Purple Mash is a safe and secure learning platform that is home to the 2Simple range of learning opportunities. 

We use Purple Mash in school for a range of purposes, including the teaching of Computing and ICT. Safely embedded with in it are two functions we will use to support Home Schooling - 2Blog and 2Email.

If one of our class bubbles has to be closed we will use Purple Mash as a way to communicate with the children offsite.  Each class has a blog which would be created with the dates of the bubble closure.  This platform could then be used for direct interaction between teacher/TA and children. This could be saying good morning and general discussions which would normally happen in the classroom, or direct instructions regarding an activity.

Each post has to be approved by a member of staff, therefore it is a safe platform to use for all concerned. 

Children in Dormice and Water Voles would not use the class blog, instead their parents would use Tapestry, more information can be found here. 

School at home does not replicate the classroom. The close relationship between pupil and teacher is different to that of parent and child and we have been very keen to replicate this as best we can, from a safe distance. Since the start of lock down we have used our Purple Mash platform to set up School Blogs. Initially we had one per class. Now as school gradually reopens, we have two new Blogs one for the lower school  "Cygnets"  and one for the upper school, "Swans" . These will be updated , at least once a week. On the Blog page is a box for children to respond. Our little children will need to have their Blog read to them and assistance with  a typed response, to which their teacher will reply.

In this way, the school team can have contact with the children and the children with school. Each child’s response to the Blog will also act as a safeguarding register. We would like each child based at home to respond to their blog even if it is only a few words. A child’s reply can only be seen by you and the teacher, until the teacher approves it (inappropriate messages will not be approved) then it can be seen and shared with class mates. It would be great for the children to check the blog each day to see who else has commented and join in.

Hopefully, we will hear from all the children based at home at least every week. 

Pupils will need their Purple Mash log on to access their blog (full details  of how to do this are in the guide below) for those who were in school before the closure, this was stuck in their planner . If you do not have yours, please e-mail swans@billingborough.lincs.sch.uk  with “Purple Mash Log On” as your subject then, in the body of the e-mail , please give your child’s name and class . We will return you your details.

If children prefer a longer form of communication with their teacher, or they wish to discuss something more discreetly than on the class blog, there is an option within Purple Mash to e-mail. E-mail is also a method by which children can upload a photograph of some work they have done to share with their teacher. Instructions for using 2Email can be found below.

Please note - this e-mail is not a substitute for contacting Mrs Short regarding more formal requests or for school business. Please continue to do that via her personal school e-mail.