Remote learning

Remote education provision: information for parents

This information is to inform pupils and parents/carers about what to expect from our remote education here at Westfield Primary School. This is where national or local restrictions require classes or bubbles to remain at home.

For details of what to expect where individual pupils are self-isolating, please see the section at the end.

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 prepare for a longer period of remote teaching.

What should my child expect from immediate remote education in the first day or two of being sent home?

Your child will be given a 2-day paper resource pack which will cover basic skills in Maths and English. During their time at home, they will have access to Times Tables Rockstars, Active Learn/Bug Club, Purple Mash and Spelling Shed.

Following the first few days of remote education, will my child be taught broadly the same curriculum as they would if they were in the classroom?

Yes, we teach the same curriculum remotely as we do in school wherever possible and appropriate. We have needed to make some changes in some subjects for example; Physical Education has been adapted for families to access online material or activities that suit the home environment.

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 the following number of hours each day:

Accessing remote education

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

Every child has their own Gmail address. All parents/carers have now been given this email address. If you have not received this information, please contact the school office.

All children have been shown how to use Google Classroom. Here is a reminder of how to access our learning.

In order to log in to Google Classroom, please sign into your email account. This can be done via Google or a smart phone app.

All children have been sent an email to invite them to their online learning platform.

Once you have clinked on the link, you will be directed to your class homepage.

On this homepage, you will find all of the day's home learning assignments.

These assignments can be completed in two ways.

1) Complete the work on a Google Docs file that the class teacher will have attached to the tasks.

2) Complete your work on a piece of paper and upload a photograph of it.

The class teacher will provide feedback for the work that has been completed and 'handed in'. 

If you have any questions, please email the school office or your child's class teacher.

Willow Class - mrshavard@westfieldprimaryschool.com

Cherry Class - mrscrook@westfieldprimaryschool.com

Larch Class - mrparker@westfieldprimaryschool.com

Oak Class - mrsmcilroy@westfieldprimaryschool.com & mrscieslar@westfieldprimaryschool.com

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

We recognise that some pupils may not have suitable online access at home. We will take the following approaches:

• Where possible, lend laptops or tablets to families. Parents must contact the school office on 01928 572343 and make a request for a device. If issued with a device, parents/carers must complete an agreement form beforehand
• Where possible, lend devices that enable an Internet connection. Parents must contact the school office on 01928 572343 and make a request for a device. If issued with a device, parents/carers must complete an agreement form beforehand
• Paper based learning will be available for children with limited online access or as agreed with the classteacher to support their child’s needs further
• Children can submit their work by posting completed activities using the post box in the school office.  

How will my child be taught remotely?

We will use a combination of the following approaches to teach pupils remotely:

• Daily, Maths and English recording teaching videos
• Daily, live Q&A sessions for Maths and English teaching and support
• Maths No Problem textbooks
• Exercise books for written sessions and maths journaling
• Accesses to online subscriptions for Active learn, Spelling Shed, Purple Mash and Times Tables Rockstars
• Daily, live whole class ‘meet’ sessions
• Small group intervention sessions
• 1-1 reading sessions with a parent/carer
• Daily, phonics videos and teaching.

Engagement and feedback

What are our expectations for my child’s engagement and the support that we as parents/carers should provide at home?

Pupils are required to access Google Classrooms and sign the class register by 9:30am. They will then be able to view the tasks set for the morning session, which includes, Maths, Reading and Writing lessons, phonics and spelling sessions. At 1pm the afternoon tasks will be available to view. Over a week, lessons will include, History/Geography depending on the class topic, French, Science, PE, British Values, PSHE and creative activities including Art and Music.

Parents/carers are required to ensure that their child/ren sign the register by 9:30am and help set routines to support the engagement of remote learning in your household.

Parents/carers should monitor their children’s engagement and support them in submitting each piece of work to the class teacher.

Parents/carers should encourage a high standard of work, including neat presentation and level of quantity to match the task.

If you have any concerns regarding your child’s engagement or expectations of completing the tasks set, they can be discussed with Miss Pope by ringing the school on 01928 572343.

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

Registers are monitored each day at 9:35am. If a child has not signed the register then a text is sent home. We have a graduated response in supporting parents with limited or no engagement.

• Day 1 – text and email to parents/carers to inform them that their child has not accessed remote learning
• Day 2 – text and email to parents/carers to inform them that their child has not accessed remote learning for 2 consecutive days
• Day 3 – Telephone call home to main carer plus others on the contact list in order to make contact and discuss engagement and support
• Day 4 – 2^nd telephone call to main carer plus others on the contact list in order to make contact and discuss engagement and support
• Day 5 – home visit to make contact and discuss engagement and support
• Day 6 – School to contact the Education Welfare Officer, Kay Radcliffe, in order to make contact and discuss engagement and support.

Teachers complete daily engagement trackers that monitor work submitted by pupils. If there are any concerns then school (class teacher or Miss Pope) will make contact with parents/carers.

We understand that there can be family circumstances that can have an impact on pupils submitting work. We encourage you to speak to Miss Pope to discuss this further by ringing school on 01928 572343.

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

Feedback can take many forms. Our approach to communicating on pupil work is as follows:

• Written comments
• Voice notes
• Verbal feedback during live sessions 
• Positive phone calls home
• Whole school feedback/marked quizzes
• Written feedback on paper based learning.

Feedback will be timely and where appropriate.

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 learning?

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 wish to work with parents/carers to support pupils in the following ways:

• 1-1 virtual meetings/telephone calls with the school SEND co-ordinator
• 1-1 virtual meetings/telephone calls with the class teacher
• Communicate with outside agencies that are supporting the family
• Set differentiated tasks and activities (including paper based) that can be accessed easily at home
• Include a wide range of activities that can be delivered at home that will meet the needs of younger pupils.

Remote education for self-isolating pupils

Where individual pupils need to self-isolate but the majority of their peer group remains in school, remote education will be the same with a slight change to feedback expectations due to the challenges of teaching both at home and in school.

• Children will still be required to access Google Classroom and sign the online register
• Pupils will access the mornings activities (this will be the same activity as if they were in school that day) and then at 1pm the afternoon activities
• Pupils will be expected to submit their work
• The ability to communicate with the classteacher during the school day will not be as readily available. Teachers may, where possible, offer feedback during break/lunchtime
• Teachers will feedback at the end of the day.

Please contact the school and speak to Miss Pope if you have any questions or suggestions about our remote learning.

Take care.