Remote Learning

A guide for parents/carers and

children.

Introduction

Due to the current national pandemic response, we have been refining our provision in the event that children are required to learn at home. As part of this process, we have written a Remote Learning Policy, produced clear criteria for how we would support children (& parents) isolating at home, carried out a survey to help us better understand our families’ unique circumstances and have now produced this guide, aimed at helping both parents and children to access remote learning effectively.

We have our main platform for offering access to remote learning (Microsoft Teams) which we will use, alongside additional online learning platforms such as the London Grid for Learning (LGfL), Lexia Core5 and Mathletics, all of which your children will already be familiar with (shared in school). This booklet is intended to provide you with all the information you may need to both understand remote learning and to support your child with everything from getting started, logging in, accessing learning platforms, contacting staff, submitting work and many other aspects to get you started.

In order to safeguard both children and staff all live remote learning sessions will be recorded. This will also provide an opportunity for children that missed a particular lesson to catch up with their learning.

Please also remember that whilst engaging with these platforms the expectations of children are the same as in school and that the Home – School Agreement and Online Safety Acceptable Usage Policies are upheld.

For any further ICT queries regarding any of our remote learning provision or use of online platforms, in the first instance please consult the class teacher or, if further assistance is required, please contact Mr Richardson, Computing and Online Learning Lead, by contacting the school office on 02085026442.

Our Remote Learning offer

Our offer consists of a 4-stage approach.

Stage 1 covers any short absence from school whilst awaiting the results of a COVID test. In most cases, any absence will likely only be a few days, so a pack of prepared work (aligned to the class curriculum) will be emailed home (or a hard copy can be delivered) so that the child can continue their learning journey.

Stage 2 covers any scenario in which a child is self-isolating, either due to having been in contact with someone testing positive, testing positive themselves, having been contacted by NHS Test & Trace or as a result of returning from a country on the quarantine list (up to 14 days). In this situation, the class teacher would prepare work directly aligned to what is being taught in school, which would then be sent home (via email or in hard copy form). This work would then be expected to be bought back into school upon the child’s return.

Stage 3 covers an entire ‘bubble’ (class) having to self-isolate. In this situation, children would complete work set by the class teacher that is directly aligned to the class group curriculum. Teachers will be available, between 9am and 3pm weekdays to offer direct support to children/parents via Microsoft Teams discussion boards and/or via the school office (request a call-back) and feedback on submitted work.

At this point, we would also provide an ‘orientation’ meeting online via Microsoft Teams or by telephone where a paper pack has been provided. On Day 2 of any isolation, staff will check how everyone is, determine any issues and outline the day’s/week’s work and to explain expectations. The class teacher would also use this time to explain how children should submit their work and how they will receive feedback. Where staffing capacity allows, live sessions will be delivered throughout the period of any isolation to support children’s academic & mental well-being. Where a continuous timetable of live sessions can not be offered, there will be teaching staff available to support the learning at key points across the day as well as telephone support via the school office.

Stage 4 covers a scenario where there is a further local/national lockdown that requires schools to fully close. In this situation, all children would receive remote learning provision directly via Microsoft Teams (as well as paper packs). All work set would be directly aligned to the class group curriculum. The teacher would be available, between 9am and 3pm weekdays, to offer direct support to children/parents as described in stages 1-3 and feedback given on submitted work.

Whilst our remote learning provision uses a wide range of online platforms, we are always conscious that not all of our children/families readily have access to the technology, printer facilities or personal expertise to use these various formats. Therefore, in not wanting to disadvantage any of our children that cannot easily access the online materials, we can also, upon request, provide access to the content in the form of a printed hard copy which will then be posted/delivered to those families that need them

The online platforms that we utilise to support our remote learning provision require the children to use their unique username and password. We recognise that children often forget these details, especially the younger ones, and therefore suggest that once you receive your child’s log-in details (the class teacher will have provided you with these) you store them safely for reference.

Expectations of behaviour when using online learning platforms

We would like to remind you about the ICT Pupil/Parent Acceptable Usage Agreements which children/parents signed when joining Wells Park. Children are expected to follow these whilst using any of the Online Learning Platforms provided by the school. You can view these on the school websites School Policies section.

In accordance with our Remote Learning Policy, which can be viewed on the school website:

Wells Park School - Policies (wellsparkprimary-sch.org.uk)

Staff will expect pupils learning remotely to:

• Be contactable at some point throughout the school day – although we acknowledge that they may not always be in front of a device the entire time.
• Make their best efforts to complete work to the deadline set by teachers.
• Seek help if they need it, from teachers or teaching assistants.
• Alert teachers if they’re not able to complete work.

Staff can expect parents with children learning remotely to:

• Make the school aware if their child is sick or otherwise can’t complete work (for school records).
• Seek help from the school if they need it, including informing staff/school if they are unable to access ‘remote learning provision’.

Online Safety

All online platforms provided to children at this time are monitored by the school and inappropriate behaviour will be dealt with in accordance with the relevant policies (Behaviour, Online Safety, Cyber-Bullying, Home-School Agreements etc.).

The Online Safety page on our school website has a wide range of resources/links to support parents/children: Wells Park School - E-Safety (wellsparkprimary-sch.org.uk)

These are some of the most useful links, especially the parents’ guide to Internet safety.

• www.thinkuknow.co.uk                                         www.kidsmart.org.uk
• www.saferinternet.org.uk                                     www.nspcc.org.uk
• www.childnet.com

The Ultimate Guide to Keeping Your Children Safe Online with Parental Controls:

www.broadbandsearch.net/blog/online-safety-parental-controls?msID=22812e37-1fb5- 40db-a014-c1ff54be46fc

As part of our Remote Learning offer we will be using Microsoft Teams to augment our provision. Teams is a set of communication tools which allows teachers to communicate with pupils through posts and announcements, set assignments, mark work and communicate/hold live lessons.

We have set up Class Teams for every class group so that, should we find ourselves with classes isolating at home, we are able to have more direct contact. This way of communicating and feeding back will be invaluable and, as we improve our knowledge and understanding, we will look at developing our use of Teams further.

Getting started at home with Microsoft Teams

1. Search for Microsoft teams using Google.
2. You can then either log in online or download the Teams app on to the device that you normally use for home learning. Here’s a link.
3. Log in with your school email address (initialsurname@wellspark.essex.sch.uk) and password that your class teacher will have sent to you via your chatbook, email or printed off for you (you probably already know it, as it’s the same as you log into the school network and your chromebook).
4. Click on the class team name: Purple,Yellow,Green,Blue,Orange or Butterfly Net

Within your team, there will be different groups that have been set up. You will be contacted by your class teacher to let you know which group your child is in. You will then receive an invite to a meeting via Teams – just hit join and that’s it - you’re in!

Finding my class in Teams

1. Find the app which says Teams or T icon
2. A screen will load with an option of different teams.
3. Click your class colour as the team
4. You will now see the main screen for your class group
5. Click on Assignments
6. You will now see your assigned learning
7. Click the learning for that week.
8. For each week day, there will be assigned learning. Type onto this document using the keyboard.
9. Press ‘close’ when done. This will automatically save your work.
10. At the end of the week/session, press turn in button. Your teacher will then mark this and give you feedback.
11. Click back on this to see the feedback.

The London Grid for Learning (LGfL)

One of the platforms your child has access to is LGfL, a whole world of fun and  exciting learning opportunities in one safe place.

What is LGfL?

LGfL is a comprehensive suite of online learning tools and content, specifically designed for use by Primary aged children in the classroom and at home.

To find out more, click here: https://www.lgfl.net/default.aspx

What should you do first?

To begin with, it’s a good idea to log in to LGfL with your child. We suggest you look at the following:  https://www.lgfl.net/Inclusion/