At The Online School UK, we offer a flexible alternative to traditional schooling, particularly for families seeking more tailored learning options, including those with additional needs. While we understand that unforeseen events may arise, regular attendance is key to success, and active participation can greatly enhance the educational experience.

1.  Attendance Expectations

We encourage students to attend all scheduled lessons to ensure they benefit fully from the curriculum. However, we understand that unforeseen circumstances such as illness or family emergencies may prevent attendance. Students and parents are encouraged to minimize unnecessary absences and communicate with the school in advance when possible.

While we encourage families to schedule day trips, medical appointments, or family events outside lesson times, we understand that flexibility is sometimes necessary. Our goal is to help students succeed, and we will work with you to ensure that any missed lessons do not hinder progress.

2.  Reporting Absences

Parents or guardians are kindly asked to report absences through our platform or via email in advance, where possible, or as soon as feasible afterward. If we do not receive contact after five consecutive days of absence, we will follow up for safeguarding reasons.

3.  Missed Lessons

While Happiness Managers and teachers can offer guidance and support through our message boards, it is ultimately the responsibility of the student to catch up on missed education.

Students are encouraged to use the message boards to seek help, attend revision sessions, and ask for additional homework if needed. Teachers and Happiness Managers will provide assistance where possible, but the initiative to catch up lies with the student.

Recordings of lessons are available via our platform, and students are encouraged to review them at their own pace.

4.  Homework and Optional Extras

Homework at The Online School UK is not mandatory but is encouraged to help students consolidate their learning. We will mark all homework submitted by the deadline, but homework submitted after the deadline may not be marked. This policy helps promote consistency and time management while reducing the pressure on students.

Students will not be expected to use a microphone, camera, or interact if they do not wish to. Parents can request exemptions from these expectations. However, teachers will gently encourage participation, where appropriate, to help students build confidence and grow in their own time.

5.  Mocks, Examinations, and Tests

As with homework and class-based interaction, we do not force students to complete assessments, mocks, or tests if they feel uncomfortable. We can only provide parents with progress updates based on the information available to us, which is why participation in assessments is important.

To provide a clear understanding of a student’s academic progress, we recommend that students complete at least 80% of the homework allocated in the term and all major assessments for each subject. This allows us to give accurate feedback on how the student is performing. If your child is excluded from some interactions to alleviate stress or anxiety, please note that this may affect our ability to provide strong and reliable academic progress data.

6.  Lateness and Early Leaves

Students who attend less than 50% of a lesson will be marked as absent unless prior notice has been given. If a student needs to leave early or join late and informs us in advance, this will be marked as an authorised absence.

We understand that unexpected situations may arise, and we ask that parents or students communicate any early departures or late arrivals as soon as possible to ensure accurate attendance records.

7.  Participation in Lessons

Students are encouraged to participate in lessons by responding to teacher questions and engaging in discussions. However, participation is not required, and students will not be removed from class for being unresponsive. Instead, we track and share participation levels with parents to provide an understanding of how students are interacting and engaging with their education.

Students will only be removed from class for violating classroom rules or displaying disruptive behavior. We encourage the use of microphones, but understand that some students may prefer alternative forms of participation, such as responding in the chat. Parents can request microphone exemptions, and we will accommodate the student’s preferences.

8.  Automated Attendance Tracking and Reporting

Our system automatically tracks attendance and provides daily reports to parents. These reports are designed to keep parents informed about their child’s engagement. Our team is available to discuss any concerns or offer support to ensure that your child feels comfortable and confident in their learning.

If parents require an amended or certified attendance report for authorized absences (such as for Local Authority reporting), this must be submitted by informing the school as soon as possible. The platform’s absence reporting automatically reflects standard attendance but may not account for exceptions unless updated by the school.

9.  Raising Issues and Feedback

We strongly encourage students to raise any concerns they may have about content, lesson pace, or their alignment with the teacher or school ethos. Students can voice their concerns via the after-lesson voting box to help us maintain an optimal learning environment.

However, if a student consistently does not interact, raise concerns, or share feedback with their Happiness Manager or via the voting box, we will have limited ability to adjust the learning environment to meet their needs. We encourage honesty and open communication to ensure we can support students in the best way possible.

10.  Creating a Positive Learning Environment

By working together to ensure good attendance, participation, and feedback, we can create a positive and stress-free learning environment for all students. While we will always accommodate individual preferences and anxieties, we kindly remind parents that reduced interaction and feedback may affect the strength and reliability of academic progress reports.

Our priority remains the well-being and academic success of your child, and we will strive to support their journey in a way that works best for them.