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 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?
If your child is in Y1-Y6 will be contacted with arrangements for collecting text-books and exercise books so that their remote learning can begin immediately. If you cannot collect them, please let us know and we will arrange for them to be delivered.
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?
- For the majority of subjects, we teach the same curriculum remotely as we do in school. For some lessons there may be some minor adjustments to the activity for home learners due to having less teacher contact. However, the objectives will remain the same as 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 broadly the following number of hours each day:
Key Stage 1 | 3 hours minimum per day |
Key Stage 2 | 4 hours minimum per day |
Accessing remote education
How will my child access any online remote education you are providing?
We will publish weekly timetables on the school website which will have links to sites including (but not limited to) Oaks Academy, Bitesize, and other organisations.
Information, recorded lessons and resources will also be shared through Class Dojo, Google Classroom. Live lessons will be provided via the school Zoom account and links sent privately.
EYFS will also use Tapestry.
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. We take the following approaches to support those pupils to access remote education:
- We have a number of ipads and laptops available for you to loan from school. We have already contacted a number of families to offer support but please contact school if you require support.
- We also have data sims in school which we can send to you if you have issues connecting to the internet at home. Please contact school if you require support.
- If you have no access to the internet or a device and school cannot support you in this, we will prepare paper packs to be collected or posted.
How will my child be taught remotely?
We use a combination of the following approaches to teach pupils remotely:
- live teaching (online lessons)
- recorded teaching made by St John Fisher staff and other platforms ie Oak National Academy
- textbooks and reading books pupils have at home
- commercially available websites supporting the teaching of specific subjects or areas, including video clips or sequences
- long-term project work and/or internet research activities (as per the schools full opening guidance, schools full opening guidance, schools are expected to avoid an over-reliance on these approaches)
- printed paper packs produced by teachers (e.g. workbooks, worksheets)
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 all pupils to engage with remote learning and will be keeping registers of attendance to live lessons.
- We understand that there will be times when your child cannot attend the live lessons due to home circumstances, home working etc. For this reason, our weekly timetables will always have an alternative to the live lesson which can be accessed and completed at a time convenient to you at home. Work completed can be uploaded to the teacher via Google Classroom or Class Dojo.
- For our youngest children, we have a variety of live lessons, pre-recorded lessons and other activities available. Please choose the most appropriate options for you and your child.
How will you check whether my child is engaging with their work and how will I be informed if there are concerns?
- Class teachers will check on engagement and attendance throughout every day and will keep registers.
- Where engagement is a concern, teachers will first make contact with parents/ carers. If there is no improvement, this will then be flagged up to senior staff who will make contact with the family to reiterate expectations and work to support and overcome any barriers to engagement
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:
- Direct feedback will be given verbally and via chat function during live lessons
- Written feedback will be given for work which has been uploaded to the teacher
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 in the following ways:
In this section, please set out briefly:
- Work will be differentiated where possible in order to meet every child’s needs
- Small groups sessions will be facilitated via zoom with teachers or teaching assistants so children can continue to work on PPP targets
- Individual sessions may be facilitated where appropriate (with parent/ carer also attending at home)
- SENDCo and SEND team will provide resources and strategies to support parents and carers at home
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?
There will be no difference in the remote education provision for children who are self-isolating. If a child has tested positive and is unwell, we do not expect the same level of engagement from them until they are feeling better and able to access the provision again.
Useful Links
Religious Education
Mission Together
Free, downloadable resources including tasks, questions, prayers and adapted scriptures. They’ll help children learn, reflect, and stand in solidarity with children around the world already living in hardship.
https://missiontogether.org.uk/school-closures-home-activities/
Prayer for those affected by Coronavirus
Metropolitan Cathedral
Links to broadcasts of Mass from the Cathedral.
https://www.liverpoolmetrocathedral.org.uk/coronavirus-statement-20th-march-2020/
Maths
TTRockStars
Online Platform for multiplication and division. You will need your login for this site.
Numbots
You will need to use your TT Rockstars login for this site.
Maths Factor
Free resource that the children can access to practice their timetables.
White Rose Maths
Online Maths questions for every year group daily.
Mathletics
KS1 and KS2 can use. Parents set up accounts by clicking free trial for home users.
English
Pobble
One picture, every day. Can be used to spark conversation, write a story etc.
Reading
ISSUU
The Stay Home Superheroes is a FREE empowering story, created to help children all over the world to understand the pandemic and the important role that they can play.
Oxford Owl
Easy to use, just register with email address to access free resources.
StoryLine Online
Selection of books read for KS1 children to enjoy.
Teach Your Monster To Read
Help children learn to read using phonics whilst at home
Read Write Inc
Continue learning to read and have familiar routines at home with daily virtual lessons and films.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCo7fbLgY2oA_cFCIg9GdxtQ?mc_cid=5b8869f543&mc_eid=6974981631
Phonics Play
Free to use at home without needing to subscribe!
Username march20
Password home
Nosy Crow
Axel Scheffler has illustrated a digital book for primary school age children, free for anyone to read on screen or print out, about the coronavirus and the measures taken to control it.
Music
BBC School Radio
Some great resources here with video/audio downloads for Early Years, KS1 & KS2. Eg – A to Z of Nursery Rhymes, Medleys, Action Songs etc.
Bring The Noise
Free primary school music, songs and resources for teachers, pupils and parents. For EY and KS1 with plenty of activities, tips, games, warm ups, SEND guidance and ideas to try at home.
Out of the Ark
These are currently offering 7 free songs for use at home or in school, with downloadable resources and ideas for other activities. There is also a promise of more over the following weeks. These are all suitable for KS1 & KS2. We’ll be linking up with Out of the Ark in the new academic year for our Knowsley Singing Challenge so it’s a good opportunity for schools to become familiar with the platform.
Blue Peter Music Badge
This is surprisingly easy to earn and the badge is designed by Ed Sheeran!
https://www.bbc.co.uk/cbbc/joinin/bp-music-badge?collection=blue-peter-badges
Daily singing programme
PE with Joe
Daily workouts – can be done live at 9am or accessed later on in the day.
Mindfulness parent pack
Created to keep children focused and engaged along with reducing anxiety. Follow on Twitter @liverpoolshine for free meditations and daily tips to support children while they are at home.
DESTY (Discovering Exceptional Strengths and Talents in You)
Free resources to support parents, carers and educators. Each resource and course includes practical worksheets with a focus on developing children’s social and emotional wellbeing and resilience.
Knowsley Schools Sports Partnerships
Personal challenges to try at home. Share your personal challenges on twitter @knowsleySSP. Children with the highest recorded score or those that have made significant progress throughout the week will be rewarded when we return back to school.
Go Noodle
Stay active and engaged with dance-alongs, yoga videos, mindfulness activities, and other ways to move while reinforcing educational topics. Play for free.
https://www.gonoodle.com/good-energy-at-home-kids-games-and-videos/
Cosmic Kids Yoga
Yoga, mindfulness and relaxation for kids aged 3+, used in schools and homes all over the world.
Mind for better mental health
Mentally Healthy Schools- Anxiety toolkit
General
Education City
For use by teachers and students at home, covering many subjects. Free trial of 21 days which can be renewed with a different email address.
ALPSIT home learning pack
STEM
A range of FREE fun, hands-on activities for families to use at home, suitable for all ages from 4 to 16. Help children develop their science, technology, engineering and maths skills.