Alton@Home Remote Learning take two! We have slotted back into the Alton@Home programme once again showing how adaptable and willing our community is to make the most of the current circumstances. Although the majority of our pupils are not on site, we are confident that the Remote Learning programme puts them mentally in their classrooms with their friends and teachers.
All of the Lower School staff are working extremely hard to ensure all pupils are still getting the most out of our school via online teaching. Below we have a quote from our Director of Lower School, Mrs Grimes. She explains how this is working for the pupils and the learning aids we are giving parents to help with support they are giving at home.
“As a school it is our intention to provide for the children the education that they would have received had they been in school, lessons are provided in the prep as a mixture of live online teaching and pre-recorded screencasts, extension and support tasks are provided as appropriate and links to even further learning should parents have the time.”
Students Wellbeing
Schools play a vital role in a young person’s life, whether it be their education or mental well-being. The pandemic and subsequent lockdowns put a stress on pupils with the pressure of home learning, longer than usual screen times and less time to be with friends. Here at Alton School, we understand that pupils need to feel supported through this time and we know that teachers are often the helping hand that they need.
With this in mind, it is vital we keep all lines of communication open and maintain our excellent record in pastoral care. A key component of the Alton@Home programme is pupil wellbeing. We have a strong pastoral team in place, 1-to-1 meetings available for all pupils and a dedicated email address for pupils to use if they have any worries. We also give pupils time during registration and break times to chat to each other and socialise.
Our PE department have put together a series of challenges for pupils to do so that everyone can take a step away from computer-based home learning and have some fun. Below is a quote from Mrs Grimes on the subject of increased screen time and the importance of physical activity during this time.
“The amount of time children, and adults, are spending in front of screens is worrying and we encourage our parents to give the children physical exercise and allow them to be outside as much as possible. Our PE department are setting challenges and streaming sports lessons to the children.
Time outdoors is vital for children’s’ mental health and well-being”
As pupils and parents continue to juggle physical activity, virtual learning and quality family time, it is difficult to keep motivation levels high. Karl Guest, our Headmaster at Alton School has a great motivational tip for everyone who is currently working/learning from home and living through these difficult times.
“Remember that education is not merely about teaching ‘work’, or ‘study’, or ‘subjects’ – Education is also about teaching about life. Life is sometimes about getting through, about holding your head up high, being kind and knowing that you are doing your very best. I feel this is very much our current zeitgeist and this is equally as important to live as much as to teach.”
Alongside the above advice, we want to ensure the continued development of every child. We are working closely with our parents and our teachers are always on hand if parents have any questions. Remote learning is a team effort and we would like to thank all our parents for working with us to provide the best education for our pupils in a challenging time.
The first few weeks with virtual learning have shown just how adaptable and hardworking our pupils are. Their engagement, effort and progress has been exceptional and we thank them for all they have achieved so far. We are looking forward to seeing how they develop through this period of home learning and look forward to welcoming them back to their classroom as soon as we can.
While being in close communications with our parents and pupils, this is some of the recent feedback we have had to show how the new virtual learning world is working for our parents and pupils.
“This week, I have felt able to fully concentrate on my job as I know you are all doing such a fantastic job of looking after my children and keeping them safe and happy. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.” Critical Worker Parent of Year R and Year 5 pupils, Jan 2021.
“I just wanted to check in again and say thank you. We are having the most fantastic experience as a family in terms of the teaching from Mrs Clarke and Miss Woods-Davison, who have been so dedicated and generous with their time. They are both well-organised, warm, engaging and patient in their delivery, which must be incredibly challenging when having to teach online and face-to-face simultaneously. I think our girls are really benefitting from being able to interact with their classmates and teachers and as parents, we are grateful for that structure and bit of normality. Thank you to all concerned in what must be a huge effort.” – Parent of year 1 and 4 students, Jan 2021.
We will continue to work together as a community to put our young people at the centre of everything we do and to ensure their education and mental wellbeing is in the forefront of our minds throughout this challenging time.
We very much look forward to having the buzz of children around the school site as soon as possible. The school site isn’t the same without our pupils to bring it to life.
