Remote Learning provision

Dear Parents/Carers,

Following feedback from a few parent(s)/carer(s), I would just like to take this opportunity to clarify a few things about our remote learning provision.

As outlined by the education secretary on the 6^th January 2021 (https://bit.ly/3iILR8i), schools are required to provide remote learning of between 3 & 5 hours per day (dependent on age) during this national lockdown. It must be provided through a digital platform (currently we use Seesaw) and must contain at least some learning videos (either school-led or from some other quality provider such as White Rose maths or Oak Academy). We are currently following this guidance closely in the remote learning we are providing. Although we recognise this is a large amount, we are simply providing the amount prescribed in the government guidance.

Despite the large amount of remote learning required by the government to be set, engaging with it should be considered as vital. Failure to engage fully with this remote learning despite it being set will put your child(ren) at a severe disadvantage compared to their peers as this is ‘new learning’ rather than practicing already learned skills. Additionally, failure to engage with remote learning would be an attendance issue and will be passed on to the attendance team. Planning and delivering these remote learning opportunities requires a great deal of effort from all our teaching staff and this effort must be matched by the pupils it is provided for and supported by you as parent(s)/carer(s). As such, difficulty in getting your child(ren) to engage must be overcome. We also understand that many of our parents are now working from home and that there is the need for you as parents to provide other learning and wellbeing opportunities to your child(ren), therefore, at times a trade-off must be found given a finite amount of time available. All that we would ask is that you try to prioritise core curriculum areas such as maths, English and phonics to focus on whilst remembering that opportunities across the curriculum must also be given.

Once again, if you are struggling to access the remote learning please ask for support. Many parents are still asking for paper copies of remote learning. These are good for practicing skills already taught, however, they are very unlikely to teach your child anything new. It is vital you engage the quality pre-recorded or live lessons provided by our staff and other professionals if they are to take new steps in learning.  You may find it easier to record learning in books or on paper but it is vital that they access the learning videos so they understand these new concepts. We now have additional iPads that you may also loan from us to support remote learning. In addition, as we monitor the use of the devices already loaned we will be also requesting that the devices already loaned be returned to us if they are not being used. This is currently the case with several of the school devices. To request a device or support you can e-mail me (Mr Youngman)at reception@eastcroftpark.co.uk.

Finally, a big well done to those children (along with their parent(s)/carer(s) providing the support) who are making the most of the remote learning opportunities we are providing.

Yours sincerely,

Mr Youngman

Computing Coordinator & Remote learning lead