Google Classroom: Frequently asked questions

     What will my child learn?

Teachers will be providing a blend of live Google Meet sessions, recorded lessons and activities across the curriculum that can be accessed via Google Classroom. Children will have access to reading, writing, maths and science/topic learning tasks set every school day. This will include extension activities to challenge as well as learning tasks planned by our specialist music, dance, DT, art and computing teachers. We aspire to teach the same curriculum remotely as we would in school following our whole school medium term plans. However, adaptations will be made in recognition of difficulties accessing resources and other limitations when learning away from school facilities.

How long should the daily remote learning take?

We have planned our remote provision (including live online Google Meet sessions, recorded sessions and more independent online learning) following guidance set out by DfE and the EEF.  

Children will be set approximately three hours per day for early years and key stage one and four hours for key stage two. Depending on their age, we expect children to spend 3 - 5 hours learning each day, including participating in the live class Google Meet sessions with their teacher.

Teachers will provide daily overviews/instructions via Google Classroom to support families in understanding the learning set for the day with approximate guides for how long sessions should take.

How will my child access remote learning?

All of our remote learning will be provided through Google Classroom. Children can access Google Classroom via computers, tablets or smart mobile phones. Pupils are expected to complete work online or in exercise books and 'turn in' their learning on a daily basis.

Every child has been given their Google Classroom log in details. If you are having any difficulties logging in, please check our guide getting onto Google Classroom. Other useful guides can be found here. If you need further support, please email admin@benjonson.towerhamlets.sch.uk with 'Google Classroom query' in the subject heading.

We have a robust system in place to support families that are finding it difficult to access remote learning. If you experience difficulties accessing the internet or do not have a device, please contact the school office immediately by either phoning the office or via email at admin@benjonson.towerhamlets.sch.uk

Many children prefer to work on paper so to support this we have also reduced the requirement for printed materials and encourage children to write on paper, turning in photographs of their learning. We have provided exercise books and if your child needs more, please phone the school office to arrange collection.

How will my child be taught remotely?

In line with guidance from DfE and the EEF, we will use a variety of approaches:

• Daily live class Google Meet sessions with the class teacher.
• Additional Google Meet sessions arranged on a needs basis.
• Pre - recorded videos/audios to demonstrate, instruct and feedback. These will be delivered by a range of familiar Ben Jonson teachers and support staff, educational experts and other high-quality online providers.
• Instructional and descriptive documents/presentation slides.
• Online activities including games and quizzes.
• Signposting to a range of additional high quality free online resources including WhiteRose, Timetables Rockstars and Ruth Miskin.

What are the daily live class Google Meet sessions?

These are live online sessions that will be used for teaching demonstrations, providing feedback and sharing learning. We also believe these sessions are an important pastoral gathering of the class and expect all children to attend.

In order to support families with more than one child, we aim for the sessions to occur at the following times. Durations  will vary from key stage to key stage to suit the needs of the cohort  but approximately will follow YR > 30 mins, KS1 > 45 mins and KS2 > 45-60mins.

Teachers will communicate absences from the sessions with support staff as well as Phase Leaders just like absences from school are monitored and investigated. Our usual safeguarding practices will apply.

When your child is required to attend an additional Google Meet session, this will be arranged around the whole class Google Meet timings so your child can attend both sessions. It may be your child is asked to stay on for longer for an additional session, or it may be that your child is asked to attend a regular additional focused session/intervention. We will always communicate this with you and your child to ensure you are aware of the timings.

For safeguarding reasons, all live Google Meet sessions be recorded and where possible be conducted by two adults - usually the class teacher and the teaching assistant. These are precautions put in place to safeguard our children and staff. Recorded sessions will  not be shared with any other adult or child outside of Ben Jonson.

What is my child expected to do remotely?

We expect all pupils to log in for their whole class Google Meet session and attend all additional sessions they are involved with. During these live sessions all pupils are expected to participate fully as though they are on site in school, following the schools behaviour policy even though they are at home.

We also expect children to engage with the online learning provided and to 'turn in' all their learning on a daily basis. We appreciate learning remotely poses manage challenges for families particularly if you have more than one child. The Inclusion team and phase teams will work with families to support as much as possible.

How can I support my child?

We really value parents/carers roles in facilitating the learning being planned for by teachers. Parents and carers should support by ensuring that children:

• Have access to online resources or letting the school know if this is not possible
• Have a comfortable space to learn, preferably at a table and away from distractions.
• Have had breakfast, are dressed and ready to learn at the start of the school day.
• Attend their live class Google Meet as well as any additional Google Meets they are asked to attend.
• Respond to teachers' questions or feedback
• Encourage your child to take breaks and talk to your child about their learning and how they are feeling.
• Encourage the brave, kind and curious behaviour of your child

Please be aware that the home environment and background sounds are shown on camera and heard through the microphone. For this reason, we ask that your child is seated in a quiet space so they can hear the audio clearly and see the image on the screen. Only the child involved in the Google Meet should be visible in front of the screen.This is the children's time to catch up with each other and engage in their class learning with their teacher and additional adults.

Your child may find it beneficial if you watch/listen to the pre-recorded videos and read the instructions together. Encouraging children in organising how they start, checking in with how they are doing and helping them ask kind questions via the 'private comments' on Google Classroom will really support your child's learning. Especially for younger children, if you are able to support, we encourage you to 'do alongside' rather than 'do for'. 'Mistake making is learning' so please encourage your children to see mistake making positively.  Reminding your child to 'turn in' their learning at the end of a day, including thier mistakes, will be really helpful.

How will my child's engagement, learning and progress be monitored?

We will use a variety of pedagogical approaches to assess children's engagement and understanding of learning. Asking questions, running mini tasks during live Google Meet sessions, setting quizzes as well as checking learning 'turned in' are just some of the approaches teachers will employ to make assessments of engagement, learning and progress.

If your child does not attend Google Meet sessions or complete the learning to their best standard we will contact you either by email or by phone to see how together we can support further.

How will my child receive feedback?

Our remote approach follows our school's responsive approach to feedback.

Feedback can take many forms and teachers will use their professional autonomy to assess gaps and provide feedback. We aim to acknowledge all learning 'turned in' on time and provide timely feedback in a variety of ways. Whole-class feedback during Google Meets, providing answers online or quizzes marked automatically via digital platforms are valid and effective methods of providing feedback and are just some of the ways a teacher may use to let children know how they are doing and how to do even better. Teachers may also ask children to attend additional live Google Meets to provide targeted support and address misconceptions identified from the learning turned in.

What support is in place for pupils with additional needs?

Children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) will be supported in the following ways:

• All children with Education, Health and Care plans (EHCP) and others with known additional needs have an allocated key adult from the Inclusion Team that will keep in regular contact.
• Where appropriate, additional physical resources will be provided to support children's learning strengths and styles.
• Learning assigned will be differentiated to your child's 'learning zone' so it is right for them and balanced as closely as possible to the learning set for the class.
• Additional live Google Meet sessions with class teachers to support their understanding of differentiated learning.
• Targeted interventions will take place through additional Google Meet sessions.
• Additional Google Meets to support children identified as having social, emotional and mental health needs.
• Specialist professionals will continue to work with the children they have started programmes of support with.

If you feel your child has an additional need that requires further support as outlined above, but they are currently not known to the Inclusion team, please contact the school immediately via admin@benjonson.towerhamlets.sch.uk including in the subject 'FAO Inclusion Team'.