During these uncertain times, our main priority is that the children are happy and safe. We understand the pressures on parents having to work from home while trying to manage their children’s remote learning. Each week, the teachers will upload a pack of suggested activities for the children to complete. Below is a sample timetable of how you may choose to structure your day.

Routines are really important to the children, especially during a time of change so it’s important to try to establish a regular routine at home:

• Get up at a similar time every day.
• Start an activity at a similar time each day. 
• Stop at a similar time each day.
• Have regular breaks scheduled where you get up, do some exercise, have a healthy snack, get some fresh air (open the window if you don’t have a garden) and enable your child to have some space on their own (if possible).
• Don’t worry so much about what activity your child is doing to start with, just getting them into the routine is vital for their well-being and yours.
• Don’t try to fill every minute of every day and don’t expect your child to study for as long as when they are at school. We only do teaching inputs for around 15 to 20 minutes at the most before the children complete independent activities or go to freeflow (Year 1) .

You can make your routine visual/draw it out so the children know what the expectations are each day – you can get them to help you plan out the day too. 

Where possible, create a learning space that is only for focused learning activities. If this isn’t possible, try to tidy away “school” things at the end of the learning time and store them somewhere out of the way.  Try to be firm about the TV and devices being off while your children are doing “school” activities, unless you are using these for learning.

Reminders for work/learning:

• Recorded work can be completed in your exercise book, or if that’s not possible, on paper (please keep it in a folder)
• Please write the date and title on all work
• Upload observations of children’s learning at home to Tapestry
• If you get stuck on learning activities, try emailing or phoning a friend. If that doesn’t help you can email your teacher (they will respond between 9am and 4pm, Mon-Fri).

Looking after your mental health
Remember it is as important to look after your mental health as it is to engage in the learning tasks set. If you have times that you are feeling frustrated or worried or scared, that is understandable and normal. This is a difficult time for everyone! Try some PATHS activities (hot chocolate breathing, for example) to help you feel calm or there are lots of other ideas here: https://www.childline.org.uk/toolbox/calm-zone/

Rachel and Maisie are also still providing “Time to Talk” sessions during this time. If your child would like to speak to either of them about how they are feeling just email: info@kewriverside.richmond.sch.uk and they will get in contact with you to arrange a chat.