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Whitstable Junior School

Whitstable Junior School

Learning today for life tomorrow

Remote Learning Provision

During a school closure, teaching and learning at WJS, is facilitated through Google Classrooms and Zoom/Google Meet.

Please see some comments below form our WJS Parent/Carer Remote Learning Survey Jan 2021;

  • I think the remote learning WJS has provided exceeds all expectations. It brings structure to our day and my child feels part of the school community which is important to us, the positivity of the staff is amazing and it brightens our day. Story time is one of our favourite parts, she always has a big smile on her face. Thank you for being an amazing team, I don't think we could get through this without you all.
  • I’d just like to thank you all for the hard work and dedication it takes to provide the quality of teaching that I am seeing.
  • We can't thank you enough for all the fantastic lesson slides and resources you provide for the online learning. The care, attention and support from WJS staff has always been amazing and during these difficult times you have done everything to keep your standards of care for our children’s wellbeing and education high. We would like to thanks you all for your continued efforts.
  • The school is providing a fantastic variation of learning to suit all. Great virtual support provided by class teachers. Printed packs available for children that prefer them or are lacking Wi-Fi.  Really good and useful feel-good Friday Friday emails.  Well done to all the staff.

All children are provided with an email address and login details to access their Google Classroom where they are provided with 4 hours of online learning every day.  This will happen within 24 hours of the school closure. 

Please refer to our 'Remote Learning Subject Overview' (attached below) for the themes and curriculum content that will be covered during this current period of remote learning.

We teach the same curriculum where possible, however, we may have to make adaptations for some subjects based on resources or content. E.g. Electricity in Science would be best taught when the school is open, so an alternative topic from the curriculum will be chosen and Electricity will be taught when the children return. We aim to ensure that progress is still being maintained and the children are not falling behind their learning or progression through the key stage.

Here is an extract from the latest DfE remote Learning Guidance:

The remote education provided should be equivalent in length to the core teaching pupils would receive in school and will include both recorded or live direct teaching time, and time for pupils to complete tasks and assignments independently. The amount of remote education provided should be, as a minimum:

  • Key Stage 2: 4 hours a day

WJS Remote Learning Timetable

All classes

9-10

10-11

11:30-12:30

1:30-2:30

2:45-3:30

 

English Lesson

 

9-9:30 Live lesson with  teacher

* Choice of activity

 

(pre-recorded live / foundation lesson / link / TTrockstars, Spelling Shed, Reading)

Maths Lesson

 

11:30-12  Live lesson with  teacher

* Choice of activity

 

(pre-recorded live / foundation lesson / link / TTrockstars, Spelling Shed, Reading)

Live reading session

(agreed by CT within this time)

Each day the children will have access to live teacher-led Zoom lessons: one for maths and one for English. These live zoom lessons will provide the children the opportunity to receive face-to-face direct input from their class teacher that will cover the main teaching points required for the children to then be able to complete the activities that are on Google Classrooms, plus give them the opportunity to ask questions to clarify their learning. There will also be foundation lessons every day, posted on Google Classrooms, with additional links to online recorded lessons provided by Bitesize, Oak Academy or similar that could enhance their understanding further.

All of these live zoom sessions are also recorded and added to the class’ News Feed on Google Classrooms so that anyone who was unable to attend the live zoom can watch at a later time, or before they start their maths or English lesson.

Furthermore, to support your children in maintaining a similar routine as they would have in school, there will also be a live zoom session in the afternoon that provides well-being support, celebration time and a chance for the children to listen to a story read by their class teacher.

At the start of a period of remote learning, every parent/carer will receive a live lesson protocol that sets out the expectations for both the parents/carers, the child, and the teacher. (please refer to the Staff protocol for live lessons below for more information). The teachers also keep a register of those children that attend these lessons and monitor this attendance, along with work completed on the Google Classrooms. 

Children will be provided with meaningful, high-quality activities that mirror the learning and curriculum that would have been covered had the children been able to be in school. We hold great value in the importance of routine, well-being, and continued high-quality teaching, even when this is managed remotely. Therefore, we aim to mirror a similar timetable every week, through daily maths, English, times-table practice, spelling, and reading activities, with all other foundation subjects covered throughout the week, with fun and motivating film clips, games, and web links to further support their understanding. All the children's work will be marked daily, with purposeful feedback provided that enables them to move their learning on.

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 by: -

  • Ensuring that lessons use our school 'Chilli-Challenge' ethos to allow children to select the most appropriate level of challenge for them,
  • Ensuring the feedback is detailed, appropriate, and supportive,
  • Adapting live lessons for individual children, if appropriate,  
  • Daily email contact from parents/carers to the class teacher, SENCo or WBT,
  • Providing additional learning support for children from their class teacher and/or LSA, and where appropriate, recorded online interventions by their 1:1 or class LSA.

We understand that some families may feel more comfortable using paper learning, which we have ensured is of similar quality and relevance to the work that is being completed online; we will call these families regularly to ensure that work is being completed and offer support if required.

Mrs Knoupe also provides whole school live zoom assemblies on a Monday and Friday that seek to mirror the same themes and structure as they would when the children are at school and enable the school community to feel at one. These assemblies cover aspects such as; celebrating the winning classes from TTRockstars, celebrating children's online work, giving out Head Teachers Awards, sharing the theme for the week related to our school values or sharing a specific week's theme. E.g. National Story-telling week or 'Rosa Parks Day. They are also recorded and posted on Google Classroom so that they can be accessed later if required.

Our children’s well-being is of the utmost importance at this time so we really value the opportunity to be able to provide them with regular face-to-face time with their teacher; providing them with the opportunity to clarify learning as well as chat with their classmates. Google Classrooms also enables the children to communicate with their friends via the News Feed, and the ability to communicate with their teacher throughout the day.

We also have a well-being classroom facility on Google Classrooms, called ‘The Nest’, that provides well-being support and activities by our Well-being Team. On a weekly basis, each child is invited to access The Nest and spend time chatting, via Zoom, to Shannon. Or they can access the resources and support at any time if required. 

We also provide help for families that may benefit from digital support due to not having suitable online access through lending laptops, providing IT support, and/or routers. Parents can also email their child's teacher, our IT technician, or call the office for IT support at any time. 

Please feel free to contact the school office or your child's class teacher should you have any queries regarding remote learning for your child.

You may like to refer to the following websites for online safety support.

Below are some important websites that we feel could help support remote learning:

Below are some important documents, information, and websites regarding Remote Learning, Online Safety, GDPR, and curriculum coverage.