Providers may find the following guidance useful as they discuss carrying out lesson observations and moderation remotely.
It is up to the ITT provider to agree with schools in their partnership if it is appropriate to remotely observe or moderate trainees’ teaching in school. They will need to come to an agreement that respects the schools’ policies and meets safeguarding and data protection requirements.
There are resources on GOV.UK that may be of help to providers in their discussions with schools:
- The keeping children safe in education guidance is statutory guidance for schools and colleges on safeguarding children. Annex C of the document has information related to online safety.
- The safeguarding and remote education during coronavirus (COVID-19) guidance explains how to follow safeguarding procedures when planning remote education strategies and teaching remotely. This includes advice on virtual lessons and live streaming and the data protection toolkit for schools.
- The get help with remote education guidance provides information and support for teachers and leaders on educating children during the coronavirus outbreak.
The following resources may also be useful:
- National Cyber Security Centre guidance on choosing video conferencing services and using video conferencing securely.
- Guidance on safe remote learning published by the UK Safer Internet Centre (a not-for-profit charitable trust).
We also wanted to make it clear that the new local Covid alert levels do not prevent trainees from travelling to their placement schools. The guidance makes clear that public-sector workers, including in education settings, should continue to travel to work where necessary. This includes travelling in or out of very high alert level (tier 3) areas. In addition, the guidance on the local Covid alert levels should be read independently of the guidance on the tiers of national restriction for education. The default is that schools remain open in all the local Covid alert levels.