Use this guidance to help to create a positive learning environment in the home

For our primary students:

Be realistic about what you (and they) can do

• You're not expected to become teachers and your children aren't expected to learn as they do in school. Simply providing your children with some structure at home will help them to adapt. Use the tips below to help you make this work for your household

• Experiment in the first week, then take stock. What's working and what isn't? Ask your children, involve them too

• Share the load if there are 2 parents at home. Split the day into 2-3 hour slots and take turns so you can do your own work

Keep to a timetable wherever possible

• Create and stick to a routine if you can. This is what children are used to. For example, eat breakfast at the same time and make sure they're dressed before starting the ‘school’ day – avoid staying in pyjamas!

• Involve your children in setting the timetable where possible. It’s a great opportunity for them to manage their own time better and it’ll give them ownership.

• Check-in with your children and try to keep to the timetable, but be flexible. If a task/activity is going well or they want more time, let it extend where possible

• If you have more than 1 child at home, consider combining their timetables. For example, they might exercise and do maths together – see what works for your household

• Designate a working space if possible, and at the end of the day have a clear cut-off to signal school time is over

• Stick the timetable up on the wall so everyone knows what they should be doing when, and tick activities off throughout the day

• Distinguish between weekdays and weekends, to separate school life and home life

Make time for exercise and breaks throughout the day:

• Start each morning with some activity: either the designated weekly task from our PE Team, or if finished with that try out PE lesson at 9am GMT with Joe Wicks - a great channel which helps the whole family get active

• If you have a garden or compound, use it regularly. If you don’t, try to get out once a day for some exercise and fresh air, but remember to take your mask

• Get your children to write in a diary what they did each day – this can be a clear sign that the ‘school’ day has ended

For our secondary students:

This guidance is design to enhance student wellbeing and maximise the effectiveness of their virtual school experience

Daily Structure:

• Students should create a plan for each day using the secondary school timetable

• Make sure they take breaks to avoid burnout and try to avoid being seated for longer than an hour

• Fit the daily schedule around their needs. Without travel time to school and back there is a bit more room in the day

• Have clearly defined stopping points that students stick to and avoid working too late. Include relaxation in the evenings so they are ready for the next day's learning

Learning Environment:

• Identify an appropriate workspace, ideally separate from relaxation spaces

• Reduce distractions by avoiding environments where there is a television or games console, for example

• Before starting the day, make sure they have everything they need - laptop, charger, notebooks, sticky notes, pens, etc. It's a good idea to write notes off the screen. Having a clock or timer will also be useful for scheduling

Communication:

• Encourage your child(ren) to stay in touch with their teachers and peers. Most lessons will involved a check-in that they should get involved in. We're all here to support each other

• Video calls could be used for group study sessions - some students find independent learning more of a challenge than others. Check on each other and let a teacher know if they think another student is struggling

• Encourage them to communicate with you too - talk as a family. Being away from school can be isolating to make sure you talk about how everyone is feeling. Ask your child(ren) to explain what they are working on, which helps to develop their understanding as well

Wellbeing:

• Make sure your child is well rested; if they need some extra time to switch off their schedule can be flexible. Let their teachers know if they are struggling

• Keep relaxation and downtime activities varied and include exercise. Pick books to read that aren't linked to learning to have a proper break

• Take advantage of the increased time at home to encourage the learning of new skills, such as cooking or learning another language. Find new activities to try

• Create incentives and rewards to help your child(ren) feel proud of their achievements. It's important to recognise their accomplishments in learning while away from the classroom

• Plan balanced meals to ensure a healthy diet and make sure to take meal breaks

Virtual schooling is an opportunity for students to take charge of their learning, however there is lots of help available if they need support.

How to support home learning using our virtual school