Kingsacre Primary School

Our remote learning platform is Google Classroom. You can log into your child’s Google Classroom account here:

http://classroom.google.com

Children should use the username that has been sent to them with the addition of “@kingsacre.devon.sch.uk”  and then enter the password which has been supplied by school. If you or your child has lost/forgotten these please email Mrs Cole (ccole@kingsacre-primary.devon.sch.uk) and she will be able to send you a reminder. Google Classroom works best in a Chrome browser, but will work in most and across all platforms.

During the school closure, remote learning resources, live teaching and pre-recorded videos will be accessible through Google Classroom – a digital learning platform created by Google. This will ensure that children are given the opportunity to continue learning remotely, at home.

Each day, tasks will be set on the classroom for children to complete. In addition to this children can access live teaching on Zoom (via Google Classroom) which will link to the learning and consolidation tasks set daily by their teachers. Once they have received input from their class teacher, they can complete the tasks.

The remote learning curriculum

Kingsacre teachers plan lessons according to medium-term plans for all subjects. We teach the same curriculum remotely as we do in school wherever possible and appropriate. Maths, English and phonics lessons will take place daily for all children. These will involve new learning and consolidation of learning that has already taken place.

We have had to make adaptations in some subjects, which are dependent on the availability of specific resources that may not be so readily available within the children’s home environment.

For EYFS and Key Stage 1 children we would be expecting at least 3 hours learning to be completed each school day (including live lessons). For Key Stage 2 we expect at least 4 hours learning to be completed each school day (including live lessons).

Live teaching schedule

A weekly schedule of your child’s live sessions will be made available to you on Google Classroom. This should provide a suitable structure and routine for your child’s remote learning day. Via the Google Classroom platform, the children will receive live lessons throughout the day with the whole class or sometimes in small groups. We would ask that, as far as possible, children join live lessons on time, appropriately dressed and ready for learning. In addition to this, videos may be used to support the teaching.

Pupil expectations

All children who are learning remotely will be expected to engage in the live sessions and activities that we are providing – this is to ensure continuity and progress in the learning they are undertaking. As far as Kingsacre staff are concerned your children are still at school and are a part of their classes. Children should adhere to our usual behaviour expectations and the Acceptable User Agreement for online use. Teachers will remind children of behaviour expectations regularly.

Class teachers will also take daily registers of attendance to monitor pupil engagement and punctuality. If there are any concerns over attendance or completion of learning, your child’s class teacher will get in contact with you.
Of course, under the current circumstances, we understand that there may be times that your child cannot attend a session. Please attempt to notify your child’s class teacher if this is the case. Safeguarding remains our highest priority so we will always make contact if a child is missing from the classroom, whether this be physically or remotely.

Parent Support

We understand that supporting children with remote learning can be very challenging and places a tremendous burden on parents and carers, especially in families where there are multiple school-age children. The school intends to support you as much as it can. We are always available for conversations with parents and can make phone calls to check-in with children.

To facilitate online learning, we would ask that parents support children by:

• Where possible, providing children with a workspace that is quiet and safe, with an adult nearby to support if necessary. Reception and Key Stage 1 children will require additional support to access live teaching sessions on Zoom (via Google Classroom).
• Making sure your children are dressed appropriately for live sessions
• Ensuring face-to-face communication is only between teachers and pupils
• Communicating with teachers, using their school email or via the school office if required.

Feedback for your child’s learning

Feedback can take many forms and may not always mean extensive written comments for individual children. There are other valid and effective methods, some of which are outlined below:

• Verbal feedback on learning tasks will normally be given during live teaching sessions. This may be individual feedback or whole-class feedback.
• Children may be required to complete quizzes or short assessments marked automatically on digital platforms.
• Children will also be able to submit pieces of learning on Google Classroom (including pictures of their paper-based learning or digitally created learning) which school staff will provide feedback on (verbal or written).

Children who may require additional support

For children with additional needs, the closure of school and switch to online learning can be challenging, particularly for those children who rely upon a consistent routine. 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.

Some of these children, including those with Education, Health & Care Plans (EHCP), will have been offered the opportunity to continue learning in school (in a year group bubble). This enables them to continue to access their personalised curriculum.

• In addition to this, to support families to deliver remote education for pupils who may require further adult support, we will:
• Differentiate learning activities so they are accessible to children’s needs
• Adjust pace and / or difficulty of sessions as required
• Provide drop-in sessions where pupils can get additional support from school staff
• Respond to the needs of children and families on a case-by-case basis
• Provide resources/visuals to support online learning where possible.

Digital devices and online access

We recognise that some pupils may not have suitable online access at home. The school has access to a limited number of devices for loan to families to support home learning. We have surveyed all families asking them to communicate with the school if they need support with technology provision (devices and internet). Devices will be distributed to every family who request a device. For those who require online access, we are able to procure enhanced mobile data packages through the Department for Education.

We are continuing to source new devices, through a variety of channels, to allow children to each have their own device so that they can access their live teaching sessions. If you need a device to support your child, please contact Mrs Cole.

Remote education for self-isolating pupils

Where individual pupils need to self-isolate but the majority of their peer group remains in school, how remote education is provided will likely differ from the approach for whole groups. This is due to the challenges of teaching pupils both at home and in school.

• Class teachers will post daily activities on the Google Classroom or via Parentmail for the children self-isolating. These activities will mirror those taking place in school as far as is possible and resources at home allow.
• Paper packs may be sent home if necessary
• Chromebooks will be provided to children self-isolating if needed
• Parents will need to take a more active role in supporting the child’s learning throughout the period of isolation.

Further resources

Additional useful documents can be viewed and downloaded by clicking on the links below: