Home learning, Grange Park Primary School style

Using a range of online learning through the forums of Google Classroom and Seesaw, teachers identified new and creative ways to use these. The children and parents were provided with a weekly timetable on a Monday morning and then sent a daily schedule each day. Usually Numeracy, Literacy and one other area of the curriculum was set daily.

For younger pupils, some staff recorded weekly videos to retain visual contact and that was a great encouragement to the younger pupils especially as they missed seeing their teacher.

The children were set a wide range of structured, practical and creative activities which were accompanied with instructional videos, usually created by the class teacher. The benefit of using Google classroom and Seesaw meant that activities could either be completed directly online or it allowed the children to send videos and photos as evidence of their learning which could be submitted daily for feedback. Feedback was given in the form of verbal or written comments which were personal and seen by only the child or their parent. It has been great for children to be able to play the teacher’s comments, hear the familiar voice and then record their own in reply.

Fridays were seen as days of creativity with one activity given which allowed the children to have individual learning fun, for example art activities such as scavenger hunts or stem activities.

Teachers ventured into the world of video conferencing through Google Meets. This allowed both classes from the same year group to meet together to cover aspects of activities set each week which may have been difficult or needed reinforced by the teacher. These were carefully monitored and followed child protection guidelines. The classes were very well attended and the feedback was excellent. Teachers and parents realised that they were not only helping the children educationally but also mentally, and it was a great way to raise morale and for the children to see their classmates in a safe and controlled environment.

The school recreated events which the pupils missed out on, for example the P7 Manchester trip and sports day at home, posting many examples on their social media outlets along with a staff video letting children know that they missed them.

Grange Park Primary School were pleased to provide for their pupils’ academic needs whilst also looking after their mental health and keeping school fun over recent months.

7 August 2020