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As we prepare to commence remote learning next week here is some feedback from the families we support in @BarnardosScot based on their experience last time round.
Supporting learning at home can be tricky, especially if you have more than one child or if your child has additional support needs. Creating & sustaining a routine, motivating kids & a lack of confidence using the various online platforms were all cited as big challenges.
Many parents (40% of those we spoke to) said they had a preference for physical learning packs over digital resources, saying they could keep better track of progress & felt more confident with this medium.
Over the course of the 2020 lockdown many families were supported to access devices & data to enable greater engagement with online platforms, however, wider issues identified included lack of parental confidence using devices & uncertainty about how to ensure online safety.
The perceived pressure to complete allocated learning tasks while navigating challenging home situations (wfh with young children, reduced income, juggling different kids needs, other caring responsibilities) left some families feeling stressed, pressured or overwhelmed.
What they said worked well was individual contact from schools to ensure they knew how to access & use the learning materials provided & encouragement to do fun activities together as a family (even if it wasn’t schoolwork). Contact from schools also motivated kids to engage.
We know our education colleagues have been working flat out to prepare to deliver the best possible remote learning experience for our children & yp from next week. We need to be mindful that the many challenges of this situation are not of their making.
Remote learning cannot replicate what happens in our classrooms, therefore, learning in the coming weeks will look & feel very different as a result. However, the one thing we can all easily replicate is a focus on nurture - not just for kids but for school staff & parents too!
