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 through our online provision as we would do in school. Some adaptations to content has been made so that it is possible to teach practical subjects such as art, design, music and physical education remotely from home. However, while the teaching method may be different, the content will follow our existing curriculum plans.
Remote teaching and study time each day
How long can I expect work set by the school to take my child each day?
In Key Stage 3, Key Stage 4 and Post-16 students will be studying in line with their normal timetable for an entire school day. Students must open the Google Classroom and Meet Link at the start of each lesson in line with their normal timetable. From here they will be provided with instructional teaching, content and activities that will last for an entire lesson. For students, this will cover five hours of learning time in line with a normal school day.
Accessing remote education
How will my child access any online remote education you are providing?
Students should login to https://classroom.google.com and click on their class they are attending in line with their normal timetable at the start of each lesson. From here they should open the ‘Meet Link’ at the top of the Classroom and any assigned work for the lesson. Lessons will begin with teachers explaining what students will be completing during the hour, any instructional teaching and clarifying any activities. All work for the lesson will also be contained within a clearly marked and dated Google Classroom assignment.
If my child does not have digital or online access at home, how will you support them to access remote education?
If students lack internet access please contact Mr Walls (Assistant Principal – MAT IT) on awalls.staff@sidneystringeracadmey.org.uk to discuss access solutions including 4G Routers, SIM Cards and WiFi Hotspot Vouchers.
If students require a Chromebook you can participate in the MAT 1:1 Chromebook Scheme. If you participate you will be contacted by the Academy to collect a new Chromebook that your child will be able to keep.
Alternatively, if you require a Chromebook on a short-term loan, due to issues making donations, please contact Mr Walls at awalls.staff@sidneystringeracademy.org.uk
How will my child be taught remotely?
Students will begin each lesson, at the time of their normal timetable, on Google Classroom by clicking on the Classroom for their class. They will open up the assignment posted for that lesson and the Meet Link at the top of the Classroom.
From here, teachers will register the class, and then provide instructions for the lesson.
This will include either:
- An entire live lesson in Google Meet and work set and visible as an assignment within Google Classroom.
- A teacher taking the register, providing instructional teaching, explaining the work to be completed on Google Classroom and then explaining that they will remain contactable for support for the rest of the lesson period if students struggle.
In either case, students will remain engaged in their work for the entire lesson period.
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 need to be ready to attend the live element of each lesson at the start of each lesson in line with the timetable for a normal school day. Therefore, they should be ready to attend school online as if it was a normal school day and to follow the same schedule including breaktimes and lunchtimes.
If students are ill, or have a medical appointment, we ask you to contact the Academy and ensure that their Year Lead is aware before the start of the student’s first lesson of the day.
If you encounter a technical issue, please contact MAT IT Support at itsupport@sidneystringeracademy.org.uk.
How will you check whether my child is engaging with their work and how will I be informed if there are concerns?
- If students do not attend a live lesson, they will be contacted by their Year Lead as soon as students are marked ‘absent’ on the register.
- If daily analytics, or a teacher’s concern over work, indicates that a student is not engaging with work consistently or is struggling, contact will be made by either a Subject Leader, the Assistant Principal assigned to your child’s year group or the Year Lead. This will depend on whether the issue is with a particular subject or an overall engagement concern.
How will you assess my child’s work and progress?
- Teachers will, in live elements of lessons, be using regular in class discussions, assessment for learning tools (such as Whiteboard.fi, Google Meet’s Chat function, Google Meet’s poll function, Socrative, Quizlet and Nearpod among other tools) to ensure that students have clarified any misconceptions and that assessment and feedback takes place during lessons.
- Lesson work will be collected by teachers via Google Classroom Assignments and feedback will be provided in line with the Academy’s Feedback Policy.
Additional support for pupils 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 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:
- Students who are vulnerable and who can not access remote learning at school will need to work in school with the help of the Learning Support Team
- Small teaching groups have been established for learning support groups which some students will attend as part of their normal timetable
- Learning Assistants have been allocated to online live lessons to provide support for students
- The Learning Support Team may have put forward an individual plan for your child to enable them to successfully access remote learning.
Remote education for self-isolating pupils
If my child is not in school because they are self-isolating, how will their remote education differ from the approaches described above?
If students are self-isolating, but school is open to the majority of students, students should follow their normal timetable and log on to Google Classroom and join their class at the start of each lesson. Instructions and work for self-isolating students will be provided by the teacher including all content required, a consolidation activity and a method to check that the student has understood the content.
The teacher will specify if the lesson is suitable for the student to click on the ‘Meet Link’ and to join the lesson via a video call via Google Meet.
