FSM Voucher Update

We wanted to provide you all with an update on FSM vouchers as we know that many families have not received the eCodes that were ordered for them.

The main difficulty we are facing is that Edenred, the company commissioned by the government to run the scheme, has struggled with demand both from schools ordering codes and parents redeeming them for gift cards. As a result there have been thousands of codes delayed in being activated, sent out to parents and then redeemed. As I write now both schools and parents are put into a queue system of up to an hour. We did manage to access the site at 6.20am this morning but within working hours it is still very challenging and frustrating to get anything actioned. The links below show the scale of the national challenge.

Click the images below to read more.

The other difficulty is that some family contact details in school are not up to date or incorrect. If the email address we hold in school is not accurate or no longer used then it isn’t possible to get the eCode to you. Please keep rechecking junk and spam folders just in case they don’t go to your inbox.

If you have not yet received any emails from school or Edenred then please email school so that we can capture your correct details and reorder vouchers for you.

The final query from families is: Who is eligible for the vouchers?. They are only for children from Reception to Year 6 who are entitled to Free School Meals because they are in need of financial support and receive some form of benefits/tax credits etc. Children in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 all get universal free school meals when in school normally but the voucher scheme is only for those entitled through their household income.

There are other categories that have recently been added and they are:

• Children whose parents are Zambrano Carers;

• Children in families with LtR subject to NRPF restriction;

• Children whose families receive support pursuant to section 17 of the Children Act 1989 who have no recourse to public funds;

• and Children in failed seeker families receiving section 4 support.

If you believe you are in any of these categories then please email school.

Please be assured that we are working very hard each day to try and resolve difficulties with this temporary system and we share your frustrations. If you are in any doubt about whether you should be receiving the vouchers then please email us as we want everyone to be in the best position possible in this difficult time.

Thank you for your patience and understanding.

Oak National Academy

Welcome to Oak National Academy.

We are an online classroom and resource hub created by teachers, for teachers.

Our aim is to support teachers to support their pupils. We provide a bank of high-quality, sequenced video lessons and resources for teachers to use as they wish. We’ll cover a range of subjects including maths, English, art and languages.

Teachers can use these resources to complement their own lesson planning and remote teaching until schools fully re-open. Every lesson will be free to use for every teacher and every pupil.

To find out more please see our information for teachers and schools or information for parents and pupils.

Summer Term Begins

Please read the letter below about home learning and there is also a set of school weblinks attached to keep safe to find the right page.

BBC Bitesize Daily Launches

It's a strange time to be a school pupil right now but wherever you're doing your lessons, BBC Bitesize is here for you - more than ever.

From 20 April, you’ll be able to access regular daily lessons in English and Maths, as well as other core subjects, in an expanded version of our website and also on special programmes broadcast on BBC iPlayer and BBC Red Button.

We’ve worked with our colleagues in other parts of the BBC and education experts from around the UK to make sure everyone who needs it can access learning resources during this uncertain time. You can also expect some of it to be delivered by well-known faces.

Are lessons from home becoming stressful? Bitesize is expanding its content from 20 April to help you

The Bitesize website you use now will expand to offer additional help for students and their parents. New Maths and English lessons will be available every day for all ages. These will be created with resources from Bitesize, other parts of the BBC and other education providers. The content of these lessons will be backed up by new videos, practice tests, educational games and articles. Regular lessons on other core subjects, including science, will also be available. Mums and dads can get advice on how to teach anyone who is home-schooling and the Bitesize website will also have guides for pupils with SEN (special educational needs).

Lessons on screen

BBC iPlayer and the Red Button service will host Bitesize Daily. These are six different 20 minute shows, each designed to target a specific age group, from ages five to 14, and for pupils throughout the UK. Experts and teachers will be involved, covering what should be learned that day for the different year groups and key stages. Maths, Science and English will be covered in dedicated programmes, and other subjects such as History, Geography, Music and Art will also be covered.

For older students, BBC Four is also joining forces with Red Button for evening programmes to support the GCSE and A Level curriculum.

Learners in Scotland can see content specific to the Scottish Curriculum for Excellence every day from 10.00am on the BBC Scotland television channel. Each day, the channel will show a selection of Bitesize videos and Authors Live events for Primary and Secondary learners, covering Literacy, Maths, Sciences, social subjects and expressive arts. You can find out more about content for learners in Scotland from Learn at BBC Scotland and on the @BBCScotLearnTwitter feed.

Listen and learn

In addition, BBC Sounds is also launching separate podcasts, aimed at either primary or secondary pupils, to support everyone learning at home. The daily shows, each around 10 minutes long, will link with content on Bitesize which supports education and also your other needs, in what is likely to be a confusing and worrying time for many young people as we continue to live in lockdown.

Bitesize also has an app. This will be providing daily lessons for 14 and 15 year olds. Find out more about the app here.

Bitesize Daily will broadcast on BBC iPlayer and Red Button with content for all age groups - backed up by the Bitesize website

The social side of learning

Bitesize’s social media will also look a little different for a while. Its Facebookand Twitter accounts will now focus on parents, where information including study schedules will be shared. Teenage students can still enjoy our Instagramplatform, where flashcards, subject guides, memes and some lighter relief in the form of advice and encouragement from well-known faces will be readily available. 

Tony Hall, Director General of the BBC, says: “In these uncertain times parents look to the BBC to support them and offer education while children can’t be in school. This is the biggest education effort the BBC has ever undertaken. This comprehensive package is something only the BBC would be able to provide.

“We are proud to be there when the nation needs us, working with teachers, schools and parents to ensure children have access and support to keep their learning going - come what may.

“We have been overwhelmed by the offers of help and support in putting this provision together and are looking forward to ensuring every child can continue to learn, and have fun, through our high-quality teaching and accessible education offer.”

In the meantime, Bitesize is here as usual, and will continue to be so when life returns to normal.

SnapType - Allows you to type onto a paper document

SnapType helps students keep up with their peers in class, even when their penmanship holds them back. Students feel more self-confident, intelligent and independent. SnapType is fun and easy to use for students of all ages. Best of all, SnapType helps prevent homework behavioral meltdowns!

Instructions on Accessing FSM Vouchers