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<p>It is critically important to ensure that all children and young people continue
to learn during the national lockdown. The Department has updated the remote education
guidance for schools and colleges to clarify and strengthen expectations while on-site
attendance is restricted, drawing on our evolving understanding of best practice in
remote education. The guidance is available here: <a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/950510/School_national_restrictions_guidance.pdf"
target="_blank">https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/950510/School_national_restrictions_guidance.pdf</a>.</p><p>Schools
are expected to provide a set number of hours of remote education for pupils, increased
from the Government’s previous minimum expectations. This includes time for independent
study and recorded or live direct teaching. The Department recognises that different
expectations are appropriate for younger and older age groups when learning remotely.
The minimum number of expected hours therefore vary by Key Stage: 3 hours for Key
Stage 1, on average across the cohort with less for younger pupils; 4 hours for Key
Stage 2; and 5 hours for Key Stages 3 and 4. Schools are also expected to provide
daily check ins on pupil engagement.</p><p>The Department also recognises that younger
children in Key Stage 1 or Reception often require high levels of parental involvement
to support their engagement with remote education, which makes digital provision a
particular challenge for this age group. We therefore do not expect that solely digital
means will be used to teach these pupils remotely.</p><p>To provide further clarity
for pupils, parents, and carers about what they can expect, schools are expected to
publish information about their remote education provision on their website by 25
January 2021. An optional template is available to support schools with this expectation.
It is available at: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/providing-remote-education-information-to-parents-template"
target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/providing-remote-education-information-to-parents-template</a>.
Colleges were also expected to publish information about their remote education provision
on their websites by 18 January.</p><p>The Government is investing over £400 million
to support access to remote education and online social care services securing 1.3
million laptops and tablets for disadvantaged children and young people, 800,000 of
which were delivered to schools, trusts and local authorities by 17 January. All schools
have been invited to order devices. Laptops and tablets are owned by schools, trusts
or local authorities who can lend these to children and young people who need them
most during the current COVID-19 restrictions.</p><p>The Department has partnered
with the UK’s leading mobile network operators, such as EE, Three, O2, and Vodafone,
to provide free data to disadvantaged families, which will support access to education
resources, including Oak National Academy, and other websites. Families will benefit
from this additional data until July 2021. Schools will be able to request free mobile
data uplifts via the Get Help with Technology service.</p><p>In addition, the Department
has already provided 4G wireless routers, with free data for the academic year, and
continue to provide 4G wireless routers where children need to access remote education.</p><p>
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