Teams is a digital hub that brings conversations, content, assignments, and apps together in one place, helping teachers, pupils and parents to work as a community and allowing us to collaborate and stay connected – even if you are not physically in school. Every pupil in the school will belong to a Microsoft Team (Class / Channel) initially for each of their English, Maths and Science classes and their tutor group. We will extend this to foundation subjects as we progress and will keep you updated with this transition.

Microsoft Teams can be accessed using the Web or Office 365 link on the School’s website. Once logged into Office.com, pupils can access Microsoft Teams, Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Microsoft outlook and many more Microsoft applications. From here, pupils can open Office apps in their web browser, excluding Outlook (so no access to emails).

Most home learning and class work initially will still be set on Foldr with live sessions (please see timetable below) being delivered via Teams.  The KS3 English team will trialling using the files and assignment sections on teams to assess how well it works for our pupils and staff. If it is successful we will move all other subjects across to Teams.

Where possible, pupils should join the live lessons on offer (see timetable) through Teams. Pupils should be available on Teams while working at home at the allocated lesson time according to the pupil timetable. For the subjects that are delivering live lessons the teacher will schedule a lesson and it will appear on the pupil’s calendar.  The pupils should only join these sessions via their calendar and not via the meet now button.  All other subjects and pre-recorded lessons can still be found on Foldr and work should still be submitted on Class Dojo as normal.

Safeguarding requirements - To ensure that we minimise any associated safeguarding risks, SLT and other staff members may drop into any live lesson. All live lessons will be recorded, and instructions and expectations will be set out at the beginning of all lessons.  All pupils will be expected to join lessons with their cameras off and microphones muted. They will be registered so that we can keep a record of participation and they may be invited to turn their cameras on and un-mute by the teacher for a check in at different points of the lesson when the recording is turned off.

Pupils should be aware that all messages they leave on the chat function can be seen by their classmates, teachers and parents. If they post anything irrelevant or inappropriate, they will be removed, parents contacted and may be barred from joining further sessions.

MS Teams - Joining guidance

Your teacher has several ways to notify you with details about joining the Teams online class session, which includes the essential "Join Microsoft Teams Meeting" link. You will receive an Outlook calendar invitation and, upon acceptance, the invitation becomes an event item in your calendar.

1. As your online class time approaches, you will need the "Join Microsoft Teams Meeting" link on your calendar.

 2. Click or tap the "Join Microsoft Teams Meeting" link.

3. Your web browser may prompt you to select between the Web version and the desktop version. Select the option that works best for you on your device. When accessing Teams via the Web, you may be prompted for your DMS login again. If you see your office 365 login as an option, select it and enter your normal DMS password.

4. The Teams Audio-Video Settings screen appears before you join.

5. You are not in the online session yet. Your webcam may activate, showing you a preview. Please switch off your webcam by clicking or tapping the camera icon.

6. Also, please switch your microphone to mute in Teams before you join the online class session. Then, after joining, activate the mic when you are invited to do so before you speak by clicking or tapping the mic icon.

7. Click or tap the Join Now button to join the online session. You will see Teams display "Connecting..." If you are early and the first to join, you will see "Waiting for others to join..." Or participants who have already joined will appear. NOTE: If you are placed on hold in the "lobby," please contact your teacher who can admit you to the online session.

Other tips

-After joining the online class session in Teams, familiarize yourself with the Teams control task bar.

-Be sure you know where the Mute icon is because you might be using this feature the most. If you are not speaking, you should have your microphone muted. Click or tap the Mute icon to unmute before speaking.

-If you start speaking and you have the Mute icon enabled, Teams will prompt you with "Your microphone is muted." Please note that the teacher will record the session for future reference. If the session is recorded, your teacher will inform you where links to recorded sessions are.

-If your teacher endorses chat messaging during the online meeting, ask questions in the meeting chat in the right column. Note that this is group chat — not one-on-one chat. As always, think before you write and review before you send.