Coronavirus: Home learning initiatives launch for new school term
Monday, April 20, 2020
Two initiatives aimed at supporting children while schools are closed have launched today (Monday 20 April) as term restarts after the Easter holidays.
The Government has also released guidance for parents on helping children to learn at home, including specific advice for those with two- to four-year-olds.
Oak National Academy
A government-backed online school, the Oak National Academy, is a collaboration between teachers and organisations across the sector, which will provide 180 hours of lessons a week for children from Reception age to Year 10.
Video lessons and curricular resources will be available free for teachers to use as they wish to complement their existing teaching.
Supporters of the academy include The Sutton Trust, Ark, Teach First and Charles Dickens Primary School.
Bitesize Daily
The BBC has started a Bitesize Daily Service, which is offering 14 weeks of curriculum-based learning from more than 200 teachers and well-known figures, including Professor Brian Cox teaching science and Manchester City footballer Sergio Aguero giving Spanish counting lessons.
Each day, six 20-minute programmes will air on BBC iPlayer and BBC Red Button for children aged five to 14.
There is also a BBC Daily Online website, plus podcasts on BBC Sounds and programmes on BBC Four.
Advice for parents
The DfE published ‘Supporting your children’s education during coronavirus (COVID-19) yesterday. A section for helping children aged two to four includes activity suggestions, advice on routines and physical activity, guidance on using TV and digital devices, and advice on social distancing and socialising.
