’s engagement and the support that we as parents and carers should provide at home?
We expect all pupils to log on at the start of the school day for registration and morning lessons. When these lessons are live, all pupils are expected to participate in the lesson, answering questions either with the microphone or using the chat feature. Taks will be set, including written tasks, which pupils need to complete as though they were at school. Pupils have the opportunity to ask questions either through the chat feature or via email.
Parents and carers should support by ensuring pupils:
- have access to online resources, or letting the school know if this isn’t possible
- are ready to learn at the start of the school day and
- are present for AM/PM registration sessions
- respond to teachers’ questions
How will you check whether my child is engaging with their work and how will I be informed if there are concerns?
We will check engagement and understanding throughout lessons by asking questions in live lessons and checking tasks set. We set quizzes and other tasks for each week’s learning which will help us see whether your child has engaged with their work.
If your child is not present for AM/PM registration, or completing the work to a satisfactory standard, we will contact you either by email or by phone.
How will you assess my child’s work and progress?
Feedback can take many forms and may not always mean extensive written comments for individual children. For example, whole-class feedback or quizzes marked automatically via digital platforms are also valid and effective methods, amongst many others. Our approach to feeding back on pupil work is as follows:
- Weekly learning quizzes and other tasks will help us see whether your child has understood the key learning for the week.
- One written task will be assessed each week. Pupils’ work will be submitted either through our online portal or as photographs. Pupils will get individual feedback and the teacher will use the class data to adapt the subsequent teaching.
Additional support for pupils with particular needs
How will you work with me to help my child who needs additional support from adults at home to access remote education?
We recognise that some pupils, for example some pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), may not be able to access remote education without support from adults at home. We acknowledge the difficulties this may place on families, and we will work with parents and carers to support those pupils in the following ways:
- through 1:1 sessions, where pupils will receive targeted support that is tailored to their abilities.
- through small online groups with pupils working at the same level.
Remote education for self-isolating pupils
Where individual pupils need to self-isolate but the majority of their peer group remains in school, how remote education is provided may slightly differ from the approach for whole groups. This is due to the challenges of teaching pupils both at home and in school.
Where possible live streaming lessons will be the first approach to support this, along with pre recorded sessions.
During periods of self isolation you will receive ‘keeping in touch calls’ throughout the week; we recognise that this period can be a very anxious time for our pupils and families, and situations can rapidly change. If at any time during this period pupils become unwell, please contact the school office to let us know.
If my child is not in school because they are self-isolating, how will their remote education differ from the approaches described above?
We are able to include isolating pupils in class learning by streaming the lesson electronically. Teachers and Teaching Assistants monitor the chat function so that your child can ask and answer questions. Our monitoring shows that isolating pupils feel included and that they are able to keep up with their peers.