New initiatives to help schools deliver remote learning

Cheshire East Council has been working very closely with its schools to develop programmes to help learners respond to the challenges of school lockdown.

Since the first lockdown was announced in March, there has been a period of great innovation in remote education to ensure that students don’t miss out on what would usually be delivered through face to face learning in school.

The council has established innovative practice, which directly helps learners to get the best remote learning opportunities, should children need to be educated away from their school setting.

One example of this is the ‘EdTech Demonstrator’ programme, where an initial take up of more than 30 schools have set up an action hub accessing bespoke training in information technology – co-ordinated through the council.

The council is also targeting more disadvantaged learners to give them the best learning opportunities. This work has involved a programme with the Educational Endowment Foundation, which collects all national research into what works best for learners when having to work remotely.

All schools are having to address gaps in learning and establish catch up programmes for pupils. The council has set up a 20-session training and development package for teachers to meet literacy needs through ‘Literacy Counts,’ with a similar programme being planned for numeracy.

Councillor Kathryn Flavell, Cheshire East Council cabinet member for children and families, said: “These initiatives show a clear local authority commitment to embrace collaborative working and the collective support to meet the needs of all our learners.

“It is really pleasing to see this in action with so many fantastic opportunities being accessed through these national and local initiatives. 

“The added pressures of Covid means it is very challenging to find quality time in schools to access training. I thank all staff and leaders, who are going above and beyond to embrace these fantastic opportunities to make a difference for their learners.”

All initiatives are available to maintained schools and academies.