Please note that course information can be found at the end of the text below.

During 2008-2009 the LA Primary National Strategy Team will be providing CPD for schools that will focus upon current key elements of school improvement. Some of this work will be with individual teachers, school leadership teams or groups of schools, other aspects will be aimed at all schools and may involve subject/aspect leaders, senior leaders or class teachers. Full details of the National Strategy programmes for 2008/09 are not yet finalised so at this point we are unable to give details of course content, dates and times etc.

We do know however, that there will be certain aspects upon which the National Strategies will expect us to focus. There are also some areas that we have identified as a Local Authority to which we plan to respond.

The bullet point list below gives an indication of what training is likely at this stage:

• CLLD – the development of early reading and the daily phonics session. It is our intention to continue to train specific groups re Letters and Sounds to support schools in their work on developing reading. There will also be some repeat training for those who have missed the earlier sessions or are new to schools.
• Renewed Framework for Literacy and Mathematics – there will be further training for teachers, subject leaders and Headteachers on taking forward the assimilation of the Renewed Frameworks into the work of the school. One key area of development is Guided Writing, and training will cover the ways in which this strategy can be used to improve the quality and content of pupils’ writing.
• Speaking and Listening now have equal weighting with Reading and Writing in the Renewed Framework for Literacy, and we will continue to examine the implications for schools and plan further training as appropriate.
• ICT and the frameworks – many of the outcomes of units of work in the Renewed Framework are ICT-based. Courses are being planned to look at supporting teachers with these requirements.
• Assessment for Learning – the AfL tab on the web-based framework is now ‘live’ and the Assessing Pupil Progress (APP) materials are now available. This is going to be the key focus for the National Strategy for the foreseeable future and next year there will be wide-ranging training to take this further.
• Underachieving pupils. The ‘Waves’ model of intervention and managing interventions across the school - many schools operate several of the National Strategy interventions e.g. FLS in addition to their own programmes and some commercially available ones – training is to be provided with a view to increasing the effectiveness of interventions in school and developing the management of them.
• Catch Up – training in this programme will continue to be offered to ensure that schools continue to be able to provide this successful intervention to lower attaining readers.

Termly Study Group meetings for Literacy and Mathematics subject leaders will continue throughout the year.

The roll-out of the SEAL (Social and Emotional Aspects of Learning) curriculum will continue and new schools wishing to take advantage of this programme will be invited to participate in training during the summer term 2008.

Having reviewed and re-established the ‘Leading Teacher’ programme two years ago, the cohort of leading teachers will continue to support training around the Renewed Frameworks. Leading Teachers may also be deployed to support schools in their work with the Renewed Frameworks – further information on this can be obtained through the Primary Strategy Manager. Training for Leading Teachers will also be provided. Wakefield has been involved in a National Strategies pilot during early 2008 and it is expected that this will roll out further during 2008/09. Training for Leading Teachers for Intervention and also Gifted and Talented will also be offered.

Targeted support for schools will continue to be provided through the Improving Schools Programme (ISP) formerly called the Intensifying Support Programme, and a review of the schools participating in this programme will be undertaken during the summer term 2008.

Support for teachers new to Y2 and Y6 will continue to be provided as will focused support for NQTs. Training for the statutory assessments will be provided in conjunction with the Assessment Team.

Contact: John Parkin – Primary Strategy Manager
Telephone: 01226 392327
E-mail: jparkin@wakefield.gov.uk