Remote Learning Offer
Remote Learning Introduction
In the event of long-term closure or part-time attendance, staff at Neston Primary School will continue to provide education and support to our pupils, using class teaching, remote learning and/or a combination of both. Remote learning will be conducted using the Seesaw and Tapestry Class apps. This will ensure that the needs of all pupils are catered for and will allow staff to keep in daily contact and provide pertinent feedback to ensure that learning continues. Teachers will be able to schedule learning in a manner which does not overwhelm our pupils.
In line with Government Guidelines, teaching and learning can be tailored, changed and updated as time progresses, allowing for replication of classroom activity to the best of our ability. In all communications, we will hold true to our commitment to maintaining pupil well-being and will support parents and children where there is any need.
Flexibility
We realise that the circumstances which cause our school to adopt a ‘blended learning’ approach will affect families in a number of ways. In our planning and expectations, we are aware of the need for flexibility from all sides: parents may be trying to work from home and so access to technology as a family may be limited; teachers may be trying to manage their home situation and the learning of their own children as well as maintaining effective planning for both in school and remote learning opportunities; also technology systems may not always function as they should. On all sides, an understanding of and willingness to adapt to these difficulties is essential for success.
Expectations
In the case of long-term school closure, we believe it is in the best interests of our pupils that we continue to provide structured support to the best of our ability so as to minimise disruption to our children’s learning. Bearing in mind the need for flexibility, we understand that work may be completed ‘out of sync’. Work set on Seesaw and Tapestry is part of our curriculum offer and therefore an integral part of our current planning. It cannot be considered as optional as this approach would be detrimental to our children’s education and progress. (Pupils and parents should consider the arrangements set out in this document as highly recommended). Teaching staff will expect to receive all home assignments within a 24-hour timeframe. Should families encounter any difficulties with this arrangement, in the first instance these must be discussed with the child’s class teacher.
What should my child expect from immediate remote education in the first day or two of pupils being sent home?
TT Rockstars, Spelling Shed, Reading Owl, Teach Your Monster to Read (Key Stage 1) will all be available immediately.
Following the first few days of remote education, will my child be taught broadly the same curriculum as they would if s/he was in school?
We teach the same curriculum remotely as we do in school, wherever possible and appropriate. However, we have needed to make some adaptations in some subjects. For example, team games during PE, music making during music, group discussions or talk partner activities, science experiments where the teacher might demonstrate will be replaced with short videos to support learning or parents demonstrating where possible. We are also mindful of the vocabulary we use to make sure that it is accessible to parents. Whilst we know that vocabulary use and grappling with new words deepens children’s understanding and supports their long-term memory, we are aware of the pressures on parents and have made things as helpful for parents as we can.
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: for children in key stage 1, this will be 3 hours and for key stage 2, this will be 4 hours.
How will my child access any online remote education you are providing?
We will be using 2 digital platforms, either for delivery or for assessment: Tapestry for Reception children and year 1 and Seesaw for years 2 – 6. Daily TEAMS meetings will take place so that children can see their class teacher and their peers.
If my child does not have digital or online access at home, how will you support him/her 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:
we have a few laptops currently which we can lend to parents and have applied for more through the DFE - we look forward to these arriving. We will issue or lend laptops to pupils, where possible, and we will work with our families to make sure that distribution is fair and appropriate. We are currently offering school places where we can to accommodate this need and ensure that all children can access learning. Parents or carers can find more information by contacting the school office directly: admin@neston.wilts.sch.uk
if parents are having difficulties with routers then they can contact the school office for support.
children can submit work to their teachers via our online learning platforms and every effort will be made to ensure that all children have access to this either via a school place or by the school lending laptops to those in need.
How will my child be taught remotely?
We use a combination of the following approaches to teach pupils remotely:
recorded teaching (e.g. video/audio recordings made by teachers, videos from other educational resources).
reading books pupils have at home.
commercially available websites supporting the teaching of specific subjects or areas including video clips or sequences such as TT Rockstars, Spelling Shed, Teach Your Monster To Read, Oxford Reading Owl.
Teams meetings as a register and setting the plan for the day and then collective catch-ups in the afternoon to discuss learning, misconceptions and celebrations. These meetings will enable us to check learning and readjust learning for the next day.
Maths including timetables and English including phonics, spellings, reading, writing, grammar and punctuation will be set.
We will also encourage children to be active and provide some keeping active sessions to support healthy bodies and healthy minds.
We will continue to engage the children in all other curriculum subjects including science, geography, history, RE, PSHE, DT, art, Spanish and music.
ELSA (Emotional Literacy Support Assistant) will be available to work with children remotely. Please contact the admin@neston.wilts.sch.uk if you feel your child would benefit from this support.
What should I do if my child is too unwell to engage with remote learning?
If your child is too unwell to engage with remote learning (e.g. due to flu or other illness), then please inform the school: admin@neston.wilts.sch.uk . When your child is better and restarting remote learning, again please inform the school.
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 children to register daily at the allotted time.
We expect children to complete remote learning as much as possible.
If parents are struggling with the demands of work etc then please contact your child’s class teacher via the appropriate learning platform.
How will you check whether my child is engaging with his/her work? And how will I be informed if there are concerns?
Learning will be checked throughout the day.
If learning and engagement is a concern, school will contact parents to discuss this, and we will provide as much support as we can.
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, amongst many others, whole class feedback or quizzes marked automatically via digital platforms are also valid and effective methods. Our approach to feeding back on pupil work is as follows:
teachers and TAs will provide written feedback on at least one piece of work each day. Group oral feedback will be given during the 2pm collective catch-up session.
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 present to families and we will work with parents and carers to support those pupils in the following ways:
for children who have an EHCP, a school place will be available if parents feel that is appropriate and needed.
our Acorns Class will be providing remote learning via Seesaw which is matched to individual needs and incorporates EHCP targets, where possible, in the same way as the rest of the school. If parents are struggling to engage their children in all of the activities then our SENCO will be on hand to provide advice.
our ELSA will be available to provide 1:1 support for children whose needs are best met via this route.
Remote Education for Children Who are Able to Engage in Learning, but Unable to Attend School:
If a child is able to engage in learning when unable to attend school, his/her parents will be directed to the Oak Academy website: https://classroom.thenational.academy/ Parents then click on ‘Find Lessons’ where they will pick up the daily schedule. Teachers will be contactable via Seesaw / Tapestry; however, understandably, they will not be able to provide immediate communication as they will already be teaching their own classes in school.
Some learning may be sent by the teacher via Seesaw / Tapestry. Children can also access TT Rockstars and Spelling Shed using their passwords.
Teaching staff will…
place significant emphasis on pastoral development within the classroom, and ELSA will be available to support children.
prepare resources to meet the needs of each child, where necessary, and where Seesaw and Tapestry cannot be easily accessed at home.
share teaching and learning activities with their classes through Seesaw, Tapestry and TEAMS.
continue providing work and support in line with current extensive planning which is already in place throughout the school.
examples of the work set will include: Oak Academy Units, White Rose Maths videos, Letters and Sounds videos/worksheets alongside weekly spelling via Spelling Shed, times tables through TT Rockstars, reading and reading comprehensions.
show understanding that learning remotely will be more difficult so tasks will be shortened and supported in smaller instructional steps to allow for this.
ensure daily contact with pupils via Teams, Seesaw, Tapestry or, if needed, via telephone calls.
reply to messages, set work and give feedback to move learning on.
make allowances for delays in responses, understanding that current circumstances may affect families in a number of ways.
if unwell, inform the Head Teacher and ensure cover by another staff member for sharing of activities and keeping in touch with parents.
Non-Teaching Staff will…
support the class teacher to provide feedback.
if unwell, inform the Head Teacher.
support, where necessary, individual/small groups of pupils via the class teacher by providing tailored activities which can either be used in school or when learning at home.
Pupils will...
adhere to all guidelines as directed by staff.
be assured that their well-being is at the forefront of our minds - they should take regular breaks, get fresh air, exercise, and maintain a reasonable balance between online engagement and offline activities.
undertake any tasks prepared for home learning.
endeavour to keep up to date with daily teaching and learning, either in school or using Seesaw or Tapestry
only send messages and queries which are in relation to tasks set by the teacher or in response to questions the teacher may ask them directly.
only access the material shared by their teacher and will ask for parental permission to use technology for anything beyond this.
read daily, either independently or with an adult.
consider learning a new skill, follow their own interests to discover more about the world around them or be creative (should an extended period of remote learning be required).
Parents will...
support their child’s learning to the best of their ability, in line with the Home-School Agreement.
ensure their child completes all home assignments and submits them to the class teacher by 5pm the same day.
ensure their child engages with Seesaw or Tapestry activities set by the class teacher.
not screenshot or copy any information, messages or posts to share on social media or any other platform outside of Seesaw or Tapestry.
know they can continue to contact their child’s class teacher as normal through the Seesaw or Tapestry App or by contacting the school office, if they require support of any kind.
check their child’s completed work each day and encourage the progress being made.
be mindful of the mental well-being of both themselves and their child, encouraging their child to take regular breaks, play games, get fresh air and relax when working at home.
be mindful of safe internet use and monitor their child’s internet use appropriately.
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