Welcome to the remote/home learning section of our website.

Our remote/home learning strategy has been written in the light of our mission statement.

All schools are required to have a remote learning plan in place so that any child who cannot attend school because of COVID-19 does not miss out on their learning.

This page explains our plans for remote learning for children who have to self-isolate, or where local or national restrictions mean that children need to stay at home.

At St Brigid’s we always strive to ensure our pupils make the best progress within a full and purposeful curriculum that builds on previous learning.  Our strategy for our remote learning continues this.  We aim to provide children with a balanced curriculum that continues to support their progress and attainment within a safe online environment. 

Home learning can come with many barriers and we value all the support from our families and parents.  If you need any further support whilst your child/children learn at home, please phone the school office on 0161 223 5538.  

Our remote learning plan

All children who are having to (1) self-isolate or (2) Stay at home due to local or national restrictions will be provided with daily learning.  All remote learning will be via google classrooms. 

Where do we access the work?

All the work will be on your child’s google classroom account.  All children have been given their login details but if you are having difficulties logging on (or can’t find the log in details) please contact the school office.  New work is put onto google classroom everyday Monday to Friday

How many hours a day is my child expected to work for?

For nursery through to year 2 there will be a minimum of 3 hours of work set a day. For year 3 to year 6 there will be a minimum of 4 hours of work set a day.

What does the daily curriculum look like?

Every class from Nursery to Year 6 will have a daily timetabled live session with their class teacher.  If a teacher is having to self-isolate then the live session will be with the key stage phase leader.  The DFE’s expectations for remote learning recognises that a daily live classroom enables important interaction between the children and their teacher. 

In line with the DFE’s expectations for remote learning, all learning will be aligned to the classroom curriculum where possible and will follow the year group timetable they would be following if they were in school.  We aim to carefully sequence the learning so that it builds on and consolidates previous learning. 

On the google classroom platform you will find some videos pre-recorded by the teacher, power points, worksheets and some links to other websites.   New learning will be uploaded by the teacher every morning. 

What does my child do with the work they complete?

When your child has completed their work they must hand it in on line. To do this they must first click the ‘Classwork’ tab. From here they need to select the assignment they wish to submit and open it by clicking ‘View Assignment’. When the assignment is open they will have an option to attach a photograph if appropriate, look out for the paper clip symbol. Finally, they need to click the ‘Hand in’ icon. This can be found in the blue box in the top right-hand corner of the screen. Please be aware, if they do not click the ‘Hand in’ button, the work will not be submitted to the class teacher.  Work must be submitted everyday.

Will there be feedback?

Yes.  Feedback and assessment are still as important.  Class teachers are monitoring the Google Classroom streams and assignment pages throughout the day. Feedback will be given on all completed lessons. This will either be through written instant messages, verbal feedback through voice messages or by applying a score to an assignment. Teachers will also provide some general feedback during Live Lessons where it is appropriate to do so.

What about if my child has additional needs?

The work set by the teacher will take into account the range of educational needs within the class. However, if a child has a particular special educational need, then the work set for them is personalised and can be accessed through their log in details. If your child is having difficulty accessing the work please don’t hesitate to contact the school.

What happens if my child is having trouble with their work?

If your child is having trouble with their work please leave a message for the teacher on the Google Classroom stream in the first instance. This allows the teacher to see the issue and to respond as promptly as possible in order to support home learning. Where you feel the issue is more complex, please contact school for a telephone discussion with your child’s class teacher.

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​What you’ll need at home

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How do I get the daily class work?

Your child will need a device that can access the internet, such as a laptop, a desktop computer, a tablet or smartphone.   Google Classroom can also be accessed using a Playstation and Xbox.

How to access google classroom through the Playstation and Xbox

​The PlayStation 4 has its own web browser that is easy to find on the PlayStation 4 (in the content menu as an icon with WWW written on it). However, it's currently a bit trickier on PS5, as there is no way to open the browser natively.

Instead, you can open the System Settings, then the User Guide. This will open up an online user manual inside a web browser page so you only have to change the URL at the top. Otherwise, the rest of the steps are the same.

1. Plug a wired keyboard and/or mouse into the USB ports on the PS4 or PS5 - each console should recognise them.

2. In the URL bar of the browser, type classroom.google.com and then log in using the details provided by your child's school.

3. You can now access Google Classroom.

In some cases you might not be able to do everything you can on a laptop or PC, but you can, at the very least, access Google Classroom and see what work your teacher has assigned for you to do.

The Xbox consoles each have access to Microsoft Edge - the web browser that comes preinstalled as part of the Xbox user experience. This can be used to access Google Classroom (or another online education service approved by your child's school).

1. Plug a wired keyboard into your Xbox One, Xbox Series X or Xbox Series S via one of the USB ports on the front or back.

2. Press the Xbox button top-centre of a game controller and head to "My games & apps" in the side menu.

3. Click on "See all", scroll down to "Apps" and you will see Microsoft Edge in the icons on the right-hand side. Open it.

4. Type classroom.google.com into the URL bar at the top and log in as you would on a PC using your school Gmail account.

5. You can either use an Xbox controller to move the cursor or a separate USB mouse plugged into one of the other ports.

Is there anything else my child will need?

• A quiet learning space
• Paper, pencils and pens
• Regular breaks

What we expect from your child

It is really important that your child engages with the home learning.  Home learning is important. We expect to see your child on the daily live classroom google meets.  The teacher will take the register and talk to the children about their emotional wellbeing as well as giving some curriculum input. 

By doing the home learning your child is

• Learning the same as all the people in their class
• Making progress
• On track with the curriculum and will be ready for the next stage of learning when classes reopen.
• Working towards meeting their targets if they have special educational needs.

If they aren’t engaging with the learning, we’ll use the following strategies to provide additional support:  

• Phone calls home
• Social distanced home visit

What you can do to help

We really appreciate that home learning has its challenges and we are really grateful of your support at home which enables your child to access their year group learning. 

Younger children will need support to access online materials and staying focused with their remote learning.  We ask that you help as much as you can.

With older children, we don’t expect you to watch your child all day and we don’t expect you to get involved in all the remote lessons in place of the teachers.  It would be really helpful if you can take an active role in your child’s learning by asking them about their day and what they have learned.  As well as making sure that they take breaks, drink lots of water and have some ‘down time’ at lunchtime. 

Our top tips for home learning

(1) Identify a learning space

(2) Establish a learning timetable and get into a routine. 

(3) Try to encourage your child to be ready and dressed for the start of the school day.

(4) Plan breaks and exercise

(5) Finish home learning by 3.30pm at the latest. 

(6) Make it clear when the day is over to separate home and school life

(7) Distinguish between weekdays and the weekends. 

Please keep in touch with us and do let us know if you’re having difficulties with remote learning or if you have any questions.  We are here to support you.