Remote teaching
and learning

Keeping your school running online

At RM we continue to check and re-test our own business continuity plans so that we can ensure the uninterrupted availability of our customers’ IT services and software. Our engineers are able to fix the vast majority of problems through remote access to school systems, and we have teams in England, Scotland and India to reduce the possibility of local issues impacting our operations.

Support with remote learning FAQs

Our main school software products including our Management Information System – RM Integris – are
cloud-hosted, meaning they can continue to be used even now access to school sites is restricted. We continue to
liaise closely with our own suppliers to overcome any issues from any shortages of equipment.

We are working with a number of schools to help keep the disruption for students and their learning to a minimum, and that support is available to everyone – whether you are a current customer of RM, or simply looking for general advice and best practice for your school.

Irrespective of whether you are a Google or Microsoft-orientated school, we can advise you on the best ways to ensure that your establishment operates effectively with the latest technologies – both in teaching your pupils remotely as well as ensuring that the important administrative matters associated with your school are still covered.

Read our frequently-asked questions

If you don't currently have an online education platform in your school, the DfE have announced a scheme to support you in setting one up.

Read the announcement

If your school operates
mainly Google software

Our Senior Educational Consultant Dave Fitzpatrick, has put together a collection of videos and links to help guide you in running a virtual classroom using Google Meet and other G Suite tools to ensure that you maximise remote learning, at a time when staff and students cannot physically get together in the same location.

Google for Education:
advice for distance learning

If your school operates
mainly Microsoft software

Educational Consultant Philip Evans explains how to make the most of the features of Office 365 and Teams for remote learning, and we've gathered a number of external links and advice to help you further.

Microsoft in Education:
advice for remote learning

If your school uses RM Integris MIS

Our MIS Support Team is keeping our Help pages up-to-date with the latest guidance from the Department for Education, whether your setting is partially or fully closed.

We are also providing advice on how to use your system to:
• Access RM Integris from home
• Take attendance according to DfE guidelines
• Communicate with parents and carers
• Log staff absences

RM Integris help pages

Staying connected

Broadband and mobile networks are under increased demand because of the coronavirus, with many families online together during the day for home working and schooling. Ofcom have provided some great tips on how we can all manage how we use our connections.

Top tips to stay connected

Making remote learning easy with RM Unify

Securely sign in to all your apps and resources with one password

RM Unify is software that makes it easier for teachers and students to get logged on and access the resources they need, using a single username and password from any device anywhere that has an internet connection. It includes individual “launch pads” that help to curate the right content for groups in the school community to navigate where they need to go more clearly, helping teachers to set up learning resources and get easier access to Office 365 and G Suite.

Find out more

Parental Engagement

RM Integris customers can access Parent Hub free

At times like these we recognise that one audience who you may need to keep in close contact with is parents. Parent Hub integrates with our MIS system, RM Integris, to help you do this seamlessly. The service provides Android and iPhone apps, SMS and email messaging - from whole-school broadcasts to communicating with an individual parent.

Parent Hub will waive broadcast fees for your first two SMS messages and all emails that you may send using it between the time of sign-up and the end of April.

Book a call with Parent Hub

Our sister company TTS Group are offering support light of many children now learning at home, with FREE downloadable learning books. The books are curriculum-focused and support independent learning, for EYFS, KS1 and KS2.

They each offer over 40 home learning activities without creating any additional work and cover two weeks’ worth of high quality educational activities that cover all curriculum areas.

With a combination of independent and collaborative learning activities, the home learning books provide a great opportunity for parents to learn with their children.

Download the home learning activities

Additional access to quality home learning resources is available from LendED - a BESA initiative. The website has now been adapted to amplify, support and provide an added focus on our members’ efforts to provide additional support and guidance to schools, colleges and parents during the Coronavirus crisis.

You can search resources from trusted suppliers, read teacher reviews and request free access during school closures.

Visit LendED.org.uk

How RM Education can help

If having looked at these blogs and videos you need further assistance, our team are just a phone call away, and we would be delighted to help. For almost 50 years we have been committed to helping teachers to teach and learners to learn, and believe that our experience and knowledge is second to none. At times like this, we believe we should all help each other. Our advice is free, and we would be delighted to discuss ways that your school can prepare for whatever eventuality lies ahead.

We will seek to update these guidance articles and videos, so please keep checking back.
Alternatively please contact one of our team on 08450 700 300 who will be happy to provide
any further assistance you may need at this time.

RM Education can help if your existing Network Manager is sick or unavailable

We recognise that some schools may have their own internal IT provided by their own staff, and others may be getting such a service from an alternative supplier to RM. At times like this, we believe we should all help each other, and because of the scale of our reach and resources, we may be able to provide you with alternative support from our team of remote engineers. Since movement restrictions were put in place, we have been able to fix the vast majority of issues through our remote access to school systems, and school devices – something that not every supplier can do, or may not be possible if your own engineer is unable to work.

If this is of interest to you, please contact one of our team on 08450 700 300 who will be happy to provide any further assistance you may need at this time.

Remote teaching and learning