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Damson Wood Nursery and Infant School is a small two form entry school in Solihull. The school has 158 children between the ages of 2-7. The percentage of children eligible for free school meals is 23% and we also have a high percentage of children who have additional needs or English as an additional language. This is now our third year of using Skills Builder. We implemented Skills Builder after seeing a decline in children’s social skills, communication and language and children who were not ready for learning. We were also seeing children who lacked confidence, self-belief and self-esteem. We have worked hard to embed Skills Builder as a systematic tool to teach children the knowledge they need to be confident, resilient, and independent individuals.
Overall impact
Skills Builder has been an effective tool in teaching children the essential skills. Staff are starting to consistently use the same language and children know and can refer to the skills. Children enjoy receiving certificates in our celebration assemblies and showing us the challenges they have completed at home. Progress can also be seen on the trackers which are continually looked at. Children and staff love taking part in the challenge days, and these have been part of our curriculum highlights.
Keep it simple
Language of essential skills is used in many areas of the school, particularly in lessons where learning is linked with the skills e.g. Teamwork is referenced when children are required to work together on a task, Problem Solving is referenced when children are working on challenges in Mathematics. Essential skills are also referenced in assemblies where children are awarded with Skills Builder certificates given by all teachers. In assemblies, we also celebrate achievements from home where children bring in awards from a range of activities such as football, dance etc. and the skills are often mentioned when discussing home achievements with children. Every classroom has their own display and there is also a whole-school display in the main corridor that highlights the particular skill we are working on as a school. The language of the Skills Builder Framework is taught and used explicitly in all areas of school. Staff access ‘skill stories’ available on the Skills Builder Hub to introduce each skill at an age-appropriate level.
Start early, keep going
Skills Builder opportunities are planned on KS1 timetables and delivered as per this timetable, focusing on learning and practising essential skills through the use of the Skills Builder Hub activities. Early Years also work on essential skills regularly, when appropriate. Skills Builder Project weeks have also been timetabled to ensure that time is made available to develop the essential skills through project work, offering children the opportunity to apply the skills in a real-life context.
Measure it
All teachers regularly use the assessment tool on the Skills Builder Hub to assess the start and end points for their classes as they teach the essential skills. Teachers are now using their assessments to choose the skills they feel their classes need additional learning or practice.
Focus tightly
All teachers are committed to delivering teaching of the essential skills and regularly use the Skills Builder Hub to support learning and practice of the essential skills. Two essential skills are focused on each half term with the opportunity to select skills that teachers recognise may need more practice on during Summer 2. These skills are consistently referred to during the year in class, assemblies and during wider school life to ensure that the language and principles are reinforced. KS1 have regular timetabled sessions for delivering key skills and Early Years regularly deliver teaching of the essential skills. Resources available on the Skills Builder Hub are adapted to meet the needs and age of the children to ensure children understand the key steps of each essential skill. Staff meeting time has been allocated and utilised to enable staff training on Skills Builder and the use of the Skills Builder Hub.
Keep practising
Essential skills are practised in the wider curriculum. Skills are displayed or highlighted in classrooms when these are being practised e.g. Problem Solving in Mathematics, Listening or Speaking in English, Teamwork in PE. The skills are also referenced to support pupils with managing their relationships e.g. Leadership and its steps have been discussed when dealing with conflict – discussing how we listen to each other and talk calmly to solve a problem rather than shouting at each other. Essential skills are now being built into our curriculum maps and are highlighted on lessons where that particular skill can be practised so teachers are more aware when delivering lessons. Children have had many opportunities to practise essential skills as part of extra-curricular activities e.g. Staying Positive and Aiming High during running club – the children had to stay positive to complete a 2km Junior Parkrun at the end of the club. Teamwork, Listening and Speaking are developed as part of board games club. Certificates were awarded alongside these clubs to recognise children who had shown essential skills.
Bring it to life
Skills Builder Projects have been completed during Summer term this year. This involved an off-timetable week to apply the essential skills related to each year group’s project. Children have also been challenged to complete a fitness circuit with a professional footballer and this enabled the children to demonstrate essential skills such as Aiming High and Staying Positive. Some children have also developed their skills outside school by taking part in a Junior Parkrun in their local community and raising money for young athletes through sponsorship.
What's next
We would like to continue to embed the skills into all of our curriculum and to ensure they are included in our extra-curricular activities, e.g. clubs.
