Remote Learning
Remote Learning
Please see our policy, newsletter, Q and A and updates below
By Chloe Yelverton Year 5 - February 2021
These are the hands
That marked our books
Highlighted mistakes
Wrote examples
Sent us messages
Gave us books
Waved to us
In Lockdown
These are the faces
That kept in touch
Smiled at us when we’re down
Kept us going
Gave us ideas
Told us good news
In Lockdown
These are the voices
That read us stories
Smiled on Google Meet
Made us laugh
Explained our work
Helped us learn
In Lockdown
Staff, children and parents have had to adapt and evolve in the light of the pandemic to ensure the continuity of teaching and learning in lock downs and partial lockdowns. Our provision for remote learning is based on our knowledge of children and families as well as published guidance from the Government, Ofsted and the Education Endowment Foundation:
EEF Remote Learning Evidence Review
Ofsted: What is working well in remote education
Our focus is on ensuring that all our pupils are consistently provided with a broad and balanced curriculum with :
Clear explanations
Scaffolding of work progression
Feedback from teachers to move learning forward
We also have a strong emphasis on therapeutic practice and wellbeing, providing daily exercise, regular emotional and mental wellbeing activities, a range of screen free activities and breaks throughout each day. Parents are part of the wellbeing partnership and the Headteacher and SENCO are providing parent google meets to share resources and support parents.
The Primary Music Curriculum in Lockdown
Despite the challenge of providing regular Music lessons that children can access and engage in online, we have been able to make simple adaptations to the music curriculum ensuring that children still experience vibrant music making across all age groups here at St Thomas. Our focus has been on:
· Singing songs/chants ( As many are at home, they are not subject to the restrictions for singing together)
· Playing un-tuned instruments musically, adapting household items or use of body percussion
· Creating, experimenting, improvising and composing simple patterns and melodies.
· Listening and responding to different styles of music.
Fortunately, during lockdown, many music education providers have found creative ways to support the teaching and learning of key concepts and skills. We have used ‘Oak Academy’ and ‘BBC Teach’ video lessons to introduce the key concepts of the lesson, supported by ‘Kaboom percussion’, providing rhythmic starters and instrumental work. ‘Sing Up’, ‘Song Sources’ and ‘Out of the Ark’ have provided us with many songs linked to curriculum areas being covered in class, appropriate for each age group. Finally, older children have been able to develop their composition skills using ‘Melody Maker’, an online composition programme. All plans and resources are emailed each week to the class teachers who upload them onto their weekly learning grids.