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Original poster

Teachers...are kids actually expected to properly remote learn this time?

196 replies

WallopDollop · 04/01/2021 20:54

Genuine question... Is this going to be different to the last lockdown in terms of remote learning?

I know things were different at different schools but last time it very much felt like if they do the work they do it, if they don't they don't 🤷 and to be quite honest, a lot of the time ours didn't do any school work except a few online maths /English games for an hour or so.

Will this time be different in that will they be expected to actually complete proper work, will they be marked as absent if they don't etc...?

OP posts:
Beebityboo · 04/01/2021 21:57

Not sure what the plan for our school is yet. They sent a text an hour ago saying to check our urgent email and then didn't send the email.

TheGreatWave · 04/01/2021 21:58

Ours wasn't too bad last year - though there is always a little assumption that each child has full access to a laptop.

The senior school has already got the two week timetable up and running - so I am guessing that will now simply be extended. They do a 2 week timetable so hopefully this will be easy enough to keep rolling over. DS is going into school twice a week, I am working on him at least doing some reading the other three days. It is what it is and I am not going to get stressed about it.

The primary we have been told from Wednesday.

Useruseruserusee · 04/01/2021 21:58

All parents can view the guidance from the DFE, schools have a legal obligation to meet that guidance.

At my primary we are using Teams. A mix of live lessons, prerecorded video lessons and tasks that can be completed offline and uploaded. We started today as we are in London and so already closed. Seems to be going well so far.

Holyrivolli · 04/01/2021 21:59

Our school was absolutely dreadful at the online stuff last time - some workbooks, nothing marked, no feedback, just going over old stuff. Head blamed it on the teachers unwillingness to use any technology and appear on screen. Seriously hoping that they’ve got their act together this time. Our next door neighbours send their kids to a private school - the support and amount of meaningful learning they received was in another league. I suppose when you pay you can demand something better than the utter crap we got.

SoDiorDarling · 04/01/2021 22:01

@Makingnumber2 thank you so much for making me feel like I'm not going crazy! I will speak to them and suggest just that, that seems manageable x

Original poster
WallopDollop · 04/01/2021 22:01

I am honestly sorry that this has turned into what I didn't intend.

I genuinely just wanted to ask what other schools were planning / whether teachers themselves thought this time may be different in terms of remote learning.

As PP said, the curriculum hasn't been suspended this time so it stands to reason that more work will have to be done and submitted whereas last time it seemed sort of optional iyswim? (And I am not suggesting that is anything to do with teachers!).

Honestly it's me that I'm bashing! Last time they didn't do any work barely because I couldn't facilitate it. I am concerned this time that as the curriculum is expected to continue, that they may fall behind if I'm unable to supervise as much as may be needed.

Truly, I did not want this to become a bashing of anyone. I am interested in what various teachers are doing this time round just to get an idea. Unfortunately it seems you absolutely cannot have a discussion about this subject on here.

OP posts:
MegtheShark · 04/01/2021 22:01

Our school seems to be saying that if dc can’t do full time at home learning then they should be in...even if we aren’t working/keyworkers.

The parents WhatsApp is split into those who weren’t going to send dc in anyway and those who are tempted by this offer to carry on as normal (mainly the parents where both don’t work)

Makingnumber2 · 04/01/2021 22:01

Our school (secondary) has a normal timetable of remote live lessons running for Y11 and Y13 this week and for the future.
Other year groups have 1 live lesson for every 3 lessons on their timetable in that subject and then remote work set on an online platform which will be a mix of powerpoints, narrated powerpoints and pre-recorded lessons and youtube clips etc.
Y11 and 13 are registered for every live lesson and texts go home to parents/carers if they aren't attending when we expect them to be.
All other years register once a day in morning via a link and then also in any live lessons they may have that day.
In my subject we will run our assessments as usual and just get students to upload their assessment for marking.

Blended learning isn't perfect and it can be hard to get enough live feedback in as you would if you were in classroom- but, I think when it's done well, blended learning is the best option we have right now and we have to make it work.
Flowers to every single parent trying to home school between now and Feb half-term. Do your best and raise concerns/issues with your school as soon as possible when they arise so they can try and help support.

Littleguggi · 04/01/2021 22:03

Not being funny but home schooling for my 4YO will look like this:

Playing with her Christmas toys
TV, maybe PE with Joe or Cosmic Yoga
Some sort of sensory play i.e water or slime

All whilst DH and I WFH and figure out what to do with the 1YO

newyeary · 04/01/2021 22:04

@Makingnumber2 DS attends a SEN school which has closed already and have directed us back to the remote learning provided from last lockdown. They will continue to put a worksheet up daily for parents to do with the child and a weekly phone call. They know full well that our children can't remote learn so there not much point trying and wasting time on pointless activities. Nothing else on offer.

Contrary to what is constantly said, children with EHCPs are not classed as vulnerable in LEA SEN schools and their schools are shut too.

Barbie222 · 04/01/2021 22:05

To answer your question OP yes Ofsted will expect schools to monitor the learning. The figure we were told was to aim for around 3 hours a day in primary. So if you don't do it you might get a call. However realistically I am sure schools will understand the difficulties facing parents and they can't enforce it can they?

SpringTime2020 · 04/01/2021 22:06

Tech is a massive problem for us too. We only have my ancient notebook. That's for 3 of us and the eldest is meant to be using it for Zoom some of the time which it doesn't really run adequately. He is still waiting for a laptop from last lockdown!

2020out · 04/01/2021 22:06

@Littleguggi

Not being funny but home schooling for my 4YO will look like this:

Playing with her Christmas toys
TV, maybe PE with Joe or Cosmic Yoga
Some sort of sensory play i.e water or slime

All whilst DH and I WFH and figure out what to do with the 1YO

Seems pretty great for a 4yo! I feel for reception teachers. What they provide for kids is all of these experiences to learn through play, but not all of the kids have the resources at home to do that. Your little one sounds like they'll be learning just plenty Smile
Sweettea1 · 04/01/2021 22:08

Last time the school wasn't to fussed if dc done work or not they set minimal work online an if you wished you could pick a work pack up. During isolation in oct it was very different teacher wanted the work done an alot more was put online so I think it will be expected this time around alot more planning and preparation has gone into now.

TheGreatWave · 04/01/2021 22:08

@Fluffyowl00

Teachers - just get off this thread now. Teacher bashing at it’s worst. Disgusting. Wonder if OP is mumsnet stirring up trouble (and posts) or Daily Heil?
Parents are understandably worried about how this will pan out. Worried about how they will still work and also try and help with their children's learning.

It is not fucking teacher bashing to say I have one fucking lap top between three children - I need the other, because you know, work are expecting me to actually look like I am doing something at least. It is not fucking teaching bashing to say I have a year 10 child who needs that laptop more than the other two and one child who simply won't work and I have days ahead of meltdown after meltdown whilst trying to work.

It is also not fucking teaching bashing to say that my broadband is rubbish and my bandwidth struggles with just me on a Teams call. Sky, BT openreach - whoever it is shit and I live in the middle of an urban area, not out in the sticks.

I am so grateful to the teachers, either give advice and reassurance or take your own advice and do one.

earthyfire · 04/01/2021 22:10

My youngest was working on Teams last time and it was pretty bad, firstly my DD had to use my MacBook and Teams just didn't like it, then when she did get on to complete the work it was the same work everyday - write a story and a bit of maths. No live lessons and no feedback or communication from teacher. We all gave up in the end and when I told the teacher that motivation was at an all time low I was told that it was fine, most were feeling the same.
For my eldest at secondary school things were much better with occasional live lessons, this time round they are doing more live lessons inline with their timetable. Communication has been excellent, can't fault the school at all - it's hard not to compare how the two schools have handled it all so differently.

Sweettea1 · 04/01/2021 22:10

Also our school now have laptops to borrow if needed.

MsAwesomeDragon · 04/01/2021 22:11

My school know that every family have at least one device they can access the internet on. Unfortunately, we don't have enough laptops for every pupil to borrow one. We weren't given anywhere near enough in the government applications.

So we're setting work on the assumption that a significant proportion of the class are having to share a device, and that device might possibly be a phone rather than anything bigger. So my lessons are planned as a worksheet with all activities on, hopefully they can be emailed to the pupils, but some may need paper packs delivered. Plus each lesson will have a video explanation of the work, with worked examples, for them to watch whenever they can. They then need to submit their work electronically, at a time that they have access to the shared device.

Different schools will have different policies. I sincerely hope that my dds primary school doesn't expect her to be online at specific times. I would like to be able to help her get started in quiet times from my work, just like a lot of working parents.

Abraxan · 04/01/2021 22:13

@WallopDollop

Genuine question... Is this going to be different to the last lockdown in terms of remote learning?

I know things were different at different schools but last time it very much felt like if they do the work they do it, if they don't they don't 🤷 and to be quite honest, a lot of the time ours didn't do any school work except a few online maths /English games for an hour or so.

Will this time be different in that will they be expected to actually complete proper work, will they be marked as absent if they don't etc...?

As of October schools must have a remote learning plan in place. We sent ours out to parents at half term.

We are closed fully tomorrow but remote learning, plus key worker/vulnerable childcare starts on Wednesday.

Last lockdown there were no plans. The government suspended the curriculum and promised everyone they'd sort out some online learning provisions] and materials, and they'd get laptops etc to those children who need it.

This time guidelines already state that remote learning must happen.
However this does not mean live lessons necessarily. And it won't be a full school day's worth - it should cover the teaching time.

TheGreatWave · 04/01/2021 22:13

Y11 and 13 are registered for every live lesson and texts go home to parents/carers if they aren't attending when we expect them to be.

Are they expected to have cameras on to prove they are actually there? It is a difficult one - if they don't, they could log on and then just play on their phone the whole time, but if they are expected to that is then presuming that everyone has the technology to do that and then that the internet connection is stable enough to take all the videos - Teams gets very wobbly for me if there are more than about 3 or 4 people, and there is absolutely no chance on the tablet.

Noellodee · 04/01/2021 22:15

My secondary school's gone the "whole timetable live" route, starting today. We're also expected to provide paper based learning for people who don't have internet access. We'll see how it goes. I think last time we were somewhere in the middle - nothing live, but quite a lot of different tasks to complete each day and reasonably good feedback. I'm sure we'll do better this time around, but I hope we settle on a happy medium between what we did last time and this time. I'd like to see half as many live lessons, and some independent work that people can do offline, or at a time of their choice.

MrsHamlet · 04/01/2021 22:17

@TheGreatWave

Y11 and 13 are registered for every live lesson and texts go home to parents/carers if they aren't attending when we expect them to be.

Are they expected to have cameras on to prove they are actually there? It is a difficult one - if they don't, they could log on and then just play on their phone the whole time, but if they are expected to that is then presuming that everyone has the technology to do that and then that the internet connection is stable enough to take all the videos - Teams gets very wobbly for me if there are more than about 3 or 4 people, and there is absolutely no chance on the tablet.

We have a no cameras policy. The ones who really don't care just don't turn up - but they are the sane ones who desktop truant in normal lessons too.
Mochatatts · 04/01/2021 22:17

Seems all schools are different in terms of preparation. My youngest primary has work set for tomorrow and then will have something else set up from Wednesday. My eldest secondary school have tomorrow off while they organise pods but otherwise they have lots on Google classrooms. Both kids will actually be attending as we are both keyworkers.
My OHs children have a primary who haven't announced anything via text or social media yet and I suspect will be as useless at setting work as last time. So it'll be down to their parents to home school, which means they'll do nothing again.

Timeturnerplease · 04/01/2021 22:18

We’re trying to cater to the needs of our parent community. Parent survey praised our offer last time (Seesaw, videos for each lesson, same day feedback on work uploaded etc) so we’re doing the same, but with twice daily register and short input Zoom sessions for each class (primary). Only a few parents wanted ‘live’ teaching and most said they needed prerecorded to be able to access it around their working house. Fair enough, so that’s what we’ve gone for.