BBC Daily online lessons being removed on 27th July

[Worriedmum999]

I’ve just found out that the BBC are removing their Daily Online Lessons on 27th July. I am absolutely shocked. Apparently BESA who represents online providers have kicked up a fuss and threatened them with legal action. You would have thought that, in the middle of a pandemic, they could have let it go until at least September. Lots of children haven’t managed to access this during term time due to parents working all the hours god sends on the front line and were going to catch up over the summer but now what opportunity will be gone. Another way the children of keyworkers have had their education fucked over for 3 months. There is already an article about this online, saying who it will disproportionately affect the children from poorer families.

Not sure if the collective power of Mumsnet can do anything about this to keep the content available until September? The BBC have offered to put something there for the children to do over the summer but it will be shit compared to what is there now. Alternative is Oak Academy but I find the children struggle to get on with that themselves and I still haven’t worked out how to print off the linked resources!

I have tweeted by disgust to BESA. Not sure what else I can do

What? That's terrible! I was basing my summer timetable around bitesize and other resources not accessed during term time (schooling on go slow as I've been WFH so catching up during summer)

Why would they pay all that money to develop the content and lose it so quickly??

I imagine it will all be available on screening services somewhere!

It won’t be available anywhere. The crappy Bitesize that was shown on TV will be available on IPlayer but online content will all go. This is the article www.google.co.uk/amp/s/schoolsweek.co.uk/calls-to-end-bbcs-lockdown-lessons-will-hit-poor-hardest/amp/

BBC Bitesize have confirmed all daily lessons will be going in a reply to a question on their Facebook page.

Copy of the tweet from Bitesize attached

Shit. Bitesize is great and was my plan for any school closures from September. I personally found it far superior to Oak academy, for us anyway.

BBC Bitesize was/is good, but so much of the content is from elsewhere- for example the maths used White Rose Maths and TES resources etc. which normally you have to pay for. I am very grateful that all these companies, along with Twinkl gave us their resources for free to cover the gap, especially when it took Oak academy so long to get off the ground. HOWEVER they are business and they have pay to access resources normally- they can’t be expected to lend them to the BBC forever.

Also if your child hasn’t been able to access work over the last 4 months, what will change in the 4 weeks of August that would allow them all that extra time/ ability? If you’re a key worker or WFH or don’t have a device or internet access or time to sit with your child and help them (not criticisms), then you’re not magically going to have a change of circumstances in August.

Finally, BBC Bitesize was basically revision of areas already covered. My child doesn’t go to a good school, but had covered all the areas already- he wasn’t learning anything new so I wouldn’t worry about it. Let your child have a break over the summer. Or do basics like reading and times tables. Or if you are very keen, get a workbook or pay for access to one of the teaching sites. But really, I wouldn’t worry. You’ll find your school will let them catch up.

I have access to Twinkl and White Rose. I’m also lucky to be able to pay for that. Others aren’t so lucky. Bitesize Daily was an easy space for parents and children to access with everything there in front of them. So much money must have been ploughed into it and then it’s going in 2 weeks? Surely they could have left it in place until September.

WHAT!!!???

I can’t believe this.

Why isn’t the government paying them to keep this on over the summer holidays?

I was planning to use this to do some catch up over the summer holidays given the last few months have been so shit!

I know. Anything that makes parent’s lives a bit easier this summer should be made available.

That's rubbish! Bitesize was great for one DC using it themselves whilst I worked with the other and then swap.

If the BBC has "educate" as one of it's aims then surely they are allowed to do that even if it pisses off the private providers. After all, the vast majority using bitesize are not going to suddenly swap to paid for services are they?

What Bitesize offers is an engaging format, familiar setting (BBC) and is quick and easy to set up. Most importantly it seems to have been designed by people who actually have a clue in that essentially you can plug in and play. No thinking or prep. Other offerings seem to need multiple different websites, printing out loads of resources (if you can even find the links), your sit for hours. Not feasible for many reasons for a lot of parents.

I used Bitesize years ago when I did my GCSEs. For me they have already known what makes kids tick and how they learn.

I agree they should find a way to keep them on. I would imagine there is a financial reason eg the providers of the content only made it free of charge for so long.

But I am slightly confused when you say “Another way the children of keyworkers have had their education fucked over for 3 months.” Did you mean non key workers? Weren’t all the key workers‘ children back at school? Whereas those of us with full time stressful jobs which aren’t on the key worker list had our children at home.

There’s many children who have had their education fucked over - key worker, non- keyworker, rich, poor. Everyone’s circumstances are different. This was one thing that was available to help everyone. It needs to stay until September.

Is there any way you can download and save the worksheets etc to use in the summer holidays?

Twinkl is really good as well, I think its about £10 a month, could you sign up and pay for one month and then cancel?

Does yous school have some home learning on its website you could revisit over the summer, or if not look at other schools' websites?

I plan to email my kids school to ask them if they are keeping the home learning on the website over the summer

BBC should be allowed to keep all of the existing content on but it makes sense that they stop producing NEW daily lessons from 27 July as that would have been the holidays. In that way people can use the already existing lockdown lessons for another 12 months over the summer holidays. That would make sense for the government too.

Gutted, hadn't seen this, was going to use this just to encourage "some" educational, trusted, free! screen time over holidays.

I’m happy for them to stop producing more on the 27th July. Just want them to leave it there over the summer holidays. If they must get rid of it in September then so be it but I hope they improve the Oak Academy offering if it’s needed.

Oh no, I thought it would stay available at least over summer.. Can we write to them or start a petition or something?

Ah, bastards. What about oak national academy? I'd that going to be available?

I’m at a loss what to do about it. I have tweeted, emailed and written to all the right people but heard nothing back. We need to get a question during the corona questions maybe? Or a newspaper to pick it up. The Oak academy is really aimed at teachers to help them support learning at home if you read about it. BBC Bitesize was intended for children and parents. It’s criminal that it’s going in 2 weeks.

I just signed the petition "Parents: Stop BBC Bitesize Daily Lessons Being Removed On 27th July" and wanted to see if you could help by adding your name.

Our goal is to reach 100 signatures and we need more support. You can read more and sign the petition here:

chng.it/QKGJRmHcSX

Just seen this on Facebook - there is Hope!

Fingers crossed!!!

I’ve signed the petition.

This is disappointing but not surprising. Most free learning facilities like Twinkl and Maths Factor started charging again ages ago.

It may be an external/licence cost thing.

But I hope they keep it going