What is remote learning?

Remote learning: a broad term encompassing any learning that happens outside of the classroom, with the teacher not present in the same location as the pupils.

As a school we have gained significant experience at providing remote learning opportunities during periods of lockdown or when students have needed to self-isolate.

A student’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.

During lockdown we have been teaching the same curriculum remotely as we do in school. All students continue to follow a timetable they have been given. Students will be able to access the lesson work and any live lesson (through Microsoft Teams) that are planned

Tutor Time

Tutors will use this time to share activities for the week, carry out well-being checks on students and answer any questions students may have.

Lessons

Students will receive a blended learning package of live online lessons via Microsoft Teams and independent study via Sharepoint Lesson content will follow the programme of study outlined within each Department’s curriculum plan. Independent study will be set on Sharepoint in line with student timetables. Students are expected to submit work completed at the end of each lesson and know how to do this. Roughly half of all lessons in each subject will be taught live. This may vary on the nature of the subject or content being taught at any given time.

Remote teaching and study time each day

How long can I expect work set by the school to take my child each day?

We expect that remote education (including remote teaching and independent work) will take students broadly the same amount of hours as in their timetable which is 5 hours per day plus homework.

How will my child access any online remote education you are providing?

Live online lessons will take place using Microsoft Teams.

Independent study will be set on Sharepoint in line with student timetables.

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. Quarrydale has provided laptops, dongles and supported some parents with access to further data. If you need support with digital or online facilities please refer to the bullet points below and contact the academy staff member listed:

If your child does not have access to a device at home for their remote learning, please contact their Form Tutor or Head of Year or the school either through the ‘contact’ facility on the website or by calling reception

If your child has a device but is struggling to access their remote learning, please contact their Form Tutor or Head of Year.

Students with limited IT access can request paper packs/workbooks which can be posted from the academy by arrangement from their Form Tutor or Head of Year.

If your child has completed the work sent through the post you can return it via the stamped addressed envelope provided, it will be given to the relevant staff (please ensure you write the teacher’s name on each piece of work).

How will my child be taught remotely?

We use a combination of the following approaches to teach students remotely:

• Live online lessons will take place using Microsoft Teams. Students will receive live teaching and feedback during the lesson. Students can ask questions and receive answers regarding the learning that is taking place during the lesson.
• Oak National Academy and other nationally recognised online lessons as well as commercially available websites supporting the teaching of specific subjects or areas, including video clips or sequences.
• Independent study will be set on Sharepoint in line with student timetables. This may then direct to another website, online platform, textbook or reading book.
• Long-term project work and/or internet research activities.

 Engagement and feedback

What are your expectations for my child’s engagement and the support that we as parents and carers should provide at home?

• Students are expected to be contactable during the school day, to join in and fully engage in every lesson. All students should submit their completed work at the end of each lesson.
• Establishing a school-like routine, following the school timetable provided above.
• Students should seek help if needed, from teachers or teaching assistants and alert teachers if they are not able to complete work.
• We ask that parents check their child’s timetable and ensure that your child is attending their live lessons as well as completing the work set alongside these lessons.
• We ask that parents ask their children to talk you through the subjects and the work they are being set and check that work is being done to the best of their ability.
• We value the support given by parents/carers to their children when working remotely. We ask that parents/carers make the school aware if their child is sick or otherwise cannot complete work, and to seek help from the school if needed via your child’s Form Tutor or Head of Year.

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

• Registers are taken for every lesson.
• Staff will check whether your child has attended their online lessons on a daily basis (if appropriate).
• We will collate attitude to learning/engagement merit scores weekly for each subject and following up as necessary. The pastoral team in each year take the lead in contacting parents if there are concerns surrounding lack of engagement to offer support in improving student engagement.
• We do expect parents to check that their child has completed work set each day and contact us in the first instance for support as necessary.
• If there is a concern around the level of engagement of a pupil, parents/carers will be contacted by phone to assess whether school intervention can assist engagement.
• Students who complete all their work set and attend all the lessons will receive class charts points and/or postcards home.

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, amongst many others. Our approach to feeding back on student work is as follows:

• Individual feedback will be shared via our learning platforms. Specific assessments may be self-marked or marked by instant assessment via the learning platform or website.
• Feedback through questioning during live lessons.
• Feedback through online quizzes set either through Microsoft Teams or Sharepoint.
• Feedback through the submission of longer pieces of work via Microsoft Teams or Sharepoint.
• Students will receive some form of formal feedback weekly for core subjects (maths, science and English) and on a fortnightly basis for non-core subjects.

Additional support for students with particular needs

How will you work with me to help my child who needs additional support from adults at home to access remote education?

We recognise that some students, for example some students 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 place on families, and we will work with parents and carers to support those students in the following ways:

• Our SENDCOs, Mrs Bowler or Mrs Whetton (email- senco@quarrydale.notts.sch.uk)   will work with families to identify the level of tailored support required for each individual student.
• Students needing additional support from adults will be set work that is accessible and has been adapted for their level of need;
• The academy SEND team will be available to offer additional support.
• Where appropriate, Teaching Assistants will attend Live lessons to support students.
• Our SENDCOs will ensure that provisions are available for any students with EHC plans to attend lessons on the school site.

Remote education for self-isolating pupils

Where individual students 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 students both at home and in school.

If my child is not in school because they are self-isolating, how will their remote education differ from the approaches described above?

Students who are self-isolating will access to work via TEAMS.  They need to log onto this to complete the lessons they should have each day.