Remote Learning

• Epraise, the platform we use to share students’ independent learning tasks (homework) is used to structure the students’ days, with all live learning and virtual contact taking place via Microsoft Teams.
• If students do not have access to suitable devices on which to access the remote learning, we provide IT equipment so that every student is able to continue to learn.

Student will have access to videos that talk them through how to access the work, in addition to written guides, and their teachers and form tutors will be available for help in getting started.

• At King Alfred’s Academy we deliver two types of remote lesson:
  • Live lessons.
  • Independent lessons.
• We ask that wherever possible teachers should make contact with students and our stated preference is for teachers to deliver as many live lessons as they can.
• Other approaches adopted by teachers at King Alfred’s Academy are:
  • Independent lessons that make use of adapted resources (shared with students on Epraise).
  • Work set on commercial learning platforms such as Sparx or Seneca.
• Heads of Faculty and Heads of Department play an active role in having an overview of the work that is being set, and facilitate teamwork and collaboration between teachers.
• Support and Guidance for effective remote learning practice is available to all teachers in the form of frequent CPD activities.

We recognise that strong communication and regular contact with students is helpful in supporting wellbeing, motivation, and a continuing sense of connectedness with the school community:

• All students meet with their tutor for their registration.
• Students have regular ‘contact points’ with pastoral staff.
• We provide meaningful and timely feedback on work via Teams.
• Teachers track engagement with their lessons and make contact with home if students repeatedly fail to attend.
• Where students fail to engage in multiple subjects, Heads of Year, Student Managers or Assistant Heads of Site make contact with home.
• Additionally Heads of Year, Student Managers or Assistant Heads of Site and the Special Educational Needs Team make regular contact with the parents / carers of children who may need additional support.

The core principles that underpin teaching and learning in the classroom are equally as important when teaching remotely. We aim to:

• Recap knowledge.
• Share new information through accessible and engaging explanations.
• Model how to complete tasks.
• Check students’ understanding.
• Provide support so that practice is deliberate, challenging and accessible.

Lessons are recorded for safeguarding reasons but nothing is shared outside the school.

As with lessons ‘in person’, the teacher will expect students to demonstrate our core values – in particular: respect, responsibility and tolerance. They will need to wait their turn to contribute and if they do not behave in an appropriate fashion they will be removed from the lesson and their parent or guardian contacted. Expectations will be made clear in the description of the lesson on Teams.

Remote learning requires that all staff follow the academy’s Data Protection Policy with particular regard to:

• Accessing personal data.
• Sharing personal data.
• Keeping devices secure.

All staff will follow the academy’s Child Protection/Safeguarding Policy.

These policies can be viewed on our policies page.*