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Home learning – a message to parents

Dear Parent and Carers,

We hope that you and your families are safe and well during this difficult time. 

We really appreciate that you, as parents and carers, are doing your very best to support your child’s learning from home as well as possibly dealing with your own working from home or worrying about family and friends at what is a very challenging time for us all. 

However, we would like to stress to you that you mustn’t put yourself or your child under pressure in the present situation. Here are some things to consider whilst your child is at home and not in school and also some frequently asked questions: 

A few things:

What you are doing is not homeschooling. 

This is an unprecedented, emergency situation impacting the whole world and we need to keep some perspective.  What we send home are activities which will keep the children busy and should be straight forward.

You are, and have always been, your child’s primary educator. If you decide that your child isn’t going to engage with anything that has been set and is going to spend the time playing, drawing or accessing other online learning then that is your choice. That is your right. There is nothing to stress or feel guilty about. 

What we are sending are things we feel are of interest to the children.

It is absolutely not possible to teach your child the things they would learn in class and work from home at the same time. If you’re trying to do that, please give yourself a break. You can absolutely have activities where your child learns, but your focus is your job, and survival. 

Some frequently asked questions:

Q: My school has set lots of work, how am I supposed to get through it all?

A: You’re not, don’t try. It’s there if you need it. Some parents want a little and some want a lot – it is all optional.

Q: Someone else in my child’s class has already completed everything and we haven’t even started. Will my child fall behind? 

A: Even if all were equal in terms of time, support and number of children (which it’s not) all children learn at different rates. In class there’s a wide range of levels in all subjects, there’s different paces and there are many children working at different levels and pace. Just do what is right for you. Your child will not fall behind. If children could all learn new concepts without specific teaching we wouldn’t need teachers. The children will cover this work again – multiple times. 

Q: How can I get three lots of work done with 3 children of different ages?

A: You can’t, stop trying! If they’re old enough try to get them to do little bits independently. Otherwise try to do something they can all engage with, reading a story together, some free writing, baking etc.

Q: What’s the bare minimum amount of work you would expect?

A: As much as you can manage, we are all in survival mode and need to prioritise staying healthy. Your child’s teachers are human too, we understand the challenges.

Q: If we can’t do much what would you prefer us to do?

A: – A bit of reading everyday, either independently, reading to them or listening to an audio book.

Some free writing every now and again.

Practical hands on maths; cooking, cleaning, maths games etc

Fine motor work; lego, playdough, cutting, tidying away small toys etc

Physical exercise everyday.

Some art/something creative. This doesn’t need to be guided.

If old enough, start a project. Research something and present it to the rest of the family.

If younger, lots of imaginative free play.

You are doing a great job! You are loving and supporting your child through an unprecedented and difficult time. Please look after yourselves – minimising stress is absolutely vital at a time like this. If you need support, please contact your child’s teacher via See Saw or contact the school office 01904555606. Someone will be back in touch with you as soon as they can. 

We are all in this together!

 

Team Osbaldwick Primary Academy

 

 

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