Remote education will only be considered as a last resort where a decision has already been made that attendance at school is not possible, but pupils are able to continue learning.
Attendance is essential for pupils to get the most out of their school experience, including for their attainment, wellbeing, and wider life chances.
Remote education should not be viewed as an equal alternative to attendance in school.
Circumstances where it might not be possible for pupils to receive in person education fit into 2 broad categories:
- school closures or restrictions on attendance, where school access for pupils is restricted.
- individual cases where a pupil is unable to attend school but is able to learn.
Providing remote education does not change the imperative to remain open or to reopen as soon as possible. Every effort will be made to ensure pupils can be taught in person by attending their school or if appropriate and possible, attending a safe alternative site.
After exploring all options to ensure the school(s) remains open to all pupils, there may still be some exceptional occasions when school leaders or the local authority decide it is not possible to open safely, or where opening would contradict guidance from local or central government. If restricting attendance for pupils is the only viable option, the Federation will consider providing remote education to help pupils stay on track with the education they would normally receive.
Individual cases where a pupil is unable to attend school but is able to learn
There are limited circumstances where a pupil is unable to attend school but is able and well enough to continue their education remotely. These circumstances will only involve a short-term absence and might include pupils:
- recovering from short- term infectious illnesses
- preparing for or recovering from some operations
- recovering from injuries where attendance might inhibit recovery
In some exceptional cases, these circumstances might also include pupils whose attendance has been affected by a special educational need or disability (SEND) or a mental health issue. In these circumstances, after the pupil’s absence from school has been established, we may consider providing pupils with remote education on a case-by-case basis. This should be part of a plan to reintegrate back to school, and only when it is judged that providing remote education would not adversely affect the pupil’s return to school.
In the limited circumstances when the school decides to use remote education for individual pupils when they are absent, the following should be considered:
- Ensuring mutual agreement of remote education by the school, parents or carers, potentially pupils, and if appropriate a relevant medical professional. If the pupil has an education, health and care plan or has a social worker, the local authority should also be involved in the decision.
- Where remote education is being used as part of a plan to reintegrate back to school, putting a formal arrangement in place to review its efficacy regularly, alongside identifying what other support and flexibilities can be put in place to help ease the pupil back to school at the earliest opportunity.
- Setting a time limit within which the period of remote education provision should be reviewed, with the aim that the pupil returns to in person education with the required support in place to meet their needs.
Remote Education Contact:
Miss C Reed (Acting Deputy Headteacher) creed@alston.cumbria.sch.uk
