Willaston School: Protocol for distance learning.
While your child is off school, Teachers have been asked to set a number of learning tasks each week for their respective class, rather than set a timetable with time parameters. Choice over tasks will be encouraged to give pupil’s ownership and to ensure that they can be suitably challenged.
It is important that parents understand that no amount of preparation or resources will replicate the typical school day and any attempt to provide educational continuity will be carried out with the aim of supporting parents in the education of their child as best we can, given the unprecedented situation facing our Island community.
Technology can be a huge enabler for supporting learning whether that is at school or at home. We intend to use this to communicate learning tasks for children to engage with and of course update parents with information and advice.
What parents can expect
Every Monday your child’s class teacher will release a weekly plan that will contain a variety of tasks and suggested resources that your child can choose from while they are off. Weekly plans will be emailed to parents and will be available from our school website.
This will be sent to parents via the school administrator each Monday morning. Parents will also be emailed monthly overviews with further tasks and project ideas. All communication will go through the school administrator. Please do not contact teachers directly at this time via email or social media. If there is an urgent concern, please contact the school administrator at willastonenquiries@sch.im and your email will be forwarded accordingly. Response times will vary depending on the concern and availability of the intended recipient.
Online safety
Many suggested tasks or resources will involve children going online. Children should already be familiar with key messages about staying safe online. Any sustained period of online activity should be monitored. Children also need to be equipped with the tools to ensure that their experience is safe and how to respond should the need arise. Resources to support online safety can be found at:
https://www.thinkuknow.co.uk/professionals/resources/
https://www.bbc.co.uk/teach/safer-internet-day-res...
Feedback on learning
Teachers will not be expected to provide feedback on any activities provided in the learning packs. Parents are of course encouraged to provide praise and support for their children who are carrying out the tasks provided.