Junior Prep Remote Learning

Skip Navigation Links
One column layout

Continuous provision through remote learning at Sherfield School – Junior Prep (Reception – Year 4)

At Sherfield School, the staff are working tirelessly to ensure that all pupils get the best continuity of education possible.  We have also worked hard to ensure that the school day is as close to ‘real-life’ as possible.

Every evening parents receive a ‘Suggested Daily Learning Guide’ with the lessons and learning outcomes for the next day.

Junior Prep pupils have been given 'Home Learning Activity Packs' an example of which can be found below.

Please watch the video below for highlights from Week 1 of Sherfield Junior Prep's Virtual School.

Tutor Check-in

The morning starts with a tutor check-in, this is done either by SeeSaw video and response, or a Zoom video chat. It is an important time of the day as the teachers have the opportunity to check-in one-to-one with every child to ensure their well-being is supported. Tutors are also able to relay any notices about the school day at this time.  As this is done with their peer group it is also a good time for the pupils to connect with each other, to share news and important notices.

Morning Motivation

At 09.05 pupils are able to drop in on our Morning Motivation sessions where they are able to follow fitness routines led by our PE staff.  They can engage with this via Zoom or follow the videos which are uploaded to YouTube.

Academic Sessions

There are three 1hr 30 min sessions per day, these sessions are structured to be 1-hour lesson slots with 30-minute extension/completion time. There are a snack break in the morning and an hour lunch break in the afternoon. In each Year group, teachers have put together remote learning packs, which includes the planned lesson outcomes with the accompanying worksheets/extension tasks. These lessons are recorded videos, which are posted on SeeSaw and guides the learning. Pupils respond directly on SeeSaw with their activities responses, worksheets and completed tasks. In Year 4 pupils have a Google Classroom where they can post questions and all lesson materials are shared there as well. In some instances, Zoom calls are being used to support pupils learning. Teachers are available for the whole session to support, answer questions, explain content and lift spirits with feedback. Work is marked and feedback is given almost immediately.

Attendance and pupil well-being in lessons is closely monitored by teachers and the Head of Junior Prep.  Teachers continue to use the rewards system to keep track of engagement and to keep motivation levels high at this difficult time.

There are Year group meetings with the Head of Junior Prep, called 'Tea with Ms B', where pupils have the opportunity to discuss their views and their learning experiences.

Junior Prep Challenges

During the term, different challenges are launched to all Junior Prep pupils. Jigsaw puzzle challenge, kindness challenges and Art challenges are just a few examples of this.

After School Sessions

Pupils in the Junior Prep phase use the afternoon slot to either do some of the daily challenges or movement activities or they can complete their enrichment activities (pupils in Year 3 and Year 4), which will help them on their way to achieving their AVP award. 

Junior Prep Boarders

The teachers and boarding house team liaise closely with all our Junior Prep boarders, and their parents, to ensure that they are able to access all of the learning materials.  Teachers are the first port of call for the boarding pupils who are in Junior Prep to ensure they are adjusting well to the changes during remote learning time.

House Meetings

On Thursday, all pupils attend a virtual house meeting (which they would normally do in school on this day).  Last week’s house competition was to design a picture for the House Google classroom page and there will be further virtual challenges and competitions going forward.

Friday Assemblies/Show and Tell/Celebration Assemblies

During the Friday Zoom check-in, Junior Prep has assemblies in classes to celebrate the week’s achievements, birthdays and to announce awards. At the end of the term, the whole phase has an assembly together to celebrate the term’s achievements.

 

Watch the video below to hear some motivational messages from our Junior Prep teachers:

 

To read about other phases of our Virtual School please click on the buttons below.

Senior Prep (Year 5 to Year 8)

Senior School (Year 9 to Year 11)

Sixth Form (Year 12 and Year 13)

 

Praise for our Virtual School

Two column auto layout

I cannot thank you enough for all the support you give our children. We could not ask for more. You are all amazing. 5 January 2021

My boys very first day at Sherfield today- not the start I’d have hoped for... but I’ve been so impressed with how smoothly it is all going. The support and care we have been shown... and how welcoming the other students have been (despite being virtual)- during break out groups etc- THANK YOU. We feel fortunate to have been able to join this wonderful school. 5 January 2021

 Many thanks for the arrangements you have put in place to continue the children's learning during this difficult time. We both feel that the system is working well and it gives structure to the day for the children 

 Thank you for continuing to strive to provide the children with a happy and enriching environment, despite the challenging times we’re facing. I appreciate that you all have your own families to be thinking of and we’re very grateful that you’re able and willing to continue providing stability for our children when they need it the most.

 Thank everyone for all your effort.  The new system is working fantastically well and my son is really enjoying it.  I'm amazed as to what has been achieved in such a short length of time and the engagement of both the students and staff.  My son is bouncing out of bed keen to work (thankfully this time not for games!) and has needed no parent motivation at all - which is amazing and has really helped.  Many of my son's friends from other schools are commenting about their systems - generally not positive and their parents are struggling to support them - so we feel very lucky in the circumstances.  None of his friends have got anything in place even remotely comparable.

 Overall, I have been really impressed with how you and your team have managed the current situation and, aside from the few suspected and understandable teething problems, my boys have managed to login to their online classes and both have had productive lessons. 

 So impressed with the work at the moment, you are all doing an amazing job. 

 Well done to you and all the team! 

 I just wanted to pass my thanks to everyone at the school for how you are responding to the current situation, be it the timetable, the continued focus on supporting the children in their education and development or the prompt communication and updates to parents.  All of it so very impressive.  Thank you all.

 I would like to thank you and all your staff at Sherfield School for their dedication and hard work during this difficult time. I appreciate how challenging the situation is and the amount of work required to provide good quality lessons for all the students. Miss Moore’s morning motivation is fantastic, and even I have joined in!

 Thank you very much and for all the staff for everything you are doing.

 I just wanted to say thank you to the leadership team and all the staff, for all your support, for our children, for their continued learning, for their emotional needs and thus supporting parents in keeping some semblance of normality.

 I just wanted to pass on our appreciation for the excellent information and decisions that the school has made during an extremely difficult time.

 The start of the calls are really good as it sets out the work so thank you for that.

 It’s working well. Great job by the teachers.

 I think it’s all working really well, well done Sherfield!

 It's working very well.  Given the circumstances, this is great and very much appreciated.

 I think it works well with the younger ones doing seesaw and the older on zoom - it makes life easier for the parents!

 Working well for us too.  A few early teething probs but it's a good opportunity for us all to learn together.  Everyone is doing a great job. 

 I like how it's working, it has allowed me to continue to work, so thanks.

 Working well for us - really good balance of work, access to teachers and flexibility.  It has helped to provide us with a structure for the day too.  Well done all. 

 Seesaw for little ones is great for them and Zoom for older ones, I personally think they work great for the years

 A amazing job by the school. Seems to be working out really well for Year 8 at the moment.

 I would like to thank all the Sherfield staff. This is great exposure for the students of what to expect from remote working.

 Great job with the online learning setup! It's good to have real time lessons because it helps kids to structure the day and not postponing the watching of the lessons to other days. 

 Morning motivation is fantastic. 

 Morning motivation is great.  The energy Miss Moore brings makes a huge difference.

 Sherfield has done a fantastic job in continuing the learning/support for the children and your comms to us parents has been really useful - thank you. 

 We are getting good e-mail response from the teachers – thanks. 

 A big thank you to all the staff. 

 Thank you all for effort! 

 Massive thank you! 

 Thank you - keep going 

 Brilliant job all… Well done 

 I love when the children have a small challenge that can then be shared with others - small video challenges like Mr. Reynolds has done. It helps them stay connected I feel. 

 Very good start. Very good planning and execution. 

 I’m really impressed at how well things have run. The girls have been quite relaxed so far. 

 I think you're all doing an amazing job. It's a great opportunity for students to experience remote working which is the way employers are going. Thank you all. 

I have a child at a different school and although his education is continuing, Sherfield is very impressive with what it is delivering.  thank you.

 Overall, I think everyone is doing a brilliant job under difficult circumstances.

 I think the structure and timetable you have put in place to keep our children learning through this difficult period is outstanding and I do believe it will put them ahead of the curve.  Thank you! 

 Thank you to everyone for your amazing efforts! 

 Our daughter seems to be really enjoying the online learning - thank you. 

 Thanks for keeping the Year 11’s focused and motivated! 

 Really enjoying the online learning.  Amazing job - thank you! 

 Thank you - really appreciate the open communication from the school. 

 The balance and support has been very good from our perspective. 

 We are grateful for how well it is organised. 

 We have two other schools supporting our other kids and no doubt you are the best prepared and organised. 

 Thanks very much... and we have to say a really great job being done here by Sherfield! 

 Thank you. You guys are doing a great job.  Very grateful. 

 Thank you, it is brilliant! 

You have done such an amazing job, can’t thank you enough. 

 This week was fantastic, amazing work done by the teachers! 

 Please thank them from us for all the amazing support. 

 You are the real unsung heroes. 

 Teachers are doing a great job thank you. 

 A massive thank you to all the teaching staff & leadership team at Sherfield.

 Absolutely, a massive thank you to all the teaching staff & leadership team at Sherfield! Well done. Mrs Warmerdam is Star of a Week! Superb work. She works 24/7. 

 Thank you very much for all your hard work. 

 Just a massive thank you. 

 I have three happier kids at home.  Good structured day. Well done all. 

 I have to say that the learning package has been prepared very well. It helps greatly. Thank you! 

 Well done to the team at Sherfield. Thank you! 

Two column layout