Remote Learning
Coronavirus has had an undeniable impact on all aspects of life for everyone. For those families with children, education moved into the home arena, and parents' work ran right alongside the school day. Challenging times for everyone.
Remote Learning has changed our concept of education and, as with cases of imposed change, creates the opportunity for human nature to explore what can be done and how can it be done to the best of one’s ability within the circumstances.
‘It is quite amazing what you have all put together at such pace. I think it took the Education Minister 9 minutes to announce the school closures. Hazlegrove’s response has been fantastic - were you secretly planning for this for years?!’
Hazlegrove adopted a phased approach to Remote Learning, endeavouring to keep things as simple as possible in the first few days, allowing children, families and teachers to get into a rhythm, and above all to be happy and comfortable. This was followed by increased opportunities for all children to upload work for feedback, and introduce one-way and two-way interaction which naturally progressed on to the delivery of on-line tutor time and virtual lessons. ensuring that pupils knew what to do, how to do it, and how well they had done once work was completed. Teachers stayed online, wherever possible, for the duration of the lesson, so that children could ask questions. Feedback on work was regular and detailed. Contact with the tutor, twice a day, was paramount, cementing relationships and ensuring the children had an immediate point of contact if they were in any difficulty.
Can I take this opportunity to thank you and to ask you to communicate to the whole Hazlegrove team our sincere thanks, appreciation and respect. The staff’s tremendous hard work and dedication for the good of our children is noted on a daily basis. In these challenging circumstances, with family commitments of your own, it is appreciated the effort, energy and thought that is being put into the education and physical and mental welfare of the Hazlegrove children. Thank you.
Reading your email just now about the much awaited return to school for all children brought tears to my eyes and I decided I must write to thank you for leading Hazlegrove through such a difficult period. Our son has consistently expressed that he would rather be at school but has got on with online schooling with determination and perseverance. We are so grateful for all the teachers who have also persevered in teaching online as I know myself that it is not at all easy and doesn't provide any of the joy of actually being with the children in school. Thank you to you and all your staff.
Children and families accessed tasks, resources and on-line interaction via the Parent Portal and Microsoft Teams which included enjoying weekly concerts, putting together the Year 8 Production as well as assemblies, Sports Day and closed with our Virtual Speech Day for both Prep and Pre-Prep children. Our usual weekly newsletter transformed into HzG@Home - a fun and engaging place where teachers set up their own @Home challenges which pupils could choose to do outside of lessons in lockdown. Click here to discover HzG@Home.
Whilst we all hope that schools can remain open, if lockdown returns in whatever form, we thought it would be helpful for you to see examples of how Hazlegrove Prep School engages with the children when they cannot be in school along with comments from our current parents.
‘I have so much to write to express my utter gratitude for all your work this term to make remote learning such a positive experience. We can feel your interest and attention even from afar and our child is thriving. Ever grateful. Thank you again for making it a warm yet productive experience’.
Take a look at our Remote Learning Guidelines Spring 2021
For more information about how Hazlegrove is set up for Video Calls and Meetings, click here.
