Remote Education Provision

INFORMATION FOR PARENTS

This information is intended to provide clarity and transparency to pupils and parents or carers about what to expect from remote education when your child is unable to attend school.

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.

If the Government or Local Authority have provided schools with information in advance regarding wider school closures due to national or local restrictions, Sladefield Infant School will be in the position to offer full remote learning as has been set up and outlined below from the day after the lockdown starts. This is because we are now fully aware as to which children are those of Critical Workers, those that are vulnerable, therefore which children will be attending the setting. As such, we could make the transition from in-school to remote learning quite seamlessly.

However, if the Government or Local Authority do not provide such advance notice, the school would close to pupils for one day in order for staff to make necessary arrangements to enable remote learning to take place successfully.

In EYFS, work for the day of the school closure would be posted on Tapestry, and children may be signposted to recorded learning via alternative sources, such as Oak Academy. In Key Stage 1, the same would apply, but this would be posted on Class Dojo.

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 three to four hours to complete each day.

Will my child be taught broadly the same curriculum as they would if they were in school?

In Key Stage 1:

What staff at school will provide?

Each morning, at 9.00am, staff for each class will lead a live ‘Zoom’ registration session where they will introduce the day’s learning activities make contact with any parents/carers, outlining new information. At the end of the day, another live ‘Zoom’ session will be held; this may be in the form of a ‘Story Time’ or a PHSE session, allowing the children to interact with their peers.
Each week, classroom staff will carry out a ‘Safe & Well’ check on you and your child:

If your child is accessing ‘live’ Zoom lessons, classroom staff will use this as their opportunity to see that your child is safe and well, therefore they may not call you on the telephone - THIS IS OUR PREFERRED OPTION.
If your child is not accessing any ‘live’ Zoom lessons, classroom staff will contact you and your child on the telephone

All ‘Zoom’ sessions will require a Meeting ID and password – where possible, to make accessing the sessions easier, these will remain the same for all individual class sessions
The provision from the classroom staff in terms of teaching and learning could be one of the following:

Staff produce recorded lessons or teaching ‘snippets’ on Class Dojo
Links to recorded lessons provided by reputable companies (like Oak Academy)
Signposted to alternative provision on websites (such as Joe Wicks’ PE on ‘YouTube’)
When sessions are not ‘live’, access to learning will be indicated on Class Dojo.

Each day, learning will consist of:

English
Maths
Phonics/Spelling
Handwriting
PE
Topic (including Science, PHSE and RE)

When you share learning on Class Dojo, classroom staff will respond to at least one piece of shared learning each day for each subject that is posted. Staff may also set individual challenges to pupils via their own personal portfolio.
Paper packs of the work that we are asking children to complete on a weekly basis are provided and can be collected from school.
We endeavour to ensure that the work provided for remote learning matches that being delivered to those children remaining in school.

How you can show us what you have completed at home?

When work is shared in a child’s portfolio, this can be completed on many devices and uploaded.
Parents are encouraged to upload any work that is completed on Class Dojo.
During live ‘Zoom’ sessions, children may be asked to show work that they have been completing so that other children in the class can see it.

In EYFS:

What staff at school will provide?

Prior to the teaching being delivered, learning packs to be used during lockdown will be distributed to enable your child to have access to the materials needed to access the learning.
The majority of teaching will be delivered through live ‘Zoom’ sessions, with sessions being delivered as follows by the child’s own classroom staff:

Phonics (9.00am – 9.30am)
Literacy (10.00am – 10.30am)
Maths (11.00am – 11.30am)
Story Time (2.30pm – 3.00pm)
Additional PE sessions and a Topic session will also be provided. These will either be: pre-recorded by staff; links to recorded lessons provided by reputable companies (like Oak Academy); signposting to alternative provision on websites (such as Joe Wicks’ PE on ‘YouTube’)

Each week, classroom staff will carry out a ‘Safe & Well’ check on you and your child:-

If your child is accessing ‘live’ Zoom lessons, classroom staff will use this as their opportunity to see that your child is safe and well, therefore they may not call you on the telephone – THIS IS OUR PREFERRED OPTION.-
If your child is not accessing any ‘live’ Zoom lessons, classroom staff will contact you and your child on the telephone
All ‘Zoom’ sessions will require a Meeting ID and password – where possible, to make accessing the sessions easier, these will remain the same for all individual class sessions
Each week, an overview of learning that should be completed will be posted on Tapestry; this means that learning can still be accessed and completed by those families that can not access the live ‘Zoom’ teaching.
When you share learning on Tapestry, classroom staff will respond to at least one piece of shared learning each day per child, as well as acknowledge other posts, where appropriate.

How you can show us what you have completed at home?

During live ‘Zoom’ teaching, children will be able to show their class staff member the work that they have completed having been instructed to do so during the teaching session
Alternatively, for non-live sessions, or for children who did not attend the ‘Zoom’ session, you can post your child’s learning onto their Tapestry account. This way, your child’s Key Worker can see what you’ve been doing and will ensure to respond to at least one piece of shared learning each day. We can also use this information as evidence towards your child’s achievements when assessing their ability in school against the Early Learning Goals.

Accessing remote education

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

Across the school, all live sessions will be delivered on Zoom.

In EYFS, we are using Tapestry as our digital platform to upload work to share with staff, and to allow for communication between parents/carers and staff.

In Key Stage One, we are using Class Dojo to complete the same activities.

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. However, the Government provision of additional devices was not made available to EYFS & Key Stage One –aged pupils, and so we are reliant on pupils being to access some form of device. As such, we deliberately chose digital platforms that could be easily accessible on a mobile phone; for instance, it is easy to upload a photograph onto both Tapestry & Class Dojo; it is also easy to access Zoom sessions on a mobile phone.

In addition to this, paper packs are provided and can be collected from the school with the activities to be completed outlined.

The school is also in the position to lend free Dongles to families that do not have adequate Internet access; these have to be signed for, and returned to the school at the end of the lockdown.

During ongoing dialogue with parents/carers, we are aware that some children do not have access to any device in their household; when this is the case, the school will investigate the possibility of lending a device to them; these will have to be signed for, and returned to the school at the end of the lockdown.

If pupils only have access to the paper packs, and have no way of sharing completed learning using a digital platform, they can keep paper packs for the duration of the lockdown, and then share them with their class teacher at the end of the lockdown period.

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?

In EYFS:

Ideally, we would like to see all of the children accessing each of the live ‘Zoom’ sessions as this is where direct teaching is taking place. However, we are aware that this may not be practicable with family scenarios not allowing for that to happen.

As such, each week, on Tapestry, an overview of learning will be provided with suggested activities so that, if live sessions can’t be accessed, learning can still take place at a more convenient time.

Paper packs of the weekly learning can be collected from the school and we know that this helps some parents with engaging their child with their learning at home.

When children are accessing the live sessions, it would be ideal for a parent/carer to be on hand to support their child with their learning during the session. As learning will take place during these sessions, it would also be ideal for parents/carers to have the pack provided to hand so that they can access the equipment required for the session.

During the live sessions, teaching staff will be able to physically see the work produced by the children, and can feedback to the individual child about this.

For those children not accessing the live sessions, we would like to see uploaded evidence on Tapestry for each of the learning areas of: Phonics, Literacy, Maths, Topic & PE. However, again, we know this may not be applicable, and so we acknowledge and promote the uploading of as many pieces of work as parents/carers can manage.

To act as an incentive, each child will earn a ‘coin’ for each ‘Zoom’ session they attend, or for work uploaded on Tapestry if they did not attend the session. Prizes will be awarded for those who show a certain level of engagement, with better prizes being given to those children who showed the most engagement.

In Key Stage 1:

Ideally, we would like to see all of the children accessing both of the live ‘Zoom’ sessions as this enables classroom staff to ‘check in’ on the pupils, and allows for the children to interact directly with their class staff and their peers. However, we are aware that this may not be practicable with family scenarios not allowing for that to happen.

The work that is uploaded onto Class Dojo, if fully completed, would take approximately 3 to 4 hours to complete if the children are working to the best of their ability.

To enable parents/carers to access the learning at a time is convenient to them, we have used recorded sessions, PowerPoint instructions, or signposted families to alternative provision.

To act as an incentive, each child will earn a ‘coin’ for one piece of work uploaded onto Class Dojo for each subject, each day. Prizes will be awarded for those who show a certain level of engagement, with better prizes being given to those children who showed the most engagement.

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

The easiest way for us to check engagement is to see your child on the live ‘Zoom’ sessions!!

As well as this, staff are monitoring the uploading of work on Tapestry or Class Dojo across the day, providing relevant feedback.

Class staff will regularly make contact with parents/carers who are not showing pleasing levels of engagement to find out why they are not engaging, and to offer any support that might be required.

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

In EYFS:

During live ‘Zoom’ sessions, class staff will be able to instantaneously assess your child’s work and provide meaningful feedback in the moment.

When work has been uploaded onto Tapestry, our knowledgeable EYFS staff can attach judgements against the EYFS curriculum to indicate at what level the child is operating within the Early Learning Goals, and can then provide feedback as to the next steps in the child’s learning.

In Key Stage 1:

Uploads on Class Dojo will be monitored across the day, with staff commenting where appropriate on the piece of work produced. If the work is not of a good enough standard, it can be rejected, with staff having the possibility of sending a message to the parent/carer outlining why it has been rejected. Staff can also provide individual children with personalised challenges in order to stretch learners who have shown a strong understanding of a concept.

Staff will be commenting on individual pieces of work that have been uploaded onto Tapestry/Class Dojo to an appropriate level, taking into consideration staff workload.

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 place on families, and we will work with parents and carers to support those pupils.

Due to the live teaching being delivered in EYFS, class staff are able to differentiate for individuals during the session, including through scaffolding learning using equipment that we have provided in the home learning packs. At the end of a ‘Zoom’ session, some children are asked to remain on screen so that the class staff can offer additional support if required.

As much of the learning in EYFS is child-initiated, the stimulus of the lesson may be the same, but the direction the children take the learning is likely to be different. As such, children with specific needs can be supported through the resources provided in the home learning packs.

In Key Stage One, work in core subjects and Topic lessons use the ‘3 Chillies’ format, where expectation levels are outlined with varied expectation levels. Therefore, children can decide to access the ‘mild’, ‘spicy’ or ‘hot’ work, as well as the ‘Chilli Challenge’. Children are comfortable with making these choices because this provision is used continually at school.

For pupils with specific needs in Key Stage One, personalised packs have been produced which provides work linked to their individual small-step targets.

Teaching Assistants in each Year Group in Key Stage One are providing additional targeting in Phonics and English which is being posted onto Class Dojo; parents/carers of those children have been contacted to outline this additional targeting and how they can support their child with this at home.

We also have an EAL support Teaching Assistant, and two Academic Mentors, who are providing small group live ‘Zoom’ targeted sessions for those children who have been identified as requiring this additional support from our in-school tracking system. As with the live ‘Zoom’ sessions in EYFS, these staff members will be able to provide bespoke feedback and individualised targeting during, and after, the sessions.

Staff across the school are also willing to offer bespoke 1:1 teaching sessions to those children who may have found a concept challenging, or when a parent/carer has requested it.

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?

In EYFS:

What learning will look like?	Your child will be provided with a two-week isolation pack, which your child will either take home with them if they are in school, or will be delivered by a member of staff within 2 days of your child starting their self-isolation period. In the pack will be an exercise book for them to be able to complete any work set. The pack will contain a daily activity, focusing on the following areas: Literacy Maths Phonics Topic PE You can work through the activities in any order of your choosing As teachers will be working in school, they will not be able to deliver lessons to your child – we are asking our parents/carers or older siblings to work with your child and support them to complete the activities At the end of the self-isolation period, your child should return their isolation pack to their Key Worker who will be able to see what work has been completed at home.
What staff at school will provide?	Each week, your child’s Key Worker will carry out a ‘Safe & Well’ call to check up on you and your child If you want to talk about the work that your child has been asked to complete, you can message your child’s Key Worker using Tapestry – we have provided easy steps to follow to help you do this below. As they are working in class, they may not be able to respond straight away, but will respond at some point, either that day or the following day. If necessary, your child’s Key Worker may think that it’s easier to speak with you to discuss your child’s work – they might do this through a telephone call or through a Zoom call, so that they can see you face-to-face.
How you can show us what you have completed at home?	Any work completed can either just stay in their packs until your child returns from self-isolation. Alternatively, you can post your child’s learning onto their Tapestry account. This way, your child’s Key Worker can see what you’ve been doing and might respond to it. We can also use this information as evidence towards your child’s achievements when assessing their ability in school.

In Key Stage 1:

What learning will look like?	Your child will be provided with a two-week isolation pack, which your child will either take home with them if they are in school, or will be delivered by a member of staff within 2 days of your child starting their self-isolation period. In the pack will be an exercise book for them to be able to complete any work set. The pack will contain a daily activity, focusing on the following areas: English Maths Phonics (Y1) or Spelling/Punctuation/Grammar (Y2) Topic PE You can work through the activities in any order of your choosing As teachers will be working in school, they will not be able to deliver lessons to your child – we are asking our parents/carers or older siblings to work with your child and support them to complete the activities At the end of the self-isolation period, your child should return their isolation pack to their class teacher who will be able to see what work has been completed at home.
What staff at school will provide?	Each week, your child’s teacher or Teaching Assistant will carry out a ‘Safe & Well’ call to check up on you and your child If you want to talk about the work that your child has been asked to complete, you can message your child’s Key Worker on Class Dojo. As they are working in class, they may not be able to respond straight away, but will respond at some point, either that day or the following day. If necessary, your child’s teacher or Teaching Assistant may think that it’s easier to speak with you to discuss your child’s work – they might do this through a telephone call or through a Zoom call, so that they can see you face-to-face.
How you can show us what you have completed at home?	Any work completed can just stay in their packs until your child returns from self-isolation. Alternatively, you can post your child’s learning onto their Class Dojo class page. This way, your child’s classroom staff can see what you’ve been doing and might respond to it. We can also use this information as evidence towards your child’s achievements when assessing their ability in school.