Remote Education Provision
Provision for Remote Education from September 2021
The guidance for self-isoaltion has changed. Pupils no longer need to self isolate if they have been identified as a contact of a positive case of Covid-19 (see Government Guidance for September 2021 below). Children who have symptoms of Covid are advised to self isolate for thre days (five days for adults). This means that we will no longer need to close whole cohorts or bubbles.
Will the school continue to offer remote education to self-isolating pupils?
Individual pupils Iin Years 1 to 6 who are self isolating with sypmptoms or as a result of a positive Covid test, will be able to join their class lessons via Zoom as soon as they are well enough to do so. This means that pupils will have regular contact with their class teacher and their peers and will be able to keep up to date with the learning that is taking place in class. Class teachers will make contact with parents as and when this situation arises, sharing details of Zoom login codes, lesson resources and any other support the school is able to offer. Work at home should be completed to the same high standard as we expect in school and will be marked and returned to the pupil. Class teachers will maintain regular contact with parents and pupils via class dojo.
Individual pupils in EYFS who are self isolating with sypmptoms or as a result of a positive Covid test will be sent tasks to complete at home that mirror the work being done in class. Mrs Rogerson will be in regualr contact with isolating pupils and their parents.
Government Guidance for September 2021 (Taken from the DfE Blog)
What if someone tests positive or has symptoms? Do they need to isolate?
Self-isolate straight away and get a PCR test (a test that is sent to the lab) on GOV.UK as soon as possible if you have any of these 3 symptoms of COVID-19, even if they are mild:
• a high temperature
• a new, continuous cough
• a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste.
You should also self-isolate straight away if:
• you've tested positive for COVID-19 either according to a PCR test or a lateral flow device test – this means you have the virus. If you get a positive LFD test you should book a PCR test. A negative PCR test will override a positive LFD test.
• someone you live with has symptoms or tested positive (unless you are not required to self-isolate – see below if this applies to you)
• you've been told to self-isolate following contact with someone who tested positive – find out what to do if you're told to self-isolate by NHS Test and Trace or the NHS COVID-19 app.
Pupils should only self-isolate if they have symptoms or if they get a positive PCR or Lateral Flow Device (LFD) test. If they develop symptoms or get a positive LFD test they should book a PCR test. A positive PCR test cannot be overridden. If a pupil is asked to get a PCR test as a result of contact with a positive case they may continue to attend education until they get the result of their PCR back.
And what will happen for people who have been in contact with positive cases?
Individuals are not required to self-isolate if they live in the same household as someone with COVID-19, or are a close contact of someone with COVID-19, and any of the following apply:
• they are fully vaccinated
• they are below the age of 18 years and 6 months
• they have taken part in or are currently part of an approved COVID-19 vaccine trial
• they are not able to get vaccinated for medical reasons.
Instead, they will be contacted by NHS Test and Trace, informed they have been in close contact with a positive case and advised to take a PCR test. They do not need to isolate while awaiting the PCR test. We would encourage all individuals to take a PCR test if advised to do so.
Remote Education Provision in the Case of Partial School Closure
This information is intended to provide clarity and transparency to pupils and their parents about what to expect from remote education where national or local restrictions require entire cohorts (or bubbles) to remain at home. For details of what to expect where individual pupils are self-isolating, please scroll down to the final section of this page.
What should my child expect from immediate remote education in the first day or two of pupils being sent home?
Staff in school are well-versed in delivering remote education and are primed to re-establish remote learning within 24 hours of needing to do so. During the first 24 hours, pupils who are well enough to do so, should continue to work on reading, spelling and times tables.
After the first 24 hours, will my child be taught broadly the same curriculum as they would if they were in school?
We are committed to providing a continuity of education to our children and, in the event of whole class or school closure during term time, we will provide structured, remote learning opportunities for all children to ensure the continued delivery of the curriculum and a consistent approach to pupils’ learning.
During national lockdown, staff pupils and parents worked incredibly hard to maintain the accelerated learning that had taken place during the Autumn Term. Every English and Maths lesson was shared with pupils at home via live link (Zoom). Work was posted on the school website and shared with pupils via class dojo or email. Every pupil was able to take part in the teaching taking place whether they were working from home or were physically present in the classroom. Following the taught session, pupils at home could chose to stay on line while they completed their individual tasks, accessing help from staff in class as and when needed, or work off line at a time to suit themselves. Either way, pupils were expected to send the completed work through to their teacher for marking and individual feedback. Work was expected to be of the same high standard as it would be in class and any substandard work was returned to the pupil for resubmission.
Other areas of the curriculum were taught through personal projects and pupils could access support for these as and when needed. Pupils enjoyed sharing their projects and their new-found knowledge with their peers when they returned to school.
Routines for remote learning were quickly established and feedback from parents was overwhelmingly positive. When pupils returned to school in March, our assessments showed that 94% of pupils were on track to achieve their personal targets by the end of the academic year. We therefore consider our remote learning methods to be an overwhelming success and this will form the basis of any future remote learning for groups or cohorts of pupils.
How long can I expect work set by the school to take my child each day?
In line with Government guidance, remote education provided should be equivalent in length to the core teaching pupils would receive in school and should include recorded or live direct teaching time, as well as time for pupils to complete tasks and assignments independently. As a minimum the school will provide:
- Key Stage 1: 3 hours a day on average across the cohort, with less for younger children
Key Stage 2: 4 hours a day on average
How will my child access any online remote education you are providing?
Directions and / or links for remote education will be posted on each class page on the school website within 24 hours of any group or cohort closure
If my child does not have digital or online access at home, how will you support them to access remote education?
Children will need access to a tablet or computer to be able to fully engage in remote learning. Work can be submitted via class dojo. For children where this is not an option, an email to their class teacher can replace this.
Parents are encouraged to communicate with their child’s class teacher where issues arise. This could include emails; briefings using platforms such as Zoom or one-to-one telephone calls where necessary.
We appreciate that families have different circumstances when it comes to technology available at home for accessing remote learning. If required, families should liaise with the school office to request the loan of a school iPad for a fixed period of time. The laptop will be set up for home use by our IT Technician and parents must complete a loan form, available from the school office.
We also recognise that many families do not have access to printers at home. We will therefore not request any work to be printed off. All work for submission should be returned to the class teacher electronically.
What are your expectations for my child’s engagement and the support that we as parents should provide at home?
Whilst we are committed to providing high quality remote learning for all children, families must remember that their well-being is vitally important. Remote learning is not intended to add further stress to families in what is already a difficult time for many. Parents should be aware of the online learning opportunities provided by teachers and use an appropriate amount of the materials to engage pupils and support their learning without feeling pressured or overwhelmed.
We aim to be flexible in our approach and understand the wide range of circumstances that families continue to encounter. It is expected that every child will access the live taught sessions. These have been staggered for each class to allow for shared sibling IT resources. Pupils who have additional 1:1 support should also access their individual online learning.
We recommended that families design a daily routine or timetable which suits them and builds in movement breaks and brain breaks during the child’s day. If children are struggling to complete tasks, they should prioritise their English and Maths work. If the amount of work set continues to be a problem, please contact your child's class teacher and ask for advise.
It is essential that children engage safely with the resources provided. When children are participating in Zoom sessions, please consider the environment your child is in, and that they are dressed appropriately.
Further information on online safety can be found here
How will you check whether my child is engaging with their work and how will I be informed if there are concerns?
Children should know that their work is valued. They are expected to submit their English and Maths tasks electronically via email or class dojo for marking on a daily basis. The class teacher will return the work swiftly with personal feedback and any targets for improvement. If pupils are not engaging regularly, the class teacher will contact the child's parent.
Additional support for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
Individual support will continue for any pupil who regularly receives additional support in class. One to one Zoom sessions will be scheduled for these pupils with the person who normally provides that support. Pupils with an IEP will receive daily one to one support in line with their education plan.
Any class work set, will be differentiated for the differing abilities in class.
Remote education for self-isolating pupils
Where individual pupils need to self-isolate but the rest of their peer group remains in school, how remote education is provided will likely differ from the approach for whole groups. This is due to the challenges of teaching pupils both at home and in school.
If pupils are isolating because they are waiting for a test result, should follow the same routine as the first 24 hours of full isolation, i.e. they should continue to work on reading, spelling and times tables if they are well enough to do so. Tests results are usually received within 24 hours.
Pupils who have tested positive or who are isolating because a close contact has tested positive, will be invited to join the taught sessions in class via Zoom. The child's class teacher will contact parents directly to let them know how and where daily lessons should be accessed.
Please note, that due to the teacher's responsibilities in school, he or she may not be as responsive on class dojo as they are during a cohort closure. Communication may well be limited to lunch breaks or out of school hours. In this situation, parents should contact the school office with any queries or concerns in the first instance.
