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The Haven Voluntary Aided CofE/Methodist Primary School
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The Haven Voluntary Aided CofE/Methodist Primary School
Context
The Haven is a coastal school in Eastbourne with mixed gender which is predominantly White British and the proportion of them that speak English as an additional language is below average. The proportion of children that are disadvantaged is average. Children with Special Educational Needs is below average. Many children join the school having attended the nursery provision housed on the school site. The school runs a breakfast club and an after school club, which is run privately. We got involved in Skills Builder to strengthen the key skills that our children need to flourish in our school, in future education and their future careers.
Overall impact
In the short amount of time we have been using Skills Builder, we have had various highlights. In general, it is pleasing to hear the pupils using the skills as part of their learning and everyday language. Children are able to recognise the logos for each skill and relate it to their learning, actively acknowledging the skill they are using in each activity, rather than just thinking they are completing an activity for the sake of it or because their teacher has asked them to. When we have given children Skills Builder certificates to recognise and celebrate their progress and successes, we have had praise from parents who have communicated how much their child enjoyed being recognised for using the skill. The skills have been linked to the school's Christian values which the children always refer to when learning religious education - they understand how the skill is linked and refer to it throughout the week during our religious education week every term. This has been a real positive for both teachers and pupils.
Keep it simple
We have displayed the Skills Builder logos across the school, throughout every classroom and many offices and other learning spaces, so all children can see and refer to them. Teachers include the logos on their lesson slides to enable children to identify each skill as they are using it and discuss how their learning relates to the skill. Staff award weekly Skills Builder certificates to celebrate children's progress and accomplishments. We have also matched the skills to our school's Christian Values to link them with the Christian ethos of our school. Teachers sometimes use the skill activities from the hub as a separate lesson or as a starter.
Start early, keep going
Some year groups or classes have regular opportunities for the learning and practising of essential skills by having a regular slot each week in their timetable (this usually happens in worship time). Teachers include the logos on their lesson slides, usually topic, to enable children to identify each skill as they are using it and discuss how their learning relates to the skill. Some parents are aware of Skills Builder as we have sent certificates home to recognise children who were working at home during remote learning.
Measure it
Some teachers regularly use formative assessment to prioritise and inform their teaching of essential skills using their dashboard on the Skills Builder Hub. The skills are continuously evaluated by teachers in all lessons therefore this enables them to make good judgement on assessment when they update their dashboards. When teachers teach an individual activity from the Skills Builder Hub this is then assessed straight after the activity to judge their understanding of the skill.
Focus tightly
Speaking - daily reading to a group, performing poetry, show and tell, regular discussions with their talk partner, lolly sticks are used to ensure that all children have an opportunity to speak. Listening - eye contact, repeating instructions to check they're listening, asking them what their partner spoke to them about, teacher led activities and child led activities. Specific activities where a child has to relay information based on purely what their partner can see (describing something and partner to draw it). Creativity - choosing their own outcomes for writing eg; letter, report, story etc. We do a lot of Art and Design and often have school competitions. Problem Solving - We ensure in every Maths lesson that there is a problem solving question. Lessons usually begin with a question so that children can discuss strategies rather than just focusing on the answer. Teamwork - We often use this during PE lessons and choose activities where group work is used in other lessons too.
Keep practising
As well as the skills being taught and used across the curriculum we have many extra-curricular activities (cubs after school, school trips) where the skills are used and referred to.
Bring it to life
Visitors reference the essential skills (fire brigade, shop workers, members of the local Church, online workshops discussing their job roles eg; song writer teaching children about her career and how she got there as well as co-writing a song where children will show Creativity). In lessons teachers always relate to the skills either personally or to the wider world (real life where you would use the skill).
What's next
We intend to ensure that each term teachers are given the opportunity in a staff meeting to assess their class using the Skills Builder Hub/Dashboard and discuss and celebrate any successes the teachers have found throughout the term. We are hoping, moving forward, that there will be a more consistent approach to Skills Builder in regards to the whole staff being supportive and on board with it. We will carry out regular monitoring and check teachers have been using the Hub to teach specific activities to their classes as well as carrying out pupil voice to get a real understanding of what the children are learning and gaining from Skills Builder so that we can adapt approaches if needed.
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