Headteacher’s Letter 05.01.2021
5th January 2021
Dear parents and carers,
Re: lockdown and remote learning
Since I wrote to you yesterday circumstances have changed significantly. As the country has moved into tier 5 and a lockdown, only vulnerable students and the children of critical workers are to attend school in person from Wednesday 6th January. All other students are to remain at home and to engage in their remote learning.
I have attached a reminder of who counts as a vulnerable student or a critical worker to the end of this letter. Should you wish your child to access this provision, please complete this online form.
Our remote learning provision
As you will be aware, schools are required to have a remote learning plan in place so that any child who cannot attend school because of COVID-19 does not miss out on their learning.
Our remote learning provision has been developed with our students and their families in mind taking into account feedback and the experience of students and staff to date. We believe that this strategy works best for the children at our school.
A summary of our remote learning plan is below.
- All of the remote learning provision, including homework, is provided via Google Classroom. A full guide on how to access this platform is available on the school website – https://www.stepneyallsaints.school/for-students/google-classroom/
- Work is set as per timetable and follows the same curriculum content as would be delivered in school.
- Teachers deliver the curriculum and lessons remotely either by setting tasks which are assessed and monitored or via Google Meets.
- Lessons will be live. The teacher of the timetabled lesson will be present in the Google Classroom for the duration of the lesson.
- Students are expected to engage in their remote learning during the day and to follow as far as possible a normal routine.
- In some subjects students will access work through links provided to websites such as Hegarty Maths. Students have been provided with login details for these resources. Teachers can assist with question relating to access during online lessons.
Our approach takes into account the multiple demands placed upon families at this time for example access to devices and demands on parents.
What you need at home
Students will need access to a laptop, computer or a tablet and, where possible, should have a quiet space where they can work without interruption.
We have provided a large number of laptops and SIM cards to families to facilitate remote learning where there has been a need. In addition, we have today sent out a Google Form to all students for them to complete informing us where there is a need for a laptop or internet access.
What we expect from your child
It is important that students engage with home learning. The timetable for your child is in the school planner or via the SIMS parent app.
What you can do to help
We appreciate that our school closure will present some challenges for you. We kindly ask for your support so that we can continue to provide high-quality education for your child during this time.
We do not expect you to watch your child all day, and we would not expect parents/carers to get involved in remote lessons in place of our teachers. However, it is helpful if you can take an active role in your child’s learning by asking them about their day and what work they have done.
Our top tips:
- Try to encourage your child to be ready and dressed for the start of the school day, and to keep to their timetable or a routine
- Distinguish between weekdays and weekends, and make it clear when the school day is over, to separate home and school life
- Plan breaks and exercise into the day to help keep your child active
Please keep in touch with us and do let us know if you are having any difficulties with remote learning, or if you have any questions. You can contact us through info@stepneyallsaints.school
Thank you for your continued support and please stay safe.
Yours sincerely,
Paul Woods
Headteacher
A reminder of the definitions of ‘critical workers’ and ‘vulnerable students’
Critical workers are those who work in:
- Health and social care
- Education and childcare
- Key public services (including the justice system, religious staff, charities delivering key frontline services, those responsible for the management of the deceased, and journalists and broadcasters who are providing public service broadcasting)
- Local and national government (those who are involved in delivering the coronavirus response or essential public services)
- Food and other necessary goods
- Public safety and national security
- Transport
- Utilities, communication and financial services
Vulnerable students are those who:
- Are assessed as being in need, including those with a child in need plan or child protection plan
- Are looked after by the local authority
- Have an education, health and care (EHC) plan
- Have been assessed as otherwise vulnerable by the school or LA, including children who:
- Are on the edge of receiving support from children’s social care services
- Are adopted
- Are at risk of becoming NEET (‘not in employment, education or training’)
- Are living in temporary accommodation
- Are young carers
- May have difficulty engaging with remote education at home (for example due to a lack of devices or quiet space to study)
If you are not sure if you or your child fall under these definitions, please contact the school on info@stepneyallsaints.school.
Vulnerable students and the children of critical workers who wish to attend school should arrive in full school uniform at 8.40am on Wednesday 6th January through the main school entrance. They will follow the same curriculum and timetable as usual, as will students learning from home.