Remote/Home learning Guidance
The information and protocols in this policy are designed to assist pupils, parents and teachers in the use of Class Dojo as a communication tool at Spring Bank Primary School.
What is Class Dojo?
Class Dojo is an online platform that is designed to communicate securely between school and home. It is used widely across in primary schools in the UK successfully.
Class Dojo has five main elements:
| Use when school is open | Use during any form of lockdown or bubble closure | |
|---|---|---|
| Dojo Points | Staff will be using these to record dojos (points) earned by each child for behaviour and learning. Only positive points are given out. | Staff will be using these to record dojos (points) earned by each child for submitting work onto Dojo. |
| Class Story | Teachers will use this to share homework or announcements to the class. | Teachers will use this to share home learning tasks, general class news, celebrations, updates and reminders relating to the class. |
| Student Story | Pupils will use this to submit their homework. | Pupils will use this to share their home learning with their teacher. Feedback will be given to each pupil for work submitted. |
| School Story | This element may be used for whole school announcements. | This element is used for whole school announcements and school assemblies. |
| Messaging | This element may occasionally be used. | This element will be used to directly communicate between parents and teachers. |
The Class Dojo app or website offers a social media-style interface which manages the flow of frequent information from school to home. It can be accessed through a smartphone or tablet app or through a desktop browser. It is secure and personal to our school and provides information in an easy to use format similar to Twitter and Facebook.
Class Dojo is compliant with GDPR. Parents give permission for the school to process their child’s data on the system when they set up their child’s account, or if they allow their child to set up an account, after receiving a unique code from their teacher. Therefore, parents of children in Rec – Year 6 are sent individual QR passcodes or links from their teachers’ account along with invitations to join Class Dojo to ensure their children’s account is secure. The class code may be used in school when accessing class dojo in the classroom.
Our Class Dojo account is only available to parents and pupils registered at Spring Bank Primary School. Parents are reminded that they should not take images from Class Dojo and post them elsewhere online. Breaching this requirement will lead to account suspension.
Why we are using Class Dojo at Spring Bank Primary School for our remote learning offer?
- It is easy to use with a child-friendly interface
- It can be used to track and share dojos (points) with parents and carers
- Teachers can share work with pupils
- Pupils can share their learning with their teacher
- It can be used to upload photos and write comments
- It celebrates the children’s learning individually and this can be extended to sharing learning with the whole class
- It is an effective home school communication tool which can be used to support home learning
- Posts can be translated into 35 languages
Why we are using Class Dojo at Spring Bank Primary School for our remote learning offer?
- It is easy to use with a child-friendly interface
- It can be used to track and share dojos (points) with parents and carers
- Teachers can share work with pupils
- Pupils can share their learning with their teacher
- It can be used to upload photos and write comments
- It celebrates the children’s learning individually and this can be extended to sharing learning with the whole class
- It is an effective home school communication tool which can be used to support home learning
- Posts can be translated into 35 languages
Class Dojo is used to communicate the following with parents and carers:
- Dojo points earned by their child in school
- Homework their child is to complete
- Home learning should a ‘bubble’ close or school goes into lockdown (Covid-19)
Use of Class Dojo during when a bubble or the school is closed
Any learning expected to be completed at home will be shared via Class Dojo.
- Teachers will share resources and links for home learning
- Teachers will share tasks to be completed at home
- Pupils will be able to share their completed work with their teacher
- Teachers will give feedback to the children on the learning they have completed
- Teachers will be able to offer zoom invitations to virtually meet with their class
The school’s acceptable use policy sets out how virtual meetings may take place.
Roles and responsibilities
Teachers’ Roles
- To follow all safeguarding polices and staff code of conduct
- To award dojo points to children in their class as per guidance
- To share home learning during periods of lockdown
- To display images in line with parental consent
- To use Class Dojo in a positive manner to celebrate learning
- To be aware of online safety in regard to images of pupils
Parents’ Roles
- To follow all safeguarding polices and parent code of conduct
- Provide positive feedback for their child by commenting on, or liking, their work
- Parents and carers are not permitted to share images shared on Class Dojo via any form of social media
- To use the whole school communication system; telephone, email to inform the school of important information about pupils
Parents and Carers are expected to follow the usual Code for Conduct when communicating with school. Pupils will be expected to use appropriate language and show appropriate behaviours when using Class Dojo. If there is inappropriate or misuse of the Class Dojo, the headteacher will be informed and the school has the right to terminate use of Class Dojo with individuals or the whole school community.
Class Dojo points are used for completing work and showing school values such as teamwork and participating. Teachers are only expected to look at Class Dojo during school hours. School will require consent to share photos on the Class Story page. If parents or carers do not give permission, teachers will not share child’s images on the class page. Teachers may still upload photos to a child’s individual story which their teacher will be able to see and comment on if they are happy to do so but this is not an expectation. Photos may also be sent through the messaging service directly to teachers if parents would prefer to send work in that way.
Teachers may not be checking Class Dojo on the days they are teaching key worker children in school during whole school closures. Teachers are working hard to provide home learning and teach in school, as well as monitor Class Dojo. However, all support staff in the school are linked to their class page so that they can also comment on any work uploaded if staffing levels allow.
Use specifically relating to periods of school closure
Class Dojo will be used as the tool for setting home learning during periods of school closure due to covid-19. The remote curriculum will be aligned to the classroom curriculum and delivered in carefully sequenced blocks of learning. School laptops will be provided for families who do not have access to the internet or only have mobile phone access. Some children may need paper copies or textbooks for home learning.
Teachers will set learning, focusing on key knowledge, in small chunks mostly consisting of a short presentation followed by an exercise to do at home. This may consist of links to videos online or voice over presentations. Tasks will be set daily via uploaded documents to class story and may be accompanied by a short teacher video or a pre-recorded session or voice over presentation if necessary. Work will also be assigned directly to children’s portfolios where appropriate for them to complete and submit.
Children may also take a photo of their work, upload documents, create short films and upload them to their portfolio for their teacher to view. The teacher will acknowledge all work by ‘liking’ it and will give live feedback and marking to the child by adding additional comments on pieces of work to enable the child to address any errors or misconceptions. Class dojos will be awarded as incentives for completion of tasks. Parents and carers may use the messaging tool on Class Dojo to ask questions about the home learning set or seek clarification. Teachers will closely monitor pupil’s progress through their ongoing feedback, the setting of quizzes, small assessment tasks and spaced retrieval exercises.