The following information is intended to provide guidance to parents/carers on how their child can continue to access a high-quality education if they are not able to come to school, e.g. due to school closure, or individual cases where a pupil is unable to attend school but is able to learn.
Please note that attendance is essential for pupils to get the most out of their school experience, including for their attainment, wellbeing, and wider life chances. Remote education should not be viewed as an equal alternative to attendance in school. For this reason remote education is to be used only as a last resort when the alternative would be no education, and only after it has been established that the pupil is, or will be, absent from school.
IMMEDIATELY ACCESSIBLE RESOURCES
The following links will give access to resources that are always available. If your child is away from school, they will be able to use these resources immediately to continue access a high quality education.
Times Table Rock Stars
An online maths resource through which children can access times table tasks. (Year 2 – 6)
https://play.ttrockstars.com/auth
Each child has their own log-in; if they cannot remember their log-in details, please contact the school and we will re-send these to you.
Bedrock Vocabulary
A digital vocabulary curriculum which teaches through a series of multi-modal and interactive activities. (Year 1 – 6)
https://app.bedrocklearning.org/
Each child has their own log-in; if they cannot remember their log-in details, please contact the school and we will re-send these to you.
Busy Things
Helping children learn through play with educational games which cover all curriculum areas. (Reception - Year 6)
https://www.busythings.co.uk/play/
Each child has their own log-in; if they cannot remember their log-in details, please contact the school and we will re-send these to you.
Oak National Academy
Thousands of free video lessons, resources and activities (Reception – Year 6)
https://classroom.thenational.academy/subjects-by-key-stage
BBC Bitesize
Free videos, step-by-step guides, activities and quizzes by level and subject. (Reception – Year 6)
https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/primary
Free online maths games (Year 3 – 6)
https://mathsframe.co.uk/en/resources/category/22/most-popular
https://www.topmarks.co.uk/maths-games/5-7-years/counting
https://www.topmarks.co.uk/maths-games/hit-the-button
http://happysoft.org.uk/countdown/numgame.php
The amount of home learning that takes place is dependent on the reasons for absence and we would support parents and carers using their best judgement on this. In general, our recommended timings would be three hours of learning for KS1 children, and four hours for KS2.
RESOURCES FOR A LONGER SCHOOL CLOSURE
In the event of a longer term school closure, e.g. issues with the school building that prevent us from being open, or a government directed closure, the resources highlighted for immediate use will continue to be utilised. In addition, teachers will provide learning through the Google Classroom platform. Children are aware of their log-ins for this, as they use it regularly when in school, but if they cannot remember their log-in information please contact the school and we will re-send.
On a daily basis, teachers will upload lessons that cover phonics and/or reading (depending on the year group), writing, maths and one other subject, e.g. history, geography or science. Over the course of the week, children will have access to learning in every subject that they would normally be taught if they were in school. For Reception and Key Stage 1, approximately three hours of learning materials will be supplied; for Key Stage 2, it will be approximately four hours of learning materials.
Learning is presented in a variety of ways: teachers record videos that accompany presentations to introduce new material and model the tasks that they are asking the children to complete; a range of tasks and activities for the children to complete; quizzes; links to other educational sites with relevant and appropriate activities selected by the teachers. Activities are completed using Google Docs, or by non-digital methods, which can then be scanned or photographed and loaded onto Google Classroom.
PARENT AND CARER SUPPORT FOR LEARNING
In the event of a long school closure, and children accessing learning via Google Classroom, we would like the children to complete work as independently as possible. It is important that the work that children submit has been completed by them, and not an adult, so that the teachers can accurately assess knowledge and plan future learning. However, we know that – just as in class – children do need support and encouragement to complete their work. This is particularly true for the younger children who may need to have their time managed for them. Teachers will monitor the engagement of all children daily and offer support and advice to those that are struggling to access materials.
CHILDREN WITH SEND
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 acknowledge the difficulties this may place on families in the case of a long school closure, and so will speak with families individually to ensure that the needs of their child are met.
SUPPORT ACCESSING MATERIALS
If a family needs access to a device to support home learning, please contact the school office by telephone (020 8353 4250) or email (office@heathfieldacademy.org). If a family should need printed materials, please contact the school office and they will arrange this for you.