In the last lockdown, we learnt that children missed the ‘face to face’ contact with their friends and teachers. To address this, the children will be taught all morning, remotely, by their class teacher. We are of course disappointed that we cannot teach ‘face to face’, but are excited to announce Gomer as a ‘virtual school’. We had a comprehensive online offer during the last lock-down but our enhanced approach is going to really benefit the children and hopefully make things at easier for the adults. Go Gomer!

Teachers have already shared a timetable with your child. You will see an array of live lessons and opportunities for your child to learn with their class teacher and year group support staff.

We are asking parents/carers to follow this list to children be set for Virtual Gomer tomorrow:

• Ask your child to access their virtual school timetable in the Google Classroom. Most live lessons are due to commence from around 9am although Year 6 have an earlier briefing to look forward to.
• Ask your child to find the link, at the top of the Google Classroom, which will give each child access to every live learning session.
• Organise a work station equipped with an electronic device for Google Classroom access and pen, pencil or paper.
• Ensure school uniform is ready for children to dress in tomorrow for the live sessions.
• Remind children that the lessons will be recorded
• Familiarise yourself with our online protocols e.g. camera on, microphone off, suitable background (no digital backgrounds please) and our behaviour expectations.
• Inform your child that a register will be taken at the start of our live lessons. We do this for tracking purposes. In the event that an occasional live session can not be attended your child can watch the recorded session and submit the related learning soon after.

We know you will be keen to support your child. However, please avoid being seen on camera. We have learnt that children focus best if adults at home are very much in the background.

During a challenging time, we are confident that Virtual Gomer will keep our children connected with the school and enable them to continue with positive progress in their learning journeys.

Stay safe. Stay home. Stay in touch.