Development of Remote Learning for Summer Term 2020
Casterton Sedbergh Preparatory School (CSPS) have been delighted with the positive response regarding the remote learning conducted at the end of the Lent Term, whilst listening carefully to those parents who voiced concerns in the online feedback form.
The Senior Management Team (SMT) are in the process of adjusting our provision, preserving the strongest aspects and addressing areas where we might anticipate difficulties in the event of continued closure. The purpose of this page is to indicate the direction of that provision.
class notebook
Pupils in Years 5 to 8 have rapidly up-skilled themselves in the use of software such as Microsoft Teams. Moving forward, we will educate pupils to use the Class Notebook function of this platform, which will open up incredibly exciting opportunities for creating imaginative content, collaboration, and real-time feedback.
Pupil access to their own computer
One assumption behind our version of remote learning was that pupils would, by and large, not have access to their own laptop or PC. This is what drove our use of ‘learning blocks’ instead of a stricter timetable, such as they would experience in School. Encouragingly, it seems that this is not the case and all but a very few parents have indicated that their children enjoyed individual access to a computer. Mr Newman has been in contact with those for whom this was a difficulty and has proposed a solution.
Important: We will now plan for the Summer Term on the basis that all pupils in Years 3 to 8 will have their own laptop or computer.
SCREEN TIME
The new timetable will take account of the amount of time that pupils are required to be in front of a screen, with a careful balance to be found between typed and hand-written work.This is particularly important for younger pupils.
TIMETABLED LESSONS
The SMT is adjusting the timetable so that academic lessons in Years 5 to 8 will be taught according to a formal timetable, with definitive start and finish times. Teachers will still be there in real time providing feedback, with instruction a mix of recorded videos, which children can revisit, and live video and audio advice from the teacher.
CHILDREN IN RECEPTION TO YEAR 4
The main focus for pupils of this age is to maintain good progress in numeracy and literacy. The School has achieved outstanding results in these subjects, and we will prioritise this in their academic offering. We are also aware that children of this age require greater supervision from parents and will be devising new schemes of work that do not place working parents under unnecessary pressure.
INDIVIDUAL NEEDS AND EAL LESSONS
These lessons will still carry on as before and Mrs Airey has been in touch with individual parents to discuss.
PASTORAL CARE
The need to maintain connections amongst the class and between the teacher is paramount and will become more important as the weeks go by. Each day’s teaching will start and finish with Form Periods where children can share successes or any concerns. In addition, House Parents and Heads of Day House will be monitoring the well-being of the pupils with regular ‘check-ins'.
EXTRA-CURRICULAR LESSONS
The need to maintain activity and rehearsal opportunities in sport, music and drama is clear. We also want to provide families with the opportunity to enjoy activity together and so will be seeking to timetable sports sessions across the School, from Prep to Senior. Music and drama lessons will also remain a part of the weekly timetable and peripatetic lessons are also taking place remotely.
PARENTAL CONTACT
The last four days of the Lent Term were difficult for many families, with rapid adjustment to family and working lives. We consistently placed well-being above academic concerns over this short period and that was appropriate at the time. Parents should be reassured, however, that teachers
would quickly be in contact with them in the event of any concerns over the quality of work being produced during a remote learning period.