Coronavirus Home Learning
Remote Learning
In this section you will find lots of information to enable your child to access learning in the eventuality that they are not able to attend school because they have to self -isolate for a period of time.
As a school we have adopted 2 different models:
- If a whole bubble or class closes
- If individual children have to self-isolate.
If a whole class or bubble closes staff will not have the responsibility of being with their class during the day. In this situation we will use OFFICE365 for Education as our learning platform.
If individual children have to self isolate, we will use our class pages of the school website alongside a daily opportunity for your child to speak with a member of staff- ideally their class teacher. However due to circumstances outside of our control, such as staff absence, it may be a different member of staff.
Useful Guidance and Documentation: Remote Learning
Remote Learning: Organisation and Important Information
There may still be times when children need to self isolate. If children are ill they are not required to engage in remote learning. For those children who are required to self isolate and who under normal circumstances would be able to attend school we will provide remote learning.
When we are made aware that a child is having to self isolate and is unable to attend school the class teacher will provide work related directly to work that the child would be expected to complete if they were at school.
When individual children have to isolate
On the first day of isolation children will be expected to complete work around basic skills such as reading, number facts, mathematical calculations, multiplication tables and associated division facts, learning spellings and handwriting practice.
From the 2nd day of isolation children will be expected to complete work from the previous day, which will be provided by the class teacher.
To make work as accessible as possible, work will be posted on the class pages of our school website. Work for the following day will be available on every class page by 8am the following morning. Parents may request paper copies of tasks and these will be provided upon request.
Here is a link to the class webpages section of our website.
https://www.shottonprimary.durham.sch.uk/topic/our-classes
If a Whole Class is Affected and Needs to Isolate
If class bubbles have to close due to a confirmed case and the class teacher is available we will be able to offer 2 virtual direct teaching sessions via TEAMS daily. In addition to this, work will also be made available on your child's class page of our school website. If the class teacher is not available due to illness it may be that we are unable to offer virtual teaching sessions. In this case, work will still be posted on the class pages of our website on a daily basis.
If you are not able to access Teams, despite trying really hard, then please just phone the school office and we will arrange for someone to contact you as soon as possible to answer any queries and provide help with your child’s learning.
We fully appreciate that not everyone will be able to access remote online learning. If you would find it easier to access learning with your child by having paper copies of work, please just contact the school office. However if you ask for paper copies we do expect that the work is collected promptly from school. Understandably paper copies of work cannot be posted. Please remember that if your child is self-isolating they will not be allowed on the school site under any circumstances.
Timings and Expectations for Remote Learning
As a general rule the following work will be set:
• Literacy based activity- daily (approximately 45 mins-1hr)
• Maths based activity- daily (approximately 45mins-1hr)
• An additional subject based activity such as science, history, geography or music- daily (approximately 1 hr)
The time spent on these tasks will understandably vary according to the age of the child. In addition to these set tasks children are expected to:
- Read each day (all children)
- Practice spellings (all children)
- Practice multiplication/division facts (Year 2 upwards)
In addition to these set tasks children have been provided with access to the following online resources:
- Reading Buddy (all children)
- Oxford Owl e-books (Year 1 upward)
- Times Table Rockstars (Year 2 upwards)
All children have been provided with individual logins
EYFS and KS1 pupils should complete 3 hours per day of remote learning
KS2 pupils should complete 4 hours per day of remote learning.
The above timings should also include time given to explanation of tasks and 'teaching' of learning.
Returning Work
It is an expectation that children will return their work either in hard copy form or electronically via Teams or emailed to the class teacher.
Here are some links to user guides that you may find useful.
https://www.shottonprimary.durham.sch.uk/coronavirus.../
Feedback
Feedback will be given. If an individual child or a small number of children need to isolate, the school will endeavour to:
- Provide individual feedback daily with regards to work submitted via the online learning platform
- Provide individual feedback on paper-based work via telephone call / on return to school
- Provide access to digital learning platforms that provide automatic bespoke feedback
- Assess children’s understanding of work undertaken via remote education in terms of key knowledge and skills covered on return to school.
If one or more class bubbles need to close, or if the whole school closes or goes into local/national lockdown, the school will fulfil all of the above criteria and in addition:
Provide individual feedback daily with regards to work submitted via the online learning platform.
Provide 2 whole class ‘live’ feedback and teaching sessions each day.
For those children without internet access staff will make contact every 2 days to check that they have no issues with regards to their learning. Staff will also be available to make a planned telephone call in order to respond to any queries via telephone.
Pupils will submit work to their teachers and receive feedback, in person, following the period of isolation.
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 and within school. 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:
- Your child’s class teacher or the teaching assistant who supports your child in school will make contact, via telephone in the first instance, to discuss a bespoke approach for your child.
- Your child will receive a bespoke paper-based pack of learning materials.
- Your child / family will receive regular phone calls from their class teacher or teaching assistant who normally supports your child to ensure that a bespoke approach is facilitated and your child's learning needs are supported as much as possible.
- Your child will be offered individual / group ‘live’ lessons daily. This may be via telephone or utilising TEAMs.
- Work and resources appropriate for your child will be posted on an identified staff member's website page if we feel that it will be accessible for your child. This will very much be dependent upon the age and development of each individual child.
Establishing Good Remote Learning Behaviours
Parents should endeavour to support children’s remote learning by creating a positive environment for their child to learn, for example:
- Distinguish between weekdays and weekends, to separate school life and home life.
- At the end of the day, have a clear cut-off to signal that school time is over.
- Create and stick to a routine.
- Provide the correct equipment in order for your child to complete the work given.
- Designate a working space if possible.
- Make time for exercise and breaks throughout the day to keep your child active.
- Reinforce the importance of children staying safe online.
- Be aware of what your child is being asked to do, including: sites they will be asked to use and the school staff your child will interact with.
- Emphasise the importance of a safe online environment.
- Set age-appropriate parental controls on digital devices and use internet filters to block malicious websites. These are usually free, but often need to be turned on.
- Encourage your child to work to the best of their ability and praise their efforts.
- Encourage and support children to access remote education daily.
- Encourage and support children to keep up with the work set by school each day.
- Contact school if parents and children are experiencing problems with accessing remote education.
Pupil Engagement
How will you check whether my child is engaging with their work and how will I be informed if there are concerns?
If an individual child or a small number of children need to isolate, the school will endeavour to:
- Check children’s engagement with remote education daily.
- Contact parents where there is a concern regarding engagement with remote education
If one or more class bubbles need to close, or if the whole school closes or goes into local/national lockdown, the school will fulfil all of the above criteria and in addition:
- Respond to parents’ messages (that conform to the messaging protocol) within school working hours 8:30am – 3:45pm.
- Contact parents/carers who do not have access to the internet (or mobile data), weekly
- Contact parents/carers following no work submission or contact through messaging, after two consecutive days
- Provide weekly welfare calls (if the closure exceeds two school weeks)
- Operate timely reward systems to celebrate home achievements
- Support families with laptops where possible if a child does not have access to a suitable device.
Considerations
We appreciate that remote learning for some families may have to fit around parental work commitments and that it may not be possible to follow a normal school day. However if this is the case please do not expect staff to respond to questions about children’s learning outside of the normal working day (8:45am to 3:30pm).
We really hope that the children and yourselves, enjoy the learning that staff are able to provide and will support with as much as possible. However we are also extremely grateful for the support that you are able to give your child if they are unfortunately unable to attend school.
While we will endeavour to implement the steps outlined above, there may be circumstances beyond the control of the school that could impact on provision. For example, levels of staff absence or temporary technical difficulties.
Many thanks
Mrs H. Shaw.
Head Teacher
Read, Write, Inc and Early Reading
To ensure early reading and phonics teaching continues for our Reception and Key Stage 1 children and for those children who are in Key Stage 2 but who are still part of the RWInc programme, we have subscribed to an online resource and teaching base.
This resource will allow us to email you direct links to a daily phonics lesson taught by a Read Write Inc expert. It comprises of a daily speed sounds session and follow up activities matched directly to the level of your child and following the texts used in school.
Due to copyright regulations we are unable to post these links on our school website.
Also, watch Storytime with Nick; films of well-loved stories read by Nick Cannon, a trained actor, teacher and trainer and a wonderful storyteller.
A new story is added to the YouTube channel at 2pm on Monday, Wednesday and Friday each week.
White Rose Maths
Our maths scheme is White Rose. They have released some excellent home learning resources. Follow the link and then select your year group.
BBC Bitesize
Some really useful learning resources from the BBC. Follow the link, pick your year group and start your learning.
You'll find daily lessons for homeschooling in Maths (linked to White Rose) and English for every year group, as well as regular lessons in Science, History, Geography and more.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/dailylessons
Useful Learning Websites
There are also a number of online activities for children to enjoy.
Reading Buddy (online login provided in the pack)
https://www.oxfordreadingbuddy.com/uk
Times Tables Rock Stars (online login provided in the pack)
Education City (online login provided in the pack)
https://www.educationcity.com/
Other Free Online Resources Include:
Primary Stars
https://primarystarseducation.co.uk/
Maths Shed
Maths Whizz
Phonics Play
https://www.phonicsplay.co.uk/
Spelling Shed
https://www.spellingshed.com/en-gb
Twinkl
https://www.twinkl.co.uk/resources/covid19-school-closures (password UKTWINKLHELPS)
Premier League Primary Stars
Supermovers
https://www.bbc.co.uk/teach/supermovers
BBC Bitesize
https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize
IXL Quizzes
Oxford Owl ebooks
https://www.oxfordowl.co.uk/for-home/find-a-book/library-page/
Parent videos to support reading at home
www.oxfordowl.co.uk/read-write-inc-home
Toddler Time Storytelling
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HWlyRGNqMSo&list=PLO_fXoqQ9yDsPqsfN5sHfw6hd8qP1U9Pf
Odizzi Geography Fun
British Museum
Learning at Home
A suggested weekly timetable from Durham County Council that may help keep a routine to your day.
There are links to online learning websites that you may enjoy.
Keeping Healthy
https://en.calameo.com/read/000777721945cfe5bb9cc…
Durham Music Services
For some singing and music fun go to https://www.durhammusic.org.uk/News/youtube.
Our Durham music teachers have created a You Tube channel that has some fun music resources and a song a day for everyone to sing together.
You will need to subscribe to the channel for free before enjoying the resources together.
Great fun!
Brand new video every day to support remote learning at home and within school. SUBSCRIBE NOW
Durham Library Services
*Virtual Storytelling Project - Story Team*
Why not get involved with Durham County Council's exciting new virtual storytelling project for families?
We know there is nothing quite like losing yourself in a good book and this project involves families in actually shaping the adventure as it is being written.
County Durham artist Ruth Mary Johnson read the opening of the story via the Durham County Council YouTube channel on Tuesday, 5 May, at 2.00pm. Guided by Ruth, families are invited to come up with suggestions for what happens next, either with a drawing, sentence or just a single word with the next instalments being read every Tuesday until the finished story is released on Friday 5 June.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z4eq_VTsBco&list=PLO_fXoqQ9yDsPqsfN5sHfw6hd8qP1U9Pf&index=5
*Toddler Time – online story time sessions at your fingertips*
If you have children or even just like to listen to stories you can now enjoy listening to these at home. New story time sessions from Kitchen Zoo, a North East company which creates theatre for young audiences, and County Durham artist Ruth Mary Johnson are available online.
The sessions are available via Durham County Council's YouTube channel with a new story added each Thursday at 2.00pm. They are then available to enjoy at any time for free. We hope that you enjoy these and they make an interesting addition to your library experience. Below is a list of previous titles that you can still enjoy, plus the upcoming ones!
9 April - Chicken Licken, read by Ruth Mary Johnson
16 April – The Owl and the Pussycat, read by Kitchen Zoo
23 April - The Three Bears, by Kitchen Zoo
30 April – Aesop’s Fables, by Ruth Mary Johnson
07 May - The Jumbellies by Edward Lear, by Kitchen Zoo
14th May - The Lambton Worm by Stan Hodgson
21st May - The Boy who Cried Wolf by Kitchen Zoo
28th May - The Magic Porridge Pot by Shelley O’Brien
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HWlyRGNqMSo&list=PLO_fXoqQ9yDsPqsfN5sHfw6hd8qP1U9Pf