At Mulberry Silverdale Primary, we believe that children benefit most from learning alongside their teachers and peers in school. Regular attendance at school is therefore our priority.
Remote education is not an alternative to attending school. It is provided only where appropriate in circumstances where a pupil is unable to attend school but is well enough and able to continue learning, or where exceptional circumstances mean that pupils are temporarily unable to attend school. Our approach follows the Department for Education’s Providing remote education: guidance for schools and takes account of the individual needs and circumstances of our pupils and families.
When might remote education be provided?
Remote education may be appropriate in limited circumstances, including where a pupil:
- is temporarily unable to attend school because of illness or injury but is well enough to learn;
- is recovering from an operation or medical procedure;
- is unable to attend school because of another short-term medical reason;
has additional needs which, in exceptional circumstances, mean that they temporarily cannot attend school but are able to access learning remotely; or - is affected by exceptional circumstances where the school is temporarily unable to provide education on site.
Remote education will be considered on a case-by-case basis. The school will consider the reason for absence, the expected length of absence, the pupil’s age and developmental stage, their individual needs and whether they are well enough to learn.
Where appropriate, remote education may form part of a plan to support a pupil’s return to school. Our aim will always be to support the pupil to return to school as soon as it is appropriate and safe to do so.
Parents and carers should not assume that remote education will automatically be provided for every absence.
Attendance remains our priority
Remote education does not replace attendance at school.
Where a pupil is absent, the school will continue to work with parents and carers to understand and address barriers to attendance and to support the pupil’s return to school.
Where a pupil is receiving remote education because they are unable to attend school, their attendance will continue to be recorded in accordance with statutory attendance requirements.
Our approach to remote education therefore supports, rather than replaces, our wider work to promote good attendance.
What will remote education look like?
The nature and amount of remote education provided will depend on:
- the pupil’s age and stage of development;
- the reason for the pupil’s absence;
- the expected length of absence;
- the pupil’s individual needs;
- any special educational needs and/or disabilities;
- the learning currently taking place in school; and
- the circumstances of the pupil and their family.
Where appropriate, pupils may receive learning activities including:
- English and mathematics;
- reading;
- spelling, grammar and vocabulary activities;
- work linked to the wider curriculum;
- retrieval and practice activities;
- recorded or online teaching;
- practical and creative activities;
- research and independent learning;
- educational online resources; and
- activities designed to consolidate learning already undertaken in school.
Where possible, learning will be linked to the curriculum being taught in school so that pupils can continue to develop their knowledge and skills.
Remote education will be meaningful, ambitious and appropriately matched to the pupil’s age and needs. We recognise that remote education cannot replicate the full experience of being in school and will therefore be proportionate to the circumstances.
Teaching, interaction and feedback
Where remote education is provided for a pupil, the school will maintain appropriate communication with the pupil and their parent or carer.
Depending on the circumstances and length of absence, this may include:
- work provided by the class teacher;
- explanations or recorded teaching;
- communication with the class teacher or another appropriate member of staff;
- opportunities for pupils to ask questions;
- feedback on completed work;
- checking pupils’ engagement and progress; and
- discussion of any barriers to accessing learning.
The frequency and method of contact will be proportionate to the pupil’s circumstances and the expected length of absence.
For short periods of absence, remote education may consist primarily of appropriate learning activities and resources rather than live online teaching.
For longer periods, the school will review the provision and consider whether additional interaction, feedback or adaptations are required.
Supporting pupils with SEND
We recognise that pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities may require additional support or reasonable adjustments when learning remotely.
Where remote education is appropriate, we will consider:
- the pupil’s individual needs;
- their SEND Support Plan, provision map or other relevant information;
- any Education, Health and Care Plan;
- accessibility of resources;
- communication and language needs;
- sensory needs;
- the level of adult support available at home; and
- whether the proposed remote education is appropriate for the individual pupil.
Learning may be adapted through differentiated tasks, additional explanations, visual resources, scaffolded activities, alternative methods of recording or other appropriate adjustments.
Where a pupil has an Education, Health and Care Plan, the school will continue to meet its statutory responsibilities and will work with parents or carers and the local authority as appropriate.
Access to devices and the internet
We recognise that families have different levels of access to technology, internet connectivity and adult support.
The school will take reasonable steps to identify and address barriers to accessing remote education.
Where appropriate and available, this may include:
- access to a school device;
- support with accessing online platforms;
- alternative methods of accessing learning;
- printed learning materials; and
- appropriate adjustments to the way work is provided.
Parents and carers should contact the school if their child is unable to access the learning because of a lack of suitable technology, internet access or another significant barrier.
Online safety and safeguarding
Our safeguarding responsibilities continue when pupils are learning remotely.
Pupils are expected to follow the school’s online safety and acceptable-use expectations when using digital devices, platforms and resources.
Parents and carers should support children to use technology safely and appropriately, particularly younger pupils.
The school will consider safeguarding and welfare arrangements when remote education is provided, including appropriate communication with pupils and families.
Any safeguarding concern should be reported to the school in accordance with our safeguarding and child protection procedures.
Further information is available in our Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy and Online Safety Policy.
Supporting wellbeing
We recognise that being unable to attend school can affect a child’s wellbeing and sense of connection with their peers and teachers.
Where appropriate, staff will maintain contact with pupils and families and will consider the pupil’s wellbeing alongside their academic learning.
Remote education will be planned so that expectations are reasonable and appropriate to the pupil’s circumstances. We will consider screen time and seek to provide a balance of online and offline learning activities.
Parents and carers should contact the school if they have concerns about their child’s wellbeing while they are learning remotely.
Resources and online learning platforms
The school may use a combination of school-provided resources and trusted educational platforms to support remote learning.
These may include online reading, mathematics and other curriculum resources.
We may also signpost families to trusted external educational resources, including Oak National Academy, where these are appropriate.
These resources are supplementary to the school’s planned provision and should not be viewed as a replacement for communication with the school or learning provided by teachers.
Working with parents and carers
Parents and carers have an important role in supporting children who are learning remotely.
We recognise that families will have different circumstances and that parents and carers may have work and other responsibilities.
Parents and carers are not expected to replicate the role of the teacher.
We ask families to:
- establish a suitable routine where possible;
- encourage their child to engage with the learning provided;
- support reading and independent learning;
- help their child use technology safely;
- communicate with the school if there are difficulties accessing learning; and
- contact the school if they have concerns about their child’s wellbeing or ability to engage.
The school will work with families to make reasonable adjustments where barriers to remote learning are identified.
Free school meals
Where a pupil who is eligible for benefits-related free school meals is receiving remote education, the school will make appropriate arrangements to support access to food in accordance with current government guidance and the school’s catering arrangements.
Parents and carers will be informed of the arrangements that apply to their circumstances.
If your child is absent from school
If your child is unable to attend school, parents and carers should follow the school’s usual absence-reporting arrangements.
The school will consider whether remote education is appropriate based on the individual circumstances.
Remote education will not normally be provided where a child is too unwell to learn.
Where a child is able to learn but cannot attend school for an extended period, the school will discuss appropriate arrangements with the family.
Supporting a return to school
Where a pupil has received remote education because they have been unable to attend school, the school will consider what support may be required to facilitate their return.
This may include:
- communication with the pupil and family;
- liaison with relevant professionals;
- adjustments to the pupil’s return;
- support with missed learning; and
- consideration of any SEND, wellbeing or attendance needs.
The purpose of remote education is to maintain continuity of learning while attendance is not possible, not to create a permanent alternative to attending school.
Exceptional circumstances affecting the whole school
If exceptional circumstances mean that the school is unable to operate normally, the school will communicate arrangements for remote education to parents and carers.
The nature of the provision will depend on the circumstances, including the anticipated length of disruption and the age and needs of pupils.
The school may use its established communication systems and digital platforms to provide learning, information and updates.
Where necessary, alternative arrangements will be considered for pupils who cannot access online learning.
Suspensions
Remote education will not be used as a substitute for a formal suspension.
Where a pupil is suspended, the school will follow the statutory requirements and arrangements relating to suspension, including the provision of appropriate education in accordance with government guidance.
Review of remote education
The school will review remote education arrangements where they are being used for an extended period.
Feedback from pupils, parents and staff may be considered when reviewing the effectiveness and accessibility of the provision.
We will seek to ensure that remote education remains:
- appropriate to the pupil’s needs;
- ambitious and meaningful;
- accessible;
- inclusive;
- manageable for families;
- supportive of safeguarding and wellbeing; and
- aligned with the curriculum being delivered in school where appropriate.
Further information
For further information about remote education, please refer to the Department for Education guidance:
Providing remote education: guidance for schools
Parents and carers who have questions about remote education should contact Mulberry Silverdale Primary through the school office.
