Our School Policy on Teaching and Learning

OUR SCHOOL POLICY ON TEACHING AND LEARNING

(Reviewed September 2012)

INTRODUCTION

This policy statement is the outcome of a series of whole school meetings. During these meetings, the following topics were discussed:

- approaches to teaching and learning and the broad range of ways in which pupils currently engage in the learning process;

- classroom organization and the broad range of existing practice;

- current resources for teaching and learning, the location of such resources and major patterns of use.

- to establish an agreed range of practice in respect of teaching and learning; - to enable staff to identify aspects of practice which they wish to develop and in which they would welcome support; - to improve the quality of learning experiences offered to pupils; - to provide an agreed focus for monitoring the curriculum-in-action.

WHAT IS LEARNING ?

The staff of Waun Wen Primary recognize that learning is an active process whereby the child understands, makes sense and makes connections. Learning can be referred to as the golden moment, when the light comes on. In any worthwhile learning experience the 4 elements of learning will be present  context; (like a jigsaw, you look at the big picture first)  new information  making sense  reflection and reviewing As a school we must ensure that our teaching is a response to learning.

KEY CHARACTERISTICS of TEACHING and LEARNING

At Waun Wen Primary School, staff plan as in Key Stages and refer to programmes of study (skills and range), attainment targets and agreed schemes of work as well as key learning objectives from the National Primary Strategy.

The Pupil as a Learner

It is possible to identify a series of common features of the learner’s needs irrespective of the specific subject knowledge or subject content.

The learner needs involvement

The need for the active involvement of the learner in the education process is paramount. It is through the learner’s participation that the education experience becomes relevant and differentiated. The learner needs to know what kind of environment and personal actions help them to learn.

The learner needs success

Active participation in a coherent and continuing educational process enables the development of the learner’s self knowledge, self respect, and motivation. The learner’s need to succeed is important and the school must provide adequate recognition of achievement.

The learner needs knowledge and understanding

There are many ways of acquiring knowledge and understanding. It is important to ensure that the most appropriate methods to the task in hand are used. This will mean that a wide variety of learning strategies should be used.

The learner needs challenge Learners need challenge. They also need access to expertise – the expertise of adults who can respond in depth to specific needs but who are, above all, experts in teaching. The learner needs to be an active learner

Active learning is and excellent way for pupils to learn, as it is mentally more stimulating than teacher exposition. Pupils become engaged in the learning and as a result they can learn more, progress further and develop new skills.

In active learning pupils are encouraged to find solutions to problems. Communication of ideas between both teacher and pupils AND between pupils themselves is the key to this approach. In active learning pupils learn through practical work and the sharing of ideas with the teacher and other pupils.

At Waun Wen Primary School, all these considerations are at the forefront of our planning with the aim of meeting the needs of each individual pupil.

THE TEACHER

As members of staff at Waun Wen Primary School, we believe that each teacher should: a) have a clear understanding of the skills, knowledge, concepts and attitudes which are the goals of the learning process; b) deploy effective questioning techniques; c) design challenging and differentiated learning tasks; d) plan effectively, monitor the effectiveness of planned activities and maintain effective records of their plans and their actual outcomes; and e) attempt to distribute their time equally between pupils.

The teacher’s professional judgement in choosing the most appropriate method to suit specific learning needs is constantly being exercised and is enhanced by the use of a range of assessments (refer to the Waun Wen Primary School policy for Assessment Recording and Reporting).

EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES

There is no place for discrimination in either overt or implied terms in respect of colour, class, creed, race, gender or ability.

THE ETHOS OF THE SCHOOL

All aspects of the life of a school combine together to produce an effect on those who share its life. Our Mission Statement is ‘Happily Achieving Together’.

EVALUATION AND REVIEW

This policy and the current programme for teaching and learning at Waun Wen Primary School will become subject to review in the first half of the Autumn Term 2013.

Appendices

The appendices attached to this policy document give details of the programme of action as prioritized in our School Development Plan.

ACTION PLAN

FOCUS: Literacy

Targets Tasks Success criteria Person(s) Resources, time, Target dates for Responsible finance implementation and Review

Development of 1)Assess NLS high 1) Pupils level of work Whole staff NLS words September 06 spelling strategies frequency words. assessed to provide a baseline

2)Use of 2) Standard of children’s Multi sensory Review in July  multi sensory spelling improves throughout equipment 2007 strategies and their work Spelling games spelling games Jolly phonics  Jolly phonics Progression of for Infants phonological  Progression of awareness phonological scheme awareness Searchlights scheme for spelling  Spelling homework  Searchlights £400 for spelling

Targets Tasks Success criteria Person(s) Resources, time, Target dates for Responsible finance implementation and review

Further develop  Training from Full use of interactive whiteboard, Mrs. Lewis ICT tuition March 2007 developing skills of staff and and all staff through SLA the use of the LEA in order to update teaching pupils interactive and learning whiteboard skills  Introduce Active Studio 2 in KS2  Evaluate new software