Home Learning - FAQ

Birchfield Remote Learning - Frequently Asked Questions

This information is intended to provide clarity and transparency to pupils and parents or carers about what to expect from remote education where national or local restrictions require entire cohorts (or bubbles) to remain at home. For details of what to expect where individual pupils are self-isolating, please see the final section of this page.

What is taught to pupils at home?
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.

What should my child expect from immediate remote education in the first day or two of pupils being sent home?
As per the blended learning policy, teachers will have 24-48 hours to set up their home learning provision depending on the circumstances. During this time the children will have access to our online subscriptions such as Accelerated Reader, TimesTablesRockStars (TTRS), Numbots and Bug Club. Further information to generic online resources may also be emailed.

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?
Once established, the children will continue to access the same curriculum as they would in school. The lessons will be part of a series of lessons and each one building on the previous. Where ever possible the curriculum will remain the same as if in school, however some adaptions in some subjects may need to be made for example any activities that require considerable or specific resources. It is important that the children access the lessons each day as they will be part of a series and not taught in isolation.

How long can I expect work set by the school to take my child each day?
If work is completed to the same standard as in school, we expect that remote education (including remote teaching and independent work) will take pupils broadly the following number of hours each day:

Key Stage 1 - 3 hours – this may be slightly less for the younger children

Key Stage 2 - 4 hours – this might be slightly more for the older children or where optional extension activities are been set.

How will my child access any online remote education you are providing?
Children in Year R will access their remote education through ILD (Interactive Learning Diary). All children have an account and parents the logon details – these can be reset through the office if needed. Work will be set through the Learning Zone.
Children in Years 1 – 6 will access their online learning through Microsoft Teams. During times of non-lockdown Teams is used to set homework and additional home activities. All children have an account, if you need additional instructions or a password reset them please contact the office.

If my child does not have digital or online access at home, how will you support them to access remote education?
We recognise that some pupils may not have suitable online access at home. We take the following approaches to support those pupils to access remote education:

• We have a number of loan laptops and iPads. If you have more than one child or you are struggling with your current technology then please do contact the office as we are able to consider all requests.
• Our devices come with a loan and user agreement. These need to be signed before you are able to take the device home.
• All our devices have been configured for safe home usage. They should only be used for school work and should be returned in the same condition as were received.
• There may be some government schemes we can access, dependent on availability, to support wifi/data usage.
• Our teachers carefully plan each lesson ensure that most do not involve printing materials. It is difficult with younger children, who may need some support. Work can be hand written, typed or printed depending on circumstances.

How will my child be taught remotely?
Depending on key stage and on subject being taught, we use a combination of the following approaches to teach pupils remotely:

• Pre recorded lessons – for English, maths and topic, teachers will record their teaching and post this in video format. They will be accessed through Teams and in class YouTube channels. These are invaluable to the children and their learning as this is where the learning takes place.
• Online videos - Some learning may be done via other online videos such as Read Write Inc, White Rose maths and topic linked clips etc.
• Forms – these may be used within MS Teams for the children to record their work
• Bug Club – reading comprehension for KS2
• Numbots – Maths for KS1
• Time Tables Rock Stars – Maths for KS2
• Accelerated Reader

What are your expectations for my child’s engagement and the support that we as parents and carers should provide at home?
It is expected that children engage with all learning whilst at home. We understand that each family has different circumstances in terms of commitment to paid work and siblings within the house. Over the week it is expected that the work set is completed but this can be done at each family’s own rate.

It is inevitable that the younger children will need support to access their learning, although independence should be encouraged where appropriate. The older children have had Teams modelled to them throughout the Autumn term and should be able to access their work independently.

How will you check whether my child is engaging with their work and how will I be informed if there are concerns?
Work will be checked on a daily basis. Class teachers will monitor who is accessing what work and who is handing in what work. Feedback will be given on all work that is handed in. If the class teacher has concerns over a child’s engagement they will in the first instance contact the child via Teams and the child’s private channel. If the disengagement persists, the child will be raised at the weekly SLT check-in and phone calls home may be actioned. Families may also be referred to the Pastoral team should it be necessary.

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. English and maths will be marked and feedback on a daily basis, topic will be marked where appropriate. Our approach to feeding back on pupil work is as follows:

• Feedback through a child’s private channel on individual pieces of work
• Whole class feedback on the General channel
• Marking of quizzes and forms
• Next steps and asking for corrections may also be requested

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. 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:

• Ensuring your child accesses the correct curriculum
• Ensuring you have the physical resources needed to support your child
• Offering your child a place in school if we jointly believe it’s in their best interests.
• Regular check-ins with the SENDCo

If my child is not in school because they are self-isolating, how will their remote education differ from the approaches described above?
If your child is self-isolating they will be emailed a 2-week pack of work. It will consist of daily English, maths and topic and, if done correctly, will meet the guidance of 3 hours for KS1 and 4 hours for KS2.
English and Maths will be similar to that being taught in school and carefully thought topics will be created to ensure households will be accessing the same theme.
Work can be uploaded via the child’s private Team channel for ongoing marking and feedback.