Attendance at school is the best way for children to learn, develop relationships and access the full range of educational experiences. Remote education is not an equal alternative to attending school and will be considered only as a last resort when attendance has already been established as impossible but a pupil is well enough to continue learning.

Remote education may be considered when:

• the school has to close temporarily or restrict attendance because it cannot open safely;
• a pupil is recovering from a short-term infectious illness, operation or injury but is well enough to learn;
• exceptional circumstances relating to a pupil’s physical health, mental health or special educational needs and disabilities temporarily prevent attendance; or
• another exceptional situation makes attendance impossible.

Arrangements for an individual pupil will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Where appropriate, remote education will form part of a plan to support the pupil’s return to school.

Remote education will not usually be provided when a child is too unwell to learn. Parents and carers should continue to follow the school’s absence-reporting procedures.

What Remote Education May Include

Where remote education is appropriate, the school will provide work that is meaningful, appropriately challenging and connected to the curriculum being taught in school wherever reasonably possible.

Provision may include:

• activities and instructions provided electronically;
• workbooks, reading books or printed learning packs;
• recorded explanations or teaching materials;
• suitable resources from established educational platforms;
• practical activities appropriate to the child’s age and needs;
• opportunities for pupils to submit completed work; and
• feedback from the child’s teacher.

The exact arrangements will depend upon the circumstances, the expected length of absence and the pupil’s age and individual needs. Parents and carers will be told how to access work and communicate with the school when remote education is arranged.

Access to Technology and Resources

Families should contact the school if their child does not have suitable access to a device, the internet or the resources needed to complete remote learning. We will discuss the available support, which may include lending equipment or providing printed materials.

Any equipment loaned by the school must be used responsibly and returned in good condition when the pupil returns.

Pupils with SEND or Additional Needs

We recognise that some pupils, including those with special educational needs or disabilities, may require additional support to access remote education.

Teachers will work with parents, carers, the SENDCo and other professionals where appropriate to provide reasonable adaptations. These may include:

• differentiated or individually selected work;
• practical activities;
• visual prompts and scaffolds;
• printed resources;
• alternative methods of recording learning; and
• regular communication with the family.

Provision will be appropriate to the pupil’s needs and will support, rather than hinder, their return to school.

Engagement and Feedback

Pupils receiving remote education should complete the agreed learning activities and submit work in the way explained by their teacher. Feedback may be provided through written comments, conversations, whole-class feedback, quizzes or other appropriate methods.

If a child is experiencing difficulty accessing or completing the work, parents and carers should contact the school promptly so that appropriate support can be discussed.

Safeguarding and Online Safety

The school’s safeguarding and online-safety expectations continue to apply during remote education. Pupils should use school-approved resources appropriately and tell a trusted adult if anything online causes concern.

Parents and carers should contact the school immediately if they have any safeguarding concerns.

Contacting the School

For questions about remote education or support with accessing learning, please contact the school:

Telephone: 01229 772554
Email: admin@thwaites.cumbria.sch.uk