We know that this year has been one like no other, and for all staff working in schools you have gone above and beyond to ensure your students are still provided for. There are those that have trekked around different neighbourhoods knocking on doors, those that have worked tirelessly to adapt lesson plans to be taught online or made into packs to be sent home and the list goes on.
At the start of lockdown, we are sure you had to stop and take a moment to re-think everything! Some decisions were made for you, leaving you to find new solutions and ways of working within the parameters given.
This was the same for us. Working with some of your most vulnerable students, we were determined to continue providing support. In 2019 we set up an online learning platform, but our plan was never for this to be used with students needing a high level of support and engagement. Experience has shown that students benefit greatly from the one on one time that helps establish a good connection. This would never work online, right? Wrong! We have seen students engage so well using the online platform, resulting in higher levels of attendance and positive progress being made against their targets.
We possibly shouldn’t have been surprised, young people live in a world where connecting through technology is the norm (they’re better at it than some of us!), but we have been so pleased to be able to continue supporting students and working with schools and local authorities.
So, as 2020 comes to an end and we wait with anticipation for what 2021 might bring, it is important to take a moment and reflect on everything that has been achieved this year in the middle of it all. Through sheer determination and hard work, you have continued to do what it takes to support students, in ways that you never thought possible.
We want to end 2020 by saying thank you, to everyone working in the education sector, for going the extra mile (or 10)! We look forward to working with you in 2021.
