Welcome to Oak Lodge School
Parent/Carer Q & A - January 2021
Is Oak Lodge School open?
Yes. We are open for online learning the week of 04.01.21. We are open for online and blended learning during the week of 11.01.21 for identified students.
Our intention is to do our best to offer places to all students who request them, however, we cannot guarantee this if there are significant safety concerns in school. This may mean that some pupils are not offered full time provision so that staff can teach face and face as well as supporting learning from home
As with all schools, we are likely be very short staffed over the next few weeks for several reasons including staff who are shielding, staff who are isolating and staff who have contracted coronavirus. You may also be aware that several unions have supported staff to send letters to their headteachers to say that they do not feel safe in school, but would be willing to support pupils by working from home during the new phase of the pandemic.
We will prioritise face to face learning for our most vulnerable pupils (including pupils on a child protection plan) and pupils of critical workers whose parents cannot make alternative arrangements other than for their child to remain in school.
From the 18.01.21. we will increase our offer of face to face / blended learning to more students. Online learning will continue for pupils at home.
Please note the guidance for our opening is different than in previous lockdowns.
Our Priority will go to pupils of:
- Critical workers
- Pupils who have a Child Protection Plan, Child in Need Plan or Looked after Children
- Pupils who are determined to be at highest risk by their Social Care and referred to us by their Social Worker, or are known to the school safeguarding/ wellbeing team.
- Some high-risk residential pupils.
We have attached the DfE guidance for parents/carers which provides more detail.
I heard that schools are closed. Why are you open?
All schools are open to all vulnerable and critical worker children. All children with an EHCP are classed as ‘vulnerable’ according to the DfE definition.
Do I have to send my child to school?
Attendance is not compulsory. We have spoken to some of our families and understand your conflicted views about your child and family’s safety along with your social responsibility to ‘stay at home’ against your child’s right to education. If you feel it is best to educate your child at home for the time being, we will do our best to support you in this decision. If you change your mind and wish to send your child into school, we ask you to give us 48 hours’ notice by emailing info@oaklodge.wandsworth.sch.uk or contact your class tutor. (NB: This does not apply to students who have given us a confirmed date for return).
Why do I have to give notice?
We are trying to keep the group sizes small to encourage social distancing and balanced as far as possible. Staffing is also extremely tight with a number of staff affected by the pandemic or say that they do not feel safe in school. Therefore, we need the time to plan with groups and existing staff where necessary.
Will my child have a full curriculum on site?
Your child will have all their lessons on their timetable but they will not change classrooms to reduce movement and contact around the school. Instead, the teachers on site will move to them. They will be supervised by a consistent TA. If a teacher is working from home, they will deliver their lesson on the big screen in the classroom via zoom. This does mean there will be some modifications to topics and practical subjects may be affected.
Will my child have a full curriculum at home?
We will do our best to include students working from home in as many tasks as possible. However, we cannot ask our teachers to ‘double’ their workload by delivering lessons to students at home and on site. We have asked our teachers to include students at home through zoom so they can join the lessons alongside their peers in school. They will also put tasks, where possible, on Seesaw or packs sent home. However, we cannot guarantee a full offer but will endeavour to provide a full curriculum if your child is working rom home.
Will my child have PE?
Yes. We recognise the importance of physical exercise currently. PE on site will continue to follow the guidelines for delivering this subject in a COVID secure way. Links will be posted for exercise videos your child can do at home.
Will there be school clubs?
After school clubs will not be running for the time being. We will let you know when we are able to run our full range of clubs again.
Will my child be with their normal class and teachers?
Where possible, your child will be with their usual teachers and tutor group. However, we have had to make several changes due to staffing and group size. We recognise the need for stability and familiar faces but we cannot guarantee this. If we make a change, we will prepare your child as best we can through this uncertain times.
Will my child have their usual interventions?
Yes, as far as possible. If your child usually works with a Speech and Language therapist, Occupational Therapist or Wellbeing Mentor from Oak Lodge, this will continue. If your child is on site, they will be seen in a socially distant way. If they are at home, their therapy will continue via zoom and or SeeSaw.
How will you keep the school as COVID secure as possible?
We will still use all the same measures as before such as handwashing, face coverings, one-way systems and so on. We have reduced the number of contacts by keeping students in class groups as far as possible.
What is happening with the testing?
Now, the government guidelines state that students are to be tested at the start of term. You have already been contacted about this. These tests are voluntary and will be conducted on site. Staff will be tested weekly. Please note, we will continue to follow government guidance regarding this, which is subject to change.
Why are online tasks set at specific times?
Our teachers are delivering their normal timetable at school. Therefore, lessons / online lessons must run at the normal school times. However, tasks on seesaw can be done at any time regardless of the ‘due date’. Just make sure your child presses ‘submit’ or ‘turn in’ so that the teacher knows they’ve attempted it.
What happens if my child can’t keep up with the work or we are struggling to manage the work at home?
Don’t worry. Please don’t put additional pressure on yourself or your family at this time. Just advise your child to do their best and attempt any tasks they can. These are difficult times and the most important thing is everyone’s mental and physical health.
I want to keep my child at home but there is not enough work. What can I do?
There are a number of resources to help parents with this.
Oak National Academy
This is a national programme of online lessons for all subjects, year groups including students with SEND.
There are a series of online lessons and TV programmes from by the BBC. Please note, for both above, most of our students are working at least one key stage below their age.
How will my child be assessed?
Exams have been cancelled this year and the assessment will be through their teachers assessment for students entered for external assessments. We will let you know more about this as we get the information. Teachers will, of course, keep their own records and we will be happy to discuss this with you.
Will there be any more closures?
The process for any positive COVID cases remains the same. If your child is named as a contact, they will be asked to isolate for 10 days in the same way as before. As with everything currently - it is subject to change.
