Attendance is essential for pupils to get the most out of their school experience, including for their attainment, wellbeing, and wider life chances. There are, however, certain circumstances when it is not possible for a child to attend, and it is in this circumstance where an offer of Remote Education can be made. Remote education should not be viewed as an equal alternative to attendance in school. For this reason schools may only consider it as a last resort when the alternative would be no education, and only after it has been established that the pupil is, or will be, absent from school.
In such cases, remote education can have the benefit of allowing absent pupils to keep on track with their education and stay connected to their teachers and peers.
The priority is always ATTENDANCE.
Scenarios where remote attendance should be considered.
• Where schools have to close, or there are restrictions on attendance for pupils (i.e. during COVID)
Providing remote education does not change the imperative to remain open or to reopen as soon as possible. Every effort will be made to ensure pupils can be taught in person by attending school or if appropriate and possible, attending a safe alternative site. After exploring all options to ensure the school remains open to all pupils, there may still be some exceptional occasions when school leaders or the local authority decide that it is not possible to open safely, or where opening would contradict guidance from local or central government. If restricting attendance for pupils is the only viable option, we will consider providing remote education to help pupils stay on track with the education they would normally receive.
• In individual cases where a child is unable to attend school but is able to learn.
There should only be limited circumstances where a pupil is unable to attend school but is able and well enough to continue their education remotely. These circumstances should only involve a short-term absence and might include: pupils recovering from short-term infectious illnesses, pupils preparing for or recovering from some operations, or pupils recovering from injuries where attendance might inhibit recovery.
In some exceptional cases, these circumstances might also include pupils whose attendance has been affected by a special educational need or disability (SEND) or a mental health issue. In these circumstances, and after the pupil’s absence from school has been established, we will consider providing pupils with remote education on a case-by-case basis. This will be part of a plan to reintegrate back to school, and only when it is judged that providing remote education would not adversely affect the pupil’s return to school.
Provision of remote education is a short-term solution allowing absent pupils to keep on track with their education and stay connected to their teachers and peers. Pupils with long-term medical conditions or any other physical or mental health needs affecting attendance may require additional support to continue their education.
At Captain Webb Primary School we refer our parents to the Oak National Academy website, as this provides high quality lessons that are meaningful, ambitious, and cover an appropriate range of subjects to enable pupils to keep on track with their education.
https://www.thenational.academy/
We will work with the parent/s so they understand which elements of learning their child will need.
• We will provide additional support in cases of SEND, and work collaboratively with families to support the children/parents accessing the learning successfully.
• We will help to overcome barriers to digital access by loaning school owned devices, accompanied by a user agreement, if and where necessary and/or possible.
The senior leader with overarching responsibility for the quality and delivery of remote education is Mrs Sarah Passey (Headteacher).