Remote Education
The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic is an unprecedented challenge for our school system and our traditional approach to delivering education. The impact of the pandemic has necessitated many pupils being out of school, and this will continue to be the case for some pupils, in line with the legal requirements and guidance in place to tackle the virus. As a school, we have responded to this with a strong and proactive commitment to providing remote education, in challenging and uncertain circumstances.
Accessing Remote Learning
How will my child access any online remote education you are providing?
At Fairfield, we use Microsoft Teams to facilitate social interaction between the class teacher and pupils in a controlled and secure environment. This is an essential part of the home-learning provision and supports the children socially and emotionally, helping them to feel connected and part of our school community. Face-to-face contact with teachers and peers is vital to maintain the children’s well-being during remote learning. Each child has their own school email address and password for individual access to Teams which is shared with parents and carers. We have safe usage guidelines for the pupil and teacher which are discussed and put in place to ensure a safe and sensible working environment for all (the documents are available on our below). With children and young people accessing Teams at home, it is important to have a parent or carer nearby and for the children to understand how to share any concerns they may have about anything they see or hear when online.
This platform is used in conjunction with Class Dojo, our secure platform for connecting with adults and children at home. This platform supports our home-learning and can be used to set and receive activities, create learning videos, provide meaningful feedback and communicate with parents and carers via the private messaging facility.
Full details of our offer can be found in the document below.
Remote Education
Microsoft Teams' Guidance
Additional links and Resources
In addition to our online provision, we are pleased to be able to sign-post you towards other activities/providers. You might wish to use these outlets to support the learning you are doing at home with your child(ren) or to consolidate some of the learning we have already covered.
| Link/Name | Overview |
| https://www.thenational.academy/ | The Oak Academy provides access to lots of high quality, free lessons designed and delivered by Teachers. The lessons are searchable by key stage and topic so things are easy to find. |
| BBC |
The BBC hs committed to supporting pupils throughout the extended school closure and has launched a series of educational programs. Primary-school programming, including BBC Live Lessons and BBC Bitesize Daily, from 09:00 to 12:00 on CBBC Additional resources are also available on the 'red button'. |
| https://www.chancecamp.co.uk/lockdown-3-chance-camps-5s-pe-programme-at-home | Our very own Chance Camp are providing lots of support for physical activity over the school closure - be sure to stay active everyday! |
| Home | WowScience - Science games and activities for kids |
WowScience offers fun science resources, games, and activities for primary school children. The site also provides details of cheap and easy science experiments and fun DIY projects that children can do at home – including changing the colour of flowers, making a balloon rocket, and constructing an anti-gravity hourglass. |
| Museum of the World (britishmuseum.withgoogle.com) |
The British Museum has created an interactive learning tool ideal for KS2 and up which allows you to visually explore history across the world through its artefacts, which go from modern-day all the way back to 2000 BC. You can pick from themes such as art and design, religion, trade, and conflict. |
| National Geographic Kids | (natgeokids.com) |
National Geographic Kids has a variety of facts, games, quizzes and activities suitable for KS1 children. There is a section of the website dedicated to explaining coronavirus to children, answering any questions they may have. |
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(Please accompany your child if they use this YouTube link). |
During the first lockdown, author and illustrator Rob Biddulph filmed a number of art lessons where children could draw-along and uploaded them to his YouTube channel Draw With Rob. His videos gained millions of views across the world and even broke the Guinness World Record for the largest online art lesson in May with over 45,000 participants. Rob has confirmed that the art lessons will be returning with brand new episodes every Saturday at 10am, as well as ones from the archive every Tuesday and Thursday at 10am. |
Some Examples of Parental Feedback
“To Whom it May Concern,
Please accept this email in terms of Gavin Williamson’s request to contact you about schools’ provision in these horrendous times.
Regardless of the lack of respect shown to Headteacher’s, teaching staff and schools by the minister, I would like to report the provision of learning from Fairfield Primary School, Cockermouth, Cumbria as above OUTSTANDING. Taking away the ridiculous timescales given to them, the work set last week, the interaction from teachers and teachers assistants, the nearly instant feedback and continuous communication from the Headteacher was fantastic.
Online reading suggests schools across the country have, as always, risen to a tough challenge asked of them and we look forward to positive headlines in the national papers soon from Ofsted praising our Headteachers, teachers, pupils and parents. “
“Just want to also say a huge thank you to all of you for your efforts with the home school provision this time around. It’s safe to say it is working much better for us as a family this time getting the work set each day rather than weeks’ worth to print out at a time. It certainly feels less overwhelming for my child and in turn that means she is enthusiastic each day about completing the work ahead of her.
I also think the morning log ins to teams’ meetings help her massively as it adds that structure to the start of her day like she would have coming into school so a big thank you from us! Your hard work is really appreciated, you are all doing a super job with our children at Fairfield!”
"I just want to say a massive thank you for the support call earlier, you have put my mind at ease so much and I can’t thank you enough- it’s so greatly appreciated. You are all doing an amazing job during this closure, please don’t think it doesn’t go unnoticed."
"Thank you for all the support. You and the entire staff go far above the call of duty as far as I’m concerned. It is much appreciated."
"Thank you for all the amazing work the school is continuing to do. The video session is a brilliant start to my child's day and gets her all set for her work. The interaction through Dojo is excellent and I am super proud of how my daughter is engaging. Thanks to the dedication of the teams involved responding to queries, questions and issues rapidly."
“Fantastic leadership. We love how the enthusiasm and genuine care for our children shines through in everything you do! Thank you to all the staff.”