REMOTE LEARNING

Remote education provision: Guidance for Students, Parents and Carers

At Up Holland High School, we remain committed to ensuring that all students have access to their curriculum and can access learning from home during the current health crisis. Our aim is to ensure that students are able to continue their learning with as little disruption as possible. We are pleased to be able to offer students and families a range of support. All work will be set through School Synergy and students have been reminded of their Synergy passwords.

This information is intended to provide clarity and transparency about what to expect from remote education where national or local restrictions require entire cohorts (or bubbles) to remain at home. For details of what to expect where individual students are self-isolating, please see the final section of this page.

 

The remote curriculum: what is taught to students at home?

We teach the same curriculum remotely as we do in school wherever possible and appropriate. It is necessary to make some adaptations in some subjects. For example, KS3 and 4 core PE lessons will not follow the normal syllabus and more appropriate tasks will be set.

Please see each subject’s Learning Journey and curriculum information on the website’s curriculum page which you can locate through the Parents and Students tab.

Our remote curriculum provision will be made available immediately when students are required to work from home.

Remote teaching and study time each day: how long can I expect work set by the school to take my child each day?

  • Key Stage 3 Work set to cover 5 hours per day
  • Key Stage 4 Work set to cover 5 hours per day

 

Accessing remote education: how will my child access any online remote education you are providing?

All work will be set on Synergy and live lessons will be conducted using Google Meet. Staff may use various online platforms such as Nearpod to enhance the learning experience.

 

If my child does not have digital or online access at home, how will you support them to access remote education?

Ideally, students should have access to their own computer or tablet device, but we fully appreciate the constraints that many families will face. Our learning activities are designed to be accessible using a wide range of devices (including smart phones if necessary). We recognise that some students may not have suitable online access at home and will do our utmost to support those students. If a student does not have access to a laptop or to data, we will help to make this available. Parents should contact school via Synergy to request support.

 

How will my child be taught remotely?

Our provision for students may include a range of live lessons or pre-recorded 'streamed' lessons created by their teachers. To join a lesson, students should follow the instructions/link shared by their teachers in School Synergy.

Teachers will share learning activities and resources directly with students, allowing them to personalise learning for their classes, monitor engagement and provide feedback where possible and appropriate. Students and teachers will be able to communicate directly using School Synergy. School Synergy can be accessed on any device. Parents can also log in to view the activities set for their children through the School Synergy Parent Portal.

 

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 should follow their normal school timetable and log on to Synergy and complete the work/join the lesson at the timetabled time. We expect all students to access our remote learning provision daily. They should engage in all 5 lessons and PD time.

We ask that parents support school by ensuring that students are ready to start the school day at 8.45 when they should join their Personal Development lesson with their Personal Development tutor and be ready to learn.

 

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

Registers will be taken on all live lessons (where available). Attendance will be logged and school will contact students and their parents if engagement is a concern. School will make contact in the following ways: text, email and phone call. We will also monitor engagement via Synergy. The system allows us to see whether the work has been accessed or not.

 

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. Students will receive verbal feedback each lesson. Students will receive feedback from online quizzes, interactive whiteboards and platforms such as Nearpod. Students will receive written feedback on half termly assessed pieces where appropriate.

 

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: weekly monitoring phone calls, nurture group virtual appointments, LSA lesson support and additionally we welcome into school those that feel they can not access the provision at home.

 

Other useful websites and resources

There are also a number of learning resources used in school that can be accessed from home. Oak National Academy and BBC Bitesize Daily are excellent new resources providing free, interactive curriculum-linked lessons for all year groups.

SENECA

GCSEPod

 

Twinkl - This site provides a wide range of excellent learning resources for children of all ages. There is also an excellent Home Learning Hub containing a daily update of activities. Highly recommended.

The UK Government has also identified a range of online learning resources covering a variety of subjects across the different Key Stages. Click here to access the DfE guide to additional learning resources.

StarLine is an schools-led initiative to provide support for parents and carers who have concerns or queries about educating their children at home. It aims to help parents and carers in the following ways:

  • By providing access to a team of qualified teachers, education and parenting experts.
  • By focussing on providing practical ideas, support and reassurance.
  • By offering tips, techniques and resources to enable parents to give their children the support they need to continue learning while schools are closed.
  • By supporting family wellbeing and mental health.
  • By covering all phases of education and subjects plus behaviour, pupil wellbeing and SEND.

 

StarLine is available to parents and carers of students from all schools nationwide. Free, confidential advice is available six days a week by phoning the StarLine team on 0330 3139162.

The team behind StarLine will also be broadcasting a weekly programme on YouTube. In each episode of StarLive, a guest presenter will share practical ideas for home learning. Further details can be found on the StarLine website.

 

UHHS School Synergy Website

 

School Synergy Student Guide