Bradford District Raising Achievement Strategy

IMAGINE BRADFORD

LANGUAGE FOR LEARNING

Anoutline of programmes to support the Language for Learning Strand ofthe Raising Achievement Strategy

LANGUAGE FOR LEARNING

In the IMAGINE BRADFORD document sent to schools in June, we outlined the activities that would be offered next year as part of Education Bradford’s contribution to the Language for Learning strand. I am now writing with further details of the programmes which will be offered.

FOR ALL SCHOOLS:

Language Champions

We would like every school to identify a Language Champion who can promote Language for Learning in their school over the coming year.

The Language Champions programme provides a series of stimulating and practical sessions throughout the year foryour school’s Language Champion and will be led by national speakers. These sessions will provide models of effective whole-school approaches to the development of Language for Learning in school. There will also be a strong emphasis on developing school-based practice and sustainable and collaborative models of support.

The first session will take place on Friday October 8th at Future House 2010 from 9.00am to 3.30pm. The day will be led by Judy Clark who is a national trainer specialising on the development of language across the curriculum and ways in which effective language development underpins sustainable improvement in writing.

The sessions in the Spring and Summer terms will be led by Neil Mercer, Professor of Education Cambridge University, and Lynn Dawes, Senior Lecturer at NottinghamUniversity and Visiting Lecturer at CambridgeUniversity. Neil has been involved in a wide range of work related to the role of language in children’s learning at both a national and international level. Neil’s most recent work includes the publication, “Exploring talk in the classroom”. Lynn is an experienced primary practitioner and her most publication is “Writing at Key Stage 2”, which provides many practical examples of the ways in which writing can be developed in the primary classroom. Neil and Lynn will build on the themes introduced by Judy in the Autumn Term session.

This programme is open to all primary and nursery schools and is free

The sessions will take place on the dates and at the venues shown below:

Language Champions – Judy Clark/Neil Mercer

Course Date/s / Course Venue / Time
Friday 8 October 2010 (JC) / Future House, Conference D / 09.00 – 15.30
Thursday 10 March 2011(NM) / Manningham Mills, Silk Room / 09.00 – 15.30
Friday 1 July 2011 (NM) / Future House, Conference D / 09.00 – 15.30

Programmes to meet specific language for learning needs

A series of programmes have been developed in response to issues which have been identified by schools and head teachers. As further needs are identified, we will try to develop programmes to meet these needs.

Our range of Language for Learning programmes include:

Language for Life
Writers for Life
Let’s InteGREAT!
Talk, Write,Talk
Becoming a Writer
Talk for Learning
Assessing Talk
Supporting Language for Learning
Powerful Communication

For Foundation Stage Staff:

Language for Life

This programme provides a practical exploration of the ways in which children’s language development can be enhanced in the Early Years to support the development of children’s thinking skills and early literacy. The programme will build upon the key elements of successful Early Years programmes including Making a Big Difference and Sustained Shared Thinking. Throughout the programme there will an emphasis on the use of outdoor provision to promote language skills and the ways in which the achievement of boys and children using English as an additional language can be promoted.

The programme will consist of six sessions across the year and course leaders will also provide follow-up coaching to participants in their schools.

The programme will be led by Rachel Jacobs who is an Early Years specialist and Brenda Castle.

Schools wishing to participate in this programme are asked to send two Foundation Stage staff to the training sessions so that they can support each other in implementing the programme in school.

The programme is open to all Bradford schools. Two cohorts have been organised for this programme. Cohort 1 will be repeated on the dates shown for cohort 2. Please advise us if you would prefer to be on Cohort 1 or Cohort 2.

The sessions will take place on the dates and at the venues shown below:

Language for Life – Rachel Jacobs/Brenda Castle

Course Date/s / Course Venue / Time
Cohort 1
Tuesday 21 September 2010 / Manningham Mills, Silk Room / 9.00 – 15.30
Thursday 11 November 2010 / Future House, Conference C / 9.00 – 15.30
Monday 10 January 2011 / Future House, Literacy / 9.00 – 15.30
Friday 4 March 2011 / Future House, Literacy / 9.00 – 15.30
Monday 9 May 2011 / Future House, MR A+B / 9.00 – 15.30
Friday 17 June 2011 / Manningham Mills, Silk Room / 09.00 – 15.30
Cohort 2
Tuesday 28 September 2010 / Manningham Mills, Silk Room / 9.00 – 15.30
Friday 19 November 2010 / Future House, MR A+B / 9.00 – 15.30
Friday 4 February 2011 / Future House, MR A+B / 9.00 – 15.30
Monday 7 March 2011 / Future House, Conference C / 9.00 – 15.30
Wednesday 11 May 2011 / Future House, Conference C / 9.00 – 15.30
Tuesday 5 July 2011 / Future House, Conference C / 9.00 – 15.30

For Foundation Stage and Key Stage 1

Writers for Life

This programme looks at the ways in which children’s early writing can be supported from Reception to Year 1. As well as providing a theoretical overview to the role of talk in early writing development the programme will provide many practical opportunities for teachers to experience the excitement of writing in meaningful contexts. Teachers participating in this programme will have lots of practical ideas and resources to take back into their classrooms.

This programme will consist of two days of training in the Spring term and course leaders will also provide follow-up coaching to course participants in their own schools.

The programme will be led by Rachel Jacobs who is an Early Years specialist and Nerys Hughes.

Schools wishing to take part in this programme are asked to send a Reception teacher and a Key Stage 1 teacher to the training sessions.

The programme is open to all Bradford schools.

The sessions will take place on the dates and at the venues shown below:

Writers for Life – Rachel Jacobs/Nerys Hughes

Course Date/s / Course Venue / Time
Thursday 13 January 2011 / Future House, Conference D / 9.00 – 15.30
Friday 11 March 2011 / Future House, Conference D / 9.00 – 15.30

For Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2

Let’s InteGREAT!

Many new to English pupils enter our schools with little or no English. After intensive support, how do we cater for their language and academic needs back in the classroom environment?

This programme will include effective strategies to support the integration of new to English pupils so that they can participate fully in the primary school curriculum.

Teachers will be given a range of practical ideas on planning activities, differentiation, and including resources to develop language as well as reflect the interests of pupils and the demands of the curriculum. This will include practical advice on creating a stimulating environment that supports teaching and learning.

Where it is possible, schools are asked to send two teachers to the training sessions. The Specialist Consultant will then work with two teachers per school to incorporate and embed strategies into their classroom practice on a plan, teach and review basis. There will be opportunities to observe teachers putting the above principles into practice.

The main aim is to ensure that teachers are confident and empowered to continue to develop and sustain best practice and improve outcomes for all pupils.

This course will be led by Inderjit Soor.

The sessions will take place on the dates and at the venues shown below:

Lets InteGREAT! – Inderjit Soor

Course Date/s / Course Venue / Time
Wednesday 20 October 2010 / Future House, MR A+B / 9.00 – 15.30
Wednesday 1 December 2010 / Future House, Conference C / 9.00 – 15.30
Friday 28 January 2011 / Future House, Numeracy / 9.00 – 15.30
Thursday 31 March 2011 / Future House, Numeracy / 9.00 – 15.30
Friday 20 May 2011 / Future House, Literacy / 9.00 – 15.30
Tuesday 28 June 2011 / Future House, Numeracy / 9.00 – 15.30

Talk, Write, Talk

This programme will introduce “dialogic talk” and will explore practical strategies for leading talk into writing across the curriculum. Dialogic talk has been described as “conversations with cognitive challenge” where “common understanding is achieved through structured and cumulative questioning and discussion”.

The programme will include:

Introducing core principles of dialogic talk (“learning conversations”)

Exploring practical strategies for leading talk into writing and writing into talk.

Developing “talk-write-talk” sequences across the curriculum.

This programme will involve two full days of training, with a further two half days networking when teachers will be able to share ideas about how they have applied their training in the classroom.

The programme will be led by Carol Satterthwaite and Nerys Hughes

This programme is appropriate for primary class teachers and where it is possible, it would be helpful for teachers to attend in pairs.

The sessions will take place on the dates and at the venues shown below:

Talk, Write, Talk – Carol Satterthwaite/Nerys Hughes

Course Date/s / Course Venue / Time
Wednesday 17 November 2010 / Manningham Mills, Silk Room / 9.00 – 15.30
Wednesday 9 February 2011 / Manningham Mills, Silk Room / 9.00 – 15.30
Friday 15 April 2011 / Manningham Mills, Silk Room / 9.00 – 12.00
Friday 17 June 2011 / Future House, MR A+B / 9.00 – 12.00

Becoming a Writer

This programme looks at the ways in which children’s development as writers can best be supported across the primary years. As well as providing a theoretical overview of children’s writing development the programme will provide many practical opportunities for teachers to experience the excitement of writing in meaningful contexts. Teachers participating in this programme will have lots of practical ideas and resources to take back into their classrooms.

The programme will consist of three days of training with additional networking opportunities. It is targeted at class teachers in primary schools.

The programme will be led by Nerys Hughes and Inderjit Soor.

The sessions will take place on the dates and at the venues shown below:

Becoming a Writer – Nerys Hughes/Inderjit Soor

Course Date/s / Course Venue / Time
Thursday 27 January 2011 / Future House, Conference D / 9.00 – 15.30
Friday 18 March 2011 / Future House, Conference D / 9.00 – 15.30

Talk for Learning

This programme will explore “dialogic talk” and consider how to create an ethos for meaningful learning dialogue. Dialogic talk has been described as “conversations with cognitive challenge” where “common understanding is achieved through structured and cumulative questioning and discussion”. Teachers in Bradford have started to engage with the core principles of dialogic talk and are changing their teaching for ever.

The programme will include:

Establishing conditions for discursive learning and dialogic talk across the curriculum

Introducing core principles of dialogic talk (“learning conversations”)

Establishing a reflective pedagogic culture

Establishing Philosophy for Children as a model for developing discursive learning

The programme is targeted at senior or middle leaders in primary schools who have a class commitment. Where possible, teachers are asked to attend in pairs from each school. Teachers participating in the course will be provided with materials to enable them to introduce core principles and activities to other staff.

The programme will consist of two full days in the Autumn Term, with a further two half days in the Spring Term and two half days in the Summer Term.

This programme will be led by Carol Satterthwaite and Brenda Castle.

The sessions will take place on the dates and at the venues shown below:

Talk for Learning – Carol Satterthwaite/Brenda Castle

Course Date/s / Course Venue / Time
Thursday 30 September 2010 / Future House, Conference D / 9.00 – 15.30
Wednesday 8 December 2010 / Manningham Mills, Silk Room / 9.00 – 15.30
Friday 11 February 2011 / Future House, Literacy / 9.00 – 12.00
Friday 8 April 2011 / Future House, Literacy / 9.00 – 12.00
Wednesday 18 May 2011 / Future House, Conference C / 9.00 – 12.00
Tuesday 21 June 2011 / Manningham Mills, Silk Room / 9.00 – 12.00

Assessing Talk

This programme will involve participants in developing an assessment tool for assessing and tracking children’s progress in speaking and listening in their school. The tool will incorporate key current strategies and will be relevant for use with new to English pupils and pupils with English as an Additional Language as well as first-language users. The programme will also include guidance for reading and writing, drawing on current models of children’s language development.

The programme will include three training days, three half day workshops and follow-up coaching by the course leaders in participants’ schools.

This programme will be led by Brenda Castle and Nerys Hughes.

The sessions will take place on the dates and at the venues shown below:

Assessing Talk – Brenda Castle

Course Date/s / Course Venue / Time
Thursday 21 October 2010 / Future House, Literacy / 9.00 – 15.30
Thursday 2 December 2010 / Future House, Literacy / 13.00 – 16.30
Thursday 17 February 2011 / Future House, Conference C / 9.00 – 15.30
Thursday 7 April 2011 / Future House, Numeracy / 9.00 – 12.30
Monday 16 May 2011 / Future House, Literacy / 9.00 – 15.30
Wednesday 29 June 2011 / Future House, Numeracy / 9.00 – 12.30

Supporting Language for Learning

This programme is targeted at teaching assistants in primary classrooms. It aims to give them an overview of the role of language in children’s learning and to provide them with strategies to accelerate children’s progress. The course will outline the approaches that adults can use to promote children’s language development, such as modelling, coaching and scaffolding. The course will be practical and participants will have the opportunity to try out these ideas.

The programme will consist of six half days throughout the year.

This programme is open to all non-teaching staff working in classrooms in primary schools.

The programme will be led by Nerys Hughes and Inderjit Soor.

The sessions will take place on the dates and at the venues shown below:

Supporting Language for Learning – Nerys Hughes/Inderjit Soor

Course Date/s / Course Venue / Time
Thursday 30 September 2010 / Future House, MR A+B / 9.00 – 12.00
Thursday 2 December 2010 / Future House, Literacy / 9.00 – 12.00
Friday 11 February 2011 / Future House, Numeracy / 9.00 – 12.00
Tuesday 8 March 2011 / Future House, Conference C / 12.30 – 15.30
Tuesday 17 May 2011 / Future House, Numeracy / 12.30 – 15.30
Wednesday 29 June 2011 / Future House, Numeracy / 13.00 – 16.00

For Secondary Schools

Powerful Communication

This programme will focus on supporting secondary schools to develop language across the curriculum. The programme will build on the successful approaches to Talk for Learning which is transforming the quality of pupil learning in primary schools. Participants will be introduced to the principles underpinning these approaches and there will also be a strong emphasis on the practical application of these ideas in the classroom. Ways in which Talk for Learning can develop talk skills to enhance group work and increase engagement in learning and PLTS will be explored. The programme will also provide practical ways to develop talk across the curriculum so that students can transfer learning from one area to another and become confident communicators across the curriculum.

This programme will consist of three days of training across the year and is open to all secondary schools. Participating schools are asked to send at least two teachers (possibly teachers who are looking for development opportunities for working across the school) and preferably someone who is in a leadership position.

This programme will be led by Julia Strong who is a national trainer specialising in language in the secondary school.

The sessions will take place on the dates and at the venues shown below:

Powerful Communication – Julia Strong

Course Date/s / Course Venue / Time
Thursday 18 November 2010 / Manningham Mills, Silk Room / 9.00 – 16.00
Friday 19 November 2010 / Manningham Mills, Silk Room / 9.00 – 16.00
Tuesday 5 April 2011 / Future House, MR A+B / 9.00 – 16.00
Wednesday 6 April 2011 / Future House, MR A+B / 9.00 – 16.00
Tuesday 5 July 2011 / Manningham Mills, Silk Room / 9.00 – 16.00

Next steps – how to get involved in these programmes.

These programmes are open to all schools, and are particularly appropriate for those schools which have identified the Language for Learning strand of the Raising Achievement Strategy as one of their priorities for the coming year. All of the programmes can also form an integral part of your school improvement work, your LAP work or your individual school’s brokered support.

These programmes are offered on the basis that both professional support and a financial contribution will be made by EB and because of this, no charge is being made for attending these courses. Schools are asked to make a commitment to the programme for the whole year and to sustaining developments.

If you would like more information about any of these programmes please ask your Locality Achievement Officer, your School Improvement Partner or Christine Crowther, EB’s champion for Language for Learning.

If you would like to participate in any of these programmes please email or stating which course you would like to participate in and the names of the participants.

An outline of programmes to support the Language for Learning Strand of the Raising Achievement Strategy