Remote Learning

Weekly Remote Learning

Please click the links below to view weekly remote learning information by year group

Foundation
Year 1
 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4 Year 5 Year 6

 

The information below is intended to provide clarity and transparency to our families about what to expect from us in relation to remote education should restrictions require entire cohorts (or bubbles) to remain at home, or if individual children are self-isolating (see last section).

The information is organised by the key questions that families may have regarding our online learning offer:

If a sudden closure is needed, what will the first one or two days look like for us as a family?
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. As such, in the first day or two of a longer period of closure we will:

    • Expect children to read their current reading books, practise their ‘sound book’ or spellings and times tables. Any outstanding homework MUST be completed.
    • Please check your class e-mail HWP…@hurworthprimary.com to access any new learning/instructions for that day.
    • The class teacher may also call you to make sure you have everything you need.
Thank you for all the school’s continued support and encouragement over this academic year both in terms of the children, and the parents! I wanted to say how much myself, and my husband have been impressed by the remote learning that has been delivered each week by the school. I can only begin to imagine how much work has gone into this and the challenges of delivering and providing work, both virtually and within the classroom. I know this will all have been a huge undertaking from everyone. I have been so impressed by the level of support the children at home and school have been offered, and the content of the learning resources. It has more than helped to keep my two both engaged and interested, whilst making it fun and interesting. Both our children continue to enjoy school and are happy and settled, and this is a large reflection on the support and enthusiasm yourself and all the School Staff have provided.
How does the substantive remote curriculum align with the ‘normal’ school curriculum?
    • The remote curriculum which the children will follow closely mirrors the learning that would have taken place in the classroom. For example, children will still progress through the core and foundation subjects at the same pace as if they were in school.
    • The remote curriculum will also encompass the vast majority of subjects that the children experience in school. Whilst some learning experiences that would have taken place in school are simply not possible via remote learning (e.g. the more practical aspects of the Design Technology, Science, PE and Computing curricula), teachers will either move this learning to a period when children return to school, or source alternative theoretical learning to mirror the learning intention (e.g. a video of a science experiment, or online simulation).
    • Whilst PE cannot be taught remotely, we do expect that children take part in physical exercise and challenges as directed through our remote learning tasks.
Please pass on my gratitude and thanks to Mrs Maddison and the whole teaching team. I think you are doing a fabulous job and appreciate the delicate balancing act between promoting the need for education but protection of our families. I wholeheartedly support the decisions and work you are doing and want to thank you for continuing to provide my little boy great educational provision and structure during this difficult time.

 

How are days of remote learning structured? How will you teach my child and what will a day look like?
Each day, we aim to ensure that our children take part in approximately 3 hours (if your child is in Key Stage 1) and 4 hours (if your child is in Key Stage 2) of teaching and study time. This is achieved by…

    • Task 1: A phonics/SPAG/English lesson and accompanying tasks; this will be either a ‘live’ lesson or online link
    • Task 2: A reading lesson – this will either be a ‘live’ lesson or teacher directed task
    • Task 3: A mathematics lesson – this will either be a ‘live’ lesson or pre-recorded teaching (White Rose/Maths Shed/Oak Academy) and accompanying tasks
    • Task 4: Another curriculum subject lesson – children will complete a variety of subject learning tasks across the weeks, reflecting the range of subjects taught in school. Depending on the age and stage, some subjects will be a ‘live’ lesson whilst others will be taught via a link to Oak Academy or other learning platform
    • A social Zoom session – where children have the opportunity to come together, have a catch up and share some quality time together

In addition to this, some children and families may also receive a phone call or ‘Zoom’, as part of our individual ‘check ins’ or to support learning following a review of work from the class teacher.
Our reward system will continue to be in operation and children will have the opportunity to earn Steps-to-successes or ‘WOWs’. Each class will have a weekly celebration assembly where a child working at home and working in school will be recognised for hard work etc. This will take place via Zoom.
Exercise books, workbooks, equipment and resources will be sent home to support the children learning at home.
To help the children stay focused and keep in the ‘school learning’ zone, we would like the children to wear their school uniform for all live Zoom lessons. Please refer to our remote home school agreement for more detailed information.

The communication from you and your staff continues to be excellent, warm and incredibly helpful as we all navigate these unprecedented challenges. The speed with which you reacted, planned and implemented new ways of learning overnight has been outstanding and we really commend you. As a family, we are so grateful that our son attends such a caring, supportive school. We know that we could pick up the phone any time and be well looked after if we ever needed anything, which is all a parent can ask for. From a food bank to PCs and printing, you really are trying to meet every need possible, including perhaps the hardest, which is emotional support for children and families at this incredibly difficult time. You should be so proud of what you are doing and we do hope you can take a moment to breathe, reflect and give yourselves a big pat on the back

 

Which tools and platforms do you use in order to deliver the remote learning?
    • We will continue to use class e-mail to send all remote learning packs. These PDFs contain a series of daily PowerPoints that clearly explain a task for English, maths and topic. Answers are also provided at the end of each day’s slide. Should you wish the packs to be printed, then just ask your child’s class teacher or member of the office staff and we can do this for you.
    • A class timetable for the week will accompany the PDFs so your child can access the learning at the same time it is/would have been in school
    • Bug Club (Key Stage 1) – this is the online reading platform which children use to access our school reading scheme and related tasks and assessments.
    • Education City – an online curriculum platform that children may be directed to, to complete some learning tasks.
    • Zoom – Children will follow the allocated daily link to access either the live lesson/ group lesson or class social.
    • Learning videos will be directly sent to you should you miss the ‘live’ teaching input. These are only accessible via an unlisted link.
    • We do not expect families to have access to any specific software or printing facilities – as all requirements are housed within our platforms.
I just wanted to send a small message but a BIG THANK YOU to you and your absolutely amazing team, I feel very emotional typing this we are so lucky to have the boys in such a special school, we can see how unbelievably hard you are all working; the amount of work and level of adjustment must feel quite overwhelming at times but we appreciate everything you’re doing. The boys are really responding well to the new time table, it’s just fantastic. Lost for words really but: thank you, thank you, thank you 😊

 

What if we don’t have the equipment needed for online learning?
We recognise that for some families, remote education is daunting and may not have the equipment that is required. In order to help, we can:

      • • Provide a limited number of laptops to families for free, through a ‘Home-School Loan Agreement’.
      • • Source 4G mobile internet for families who do not have internet in the family home.
      • • Provide a place in school, where vulnerable children and critical workers are able to attend. Not being able to access any home learning can make a child ‘vulnerable’.

These discussions will be held with families as soon as closure is announced – if not before. During the first day of school closures, all families at home will be contacted to ensure that they are prepared and able to support the remote education plans at home.

Just a quick note to say how grateful we are for all of the fantastic work and support school is giving to our children. I work in public health and I see first-hand every day how hard it is for schools at the moment, you are all doing an incredible job.

 

How much do you expect children to engage in the learning and what will happen if you are concerned about levels of engagement? How will you support us as a family?
    • We expect all children at home to engage in the teaching and study activities set each day.
    • If a child does not access home learning for more than one day, a call home is made to see how school can remove any potential barriers so that remote learning can resume. This may include staff providing additional tutorials online to show families how to access specific learning tasks, or staff supporting families to plan effective remote learning routines. If these cannot be embedded or prove unsuccessful, a place may be offered in school, where vulnerable children and critical workers are able to attend. Not accessing any home learning can make a child ‘vulnerable’.
    • We have deliberately ensured that the teaching is pre-recorded to support families who have several children at home (who may share a device), or where adults may be home-working – so that the tasks can be completed as flexibly as possible.
    • Staff also have time built in to the day to phone parents and respond to emails from families who have queries or concerns.
Just wanted to say a massive, massive thank you again for another great week of learning! You really are a wonderful team; we are super happy, you are all amazing !! My Nieces go to another school and I know it is nowhere near the standard you and your team are producing…we are very lucky !!!
How will my child receive feedback on their learning?
    • All children in class and at home will receive verbal feedback by the class teacher and TA during the live lessons.
    • Teachers will feedback on all individual pieces of work via the class e-mail and will send purposeful messages to the child which have a balance of positive comments and areas to develop/challenge and next steps.
    • Teachers have allocated time to provide this feedback each day.
Just a quick note at the end of another busy week to say that we appreciate how hard you are working for the benefit of the children. We see this in EVERYTHING you do and we really appreciate it. We could not have asked for a more supportive environment for the girls and our family. You are amazing! J

 

What will happen if my child has additional needs and requires additional support?
    • Each day, staff review engagement and achievement of all children in their class. If a child appears to require additional support, phone calls or a ‘Zoom’ meeting will be arranged.
    • Tasks can be differentiated at individual level via the PowerPoints.
    • Children who have an EHCP or support plan, who are not in school, will be afforded additional contact via the staff who typically support them in school. This will be additional to the general individual ‘check ins’ that are planned each week.
    • Children with visual problems will be posted reading scheme books, so they spend less time on screen than other children.
What will remote learning look like if my child is self-isolating, but the majority of the class are in school?
    • Daily learning tasks will be allocated via class e-mail. These will match, or closely match, those that the children in school are completing. Engagement will be monitored and feedback and support provided in line with the above protocols.
    • Children will have reading books and phonics activities allocated via the class teacher and these will be communicated via e-mail..
    • If appropriate, some isolating children may join a lesson via Zoom.

This information has been formulated in line with DFE guidance https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/providing-remote-education-information-to-parents-template