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Lockdown learning

Provision during lockdown

53 replies

Mrtumblemustdie · 13/05/2020 08:26

For those of you who have children in primary state schools, can I please get a feel of whether you are happy with what support your school has given you during lockdown?

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Pitaramus · 13/05/2020 08:42

There seems to be a massive variety between what schools are providing. I’m not happy with mine but I already knew that the school wasn’t great and this has confirmed it for me. I guess that’s why some schools are oversubscribed every year and others can’t fill their places!

You can take it up with your school if you aren’t happy with the work they’re providing. I’ve decided not to bring it up with mine because I don’t think it will make any difference and I’m happy pottering along with a bit of what the school have set alongside things like oak academy and twinkl. It took some time for me to get to grips with how to manage the “homeschooling” but I’ve found my feet now and it’s going well.

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Glenthebattleostrich · 13/05/2020 08:44

Very happy.

A good variety of work, some fun activities daily via twitter, a weekly suggested additional activity and regular check ins with staff. We get a phone call but see staff out and about to visit vulnerable families and they always stop to say hello, ask how we are all doing etc.

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Patchworksack · 13/05/2020 08:53

I'm happy, but I feel quite able to homeschool plus have time to do so as I'm furloughed. I'm not sure what is provided will be enough for some families, but the biggest factor is whether there is an adult ready/willing/able to be the teacher. We have work in four learning streams - one very prescribed 4 tasks a day plus themed project, one pick and mix from a list of ideas, websites, games, one based on BBC bitesize, one based on Oak Academy. We've been asked to upload what they do onto Class Dojo and their teacher will comment, plus they are uploading a whole school assembly and a piece from each class teacher once a week. They have been responsive to messages. I have been through a whole ream of paper and a printer cartridge, and we are fighting over devices to access the internet (less so since I discovered casting to the TV) I think some families with fewer resources will be struggling.

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welshpolarbear · 13/05/2020 08:54

Absolutely happy. We have more than enough. Excellent contact with teacher. Very supportive.

Unfortunately its getting my son to actually do any that is that problem. Its been a complete nightmare!

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Pitaramus · 13/05/2020 09:34

For those of you who have contact with your teacher, what do you mean by that? Do they call or do they comment on the work that’s been submitted? If they comment, is it constructive or just the odd “well done”.

I think that’s one of the main things we’re missing - we’ve had none. So far I’ve made stuff up for my kids, said things like “Mrs xx thought your work yesterday was excellent and said well done!” My eldest look at me sceptically and my youngest completely buys it!

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Mrtumblemustdie · 13/05/2020 10:27

Pitaramus we've experiencedbthe same. Our school is OSTED outstanding and they have just sent out a couple of bits of paper with some resources on. The children have had no contact from them at all during lockdown. I emailed the school to raise my concerns and they refused to respond. My children are not in the groups which are due to go back, so I feel like I need to complain about the school, but I'm not sure who to complain to.

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TeddyIsaHe · 13/05/2020 10:29

Can you not look up the curriculum yourself and base your home learning on that? I agree it’s frustrating, but the amount of pressure schools, teachers and head teachers are under is insane. What is your compliant actually going to do?

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Mrtumblemustdie · 13/05/2020 10:42

That's what I have been doing, but I'm not a teacher and I am startingnto wonder just exactly what they are doing at our school. They have only one or two children of keyworkers in there and most of them are at home every day. They are being paid a full wage and I am struggling to do their job for them. Lots of schools in the area have made a real effort with their kids but I'm racking my brains trying to think of what the teachers in our schools are doing. I know lots of people in the private sector whose jobs are under threat. These people have to put the hours in.

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TeddyIsaHe · 13/05/2020 10:48

You could learn a bit of compassion. Teachers are shielding, they are working, they are stressed and tired and being forced back to work in an unsafe environment.

All you have to do is google. It’s not hard is it?

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Mrtumblemustdie · 13/05/2020 11:01

The ones at our school clearly aren't working!

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avroroad · 13/05/2020 11:06

Are you actually asking about support or education?

In terms of education they are sending minimal work home that kids are under absolutely no pressure to complete.

Support wise they are delivering stationery and food to families who may need it. They are looking out for the welfare of the parents not just the children.

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Mrtumblemustdie · 13/05/2020 11:12

I think the kids need both. We obviously have a role to play as familied and I felt like the school should be started at the start. Other kids we know are seeing their peers every day at zoom school and interacting. Some of the parents have set up zoom lessons, but why should they be doingbthis when the teachers clearly have the capacity and other schools are excelling at it. Those children aren't under pressure. I understand from speaking to their parents that they are enjoying it. The unfortunate thing is thst I think those schools who want to do minimal are getting away with it because there is no oversight while this crisis has been going on.

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BrieAndChilli · 13/05/2020 11:16

How old are your kids??
My year 4 primary child school has set a topic per fortnight (last one was pick a country to base your work around) this time its myths and legends then they have several options for each learning area to choose from (expressive arts/literacy&languages/maths/science/humanities/health&wellbeing ) this is all done via google classroom and there is chat on each of the assignments and a main class chat plus private messages with the teacher. She is online most of school time unless she is at the hub school but she lets them know when that is. They also use Flipgrid to record little videos for everyone, each days it’s a different one so eg what’s you favourite joke or toy etc. They have also started weeekily teams video chat with small groups of about 6 of them with the teacher. They also have MyMaths website to complete work on.

My older 2 are year 7 and 8 secondary and use Microsoft teams. Each subject sets them several lives of work a week. I would say about 50% of work gets a comment back from the teacher. They have a form group chat for general but it’s it really used (I think because they all what’s app each other etc)
They also have a maths website to do assignments in.

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Pitaramus · 13/05/2020 11:17

I think there are some teachers out there working incredibly hard to juggle their own families plus looking after key worker children plus providing home learning to the extent possible. Obviously there are others who are having a lovely rest and that’s frustrating for working parents but we can’t fix that by complaining. We also can’t be sure that those who appear to be doing nothing are in fact just being lazy - we don’t know their personal situation.

I’ve had a few rants to my husband on the odd occasion but largely I’m just cracking on to fill the gaps as best I can as that’s all that’s in my control.

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Nuked1981 · 13/05/2020 11:23

Satisfied insofar as I think the school is doing the best in can in the circumstances

However it’s not nearly academic enough for my daughter. Lots of craft and making things.

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avroroad · 13/05/2020 11:27

The unfortunate thing is thst I think those schools who want to do minimal are getting away with it because there is no oversight while this crisis has been going on.

Oh. Well I for one am very happy with the minimal approach. My daughters teacher is on a rota, along with all the rest of the teachers from our schools, to work within the learning hub. This is open to key workers kids and had also taken in some of the most vulnerable children from our community. The teachers are doing loads. They are not focusing on the children at home who are absolutely fine, they are telling them to enjoy this time and not to worry. That means more to me than any zoom meeting every could.

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Saoirse7 · 13/05/2020 11:35

As I teacher I have supplied a detailed weekly plan (rewritten might I add so it is easily understood by parents) for each subject until the end of June with relevant paper resources. I update Google Classroom everyday with teaching points and have made a couple of short videos to explain new topics as well as linking websites. I upload extension worksheets for those who need challenge.

This by the way has all been done 3 x times over to allow for differentiation.

Please understand why I a d other teachets in similar situations get so fucked off when people state that THEIR kids have just had links to Twinkl and slate all teachers asking what they are doing.

Just as an FYI, less that a quarter of the work involved in teaching actually seen by parents, they see nothing of planning, resourcing, IEPs etc. The budget for our classroom is £10 per child, so £320 a year (much less if you have a smaller class, but books still can only be bought in pks of £50) to resource all books, stationary and learning resources. We are only allowed to order from one company as they have the contract for the EA. This just about covers books and pencils/stationary. For learning throughout the year I buy my own laminating sheets, coloured card and art/science resources so the children could access this area of the curriculum.

People literally do not have a clue. If I didn't have such a fantastic school there is not a chance I'd still be teaching. I see and hear of so many other schools and it is no wonder so many are leaving the profession. So many good teachers being forced out, and that's even before you take into consideration the distain and lack of respect shown by some parts of the public.

Anyway...sorry for the rant but tl/dr teachers largely go above and beyond and it's not fair to tarnish all with a bad experience. Also, schools have received no government guidance on what should be expected so there is no right or wrong level of expectation.

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Saoirse7 · 13/05/2020 11:37

*excuse the spelling

Also, Google Classroom engagement is less than 1/3 with 7 not even signing up to it or even lifting paper work packs.

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pontypridd · 16/05/2020 23:00

Our primary school is setting a page of stuff each week. It's dreary and rubbish frankly. No marking. Not that there's anything much to mark. No contact from teacher - phone call, email, nothing.

Secondary sets something new for most subjects each week. None of which gets marked. Again, no contact at all from any teachers. The stuff that is set is minimal and dull - many are now resorting to directing us to BBC Bitesize Daily.

My impression is that teachers are not working and enjoying a holiday. When we are out we often see them on long walks with us. During school days.

We are not happy with provision. Why is it impossible to do live lessons?

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NeverTwerkNaked · 16/05/2020 23:11

Very very unhappy.
We have 2 boys in year 4 at two different schools.

Neither have heard their teachers voice since lockdown. No one has checked on their well being.

They get a worksheet (often from Twinkl) or similar uploaded some but not all days. There is no introduction or explanation to the worksheet
These take a maximum of 15 minutes for them to complete.

We are both working from home in busy full-time demanding jobs and it is very tough as we are feeling solely responsible for their education.

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pontypridd · 16/05/2020 23:21

What worries me is that this is going to go on for a long time.

Children may go back to school - but it will be on a part time basis, definitely before the summer and most likely in the Autumn too.

I wasn't too worried at the lack of education at the beginning. But there needs to be a plan soon to make sure that every school is doing a decent job. Where's Ofsted when you actually need them?

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NeverTwerkNaked · 16/05/2020 23:23

Exactly @pontypridd

It's not going to be magically different in September.

And

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NeverTwerkNaked · 16/05/2020 23:26

And some children will be getting a decent education (private schools , tutors, teacher parents like my son's teacher who posts long emails about all the activities she is doing to teach her 9 year old son while not teaching anything to my 9 year old son)

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pontypridd · 16/05/2020 23:30

All private school kids I know and parents who teach in private schools are doing Live lessons - every day, 8.30 - 4pm.

The education gap between rich and poor/ private and state is going to be huge after this.

And they'll all be measured against each other - as if it was fair - in GCSEs etc.

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NeverTwerkNaked · 16/05/2020 23:37

Exactly @pontypridd and my wealthier friends whose children aren't at private school are all starting to pay for tutors etc. (you only have to look at the Mumsnet adverts to realise that is happening).

It was bad enough in normal times. It was galling to end up in a tutor group at university with boys from Harrow and Eton etc and discover they were all substantially less bright than me and my friend (based on essay and exam marks) despite them all having higher A level marks.

The educational gulf between wealthy and poor is going to widen to a devastating degree.

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