Remote education provision

“I am very impressed with how fast the school has switched over to online learning. I have some understanding of what is needed to be done and this is no small feat. Very well done to everyone involved.”

“My son got so much from the day being logged into the virtual classroom, I appreciate how challenging it must be but we do appreciate your efforts.”

“Total respect to you all. I see it all in my house. The staff and students are doing a great job. Well done Kingsdown. That lion is definitely roaring…”

“It’s been a completely different experience this time round and soooo much better.  The planning, preparation and training the staff must have been immense, but it shows. Great job and thank you. I’m not cut out for teaching and I can now leave it in very capable hands of the professionals - thank you all Kingsdown team.”

“Thank you to all the wonderful staff doing such a brilliant job to help all students. I think you are all so caring and amazing.”

“A big shout out to the BRILLIANT staff at Kingsdown. You all are doing a great job. Congratulations!!!!. We parents are learning too.  Every day is a learning experience. KUDOS!!!!”

This information is intended to provide clarity and transparency to pupils and parents or carers about what to expect from remote education where national or local restrictions require entire cohorts (or bubbles) to remain at home.
For details of what to expect where individual pupils are self-isolating, please see the final section of this page.

The remote curriculum: what is taught to pupils at home

A pupil’s first day or two of being educated remotely might look different from our standard approach, while we take all necessary actions to prepare for a longer period of remote teaching.

What should my child expect from immediate remote education in the first day or two of pupils being sent home?

In the first day or two, students will be expected to begin to follow their timetable accessing remote learning through Google Classroom. If students are on our Day Loan Chromebook program, and they are in need of their chromebook at home, they will be able to collect this along with a charger. Parents and students will be contacted about this, however if you have any questions or need assistance, please contact itsupport@kingsdownschool.co.uk

Following the first few days of remote education, will my child be taught broadly the same curriculum as they would if they were in school?

Yes. Students will be expected to check in with their tutors each morning and follow their timetables accessing remote learning through Google Classroom for each of their lessons at the appropriate time.

Remote teaching and study time each day

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 pupils broadly 5 hours each day.
Accessing remote education

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

All students have access to a Chromebook computer to access online remote learning. If a student is on our Day Loan Chromebook program, then they will be able to take this device home in the event of a forced bubble or whole school closure. If there are issues with internet access at home, then we ask that students get in touch with their Progress Leader.

How will my child be taught remotely?

We use a combination of the following approaches to teach pupils remotely:

Engagement and feedback

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

Students are expected to engage and complete the work of each of the lessons set at the time of their timetabled lesson. This might include completion of quizzes, submission of work and/or verbal feedback. Parents/Carers can support by reviewing their learning each and every day with their child, and helping support where necessary, but directing them to contact their teachers where you cannot assist.

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

Teachers and leaders will be in touch with parents where there are concerns around their engagement in the learning, however regular conversations between parents/carers and students will enable parents to remain informed about the work students are undertaking.

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 children. For example, whole-class feedback or quizzes marked automatically via digital platforms are also valid and effective methods, amongst many others.

Feedback will be given to students in a way that is dictated by the needs of the students, and the professional opinion of the teaching staff for example:

Additional support for pupils with particular needs

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 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 in the following ways:

Remote education for self-isolating pupils

Where individual pupils need to self-isolate but the majority of their peer group remains in school, how remote education is provided will likely differ from the approach for whole groups. This is due to the challenges of teaching pupils both at home and in school.

If my child is not in school because they are self-isolating, how will their remote education differ from the approaches described above?

We will endeavour to supply all students with the resources necessary to complete the lesson, and teachers will be available to check in with students, but there will not be live lessons delivered due to the constraints on teacher time.