Essex County Council is supporting a government campaign to support families to access online educational materials.
The Department for Education (DfE) has announced further support for schools, families and young people during the current school closures.
This includes the launch of the Oak National Academy, a new, government-backed online learning resource. It provides 180 video lessons each week for every year group – from Reception through to Year 10 – across a range of subjects, including maths, art and languages.
The BBC has also launched its own education package, BBC Bitesize Daily. This will deliver a tailored day of learning across TV and online, with curriculum-relevant offers for Years 1 to 10.
These resources are alongside new Government guidance for parents on how to best support their child’s education and development.
These offers and guidance join the range of existing resources and tools schools have been using to support young people in their learning at home. The Council is working with Essex schools on rolling out these new offers which, together, are aimed at minimising disruption to children’s education and providing rhythm and routine in these challenging times.
The DfE has also published remote education guidance for teachers and leaders. This includes plans to support disadvantaged Year 10 students and children with a social worker. If these students do not have access to remote education resources, local authorities and trusts overseeing schools will be able to order tablets, laptops and 4G routers to ensure they can continue their learning at home.
Cllr Ray Gooding, Cabinet Member for Education, said: “This is a hugely important initiative and one the County Council is rightly supporting. Our ambition is to minimise disruption to education as much as possible and to support those children and families with the kit they need to access online resources.”
The remote laptop scheme will launch on Wednesday 22 April. Following the publication of further details by the DfE, the County Council will be working with schools to identify those pupils who would benefit.
