Remote Learning at St Luke's
At St Luke’s CofE Primary School, attendance is a significant priority. Good attendance is essential for pupils to get the most out of their school experience, including for their attainment, wellbeing, and wider life chances.
However, within the very rare circumstances where a pupil(s) may not be able to access school, then the remote learning offer will be implemented.
The DFE state that there are two broad categories where it might not be possible for pupils to receive in person education:
The DFE state that remote education should not be viewed as an equal alternative to attendance in school. They expect schools to consider it only as a last resort when the alternative would be no education, and only after it has been established that the pupil is, or will be, absent from school. In such cases, remote education can have the benefit of allowing absent pupils to keep on track with their education and stay connected to their teachers and peers.
It is expected that remote education should only ever be considered as a last resort where a decision has already been made that attendance at school is not possible, but pupils are able to continue learning.
After exploring all options to ensure the school remains open to all pupils, there may still be some exceptional occasions when school leaders or the local authority decide it is not possible to open safely, or where opening would contradict guidance from local or central government. If restricting attendance for pupils is the only viable option, school would provide remote education to help pupils stay on track with the education they would normally receive.
In case of emergency closures, where the decision has been made to close school, often have to be made at short notice. In this instance, the school will follow the agreed emergency planning policy to safeguard all pupils.
The following plan for remote learning is in place to ensure minimal disruption to pupils’ learning:
In a case of an emergency school closure, remote learning provision will be made accessible to pupils as soon as reasonably practicable, though in proportion to the length of absence and expected disruption to education.
Remote education provided will be equivalent in length to the core teaching time pupils would receive in school where possible. School will be mindful of the individual needs and circumstances of the pupil and their families. These include, but are not limited to:
2. Individual cases where a pupil is unable to attend school but is able to learn
There should only be limited circumstances where a pupil is unable to attend school but is able and well enough to continue their education remotely. These circumstances should only involve a short-term absence and might include pupils:
If this is the case, the school will work closely with the family to identify the medical needs of the pupil and plan a bespoke remote learning offer around these. The school will get advice from third party services as well as the Local Authority to agree the best form of remote learning or alternative provision to ensure the pupil continues to access their learning effectively.
Teacher interaction with pupils:
Depending on the circumstances and format of remote education, teachers will plan in opportunities for regular feedback and interaction with pupils and peers during the school day.
Safeguarding and attendance:
School leaders understand that children can be at risk of harm inside and outside of the school, inside and outside of home and online, therefore there are well established systems for checking, daily, whether pupils are safe at home and engaging with their remote education.
Frequently asked questions:
What if my child usually receives free school meals?
Where pupils who are eligible for benefits-related free school meals are receiving remote education, school would continue to work with the catering team to either provide good quality lunch parcels or to issue a food voucher if available. This will ensure that eligible pupils continue to be supported for the period they are unable to attend school.
How will pupils with SEND be supported?
If pupils with SEND are not able to attend school and require remote education, their teachers are best placed to know how their needs can most effectively be met to ensure they continue to access the curriculum. Teachers will plan and put in place an appropriate curriculum, teaching and support that will enable the pupil to continue learning effectively.
Some pupils with SEND may not be able to access remote education without adult support. The school will work collaboratively with families and put arrangements in place that allow pupils with SEND to access remote education successfully. In this situation, school would collaborate with third party services and the Local Authority to consider what support families may require.
Depending on the reason for remote education, it may be challenging or impossible for the school to deliver remotely the kind of approach that it does in the classroom, for example the provision of certain differentiated resources and the support of a Teaching Assistant. If this is the case, the school will consider, in cooperation with the local authority (if the child has an EHC plan), other ways in which it and the local authority can meet its statutory duties, working closely with the parents or carers.
What if my child or household do not have an electronical device to access remote learning?
We recognise that households may not have more than one electronic device, if any, that their child(ren) can access remote learning through. If this is the case, school can provide an Amazon Fire Tablet/Kindle to the family that can be used at home to access live learning, recorded videos and online educational platforms.
Is remote education safe for pupils?
Keeping children and teachers safe during remote education is essential. Teachers delivering remote education online are aware through statutory Safeguarding training that the same principles set out in the Staff Code of Conduct Policy applies to remote education.
St Luke’s remote education offer has been planned inline with the DFE school’s guidance and policies, including, ‘Safeguarding and Remote Education’, ‘Working together to improve school’s attendance’ and ‘Keeping Children Safe in Education’ as well as the Ofsted School Inspection Handbook.
School leaders understand that children can be at risk of harm inside and outside of the school, inside and outside of home and online, therefore there are well established systems for checking, daily, whether pupils are safe at home and engaging with their remote education.
As pupils may be using electronic devices at home to access remote learning, we ask parents and carers to ensure that they do so within the vicinity of an adult at home who can provide any support they may need during this. Additionally, we request that parents and carers ensure that appropriate measures are taken at home to safeguard pupils from any harmful content they may access online by ensuring that parental controls on devices are in place.
Please see below a link which provides guidance to parents and carers about supporting your child(ren) with remote learning:
Resources for families | Children's Commissioner for England
There are further links to parent and carer guidance on how to keep your child safe online at the bottom of this page.
What should I do if my child will be absent for remote learning sessions due to illness?
If your child presents as unwell before remote learning is due to start, then please contact the school office and follow the normal attendance procedures. Inform the office of your child’s absence and the reason for this via email or telephone.
Online safety advice for parents and carers
We politely request that age-appropriate supervision is provided by parents and carers for children and young people using the internet in your home.
In addition, we request that you:
Internet filters should be used to block malicious websites. These are usually free but often need to be turned on.
The following information and resources will help you to keep your children safe online: