REMOTE LEARNING INFO | 2019CattonGrove

Remote Learning at Catton Grove Primary School

Since the government announced a nationwide lock-down on January 4th, our pupils, staff and parents have adapted to the challenges of remote education. The aims of our remote learning provision are, in principle, precisely aligned to our aims of education within school; namely, to deliver a high-quality curriculum so that pupils know more and remember more. Our preparation for remote learning that was conducted as a priority throughout the Autumn Term 2020 has meant that our staff, pupils and families were in the best possible place to succeed when the lock-down was announced.

We are excited about our school curriculum and are proud to offer your children the best possible learning experience. This also applies to our remote-learning activities.

This information is intended to provide clarity and transparency to pupils and parents and carers about what to expect from remote education where national or local restrictions require entire cohorts (or bubbles) to remain at home.

We have made sure there is an excellent plan in place in the event of pupils and families having to self-isolate, if the year group ‘bubble’ closes down or we go into lock-down. Remote learning practice has been informed and developed in-part using evidence based research from The Education Endowment Foundation and Ofsted.

The remote curriculum: what is taught to pupils at home?

We are passionate about providing a rich, varied and exciting curriculum. Daily Reading, Writing and Maths learning are supplemented by subjects from the wider curriculum every day. Teaching and learning activities are carefully planned, adapted and sequenced to ensure that Learning Objectives that would be (and in the case of key workers/vulnerable pupils on site, are being) taught in school are closely aligned with new concepts, knowledge and skills that are taught.

Our PE and Music departments have been pro-active, flexible and innovative in continuing to provide quality education. They have sought to ensure that our curriculum is supported remotely by planning weekly activities that pupils can do at home.

Pupils in EYFS are taught remotely using Class Dojo.

Pupils in Years 1 to 6 are taught remotely using Google Classroom.

What should my child expect from immediate remote education in the first day or two of pupils learning from 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.

A video will be placed on Class Dojo / Google Classroom detailing the expectations for the year group.

We have already sent a survey for parents to indicate whether you need remote learning packs printed due to lack of access to the internet – please let your child’s teacher know, if you haven’t already, whether you will need any paper copies.

If your family has been identified as needing paper packs then they will be available from the large hall each Monday morning. Your child’s class teacher will communicate this through Dojo or, if necessary, a telephone call.

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?

We teach the same curriculum remotely as we do in school wherever possible and appropriate. It is a principle of our remote education that we align our remote learning objectives to those being taught in the classroom. However, we have needed to make some adaptations in some subjects (for example, where the learning topic requires practical resources that we only have in school).

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 approximately the following number of hours each day:

EYFS/KS1: 3 hours per day

KS2: 4 hours per day

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

If either the NURSERY/RECEPTION bubbles are closed or we are in lock-down and school is closed:

The expectation will be that, if your child is fit and well, they will undertake the learning activities that are posted to Class Dojo that week.
Please log on to Dojo to see the instructions and support your child with the learning activities for that day. Please ensure that you are signed up to Class Dojo and have a way to access it.

If either the YEAR 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 bubbles are closed, or we are in lock-down and school is closed:

The expectation will be that, if your child is fit and well, they will undertake the learning activities that are posted to Google Classroom. You will need your child’s email and password to log on.

In Years 3, 4, 5 and 6, there will be a stronger focus on independent activities. Any pupils with special educational needs will be contacted by the class teacher at the beginning of the bubble closure to discuss any extra support/guidance/resources that are required.

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

We recognize that some pupils may not have suitable online access at home. We take the following approaches to support those pupils to access remote education:

The school has access to a number of laptops and has offered them to those families we have identified as needing them. If you feel as though you need a laptop and have not been offered one please contact the school office for more information.

How will my child be taught remotely?

We use a combination of approaches to teach pupils remotely. Some examples of remote teaching approaches include:

Google meets
Live teaching (online lessons)
Recorded teaching (made by teachers) and accessed on Dojo/Google Classroom
Presentations and slides, sometimes with audio explanations
Printed paper packs produced by teachers (e.g. workbooks, worksheets) for those families that require these
MYON – an online reading platform with a library of books available to read and quiz
Links to websites supporting the teaching of specific subjects or areas, including video clips or sequences, e.g. BBC, Oak Academy
Bespoke PE and Music lessons created by our specialist subject departments
TA 1:1 reading / times tables
TA small support groups
Follow-up, personalised live Google meets in small groups to address misconceptions or re-teach objectives from the lesson if required

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?

Google meets have been an invaluable way of allowing pupils to retain social connections and meet their peers in a more relaxed environment to support mental health and well-being.

Learning is pitched at each age and stage - specific provision is provided for SEN pupils. In Reception and KS1 pupils will need guidance and support with their learning. In Years 3, 4, 5 and 6, there is be a stronger focus on independent activities but please take the time to ask your children about their learning and support as necessary.

Pupils can take photos of their work and upload to Class Dojo/Google Classroom platform.

If children are completing hard copies of work, this can be handed in each Monday.

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

Strategies will be employed to maintain engagement through this period, e.g. challenges, competitions, dojo rewards and phone calls if necessary.

Celebrations and rewards are becoming a more regular feature of online learning. Stars of the Week and special achievement certificates are awarded virtually in order to praise and boost those pupils doing fantastically, while also serving to further motivate and encourage other learners. We have launched a ‘Reading Den’ competition to great success on Dojo in order further promote to profile of reading within the community (we had similar success during the first lock-down with ‘Get Caught Reading’ challenge).

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

Whole-class and specific next step feedback will be provided on Class Dojo/ Google Classroom.
Quizzes will be marked via Google Classroom.
Live lessons will be provided to recap learning when children have struggled.

Feedback will be provided on each piece submitted onto Dojo/Google Classroom learning each day.

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 recognize 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 by making regular phone calls/dojo communication as necessary. We also provide carefully planned work at a suitable level of challenge. Also, any resources that we can provide to support with specific learning difficulties can be discussed with school so that we can support most effectively.

Year Groups have carefully mapped out remote learning that is accessible to our SEN pupils, including increased communication between school and families to ensure that any and all available support is given.

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.

In the case of pupils having to isolate at home but are feeling well, all teachers are preparing regular work for home learning that runs alongside the work being completed in the classroom. This work will be primarily be online (Class Dojo/Google Classroom).

If your child is isolating, and they are in NURSERY/RECEPTION:

There will be activities posted to Class Dojo during their isolation period and the pupils will receive feedback and support with their learning activities. Please log on to Dojo to see the instructions and, if necessary, support your child with the learning activities.

As soon as your child’s/family’s isolation is complete, they will return to school having not missed out on any key learning that the rest of the class have undertaken.

If your child is isolating, and they are in YEAR 1,2,3, 4, 5 or 6:

The online learning will be on Google Classroom. Each morning there will be work, based on objectives being taught in class, posted to the site. Support and feedback will be given by class teachers.

Catton Grove Primary School