Robert mays school 14
Remote Learning FAQs
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Remote Learning FAQs

This information is intended to provide clarity and transparency to students and parents or carers about what to expect from remote education if circumstances mean that the school is unable to open as normal

The remote curriculum: what is taught to students at home?

Students will follow their full curriculum as per their school timetable and the majority of their  lessons will be a blend of live teaching using Microsoft Teams and Google Classroom. On  occasions when a teacher is unable to deliver a live lesson then work will be set through Google Classroom.

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

The school will immediately revert to our Remote Learning contingency plan, with lessons being delivered through Microsoft Teams and Google Classroom.

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?

We teach the same curriculum remotely as we do in school. 

There may be some adaptations to subjects with practical elements because of the need for specialist spaces or equipment. Therefore, some practical activities may be replaced with videoed demonstrations or with more theoretical activities.

 

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 students the same amount of time that they would be in lessons in the school day. They should therefore expect to spend a minimum of 5 hours on learning activities. It is important that students do take breaks as they would in school.

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

Your child will access the core part of their online remote education using Google Classroom which is accessible through the school’s Virtual Learning Environment  (VLE) and they will be notified that work has been set via their school email. They will  be set work for all subjects based on their school timetable. They should check this at  least once a day. This will be complemented by live lessons which will be delivered via Microsoft Teams.

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

If your child is having issues with accessing remote learning due to not having suitable digital or online access at home, please contact your child's form tutor and/or Head of Year

How will my child be taught remotely?

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

The foundation for the school’s remote teaching is Google Classroom and all learning  activities for lessons will be posted on this in advance of the timetabled lessons. This  will be complemented by a range of other teaching media: 

  • Live teaching (online lessons) – in a complete school closure or where the school is closed to a whole cohort, a majority of lessons will be delivered via MS Teams using Google Classroom as the resource hub. This  will be as per the students’ timetables. This recognises the fact that if there is a  national or local area lockdown then staff members may also have to juggle  their own childcare and homeschooling demands with teaching, as well as  helping to run the provision for critical workers’ children and vulnerable students. 
  • Recorded teaching (e.g. Oak National Academy lessons, video/audio  recordings made by teachers) 
  • Printed paper packs produced by teachers (e.g. workbooks, worksheets) where access to online resources is limited or where it is in the best interests of the individual students and their learning needs. 
  • Commercially available websites supporting the teaching of specific subjects or areas, including video clips or sequences e.g. My Maths, Maths Watch, Seneca Learning, GCSE Pod). 

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 students to access Google Classroom and to complete the work  that is set, attending all live streamed teaching that is offered using MS Teams. 
  • Given the remote nature of teaching and learning, we expect all parents and  carers to ensure that their child is up and ready for learning each day and is  able to access the resources and teaching provided by the school. 

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

  • Teachers will be monitoring students’ engagement with their work on a daily basis via attendance at live lessons and their submission of work via Google Classroom. 
  • Parents and carers will be informed of any concerns promptly via email from subject teachers, form tutors and Heads of Year.

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 student work is as follows: 

  • Verbal feedback given live during streamed lessons on MS Teams. 
  • Written feedback or voice notes on work that is submitted on Google Classroom. 
  • NB some pieces of work will be developmental and, in line with the school’s Marking  and Feedback Policy, these pieces of work may not receive detailed written feedback. 
  • Teachers will continue to set formal assessments of students’ learning according to each Department’s assessment schedule. 
  • Academic Reviews and Parent/Carer/Teacher Consultation evenings will take place as planned

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 students, for example some students 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 students in the following ways: 

  • Learning Support Assistants will be allocated to support students with EHCPs remotely using the tools in Google Classroom. This may include small group  sessions and them joining the lesson in MS Teams. 
  • For live streamed lessons for students who are self-isolating, LSAs will join the lesson and support remotely. 
  • Learning Support Assistants will help to provide differentiated resources for students according to their learning needs including paper resources where appropriate.