Contents
What is distance learning?
Many Traveller children, particularly those from Showmen communities, travel for work purposes for significant periods of the school year. For Showmen families, the travelling season usually starts around Easter and ends around November. This means that pupils from Showmen families can have limited time in school. Distance learning can be an effective way of supporting these children to continue their education whilst travelling. It can also make for an easier reintegration when the children return at the end of their travelling season.
It should be noted that not all families have the same travelling pattern; individual family situations vary. Schools are advised to check with each family to establish the details.
To promote engagement with distance learning, excellent communication between school and families is important. Families will need to provide dates when they will be travelling and agree with schools the best method of communication. There should also be agreement about how the packs will be sent to the child and, when they have been completed, how they should be returned to school.
Whose responsibility is it to set distance learning?
Children who are travelling for work purposes remain on the school’s roll whilst they are away, and it is the responsibility of the child’s school to put together appropriate distance learning materials for them. Prepared in advance, these materials can include worksheets and online resources on the school’s virtual learning platform or on other suitable websites.
How much work?
Ideally, plan to provide enough work for the duration of the time the child is away from school.
Differentiation of the work
When you are planning the first Distance Learning Plan (DLP) for a child it is good practice to speak with parents and have an honest conversation about what is achievable. Here are some questions to consider with the family –
- Is there anyone in the family with skills to support the child with distance learning?
- Can the family provide a learning space for the child to work?
- Does the family have the stationary they need for the child to complete the work
- Will the child have access to a laptop, tablet, digital camera, mobile phone, or printer?
- Can the child use scissors, glue, colouring pens etc. where required for an activity?
Expectations
When you meet with parents set clear expectations orally and have written information as a backup. This can set out achievable expectations you require for the DLPs, for example:
- Do some work each day
- Practise spellings once a week (or whatever your school expectation is)
- Read a book or some chapters of a book every day
- Use IT to access the school Virtual Learning Platform (VLP) (if available) and ensure that usernames and passwords are provided
- Signpost the family to the school website for updates, INSET days, important dates, news, and information whilst travelling
Expectations set for each child will depend on the age and ability of the child and the family’s circumstances whilst travelling.
Sending and receiving DLPs
Ensure the child has the DLP before they leave to go travelling. You could include a stamped, school-addressed envelope in which to return the pack or work can be sent in via e-mail. Make sure you have correct contact details for the parents, especially mobile phone numbers, as these will be your only means of contact whilst they are travelling.
Suggestions for worksheets to include
The core subjects of Mathematics, English and Science can easily be included in the packs. Ensure that worksheets are not too wordy and keep in mind that parents or older siblings may not have the literacy levels needed to help. Give examples of answers or explain the method in simpler language if necessary.
Use of ICT
If you have a VLP and the child can access it, make sure they are confident enough to do so on their own and have all the relevant passwords etc. Invite the parents in to show them too. For any other learning programmes, you have within school which require passwords to gain access (My Maths or Accelerated Reader for example), you will need to make sure the child has the password and is sufficiently confident to access and use them.
Communication and safeguarding
Make sure the family have the telephone number and email address for their contact at the school who is overseeing the distance learning.
Let the parents know that they can contact school if they have any questions or concerns. It is good practice to put the school newsletter or any current school information in the DLP. Where possible encourage parents to sign up for electronic mail to stay up to date with school events. The children and parents are still part of the school community even when they are out travelling, and it is best practice to ensure that they know what is going on while they are away.
SATS and GCSEs
If you know that the child will be travelling during exam season, make sure parents are aware of any exam dates so they can bring them back in time for the exams.
Discuss the importance of the SATs and GCSEs and how it might benefit the child and school.
If appropriate, revision guides can be sent with the children. Also, past papers are a useful resource for practising and preparing for tests and exams.
If it is not possible for the children to get back for the exams in their base school, another option could be to consult with a school in the area where they will be travelling during that time. The child may be able to do the exams there, but this will need advance notice and require planning, so it is essential to plan with the family and get dates as soon as possible.
Key Stages 3 and 4
It might be advisable to stick with only the core subjects throughout Years 7 – 9 for DLPs. In years 10 – 11 there will be more GCSE teaching based on the child’s chosen options. Best practice is to identify a member of staff who can liaise with all subject teachers to coordinate and collate suitable, bespoke, curriculum-based work.
Consider using BITESIZE and similar programmes alongside GCSE revision guides.
If the children are in Year 11, make sure before they travel, they have the correct exam timetable, so they know exactly when they need to be back. Also let them know of any revision sessions taking place during holiday periods. Regular communication and meetings with parents help to maintain continuity between when the child is in school and when they are travelling.
Make it clear to whom the parents and children should speak if they have any issues whilst they are in school as well as when they are travelling.
See the EDEAS website for more information about Devon’s Gypsy, Roma, Traveller, Showmen communities, ways of supporting Traveller children in school.
Useful websites and contacts
- DCC EDEAS home page
- Consultancy, training and workshops: Devon Education Services Shop