The government is set to publish a “remote education framework” to help schools and colleges to identify “areas for improvement” in their distance teaching during the lockdown.
The framework will be voluntary and “should be adapted by schools and colleges to fit their individual context”, the Department for Education said.
The government has also announced that a further 300,000 laptops and tablets will be delivered to schools in England to help disadvantaged pupils learn at home.
Lockdown: Parents can report schools to Ofsted on remote learning
DfE: Online learning must include video lessons
Coronavirus: Legal fight looms over a lack of laptops for poor pupils
In a statement published this afternoon, the DfE said: “The additional 300,000 devices lifts government investment by another £100 million, meaning over £400 million will have been invested in supporting disadvantaged children and young people who need the most help with access to technology through the pandemic.
Online learning: More laptops for disadvantaged pupils
“The additional devices will support schools and colleges across England, with top-ups to their original allocation, offering further support to disadvantaged children. Device allocations have been made with the aim of prioritising those most in need. Schools being able to order even more devices, should they require them, will allow for more devices for these children if needed.
“The government will also today publish a remote education framework to support schools and colleges with delivering education for pupils who are learning from home. The frameworks will help them to identify the strengths and areas for improvement in the lessons and teaching they provide remotely, and points towards resources that can help them improve where needed.
“The frameworks should be adapted by schools and colleges to fit their individual context. They are voluntary, and were developed in partnership with sector leaders. They have been tested with schools and colleges, and welcomed, with feedback suggesting they are valuable in helping deliver quality remote education for their pupils.”
Education secretary Gavin Williamson said: “I know just how difficult the past year has been for parents and teachers, now more so than ever.
“I want nothing more than for every child to be in the classroom with their friends and teachers, but with that not possible, we are doing everything in our power to support schools with high-quality remote education.
“These additional devices, on top of the 100,000 delivered last week, add to the significant support we are making available to help schools deliver high-quality online learning, as we know they have been doing.”
