REMOTE LEARNING

What should my child expect from immediate remote education in the first day or two of pupils being sent 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. Children are expected to log into Google Classroom on the first day where they will find a ‘Home Learning Grid’ with subjects set as a weekly timetable . They will also be expected to go onto Junior School: Spelling Shed and  TTrockstars, Infant School: Numbots both schools also have access to Discovery Education.  If a whole class or bubble is isolating they will log into their usual classroom e.g. Oak or Robin  where work will be set for all pupils, 

What is Google Classroom?

Google Classroom is a web-based platform that allows teachers to communicate with pupils digitally. Google Classroom allows teachers and pupils to share comments, files and weblinks, create and complete assignments, as well as give and receive feedback. 

How can my child access Google Classroom?

Google Classroom (as well as all G Suite for Education apps) can be accessed through a variety of online platforms. Most of you are already familiar with accessing your classroom if not please read the guidance below.

Computer: Go to classroom.google.com and click ‘Go to Classroom.’ Enter username and click ‘Next.’ Enter the password and click ‘Next.’ If there is a welcome message, read it and click ‘Accept.’ Click on the name of your class. From here, you can view messages and complete assignments from your teacher. 

Android: On your device, tap ‘Google Play Store.’ Find and install the ‘Google Classroom’ app. (To use all the features of the Classroom App, you may need to download Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides apps as well). After downloading the app, tap ‘Classroom’ and ‘Get Started.’ Tap ‘Add Account’ and ‘OK.’ Enter your username and tap ‘Next.’ Enter the password and click ‘Next.’ If there is a welcome message, read it and click ‘Accept.’ Read and agree to the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Click on the name of your class. From here, you can view messages and complete assignments from your teacher.  

iPhone and iPad: On your device, tap ‘App Store.’ Find and install the ‘Google Classroom’ app. (To use all the features of the Classroom App, you may need to download Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides apps as well). After downloading the app, tap ‘Classroom’ and ‘Get Started.’ Tap ‘Add Account’ and ‘OK.’ Enter your username and tap ‘Next.’ Enter the password and click ‘Next.’ If there is a welcome message, read it and click ‘Accept.’ (Optional: to receive Classroom notifications, tap ‘Allow.’) Click on the name of your class. From here, you can view messages and complete assignments from your teacher. 

What can my child do with Google Classroom at home?

Google Classroom allows teachers to share announcements, instructions, documents and other files, weblinks, and even digital assignments with pupils. Children can also comment in order to ask/answer questions. Here’s a quick guide on how to access these:  

Stream: The Stream is where all announcements can be viewed in order from newest to oldest. Pupils can comment on assignments to ask questions using the private message option. . 

Classwork: This is where pupils can view and complete all assignments. When submitting assignments, pupils may need to use Google Docs, Slides, or Sheets, and these can be submitted as attachments.

After assignments have been submitted, teachers can share feedback with pupils as well as return work to be edited and resubmitted.

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?

The provision via the school’s virtual learning environment, Google Classroom follows the same teaching as those pupils attending school and provides optional tasks and links that could extend this to much more if a family requires it . Teachers will follow the normal curriculum, and adapt the learning tasks to fit the online context. This will be done to ensure that pupils do not miss out on the objectives for their year groups. This will reduce the risk of children missing key concepts and their learning journey being hindered. For some subjects e.g. PE we have access to online activities that match the skills being taught in school, but adapted for the home environment, via Jasmine (our online PE platform).

Families also have access to the ‘supporting my child’s learning’ documents that are on the school website year round. These documents can be found through the curriculum pages and outline teachers most recommended resources for each subject. 

How long can I expect work set by the school to take my child each day?

We expect that remote education (including remote teaching and independent work) will take pupils broadly the following minimum number of hours each day: Junior school, Key Stage Two: 4 hours,  Infant School Key Stage One: 3 hours on average across the cohort, with less for younger children.

How will my child access any online remote education you are providing?

All learning will take place via the school’s virtual learning environment, Google Classroom. If pupils are having problems with their Google password, they should contact the school office via office@stmarysinfschool.org.uk or office@stmarysjunior.org.uk  in the first instance. They will also need to access Spelling Shed, Numbots and TTRockstars. All logins for these should be in their reading diaries. Pupils should ensure that they are logged in and working on the day that work is allocated to them.  Children should only click on the ‘turn in’ button to indicate they are finished when they are ready to share their completed learning with their teacher by attachment, picture upload or turning in a piece of work individually allocated to them.

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 suitable online access at home. We take the following approaches to support those pupils to access remote education: 

During the autumn term the school purchased maths workbooks that can be used in school or at home to support maths learning away from a screen. These materials will be reviewed and may be added too.

In line with internet safety guidance parents / carers should supervise internet research to ensure that children are safe online when working from home.  

However, we are aware that there may still be difficulties accessing remote education, especially where there are multiple siblings. If your child, or one of your children, will not be able to access online learning, please email Junior School office@stmarysjunior.org.uk  or Nursery and Infant School: office@stmarysinfschool.org.uk   Across both schools we will be planning for home learning provision without the need for printing resources at home, where some online providers do suggest printing we will endeavour to attach supported audio files or other suggestions of how to complete the tasks without this need.

How will my child be taught remotely?

Children should read the posts in Google Classroom that detail the work expectations. They should also read the ‘Home Learning Grid’ thoroughly as this directs the children to links and slides they will need. 

Learning will be presented to the children in the form of slides/Powerpoint, audio/video recordings and/or PDF documents which children should work their way through. Children will then be asked to complete an independent learning activity. This will enable children to develop their knowledge and understanding of a new learning topic , consolidate learning or apply their learning in new situations. 

Class teachers will be delivering lessons in school throughout the normal school day for pupils in the categories identified by the Government. Monitoring and feedback to home  will be completed when possible during any non teaching times with an aim to respond within 48hours.

The task will need to be submitted at the end of the lesson. This may be using the Classwork tab on Google Classroom, for example to complete a piece of extended writing, or it may be to complete a quiz 

via Google Forms, so that pupils gain immediate feedback on their progress. It may also take the form of engaging with a test or activity on another website e.g. kahoot  

We use a range of approaches when delivering online learning.  Some examples are as follows: - recorded teaching e.g. audio recordings made by teachers, White Rose, Oaks Academy or BBC - activities produced by teachers or other educational publishers - commercially available websites supporting the teaching of specific subjects or areas, including video clips or sequences - internet search activities.

ENGAGEMENT AND FEEDBACK

What are your expectations for my child’s engagement?  

We expect pupils to log into Google Classroom daily and to complete all the lessons that have been set for them. They should ‘turn in’ or upload work after they have completed it before or on the due date, which is made clear within the Home Learning Grid. This allows staff to give feedback to children and plan the next steps in learning. If pupils want to start a task and come back to it later that day, activities can be saved as a draft if being completed directly on the platform. Alternatively, your child can work on paper and photograph it, to upload their learning for that day. Any attachments uploaded can be viewed by the teacher even if the work is not ‘turned in’.

Children should only click on the ‘turned in’ button to indicate they are finished when they are ready to share their completed learning with their teacher. 

How can my child submit their work?

Your child can ‘turn in’/submit their work online into Google Classroom. Depending on the type of assignment and attachments, they can use ‘Turn in’ or Mark as Done. Your child can attach one or more files to their work. They can also create new Google Docs, Slides, Sheets, and Drawings, work in them, and then attach them to their assignment.  If your child has completed their task on paper, you can take a photo of their work, upload it and submit the photo. 

What support should we as parents and carers should provide at home?

As parents and carers, you can support your child by making sure that they have the following: 

- A quiet, dedicated place to work on their remote education 

- Agree on start, finish, break and lunchtime times that work for you and your family

 - Allow regular movement, exercise, rest breaks

 - Have all logins to hand e.g. Google Classroom, Spelling Shed, , Numbots and TTRockstars

 - Have pens, paper and computer all set up for them

 - Check-in on what your child has achieved and whether they are ‘on task’ on a regular basis throughout the day – only upload the requested work when you are happy that it has been completed fully. If your child has uploaded it, look at it together, along with any teacher feedback, to see if it has been completed to a good standard.  If there are problems accessing online resources, or your child is ill and therefore unable to access online lessons, please call the school office as you normally would.  

How will you check whether my child is engaging with their work and how will I be informed if there are concerns?

Staff will be looking at children’s work daily on Google Classroom and monitoring this alongside work on  TTRockstars, Numbots and Spelling Shed.  If a child persistently fails to complete work, parents will receive a phone-call or email home.

Teachers aim to call home regularly to speak to the children, at these times a teacher may discuss how the work is going or address any issues. 

How will you assess my child’s work and progress?

Feedback can take many forms including written/typed comments to individuals or whole class feedback, acknowledgement of learning,  quizzes marked automatically via digital. Children will receive some individual feedback on identified pieces of work throughout the week. Children may also be given the answers to self-mark their work and then try to learn from their mistakes, especially in maths. Your child may receive additional challenges to think about if they have found something easy or they may get another similar activity if they need the extra practice of the skill. 

Children do not need to respond to feedback from their teachers, however, they may well need to act on the advice given in their future learning, just as they would do in school. If your child does not understand their task, they can contact the teacher via Google Classroom to let them know and the teacher will respond when they are able to do so. Teachers will respond to queries and questions through Google Classroom but please allow up to 48 hours for a response. Any queries will be responded to via the normal channels of emailing the school office

If the whole class or school are absent from school due to an outbreak or lockdown, teachers may have more time to respond. However, if only one or two children in a class are absent at a time, I am sure you will understand that our teachers will take slightly longer to respond due to their class teaching commitments

What if my child is struggling or not completing their remote education?

Your child’s teachers will be setting learning appropriate to your child’s ability, age and stage in the year. They will be able to monitor if your child is engaging. Teachers will be providing materials that will support and extend your child’s learning.

There may be different levels of activities, with some opportunities for children to further challenge themselves. It is important to remember that developing resilience is an important learning skill and when challenged appropriately this can be the point of acquiring new knowledge. However, if your child is really struggling with any aspect of remote learning, be it completing tasks or gaining access to devices, then they should inform their Class Teacher. 

If a child does not engage with the remote education provided, the Class Teacher should be informed and a discussion had with the parents to establish obstacles and provide support. If this disengagement continues, the Leadership Team will be notified and they will contact the family. 

Will my child still have to do their remote learning if they are feeling ill with COVID19 symptoms?

No – if your child does not feel well – let them recover and feel better before settling them down to remote education tasks. Just let the teacher know via the school office. 

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 learning?

We recognise that for some pupils, for example: 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: - Children with EHC Plans are invited to come to school to receive their 1:1 support, if at all possible.  -For pupils with identified SEND their individual targets should be continued, however these may require adaption in consultation between class teachers and parents / carers. If required children will be provided with a printed pack to access the individualised support that they may need – Teachers will be happy to make telephone calls to pupils on the school SEND register for individual advice when possible. 

REMOTE EDUCATION FOR SELF-ISOLATING PUPILS

If my child is not in school because they are self-isolating, how will their remote education differ from the approaches described above?  

Where individual pupils need to self-isolate but the majority of their peer group remains in school, remote education will differ slightly from the approach for whole groups. This is due to the challenges of teaching pupils both at home and in school.  Children will need to login to their class home Learning Page on Google Classroom. Children will be set work alongside what children in school are doing. The only difference will be that there will not be as much feedback as the teacher will be unable to comment/support children throughout the day as they will be teaching the whole class in school.  There will be no recorded audio to lessons. Children will need to follow the slides to the best of their ability and complete the home learning work that has been set.  

REMOTE EDUCATION FOR PUPILS WHO ARE UNWELL WITH NON_COVID SYMPTOMS

Will my child use the Google Classroom Remote Learning for other illnesses?

No – remote education is just being planned and provided for the COVID self-isolation period. The same applies as above – if your child is unwell, they will not be fit to do work – they need rest and recovery time before heading back to school as normal.