These case studies showcase key themed experiences identified by practitioners and express, in their own context, their journey towards establishing improved learning at home experiences for children and families.

This approach highlights common issues met and outlines the creative approaches taken to tackle the barriers to learning at home.

Explore this practice exemplar

In March 2020 as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic, Education Scotland established four workstreams focused on practitioner support for online learning. These were:

• health and wellbeing
• learning, teaching and assessment
• learning at home
• remote leadership of learning and teams

The Learning at home workstream gathered information from a range of intelligence including Education Scotland’s ‘What are your needs’ survey (Mar-Apr 2020) and key contacts within local authorities and establishments.

Stepping stones

From this data, key themed experiences could be identified. Using these themes, ‘stepping stones’ were developed to gather the contextualised experiences of establishments in supporting learning at home.

• initial set-up
• initial forms of engagement
• measured levels of engagement and participation
• supporting staff in delivering online learning
• identifying the specific needs of families
• adaptive approaches to engagement
• setting and reacting to the expectations of staff
• setting and reacting to the expectations of parents and learners
• available communication channels
• equitable approaches to term 4 learning
• contingency planning

Case studies

The aim of the following case studies is to help practitioners map their progress with learning at home and identify next steps.

The case studies are 'live narratives' and engagement with these establishments will continue. The progress of establishments across the stepping stones will continue to be updated regularly to reflect the issues emerging from the recovery phases of education during this pandemic.

This resource will help establishments to quickly identify issues related to learning at home and self-evaluate their own progress. It showcases the various approaches taken by different establishments across Scotland as they navigated through unprecedented challenges and barriers of Learning at Home.

Downloads

PowerPoint show: Learning at home - Stepping stones case studies 16 December 2020 (20 MB)

PDF file: Learning at home - Mapping an approach taken by establishments (226 KB)