The concept of schooling for term 2 is going to be new for all of us - staff, students and parents alike.  It is going to require us to think very differently about what is ‘The Norm.’  Please know that the learning that is taking place at school or at home will be as closely linked as is possible.  Don’t worry about your child falling behind as creating a calm, predictable environment is the most important thing at this time.  The learning taking place at home is about enriching existing understandings rather than introducing too much new learning.

Whilst it is going to be challenging juggling family commitments and that of your child/children, just know that we are here to support you every step of the way.  Our staff are legitimately excited about the opportunities this situation has created. School administration is open for support over the holidays – we will also monitor Schoolzine and Facebook messages over the Easter holidays whilst our teachers take a well-deserved break.

At PDS we are very conscious of starting small and growing our ‘Learning at Home’ program together.  So give yourself permission to start small knowing that we will build this approach as we continually review what’s working well and what needs to be refined.  To start with, your child might only be asked to complete a couple of tasks per day but just know this will grow over time as we build on successes.

Start by co-creating a routine that will work for your entire family.  This could be as simple as finding a comfortable space to work and ensuring you have all the materials you need to support your child’s learning eg, pencils, exercise book, device etc.  A predictable routine for students and adults is important.  Be realistic,  co-create a routine that is achievable to start with eg, learning blocks that could involve a combination of online, offline, nature based or family based learning.  Having learning blocks occur at the same time each day will be beneficial in the long run, but equally, try to find some fun and spontaneity in the learning day.

Spend time getting to know the IT platforms available and practice using these tools. We have provided links to a Padlet preview for primary families and a Teams trial for secondary students. Check in with your teacher whenever you need to during the term, we are here to support. If you have multiple children at home it would be great to use the expertise of your siblings to support each other.  Take the pressure off yourself as a parent.  We don’t expect parents to be teachers, we know that you support your child as best you can during these challenging times.  

Finally, get outside as often as you can and appreciate your surroundings.  Happy Easter and enjoy the school holidays.

Mat Grining