This section outlines information about our remote education provision. This information is intended to give you clarity and transparency about our remote education offer.
We follow non-statutory guidance from the DfE on providing high quality remote education in cases where it is not possible, or is contrary to government guidance, for some or all pupils to attend school.
Remote education is only ever considered as a last resort where a decision has already been made that attendance at school is not possible, but pupils are able to continue learning. Remote education is never viewed as an equal alternative to attendance in school.
‘Pupils absent from school and receiving remote education will still be marked as absent in the register… In line with regulations and attendance guidance.’
Circumstances where it might not be possible for pupils to receive in person education fit into two broad categories:
1. School closures or restrictions on attendance, where school access for pupils is restricted
2. Individual cases where a pupil is unable to attend school, but is able to learn
School Closures or Restrictions on Attendance
Providing remote education does not change our imperative to remain open or to reopen as soon as possible. We make every effort 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 we 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 is the only viable option, we will consider providing remote education to help pupils stay on track with the education they would normally receive. Our remote education plans outlines what we would offer during closures.
In the event of a significant loss of learning for an extended period, parents/carers must understand that engagement in home learning is compulsory for all pupils well enough to learn.
Individual Cases Where a Pupil 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
- 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 as 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.
When a pupil is absent, we will always seek to overcome the barriers to attendance and provide support for the pupil to attend, regularly reviewing any barriers in conjunction with the child, parents or carers, and if appropriate, a relevant medical professional.
In the limited circumstances when the school decides to use remote education for individual pupils when they are absent, we will consider the following:
- Ensuring mutual agreement of remote education by the school, parents or carers, potentially pupils, and if appropriate a relevant medical professional. If the pupil has an Education, Health and Care plan or has a social worker, the local authority should also be involved in the decision
- Where remote education is being used as part of a plan to reintegrate back to school, putting a formal arrangement in place to review its efficacy regularly, alongside identifying what other support and flexibilities can be put in place to help ease the pupil back to school at the earliest opportunity
- Setting a time limit within which the period of remote education provision should be reviewed, with the aim that the pupil returns to in person education with the required support in place to meet their needs.
Our remote education plan is kept under review, in consultation with staff, and considers additional burdens that providing remote education may place on our staff and families.
We intend to make our provision ready for pupils to access as soon as reasonably practicable, in proportion to the length of absence and expected disruption to education.
We aim to provide remote education that is equivalent in length to the core teaching time pupils would receive in school, being mindful of the individual needs and circumstances of the pupil and their families.
Remote Education during a Suspension or Permanent Exclusion
In the event of a suspension or permanent exclusion we follow guidance and take steps to ensure that work is set and marked for pupils during the first five school days of a suspension or permanent exclusion.
Any time a pupil is sent home due to disciplinary reasons, this is a suspension and must be done in line with the law on disciplinary suspensions. This is the case even if they have been asked to log on or access online education while suspended. After a period of off-site direction or suspension, we expect the child to attend full-time.
