A summer like no other The Moorsway Federation’s experience...
‘H
ow do you solve the problem of teaching primary Our first ‘bubble’ was set up and staff from all three school children in the wake of a pandemic with schools took it in turns to be with the children. Initially the country in lockdown and schools being asked to close?’ the numbers attending were low, but those who did I am sure this was a question being asked in schools attend loved every minute and any anxiety disappeared across the UK as the coronavirus pandemic hit the as they played with their friends. The fantastic weather country. The problem was as real for us in rural Devon helped, as the children could be outside most of the time. as anywhere else and a creative approach was needed to But what about the other children who couldn’t come keep in contact with our children, make sure everyone into school? For those children we did what all the was safe and try to maintain some learning. other schools were doing - providing home learning on At Moorsway Federation, (The Erme Primary, our website. This was for all age groups, based around Cornwood C of E Primary a different theme each week. and Shaugh Prior Primary), we tasks in maths and The first phase of our plan was to Daily knew working closely together English were also available. create a hub school for the key worker This was an unprecedented across our three schools was the answer. Putting that into time with children possibly and vulnerable children practice was another matter. away from school for an The first phase of our plan was to create a hub school extended period. We felt we had to keep in contact with for the key worker and vulnerable children. As all of our the children, to reassure them and give them a sense schools are small, the number of children who needed the of ‘it will be OK’. We encouraged them to send emails new ‘Educare’ was low, so there was no need for all three to their class teacher and put photos of what they had schools to be open. Cornwood C of E became our hub. been doing on our newly created Moorsway Facebook It was geographically the middle school, had the biggest site. Weekly competitions were set up such as ‘Bake Off’ outdoor space with forest school areas, a field, trim trail, a and art competitions. We also knew how much all the large hard playing area and most importantly, a classroom children were missing each other, so as a federation we that was separate from the rest of the school. held class zoom meetings where the children were able
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