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.

Ark Bentworth aims to deliver high-quality education during periods of remote learning. Our priority is to ensure pupils have the best learning opportunities even if they are not in school. In the event of a lockdown (partial or full) or pupils need to self-isolate, we aim to make sure all teaching continues.

An important policy that we encourage parents and carers to read is our remote learning policy, which can be found here.

How do pupils learn from home?

In the event of a school or bubble closure, we will take a blended approach to learning where children will be expected to watch pre-recorded videos of their teacher and then complete their work in a printed pack or on paper/ in an exercise book. There will be one live class check-in call per day (via MS Teams) where pupils will have an opportunity to see their class and teacher. During these calls pupils can ask questions and teachers will check pupil's understanding of the work they have completed and provide feedback. Resources for home learning, such as pencils, paper, exercise books, are available for collection from school along with reading books and any subject specific resources required e.g. class texts, art materials, maths manipulatives.

A pupil’s first day or two of being educated remotely might look different from our standard approach. This is so we can take necessary steps to prepare for a longer period of remote teaching.Whilst we prepare, parents and pupils should complete the home learning activities found in our curriculum newsletters here.

After the first few days, pupils will be taught broadly the same curriculum as if they were in school. Wherever possible and appropriate, they will be taught all subjects following our planned termly overviews. Some small adaptations may be made, for example, in PE a fitness focus will take place where a sport requiring specific equipment cannot be taught at home or a PSHE unit such as 'How we grow and change?' may be swapped so that it can be taught sensitively face-to-face.

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. The half termly curriculum newsletters set out ideas for home learning and helpful websites as a place for pupils to start. Teachers will signpost pupils to relevant online resources including Ark SPArk, DB Primary and Oak Academy to ensure individual pupils self-isolating are taught a planned and well-sequenced curriculum. Additionally, pupils will be directed to relevant work on the following sites: Mathletics, Accelerated Reader and Epic Books. 

Engagement

Engagement in remote learning will be tracked on a daily basis. If a pupil does not attend their daily live class check-in or is not regularly uploading their completed work to our learning platform DB Primary, parents and carers will be contacted via telephone call. Ongoing concerns about a pupil's engagement will be passed to a member of the SLT who will contact parents to discuss ways forward or offer further remote learning support where appropriate.

Feedback

Pupils, and parents of younger pupils, are asked to share their learning with their class teacher for feedback via DB Primary or EExAT (nursery and reception children). Each day a pupil's work should be photographed and uploaded to the relevant platform. Assessment tools such as DB Primary quizzes and MS Forms surveys will also be used as a tool for pupils to submit their work. Feedback on work will include:

• Written comments provided at least once a week through DB Primary or EExAT. DB Primary feedback includes 'star ratings' and rewards issued by staff.
• Whole class feedback provided in daily class live calls and in pre-recorded lesson videos.

Support with remote learning

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:

• ensure all lessons are pre-recorded so that you have the flexibility to complete the work to suit your family's schedule and commitments
• provide further scaffolded resources and personalised packs if necessary
• provide extra support via phone or video calls where appropriate
• facillitate remote specialist provision and therapies