Remote learning lead:

We’re determined to keep all of our children on-track this year as much as possible and make sure no one falls behind if they need to learn from home because of coronavirus. So, we want to make sure your child can learn as much as possible at home. We do understand, though, that provision will not be the same for all children and there will be much more work to do when we return to in-school learning.

The following new guidelines cover our ideal expectations of what we’d like your child to do while learning remotely, and how we plan to support you and them. Of course, we know that everyone’s family circumstance is different and this needs to be considered. The following is our “ideal”.

What’s my child expected to do?

Each day we’d like your child to undertake at least four hours of learning. This is equivalent to the core teaching children would receive in school. It will include a combination of teacher-led activities, pre recorded lessons, and time for children to complete tasks and assignments independently. In addition to this planned work, we would like them to read and to learn their multiplication tables and division facts daily. Class teachers will be keeping a daily register for attendance and will be expecting children to keep their reading record books up to date.

We will start the week with a whole class Google meet to check-in and see how everyone is. We will use this time to set the expectations for the week and to explain the main focus. Throughout the week, the teachers will post work daily in the classroom. This will be linked to what would have been covered in class, with some adaptation, and will be directly linked to the termly overviews which can be found under the curriculum tab for each year group. Year 3. Year 4. Year 5. Year 6.

We will end the week with another whole class Google meet to reflect on the week, possibly share a class story, and bring the week’s learning to a conclusion. We will also use this time to praise the children for their input.

There may be other occasions, throughout the week, where teachers host other google meets, either with the whole class or with groups of children.

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. At Elmhurst, we will feedback in the following ways:

1. Written feedback on all pieces of work handed in via Google classroom. This could also be given verbally through the use of Mote.
2. We will use retrieval quizzes, where appropriate, to check on learning and assess what children are able to do.
3. We will give shared feedback via the Google meets and check-ins.
4. We will feedback via phone class and/ or Dojo messages to children submitting paper copies of the work.

What if I can’t access Google classroom?

We have a supply of Chromebooks that can be loaned to families in need. If you feel that you would benefit from this provision, please contact us. Many Chromebooks have already been distributed.

If your child is unable to access the Google classroom for other reasons, we will provide a paper copy of the work on a weekly basis. An adult will need to collect this from school at the start of the week. You will be expected to hand in the paper copies of the work. The teacher, or teaching assistant, will call you at least once a week to check-in with your child.

The teacher will look at the paperwork you hand in and give verbal feedback via a message to the parent/ caregiver on Class Dojo/ email. They will also provide feedback during their weekly call if appropriate.

It’s important that your child engages with home learning. If they aren’t, the class teacher may call you, or contact you via Dojo to discuss ways in which they could help. They may also call to speak directly to your child.

What can you do to help?

We do appreciate that home learning can be very different from learning in a school environment. Classrooms are set up for learning. Family homes can be busy places with lots of people trying to access resources at the same time. There may be younger siblings around, demanding attention. The family pet may be excited to have the children around and won’t leave them in peace to learn. Children share bedrooms and computer equipment (if they have it) with other family members. They may not have a dedicated learning space within the home. Please remember that the above is the “ideal” – we do know that it may not always work like that in practice!

There are some things that you could do, though, to help your child by creating a positive environment for your child to work in:

1. Distinguish between weekdays and weekends, to separate school life and home life
2. Designate a working space, if possible, and at the end of the day have a clear cut-off to signal school time is over
3. Create and stick to a routine, as this is what your child is used to at school. For example, eat breakfast at the same time each morning and make sure they’re dressed before starting the ‘school’ day
4. Stick a timetable up on the wall so everyone knows what they should be doing when, and
5. Tick activities off throughout the day
6. Make time for exercise and breaks throughout the day to keep your child active

We will provide regular updates about remote learning via the weekly newsletter. Please ask us though if you need any more information and/or support.

Accessing Google classroom:

If you have any queries about google classroom, please message the class teacher.