Scroll to content
Belswains Primary School home page

Belswains

Primary School

Remote Education Provision

 

Belswains Primary School Remote Learning Provision January 2021

 

REMOTE EDUCATION PROVISION: INFORMATION FOR PARENTS

This information is intended to provide clarity and transparency to pupils and parents/ carers 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 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.

 

What should my child expect from immediate remote education in the first day or two of pupils being sent home?

 

  • All pupils have used Google Classroom to access homework since September 2020 and online platforms such as Mathletics and Bug Club to consolidate their learning in school.

 

  • If a pupil is required to isolate at home, work will be uploaded onto their Google Classroom to access remotely.

 

  • If they do not have access to a device, work is printed off and can be collected from the school office.

 

 

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 same curriculum is taught remotely as in school, wherever possible and appropriate. However, we have needed to make some adaptations in some subjects. Resources in a family home, for example, may differ from the purpose bought resources in school. The curriculum may be adapted to ensure that lessons taught are accessible remotely.
  • Class teachers upload all lessons onto Google Classroom.
  • Pupils at home and at school access these lessons.
  • Teachers respond to emails during the school day, providing support when needed.
  • Pupils upload their completed work onto Google Classroom and the teacher provides feedback.
  • All classes have a pastoral session each week, so the pupils can engage with their teacher and peers.

  

REMOTE TEACHING AND STUDY TIME EACH DAY

 

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 number of hours each day:

 

Early Years

We continue to work on the Early Years Framework with engaging and exciting learning opportunities.

 

Speaking, listening and reading are the foundations of all learning and this is developed through daily phonics and suggested activities. Reception pupils are expected to practise their key words and reading.

 

We encourage independence, play and using their imaginations.

 

Teachers provide lessons on Google Classroom. Those remote learning complete the tasks set and parents send in completed work, often through photographs.

 

All classes have a pastoral session each week, so the pupils can engage with their teacher and peers.

 

Well-being is a school priority. We encourage family time where possible and welcome sharing activities which enrich pupil’s home learning. Parents upload photographs, so we can celebrate as a community.

 

Key Stage 1

The government guidance is that pupils of this age group spend 3 hours on home learning.

 

Teachers provide lessons for English, Maths and two foundation subjects each day. These can include Science, Physical Education, Art, Design Technology, PHSE, Music, Geography, History and Religious Education.

 

All classes have a pastoral session each week, so the pupils can engage with their teacher and peers.

 

Well-being is a school priority. We encourage family time where possible and welcome sharing activities which enrich pupil’s home learning. Parents upload photographs, so we can celebrate as a community.

Key Stage 2

The government guidance is that pupils of this age group spend 3-4 hours on home learning.

 

Teachers provide lessons for English, Maths and two foundation subjects each day. These can include Science, Physical Education, Art, Design Technology, PHSE, Music, Geography, History and Religious Education.

 

All classes have a pastoral session each week, so the pupils can engage with their teacher and peers.

Well-being is a school priority. We encourage family time where possible and welcome sharing activities which enrich pupil’s home learning. Parents upload photographs, so we can celebrate as a community.

 

 

ACCESSING REMOTE EDUCATION

 

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

 

  • All pupils have access to Google Classroom.
  • Homework and lessons are shared with pupils through this platform.
  • All pupils have log-in details for Bug Club and Mathletics for homework.
  • Each class has established an age appropriate timetable.
  • Teachers prepare and share their lessons with their class.
  • Families share completed work through Google Classroom or via email directly to their class teacher.

 

 

If my child does not have digital or online access at home, how will you support them to access remote education?

 

  • A limited number of school devices are available and are being lent out to pupils who require them.
  • Some families are provided with printed resources. These can then be returned to school once completed or photographs of the work can be sent to the class teacher.
  • Paper or stationery is also provided, if required.
  • Reading physical books is encouraged and we offer a selection of age appropriate books from the school library for any pupil on request.
  • Teachers feedback via Google Classroom, Google Meet, email or phone call on the work they receive.
  • The weekly newsletter provides updated information for all parents.

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:

 

 

How will my child be taught remotely?

 

We use a combination of the following approaches to teach pupils remotely:

 

  • Phonics teaching in Reception is through recorded phonic sessions and resources linked to the Read/Write/Inc scheme.

 

  • Teachers will refer pupils to a range of pre-recorded sessions, these could be:
    • White Rose Maths

 

    • Oak National Academy lessons

 

    • BBC Lockdown Learning for other subject areas

 

    • Joe Wicks/ Go Noodle

 

    • At times teachers may use voiced PowerPoints

 

  • Tasks set and provided appropriate to pupils’ age and stage through the online learning platform Google Classroom.

 

  • Phone calls and email support are offered where there is confusion or misconception.

These are offered during the school day.

 

  • Printed paper packs produced by teachers (e.g. workbooks, worksheets), when requested.

 

  • Google Meet pastoral sessions occur weekly to enable peer and teacher contact. This supports well-being and provides a continued sense of community.

 

 

 

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?

 

  • Parents are expected to engage with teachers on Google Classroom. Communication is key in our home/school partnership.
  • Teachers will provide a suggested timetable. We expect parents to support their child to follow this, or adapt to fit in with other children and their own work commitments.
  • It is important to set routines for children to learn regularly at home, even if it is small steps each day.
  • We recommend an area is set up at home to enable learning.
  • We ask parents to read to, or encourage pupils to read every day.
  • We understand that every family situation is very different. We ask that parents do their best and ask for advice and support when needed. Mental health and well-being is our priority.

 

 

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

 

  • If work is not submitted through Google Classroom platform, the family will be contacted through email or phone call.
  • Weekly pastoral sessions through Google Meet are offered to all pupils.

 

 

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:

 

  • Feedback will be via appropriate platforms. These include:
    • Google Classroom

 

    • Google Meet

 

    • On work submitted

 

    • Emails

 

    • Phone calls

 

  • This may be on an individual or group basis.

 

 

 

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?

 

  • Work is differentiated to support and extend pupils of different abilities.
  • Additional technology is set up to support at home, to mirror what they would have received at school.
  • We have continued to facilitate and support outreach professional sessions (virtually).
  • Our SEND Coordinator provides additional support virtually to the pupils and their families.
  • Personalised remote learning plans are provided, when required.
  • There is an option to access resource packs and printed work when needed.
  • All professional meetings have continued e.g. EHCP annual reviews and SALT sessions


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:

 

 

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

 

  • When not in a lockdown scenario, we will continue to use Google Classroom for all pupils to access homework.

 

  • If a pupil is isolating, lessons will also be shared from this platform. This will ensure learning at home mirrors what is taking place in school.

 

  • Teaching staff know their children well and will ensure that any self-isolating pupil receives additional support, either via email or Google Classroom.