Guidance for Parents (Infant & Junior)
We will provide remote learning for pupils using Seesaw (Reception to Y3) and Google Classroom (Y4 to Y6).
Pupils will be familiar with these learning platforms from teaching, learning and homework in the Autumn Term.
Our recommendations
Pupils should treat each day as if it were a normal school day:
We believe it’s important to work in partnership with you and your child, and after listening to feedback and researching effective remote learning models, have placed a greater emphasis on:
daily live lessons for English and Maths
a weekly timetable detailing expectations for the week
curriculum coverage spread throughout the week meaning manageable workloads
daily online and offline tasks
assemblies and weekly form times for pastoral and social interaction
feedback in written, verbal and live forms to ensure your child’s efforts are continually acknowledged in a similar way to the classroom
Where possible, pupils should have a working area free from distraction with access to their resources, such as pens, paper, textbooks, exercise books and their device, whether that be laptop, desktop PC or iPad.
We strongly recommend that parents control their home internet connection, as well as their child’s overall screen time and access to games and social media, in order to maintain focus on the work set and online safety. Guidance is available on the School website, and from Apple.
The importance of structure & routine
The Education Endowment Foundation, has produced this short video for parents on supporting home learning. They recommend simple approaches as part of a regular routine which should help offer balance beyond the curriculum. Click here to access a checklist for the Junior School pupils based on a document they have produced.
(Link to Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MO9SDGRgi3c&feature=emb_title )
Lessons
We believe primary aged children benefit from a blended approach of synchronous and asynchronous activities, giving families the structure of school with the flexibility required during this unusual time.
Pupils will have live English and Maths lessons every day through Google Meets and cover our extended curriculum throughout the week, following weekly class timetables. Pupils should ensure their camera is switched on with their microphone on mute for the beginning of a Google Meet, to enable everyone to participate effectively. Work will be set and assessed with feedback given in the usual forms and frequency.
As well as being dressed appropriately (no pyjamas etc), pupils should have access to their water bottle and should not be eating during live lessons (unless previously instructed by their teacher).
Communication
Pupils are strongly recommended to ask questions if they require clarification, or if they are encountering difficulties. They can post general questions that may be relevant to the whole group on Google Classroom. However, if the question is specific to their own work, it may be preferable to ask during live sessions, use a private comment on Classroom, or the email system.
Communication between pupils and teachers will take place either through the Google Classroom or Seesaw. Teachers may require pupils to work collaboratively on specific tasks, to communicate with each other electronically and to use collaborative online tools. They will not set tasks that require pupils to work physically together.
Parents cannot be given direct access to each Google Classroom, but are encouraged to discuss the work with their child and to view the work that is being set and completed on their child’s device. Parents can also contact teachers through the email system, although we would strongly encourage pupils to try to resolve issues themselves in the first instance.
We will continue to get together for our Monday Assembly and our Friday Special Mentions Assembly, with the addition of a Wednesday reflection video from Mr Weightman reviewing entries into our Junior School Remote Learning Challenge.
As with lessons, and in support of our pupils, attendance is monitored and parents will be informed should there appear to be a lack of engagement in these sessions.
We want every pupil to continue to make progress and enjoy their learning in the weeks ahead, and also want you to be aware of any issues as they arise.
If a pupil is unwell and unable to attend lessons, and/or complete their academic work for any reason, then the parent/carer should contact the class teacher or communicationsjs@chschool.co.uk.
Contact
Pupils or parents with safeguarding concerns should contact Mrs Jessica Feraille at: jessicaferaille@chschool.co.uk.
If pupils or parents encounter technical difficulties in accessing remote learning resources, they should contact technicalservices@chschool.co.uk