Remote Education policy and practice

At Hertford St Andrew, we are dedicated to ensuring that pupils continue to receive a high-quality education, even when they are unable to attend school in person.

When Remote Learning Will Be Provided

1. In cases of full or partial school closures.
2. If an individual pupil cannot attend school for medical reasons, but is well enough to learn from home.

Safeguarding

All remote education will follow our Child Protection Policy and the latest guidance in Keeping Children Safe in Education. 

Designated Safeguarding Leads will be available and the school safeguarding email accessible to all: DSL@hertforstandrew.herts.sch.uk

Welfare checks will be completed, either online or in person. This will happen at least weekly.

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

A pupil's first day or two at home with remote education might look different from our standard approach while we take all the necessary actions to prepare for a longer period of remote teaching.

Pupils will be sent home with paper-based learning in the core curriculum. They will have reading books. They might have some practical activities for the shining lights curriculum. They may have new workbooks.

 

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, we may need to make some adaptations in some subjects. For example, we may not expect you to be able to carry out science investigations or PE activities. Some learning will need teacher input and we may use online providers like Oak Academy rather than your child’s class teacher.

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 pupils broadly the following number of hours each day:

Key Stage 1	3 hours
Key Stage 2	4 hours

 

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

 

We will use Microsoft Teams for live access and welfare checks and our school sharepoint for collecting learning. We can support you if you can’t access these. We will use the school website to share activities. We will use online providers for digital lessons.

 

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 pupils may not have suitable online access at home. We take the following approaches to support those pupils to access remote education:

In the first instance, we will provide paper learning and printed materials. When we do this, we will arrange collection and drop off as appropriate. This may include home visits. If you are working with support services, such as Early Help, we may contact them for support for you. Should your child need a laptop, for example in the event of a long term absence, we will arrange loans on a case by case basis in school.

How will my child be taught remotely?

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

live teaching (online lessons) recorded teaching (e.g. Oak National Academy lessons, video/audio recordings made by teachers) printed paper packs produced by teachers (e.g. workbooks, worksheets) textbooks and reading books pupils have at home commercially available websites supporting the teaching of specific subjects or areas, including video clips or sequences long-term project work and/or internet research activities for younger children in particular, practical activities and play-based learning

 

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

 

Pupils will be expected to complete all learning set in line with teacher instructions Pupils will be expected to live the school's values in remote learning as they would in school Teachers will provide regular feedback, either by email or by return of paper materials Regular live sessions and welfare checks will be completed and this may include home visits

 

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

 

Checks will be made on engagement and welfare weekly Admin staff and teachers will follow up with emails and phone calls home to parents in the event of any concerns Announced and unannounced welfare checks may be carried out in person

 

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 may be used.

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 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 place on families, and we will work with parents and carers to support those pupils in the following ways:

We will develop personal plans with parents, in line with EHCP provision and specialist recommendations We will encourage practical learning activities and provide advice about child initiated learning and regulation The SENCo will make contact to support with any additional advice around provision, including sensory diets Any other specialist work, for example speech and language activities or therapeutic work will be shared with parents as appropriate.