Newsletters

Primary mathematics

An introduction to the content of day two of the continuing professional development (CPD) programme for primary maths 'Strengthening mental, reasoning and communication skills in mathematics'. Designed to support mathematics specialist teachers, the resources here are part of the Securing Levels and Overcoming Barriers materials.

Leading teachers

An overview of National Strategies resources for Leading Teachers, explaining the impact this programme has already had, describing the wealth of practical information in the What Works Well section, and introducing the popular online discussion group for leading teachers and practitioners.

Every Child a Writer

An introduction to the Every Child a Writer (ECaW) programme, describing continuing professional development (CPD) events and offering pointers to resources and a discussion group, plus additional materials planned for 2010.

What Works Well

A description of the What Works Well (WWW) database of case studies showing real-life examples of improved learning in local authorities (LEs) and schools, and a call for local authorities to contribute their own success stories or lessons learned by contacting the WWW coordinator.

Communication, Language and Literacy Development (CLLD)

A brief analysis of the impact Communication, Language and Literacy Development (CLLD) support has had on the standards of pupils in schools using it, particularly at Key Stage 1 (KS 1). Introduces the phonics guidance available on the National Strategies site and the writing samples showing how writing improves over time.

Improving Schools Programme

How success in the Improving Schools programme (ISP) will be measured from 2010 onwards for below the floor target and hard-to-shift schools. Includes an overview of the resources and materials planned for Stronger Management Systems (SMS) in secondary schools, which will provide suggested quality standards for use by headteachers, senior leaders school improvement partners (SIPs) and school improvement providers.

School Improvement Partners (SIPs)

An article alerting School Improvement Partners (SIPs) to the resources and guidance available to them from March 2010 on the National Strategies site. Also gives news of two new publications concerning Pupil Referral Units (PRUs) and Assessment for Learning (AfL) with Assessing Pupils' Progress (APP), as well as plans for training SIPs for special educational needs (SEN) schools.

Priority learning local authorities (PLLAs)

An introduction to Priority learning local authorities (PLLAs), which are supporting school improvement in primary settings operating above the floor target but with room for improvement. Describes materials in which PLLA performance is assessed so far, and brings news of plans for spreading effective PLLA practice across the regions.

Primary literacy

An update of work on Primary Literacy, describing the training for Talk for Writing and Support for Writing already experienced by leading teachers involved with the Every Child a Writer (ECaW) programme. Also summarises plans for future workshops and training.

APP for speaking and listening and primary science

News about the planned use of Assessing Pupils’ Progress (APP) criteria for speaking and listening at levels 1 to 8 and Key Stages 1, 2 and 3 (KS 1-3), and and primary science at levels 1 and 2.

The new primary curriculum

An article describing how the new primary curriculum will be introduced, which organisations have been involved in its development, what it is intended to promote and how it will equip schools with the support to tackle continuous improvement.

Leading on Improvement Programme - module 5 materials

An introduction to resources designed to support Leading on Improvement, which focus on the ways schools have successfully implemented improvements. The materials are designed for use by headteachers and senior leaders.

Local Consultants for Improvement Accreditation

News of plans to work with local authorities (LAs) to coach and accredit Local Consultants for Improvement (LCI), with the aim of retaining tried and tested approaches to improving teaching, learning and school systems.

Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND)

An overview of the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) programme, and a summary of the resources published to support it. Includes details of the Achievement for All project, Assessment for All, the Inclusion for Development programme and e-learning materials.

The Engagement and Involvement of Parents and Carers

Case Study: Children's Improvement and Reading Recovery

Case Study: Parental Involvement and Reading Recovery

ITT: Leading Partners

The latest information on ITT: Leading Partners (literacy, mathematics and secondary literacy).

News

Includes information on tutor events, visits and the ITT section of the National Strategies web area.

Resources

Useful resources for initial teacher training.

Looking ahead

What's coming up in initial teacher training.

The Behaviour Challenge

LAs plans to improve behaviour for their next Ofsted inspection.

Anti-bullying

The spring 2010 e-newsletter tells you what's happening, what's new and what's coming up in 2010-11.

Partnerships and the development of Short Stay Schools and alternative provision

Outlining a range of consultations focusing on the development of Short Stay Schools and alternative provision, timelines are provided for the set periods.

Social and Emotional Aspects of Learning and local authority self-review

A report on a series of very successful consultation events for our 60 tracker schools and local authority (LAs) representatives, autumn 2009.

Attendance

The National Strategies have developed two detailed resources to help support and assist schools and Children's Services in improving attendance and reducing persistent absence.

NPSLBA

The National Programme for Specialist Leaders in Behaviour and Attendance (NPSLBA) continues to exceed expectations and targets.

News

Forthcoming resources

Achievement for All

Since its implementation in September 2009, the 10 targeted local authorities (LAs) involved in the Achievement for All (AfA) project have embraced the principles and key aims to improve outcomes for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

Progression Guidance

Since the launch of the Progression Guidance materials in September 2009, over 98 per cent of local authorities (LAs) have ordered the materials. In addition, LAs and schools have been accessing the associated data sets available on the National Strategies web area.

Guidance on monitoring progress, assessing attainment and planning next steps for young children with SEN

Children within the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) with special educational needs are entitled to high-quality early years provision based on the EYFS framework, its principles and commitments. They should be supported in pursuing unique paths in their learning and development toward the early-learning goals.

SEND inclusion network meetings

Network meetings have been a regular feature of the National Strategies programmes for Special Educational Needs (SEN) and Learning Difficulties and Disabilities (LDD), with local authority (LA) colleagues consistently reporting how valuable they have found them.

SEND regional hubs

The 10 regional Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) regional hubs have continued to move apace in 2009–10, working on three national development strands with most hubs also having an additional regional strand.

Transition Support Programme

Over the last year, the National Strategies Transition Support team has worked directly with 42 local authorities (LAs) identified as most in need of support to develop transition services for disabled young people as they enter adulthood. Between September and December 2009, all LAs completed a second moderated self-assessment questionnaire (SAQ2).

The Lamb Inquiry – Increasing parental confidence in SEN

The Lamb Inquiry, published in December 2009, was established to advise on effective ways of increasing parental confidence in the Special Educational Needs (SEN) system. During the Inquiry, interim reports were produced about SEN and disability information, the quality and clarity of statements, and inspection and accountability. The final report calls for a strengthening of the relationship between parents, schools and local authorities focusing on outcomes for children with SEND.

Transforming the SIPs portal

A briefing for School Improvement Partners (SIPs) about the new dedicated SIPs area on the National Strategies website, explaining the features it will include and providing contact details for those wishing to find out more.

What Works Well

An overview for School Improvement Partners (SIPs) of the What Works Well database of case studies, showing how it helps SIPs and suggesting questions SIPs might ask themselves or raise during discussions with headteachers.

Framework for Excellence

An introduction to the Framework for Excellence (FfE) scorecard, designed to give School Improvement Partners (SIPs) better information about the quality of post-15 provision, followed by suggested questions SIPs might ask themselves about how FfE will affect their work.

Raising standards in secondary English

Details of recently published resources relating to assessing secondary English provision, followed by questions School Improvement Partners (SIPs) might ask schools they work with.

Narrowing the Gaps

A set of recently published resources relating to Narrowing the Gaps (NtG), focusing on Gifted and talented (G&T) Black pupils' achievement, the National Challenge G&T project, followed by questions School Improvement Partners (SIPs) might ask schools about provision of G&T.

Functional Skills

A briefing for School Improvement Partners (SIPs) about functional skills qualifications and school leadership, followed by questions SIPs can ask themselves about the schools they work with.

Masters in Teaching and Learning

A briefing for School Improvement Partners (SIPs) about the Masters in Teaching and Learning (MTL) for teachers, explaining its purpose, and asking School Improvement Partners (SIPs) to consider the implications of this opportunity for teaching staff for schools they are involved with.

CLLD Writing Samples

An overview of writing samples and other resources available for the Communication, Language and Literacy Development (CLLD) programme, and questions School Improvement Partners (SIPs) should be asking about the schools they work with.

World Class Primary Programme

An outline of the World Class Primary Programme, explaining how it is organised and funded, and providing suggested questions School Improvement Partners (SIPs) can ask themselves about the schools they work with.

Supporting SIPs in Early Years

An overview of means used to support School Improvement Partners (SIPs) in the Early years, and a set of questions SIPs can ask about the performance of schools they work with.

Leading Partners in Literacy in Initial Teacher Training

An update for School Improvement Partners (SIPs) about the Initial Teacher Training (ITT) Leading Partners in Literacy programme, and news of a new DVD called Developing Literacy in Initial Teacher Training, followed by questions SIPs can ask themselves about this initiative.

Making Extended Services work

A briefing for School Improvement Partners (SIPs) about extended services, explaining their importance to government policy, outlining the extent of adoption, and offering pointers to SIPs about how they can support and challenge schools in this area.

One-to-one tuition scheme for pupils

An overview of how one-to-one tuition has been organised and funded, and what the implications of the programme are for School Improvement Partners (SIPs).

SIPs in specialist school redesignation

An analysis of the role of School Improvement Partners (SIPs) in decisions about schools' specialist status, including a link to recently published guidance and an update on continuing professional development (CPD) in this area for SIPs.

The new secondary curriculum and key questions – A publication from the National College

A brief outline of the new secondary curriculum, and news of the forthcoming publication of case studies examining its implementation in practice.

AfL support and funding for every school

2010/11 sees the last year of the Assessment for Learning (AfL) Strategy funding, with the final allocation of £50 million to schools to help embed good AfL in every classroom and a programme of training and support delivered through the National Strategies and local authorities.

Engaging pupils with AfL

At Beechwood Junior School in Southampton, teachers have engaged pupils as active partners in their learning through the use of assessment for learning (AfL) in the classroom.

New area of the National Strategies website

From March 2010, a new focus area of the National Strategies website enables primary and secondary senior leaders to find guidance and key resources to support their school's intervention provision.

Whole school intervention planning

With a school roll of 1300 pupils in an area of high deprivation, Little Ilford School has devised a whole school strategy to intervention planning that aims to ensure that all pupils' academic needs are addressed so that every student can make good progress from the moment they enter the school.

Joint Statement with Teacher Associations on APP

A joint statement on manageability of APP has been written by QCDA, the DCSF and Teacher Associations.

Resources

Resources of interest to those interested in assessment for learning.

Narrowing the Gaps

Details of the Narrowing the Gaps: from data analysis to impact – A practical guide publication.

Leading teachers for G&T education

A small selection of strategies a leading teacher might use to promote talk in the classroom.

G+T discussion groups

An update on the gifted and talented discussion groups

Quality Standards 1

Examples of ways in which schools are using the Classroom Quality Standards (CQS) with pupils

Quality Standards 2

Examples of ways in which schools are using the Classroom Quality Standards (CQS) with pupils

What’s new in gifted and talented education?

Details of recently produced Gifted and Talented materials