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Plympton Academy

Remote learning

This information is intended to provide clarity and transparency to students and parents or
carers about what to expect from remote education if local restrictions require entire cohorts
(or other groups) to remain at home.

Updated: June 2022

In what circumstances might remote education be provided by the Academy? 

We may provide remote education in circumstances when in-person attendance is either not possible or contrary to government guidance. This might include:

  • occasions when we decide that it is not possible for the Academy to open safely, or that opening would contradict guidance from local or central government
  • occasions when individual pupils, for a limited duration, are unable to physically attend school but are able to continue learning, for example pupils with an infectious illness

 

Will my child be taught broadly the same curriculum as they would if they were in school? 

We teach the same curriculum remotely as we do in school. However, we may need to make some adaptations in some subjects particularly where access to speciality materials, equipment or spaces are necessary. Such subjects include PE; Art; Design Technology; and Performing Arts.

For examination groups, we will ensure that the curriculum in all subjects continues to prepare students for their final assessments.

 

How long can I expect work set by the school to take my child each day? 

We expect that remote education (including remote teaching and independent work) will take students broadly the following number of hours each day:

Key Stages 3 and 4

Students will be set five lessons per day, with each lesson designed to provide students with one hour of learning.

Key Stage 5

Students will be provided with the number of hours equal to their individual programmes of study.

 

How will my child access any online remote education you are providing? 

All work will be accessed through Google Classrooms.

Where applicable, live teaching will be conducted through Google Meet.

 

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

We recognise that some students may not have suitable online access at home. If this is the case, parents/carers can notify the Academy using the remotelearninghelpdesk@plympton.academy email. If this is not possible, parents can phone the Academy Reception which is staffed daily:  0333 360 2220.

Qualifying students will be provided with a Chromebook and/or mobile network data, as required.

 

How will my child be taught remotely? 

In cases where remote teaching is required in the short-term, we will use the following approaches to teach students remotely:

Key Stages 3 and 4

  • Pre-recorded teaching, with materials produced by the Academy’s teachers or third parties such as Oak National Academy

Key Stage 5

  • Independent study set by the class teacher

However, there may be cases where it is appropriate for teachers to provide live online teaching.

If remote teaching is required for a longer period of time, we will use a combination of the following approaches to teach students remotely:

Key Stages 3 and 4

  • Pre-recorded teaching
  • Live seminars

Key Stage 5

  • Live online teaching

This may be supplemented with commercially available websites and platforms to support the teaching of specific subjects or areas, including video clips or sequences.

 

What are your expectations for my child’s engagement and the support that we as parents and carers should provide at home? 

We expect all students to follow their normal timetable each day. Teachers will indicate how long each learning activity should take and we expect students to follow this guidance. Where teachers have indicated that work should be submitted, students should do so as instructed. If there are particular circumstances or needs that the Academy is not aware of that require these expectations to be adjusted, parents/carers should inform the Head of Year in the first instance.

We expect parents and carers to set appropriate routines to support remote learning. This includes ensuring students follow the timings of their normal timetable and - as far as possible - have an appropriate work space (such as a desk or table) with minimal distractions.

It will help if parents and carers discuss the work that their child has completed to support completion.

 

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

Key Stages 3 and 4

All students are required to complete an ‘Exit Ticket’ style activity in every subject each day. Teachers will monitor the competition of these Exit Tickets to check student engagement daily. In addition, engagement will be checked through the submission of work (where requested) and the live seminars will provide further evidence of student engagement and work completion.

Key Stage 5

Student engagement will be monitored through attendance at live lessons and completion of independent work.

Where there are concerns regarding student engagement, parents and carers will be informed by the class teacher, tutor or head of year depending on individual circumstances. This will normally be through a telephone call or email.

 

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 students. The following approaches will be used (this list is not exhaustive):

  • Typed or audio-recorded comments through Google Docs
  • Verbal feedback during live seminars
  • Whole-class feedback or quizzes marked automatically via digital platforms
  • Attainment grades and progress PRAG of assessments

 

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 pupils in the following ways:

  • Plympton Academy hold the same high aspirations for students with SEND as those without, and as such they follow the same academically challenging curriculum. Remote lessons are planned with SEND students in mind and the same consistent approach is used across subjects to ensure fair access for all.
  • SEND students who require extra support to access learning receive this remotely through regular contact with their allocated key adult who, if needed, will support virtually with online platforms. Students whose needs cannot be met remotely are invited to attend Educare, where they can work alongside staff to have their needs met.
  • Interventions through external agencies are also supported remotely, where possible, and multi-agency support plans continue to run virtually.
  • Parents are supported by sharing of resources, such as information on accessibility apps, signposting to support websites as well as also having regular contact with the key adult.
  • SEND students are prioritised in the loaning of devices, should this be the barrier to their engagement.

 

If my child is not able to physically attend school but is able to continue learning (for example in cases of infectious diseases), will remote teaching be made available? 

Remote education may be available but the approach will differ from the provision of remote education for groups of students.

In the majority of cases the classroom teacher will live-stream the lesson and the student can join the lesson using the Google Meet link in the subject's Google Class.

Further details and video instructions are linked below:

Remote Education for Individuals