Remote Learning

Remote Education Strategy Information for Parents/Carers

This information is intended to provide clarity and transparency to pupils, parents and carers about what to expect from remote education (on-line learning) if local restrictions require entire cohorts (or the school) to remain at home.

In the event that the PHE health protection team or local authority advise the school to fully or partially close temporarily to help control transmission, Grove Road has a contingency plan for this eventuality. This may involve remaining open only for vulnerable children and the children of essential workers, providing remote education for all other students; or it may involve remote education for certain year groups for a period of time.

The remote curriculum: 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.

At Grove Road our ultimate aim is to try and follow the intended curriculum whether students are in school, working from home, or accessing a combination of the two. Our preference is to provide video lessons to follow the curriculum where possible. These will be pre-recorded to allow flexibility for pupils and parents. We may also set video lessons provided by the Oak National Academy or other appropriate sites, which match our planned curriculum.

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

Our remote education platform is Google Classroom. All students and teachers have received training in this, and so lessons will continue as soon as possible using Google Classroom. Pupils can access this using the dedicated app (available for all devices) or can sign in to their individual school Google email address (username@groveroad.org.uk) and password.

Pupils may also choose to complete additional Home Learning tasks and these are available on their year group Google Classrooms.

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 wherever possible and appropriate. However, it is likely we will need to make some adaptations in some subjects. For example, in PE lessons, students may be set a series of challenges to develop their personal fitness.

Remote teaching and study time each day How long can I expect work set by the school to take my child each day?

The remote education provided is equivalent in length to the core teaching pupils would receive in school through recorded teaching time and time for pupils to complete tasks and assignments independently. The amount of remote education provided should be broadly:
• Key Stage 1: 3 hours a day on average across the cohort, with less for younger children
• Key Stage 2: 4 hours a day

All lessons will be uploaded to Google Classroom on a Sunday ready for the following week, should parents wish to download in advance to review and organise themselves for the week ahead.

The stream on the Google Classroom may also provide additional challenges and learning opportunities. The stream is also used to send out key information and give reminders.

Timetables will be shared with parents/carers to avoid pupils repeating learning if they are accessing on-site provision as well. Some pupils may have a blended offer both in school and at home and so therefore they will know which learning tasks will be completed in school. Whilst the timetable shows the sequence of provision in school, we encourage parents to complete learning in a time frame across the week that suits their personal circumstances. Working parents may wish to utilise the weekends for pupil learning, particularly if they themselves need the household device for work.
Accessing remote education How will my child access any online remote education you are providing?

At Grove Road we use ‘Google Classroom’ to provide pupils with their online remote education. We have used this since March 2020 and the vast majority of pupils have continued to use Google Classroom to complete Home Learning tasks from September 2020 while school was fully open. Our aim has been to ensure that all pupils and parents are familiar with Google Classroom and understand how to access additional apps such as Meet, Classroom, Forms & Slides.

All pupils at Grove Road have their own individual G-Suite email account and password. Once they have logged into their G-mails they can use the waffle button on the top right hand of the screen to access Google Classroom, Google Meet and a variety of other apps. Google Classroom helps teachers and pupils to communicate safely and can be used to organise and manage assignments, to go paperless, for collaboration between pupils and teachers and for teaching from a distance. Through the use of Google Classroom, teachers can:

Digitally organise, distribute, and collect assignments, course materials, and pupils’ work. Teachers can also post an assignment to multiple classes or modify and reuse assignments.

Communicate with pupils about their classwork, posting announcements and reminders about assignments and see who has or hasn't completed learning. Staff can also check in with individual pupils, answer their questions, and offer feedback and support.

Give pupils written or audio feedback on their assignments and assessments. Support video and further tutorials can have been produced by Herts for Learning and can be found in the Digital Classroom. https://digitalclassroom.hertsforlearning.co.uk/#/id/600afc168d13241af1096900

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 students may not have suitable online access at home. We take the following approaches to support those students to access remote education:
• If your child does not have access to a useable device (Tablet, X-box, Play Station, Chromebook, laptop, PC or smart phone) to complete remote learning effectively, school can provide paper copies and resource packs for your child.
• Some pupils without access may fall into the category of educationally vulnerable and may be able to attend on-site provision.
• If there is an issue with access to a device to complete remote education, the school will seek to loan devices to families who are struggling. Please let us know immediately by emailing admin@groveroad.herts.sch.uk OR support@groveroad.org.uk
• We will do everything we can to support remote education. We have a stock of SIM cards to provide free data for families without broadband access, devices that can be loaned, as well as offering technical advice to resolve any issues with connecting to the Internet. In this instance use the email support@groveroad.org.uk
• If pupils are completing remote education on paper rather than computer they can always upload a photo of their work. Where this is not possible, we will work with you to find a solution to ensure your child gets feedback and regular contact with their teacher.

How will my child be taught remotely?

At Grove Road, we use a combination of the following approaches to teach pupils remotely.
All pupils will have access to high-quality education when remote working. Classrooms are monitored weekly to check provision and identify improvements. Staff will use a range of teaching methods to cater for different learning styles, which include:
• Pre-recorded video or audio lessons
• Whole School Assemblies
• Reading of class books, stories, poems
• Current online learning portals, e.g. Oak National Academy, BBC Bitesize
• Educational websites
• PowerPoints/ Google Slides
• Group Google Meet sessions
• Monday Welcome Sessions (Whole School)
• Daily ‘live’ optional sessions (Tues to Friday for Reception, Y1 and Y2)
• Google Meet Drop ins (surgery sessions for KS2 pupils)
• Friday Fun Sessions (KS2 Pupils & Nursery)

Teachers plan and prepare lessons that are inclusive for all pupils and can be adapted to account for the needs of disadvantaged learners and pupils with SEND. All provision for remote learning will be appropriate for the class group’s age, ability and/or any SEND. Teachers will provide resources to help differentiate and support learners who may need more help to access a concept or activity. We appreciate that remote learning creates challenges for families and as such we are happy for parents and carers to devise a weekly routine that fits around their own work commitments. For example, some parents may wish to use weekends to support their children and hand in assignments on a Monday. This is fine and staff will endeavour to be as flexible as possible with marking and feedback if tasks come in after the Monday deadline.

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

All pupil’s engagement is monitored by the class teacher in the first instance. Tracking grids are used across the school and adapted for each age phase to ensure we have a clear and accurate picture of pupil engagement. Where a pupil has not engaged in online learning that week, a phone call will be made to the parent/carer by the Class Teacher offering support and guidance for their child. Each class teacher keeps a record of all pupil engagement and this information is shared with the Senior Leadership Team.

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. Our approach to feeding back on pupil work is as follows:
• Teachers will assess and feedback on all work submitted onto Google Classroom once it has been received.
• Feedback and marking will be in line with the school’s policy.
• Teachers will not be required to attempt to reproduce in written form the verbal feedback that pupils would be given during typical classroom teaching but feedback on pupils' work will rely on the teacher’s professional judgement to determine how any feedback, including marking, is given to help move children forward. Some feedback will be in the form of written comments, some will be in the form of voice recorded audio comments.

At Grove Road we know how valuable individualised feedback is to help motivate, engage and keep children feeling connected. Teachers will comment on all work which is uploaded by sending a message attached to the learning that has been ‘handed in’ via Google Classroom. We have begun to use of ‘Mote’ for school staff to leave voice message feedback. Research and feedback has suggested that hearing their teacher’s voice helps pupils to feel further motivated and feel connected.

Additional support for pupils with particular needs

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 create for families, and we will work with parents and carers to support those pupils in the following ways:
• Teachers will ensure lessons are inclusive for all pupils and can be adapted to account for the needs of disadvantaged pupils and pupils with SEND.
• All provisions for remote learning will be subject to the class group’s age, ability and/or any SEND.
• Pupils with SEND or additional medical conditions who require more regular breaks, e.g. sensory breaks, are not expected to do schoolwork during their breaks.
• Teachers will monitor the academic progress of all pupils, including those with SEND and discuss additional support or provision with the Inclusion Team as soon as possible.
• In exceptional circumstances, the school may reduce its curriculum offering to enable pupils to cope with the workload – keeping pupils’ best interests in mind
• Teachers will set work according to the needs of the pupil. This will be in the form of differentiated work and resources to scaffold understanding, to enable all children to access the remote learning at their own level.
• When a pupil is working significantly below age related expectations they may be set individual or group learning tasks which better match their learning needs and considers the pupils preferred learning style.
• The inclusion team will coordinate 1:1 Google Meet teaching sessions for pupils with EHCP or exceptional needs. Sessions are specifically tailored to the needs of the individual so not all 1:1 will look the same.

Remote education for self-isolating pupils

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

Pupils self-isolating will be provided with learning similar to that delivered in the classroom but will possibly be adapted in order to complete the learning at home. Slides/PowerPoints links to websites scaffolds and any other additional resources will be send out to pupils via Google Classroom. The class teacher will decide whether learning is uploaded daily or weekly depending on their teaching commitments within school. Although learning will be uploaded according to the in-school timetable we still offer the same flexibility to self-isolating pupils. Learning can be handed at any time within the school week. If pupils are unwell they are not expected to complete tasks and parents need to inform school as they would do normally.

Learning can be handed into Google Classroom and pupils self-isolating will have their learning marked and feedback given as if they were in school. Class teachers will monitor engagement and will make phone calls home if they are concerned, to discuss strategies and devise a plan for further support if needed.

If the pupil self-isolating has SEND then we would use the strategies listed above to further support the pupil during their period of isolation.

Final Note

Parents and carers will be given regular opportunities to give their feedback as part of our on-going monitoring and evaluation schedule.This strategy is a working document and the detail will evolve over time based on the circumstances and resources available to the school. The aims however will remain constant as we seek to provide an inclusive and high-quality on-line offer to every pupil.

Parent Views on Remote Learning

''I just wanted to quickly say thank you all so much for all the effort with homeschooling. We have loved the experience, enjoyed learning and spending so much extra time together. All the hard work that went into the resources and lessons made it so much easier to support XXXXX and XXXXX and I can’t thank you all at Grove enough as I know throughout the school the work ethic and support for children and parents alike during these strange times has been amazing.” 

''As we pack up our little home school for (hopefully) the last time I just wanted to say a massive heartfelt thank you to you all for all your hard work and care and love that came through Google Classroom! The boys still felt that they were connected to you and we were guided and supported so much in what to work on that their learning continued at home. I know how hard and tiring the last term has been and we are so very grateful for all that you have done! Thank you so much for making our children feel cared for from afar and thank you for helping them to stay focused and continue their learning journey at home!! They feel all the more connected and fond of you all and can't wait to come back to school next week!” 

''First and foremost, thank you for all your hard work over the past few months. I am not sure how you are managing to do all your preparation, classroom and online teaching, and marking …. it’s clearly a monumental task and we’re incredibly grateful to you and the entire school/ teaching team. Both XXXXX and XXXXX are motivated and engaged in their school work, and moreover they are both impressing me with their independent learning.”

''I can't express how much XXXXX loved your message. She has listened to it over and over again. It is so much more impactful to hear your voice as opposed to me reading out the messages. This morning she was actually not keen to do any school work, but your message totally changed her mind. It really meant a lot to her. Thank you!!" 

"I just wanted to say a huge thank you to everyone for the amazing effort the school has put into the google classroom home learning and the in-school provision. Working in a school I know how manic the past two weeks have been, planning and delivering online lessons, and the worry and concern of inviting children into school under the current circumstances. From an outside perspective, Grove Road Primary School have absolutely nailed it! I have the google classroom app on my phone and get a little 'ping' when XXXXX work is marked and commented on, staff have been unbelievably efficient and are always quick to respond to any queries. With regards to the in-school provision, again the staff have been absolutely incredible.”

''Thanks to everyone involved in this effort, your hard work is very much appreciated''.

''We were greatly impressed by the school's ability last time to move teaching offline and the children benefited greatly from your efforts.”  

''We just wanted to send you a very quick note to say how impressed we have been in the way that you have handled the educational and pastoral provision at Grove Road right from the outset of the first lockdown in March through to the circumstances which have led to the current lockdown we are in. Your organisation, forward-thinking and superb planning have meant that the school has adapted brilliantly to the significant challenges which have been placed on it, which in turn has allowed the children to have some degree of "normality" to their days, even when they are not in school. We have heard horror stories from other parents at schools around the UK who have been placed under insurmountable pressure by the amount of work which has been set for their children during lockdown, with very little apparent understanding about the pressures of working parents who are now having to juggle so many different needs. Grove Road's approach is an absolute breath of fresh air, with its focus on the mental wellbeing of the children remaining paramount. Your teaching staff have been excellent too, with the Year 3 provision from Miss O'Leary and Miss Ludlow, as well as the support team, being superb. I know that XXXXX misses being in school, so she's really looking forward to the hangout meetings which are starting in the next week or two.” 

''I don't mean to clog your inbox but I just wanted to say and enormous thank you to you and all your amazing staff. I am so proud that my son goes to Grove Road Primary school. Your communications are perfect, the expectations are reasonable and after one week of home school there have been no arguments in our house!! XXXXX has really enjoyed his home learning tasks and is embracing the new. Thank you for everything you and all the teachers do every day! We are so grateful to you all for keeping learning fun despite the circumstances!” 

''It has taken us a while to write this email, probably because we have been busy with our 3 boys and also I have been fitting in working within a very challenging NHS over these crazy 6 months, but actually we have been putting it off because we haven’t been able to find the right words. We want to say how grateful and thankful XXXXX and I are to yourself and the wonderful team of Grove Road. In March, we anticipated where life was heading regarding this pandemic and as a school you have worked relentlessly to support our children during lockdown and on their return to school. We will forever be grateful for this! You have gone above and beyond with the endless hours and the support that you have all given to our families and still are. We know that you will all say that it is your job as I would as a midwife but we just want you all to know that you are amazing. Our boys are very lucky to be part of such a wonderful school and everyday we say how fabulous Grove Road is.''

''We are still not sure if we have found the right words but THANK YOU, you are all brilliant and don’t forget it!” 

''This is a long-overdue thank you for all the incredible hard work which you continue to devote to our children. Your communication has been detailed and sensitive, honest and comprehensive. The switch to distance learning has been smooth and amazing, conjuring up a wonderful range of resources and virtual learning. Google Classroom has been fantastically successful and we can't thank you enough for pioneering this at Grove, especially the personalised teacher videos and the interactive Hangouts. We've tried to do as much as we can, a limited amount with three children (5, 3, 1) and our own teaching jobs to devote time and attention to, but to know that there was always personalised learning- provided by professionals who know our children- there at our fingertips, was a brilliant source of comfort and relief. A massive thank you to you and your team. XXXXX and XXXXX were so excited to return to school and to see their teachers: this speaks a louder message than these words. They love their school and this is because of the supportive, positive learning environment that you've created, but also the ongoing support and face-to-face virtual learning that you've continued to provide for our children. We can see that you care and you understand: we have complete trust in Grove!"   

''Firstly I would just like to pass on our heartfelt thanks for the fantastic support you and the rest of your colleagues in the Grove Road team have provided during these challenging times. The information and resources provided have been really valuable and as working parents who have both continued to work throughout the pandemic, we have really appreciated our children having access to Google classroom and being able to have contact with their teachers and friends via Hangouts, not to mention your fantastic assemblies and other resources, links and ideas you provided on Grove Together. We fully appreciate it has been no mean feat putting it all together and can see the incredible amount of work that has gone into it so we wanted to just show our gratitude and appreciation.”  

''Before the school begins to reopen I wanted to write to say how grateful the kids and I are for all the effort you and your colleagues have made during this unsettling and frustrating time. The online teaching and support that XXXXX and XXXXX  have received has been enthusiastic, thoughtful and consistently good, and I'm sure this will help them settle back in to school when the time comes. On their key subjects the learning has been well structured, achievable and follows an obvious progression from one topic to the next. Feedback on the work they submitted has been quick and constructive. The kids and I feel as though there has always been enough to keep them busy, but they have not felt pressured on days (or weeks!) when we haven't been able to keep up. Aside from this, the personal effort that the teachers have put in, not just the live chats but introducing the children to their pets, hobbies and families, has been really touching. The kids have enjoyed baking demonstrations, busy finger workouts, football coaching, dance lessons – all of which has helped them keep a real connection to their teachers and school, and goes far beyond what I expected when home schooling was first mentioned. The kids are excited about their work, and looking forward to going back to school, but in the meantime both me and my husband have really enjoyed this opportunity to see how well the school operates, and how much effort and care you all put in.” 

''I just wanted to write a quick note to say how impressed and grateful I am for the wonderful way Grove Road have handled everything during lockdown. The emails are so rational and calming during this time of craziness and offer such support and reassurance. Whilst we are coping well, or as well as can be, your emails always make me breathe a sigh of relief on what we are doing at home and that it's all ok. My son is only in reception and while this isn't the introduction to school life we had envisaged I feel he is still getting a very good education, the recorded lessons are a god send!  XXXXX listens to Mrs Taylor much more than to us! But I also feel he is getting the connection to his teacher and work group, he really connects to the recorded lessons when Mrs Taylor's asks questions or makes mistakes to catch the kids out, XXXXX is engaged and I am convinced that even if reception don't go back until September that he will really remember his first teacher as positively as I do.”

''I would like to say thank you to the teachers and staff for all of their hard work during the lockdown period so far. The provision of lessons and resources on Google classroom has been excellent. It has been a very organised and clear system to follow. The balance of work has been good and not too overwhelming. It has been lovely for the children to be able to access actual lessons from their teachers. They have also really benefited from hangouts too. Our children have looked forward to them and have been enthusiastic afterwards. I feel very blessed by the response of the school as a whole and I know that we are in a privileged position compared to others.”

''I am super proud of how well they have adapted and been getting on with life, which is in no small part down to the structure and content of their classes. They all miss 'proper' school but are keen to get started each morning and feel a real sense of achievement once they have completed the tasks. The amount of work that has gone into preparing each lesson is incredible and I'm so grateful for the levels of energy and positivity the teachers are able to get across in screen and feedback messages. A huge thank you to you and the rest of the staff for looking after our children at this time.” 

 Remote Learning at Grove Road Primary School is delivered via Google Classroom*. 

 

Official Help Sheets for Google Classroom

_{*Google Classroom is a trademark of Google Inc. Use of this trademark is subject to Google Brand Permissions.}