Implementing remote learning at your setting

Remote learning helps maintain a sense of continuity and community at your early years setting, and it allows you to keep your team active with the parents and children they look after. What’s more, when you feel it’s right and fair to do so, it could help to keep you billable and therefore support your business through the closure.

It’s just like these fancy conference calls we’ve all been having, but it’s you and a load of four-year-olds talking about your favorite bugs. Sounds more fun, right?

To set this up, the families at your setting will need access to a computer or tablet with a camera and internet connection. Then, you’ll need to have everyone download a teleconferencing software. Platforms like Zoom, Google Hangouts and Skype are particularly popular right now, and can accommodate either a small group or an entire classroom.

Think about your regular activities that could translate to this digital medium: Storybook reading, circle time discussions, and group arts and crafts projects could all work for you. If you’ve got the time and resources, and depending on the ages of your little ones, you could also develop a broader digital lesson plan to progress through each day.

As you explore your own approach to remote learning, just remember to not stress this too much. You don’t need to live up to the standards of your everyday classroom. Just do what you can to help families stay active and creatively engaged, and to stay connected with one another.

We’ve all got enough pressures to deal with at the moment, and delivering a world-class education through an iPad shouldn’t be one of them. A little bit goes a long way right now. Your support and time is what matters to parents, while we’re all working out how to navigate this new landscape.