THE problems of combining education with lockdown and coronavirus restrictions have produced some of the most challenging times ever for local schools.

Across the borough headteachers and their staffs have had to show innovation and enterprise to come up with solutions to complex problems.

By no means have all the challenges been overcome, as befits school, new lessons are being learned every week – if not every day.

One man who has been at the heart of problem-solving is Kevin Sadler, CEO of the made up of the Gateway Academy Secondary School, the Gateway Free Primary and Herringham, Lansdowne and Tilbury Pioneer primary academies.

Mr Sadler spoke to Thurrock Nub News about the challenges faced when dealing with the impact of Covid-19 and how they were tackled.

He said: "From the initial National lockdown, in March 2020, the Gateway Learning Community began a transition from traditional face to face to online learning through the adoption of Google Workspace for Education.

"Using the online platform to continue the engagement of learning at home, support independent learning and deliver a flipped classroom.

"Through the use of this online learning platform, we were able to provide a consistent form of communication, post tailored resources and offer feedback to our pupils. Throughout this transition, our staff proved their adaptability and were able to provide learning, which was engaging, purposeful and most importantly, gave our pupils a sense of normality.

"After a successful launch, which received positive feedback, we began to explore further opportunities to blend our newfound knowledge within school learning. At the start of the 2020 academic year, we heavily invested in a range of devices, purchasing more than 500 across the trust to make headway with our future vision of providing every student (across Key Stage 2) with a device.

"We felt that providing such opportunities would encourage independent learning and equip our pupils with the digital skills needed for their future.

"Currently, each school has an established year group where blended learning takes place. We have seen huge enthusiasm and drive from our pupils when learning in a blended setting. This innovative way of learning develops digital literacy skills alongside the National Curriculum and creates an engaging environment which simply would not be possible using just pen and paper."

"We distributed more than 400 devices to families"

Lessons learned in the first year of the pandemic were sometimes gained through trial and experience, not to mention hard work, but they stood the learning community in good stead.

Mr Sadler continued: "When the announcement of the January 2021 lockdown was released, we were prepared. Not only were staff already confident in adapting learning online, we were in a fortunate place where we could offer devices and wireless internet to families who needed it almost instantly.

"We distributed more than 400 devices to families across our trust so all pupils could equally access the remote learning provision we have to offer.

"Our online provision, including live lessons (delivered through zoom), pre-recorded sessions and activities that range from individual work, collaborative pieces and quizzing, are all made achievable through the staff's integrity and creativity. We also noticed that through our investment in devices, we had a strong uptake online across the trust and that pupils are feeling confident and empowered when completing work."

And while meeting the challenges of learning head on, the Gateway learning Community has also been at the forefront of helping the local community.

In the build-up to Christmas, for example, [L]https://thurrock.nub.news/k/learning-community-is-boosted-by-great-support-as-it-bids-to-make-christmas-better-for-struggling-local-families [L+]the schools combined to raise thousands to ensure local families in need were able to enjoy the festive season.

As for the future?

Mr Sadler says whatever it brings, Gateway will be ready.

"We are on a journey and are yet to complete the full extent of our vision, but we are confident that our approach is revolutionising the classroom and giving our pupils the education, they deserve in order to be digitally literate citizens of tomorrow," he concluded.