Apple Classroom

To help ensure children are using their iPad appropriately teachers enrol all learners into Apple Classroom. Apple Classroom enables teachers during school hours to view your child’s screen to monitor correct use, open websites or apps on learners' devices, share the child’s screen using Apple TV, mute the device and temporarily lock the device if it is used inappropriately. Please note that Apple Classroom only functions when the device is within the classroom and in range of the class teacher’s iPad or MacBook via Bluetooth.

iPad Focus 

The Focus feature available on the iPad can temporarily silence all notifications or allow only specific ones—those relevant to school, for example. It can also customise a Home Screen page that has only apps related to a Focus and make that page your Home Screen during that Focus. 

To facilitate the setup of a ‘school focus,’ we ask that all apps for Year 5 & 6 be downloaded and arranged on the first page of your child’s home screen. Your child’s teacher will assist in creating a ‘school focus’ that will automatically activate upon your child’s arrival at school. One of the ways that families can support chidlren with managing distractions is to refrain from messaging your child through messaging apps during learning time.  If you need to get in touch with your child during the school day, please contact learner services or your child's teacher. 

Guided Access

Guided Access on Apple devices serves as a valuable tool for parents, ensuring children focus on educational activities while using iPhones or iPads. This feature restricts device usage to a single app at a time and allows adults to control which functions are accessible, preventing children from accessing different apps. By enabling Guided Access, parents can create a safer, more focused learning environment for their children, ensuring the device is used strictly for its intended educational purpose. This functionality is especially beneficial in managing screen time and maintaining a distraction-free setting for young learners. Parents can turn on Guided Access feature in the settings app. To turn on and off Guided Access, simply tap three times on the side button and enter a parent-selected password. 

Messaging

One of our most common distractions during the day that both teachers and learners report is parents messaging their child during school time. We appreciate that there may be times where after-school plans change during day. In that case, we  ask that parents contact learners services or their child's teacher for urgent messages. We ask that non-urgent messages wait until the child returns home in the evening. 

We don't recommend that primary learners have access to any social media or unmoderated messaging apps. It is very easy for conversations online to filter back into school and have a significant impact on the learners involved.