Courses
Book your courses here on our website, your school will be sent an invoice, or you personally (if you are booking as an individual). No payment is required at the booking stage. Click here to view our terms and conditions.
This course will examine Progression Step 2 of the new AoLE for mathematics and numeracy and clarify what this looks like in the classroom.
‘BRILLIANT BLOCK PLAY – the world through the eyes of the child’
Block play is the perfect way to support the four purposes. It offers a vast range of open-ended experiences, enriches every curriculum area and supports child development. Through block play children may investigate the basic principles of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics – not to mention problem solving, thinking and social skills! Block play fosters a child’s natural curiosity.
This half day event will replace the original 3 day package, it contains the most essential tips and advice for embracing the LLC AoLE.
Half Day Times: 9am to 12:30pm
The format of training session will be somewhat different as we will be ‘meeting’ live, but on screen. The training will be for a small group so that we can be interactive. The half day will be chunked into a series of bitesize pieces and will include tasks for reflection as well as discussion and collaboration.
What does Design and Technology look like at PS1/PS2?
Design and Technology is the perfect area to develop and support the four purposes of the new curriculum.
This course will review the new curriculum for Design and Technology, explaining key changes and terminology; suggesting effective and challenging activities.
Curriculum for Wales 2022 is a holistic curriculum that allows learning to be drawn from across the different areas of learning and experience.
As we begin to embed the new curriculum over the next few years, schools will need to explore how they can make manageable links. How can we use literacy skills in a meaningful way to develop and improve mathematical understanding? Where is the natural overlap?
The format of training session will be somewhat different as we will be ‘meeting’ live, but on screen. The training will be for a small group so that we can be interactive. The day will be chunked into a series of bitesize pieces and will include tasks for reflection as well as discussion and collaboration. The day will also provide practical ideas for auditing your current provision, as well as supporting effective implementation of the new curriculum.
The best way to support struggling writers is to provide support WITHIN the classroom. Pupils can be daunted by the complexities of extended writing. This course will show teachers how to scaffold tasks so that pupils can show their knowledge and understanding in writing.
The Essential Guide
As we move towards full implementation of A Curriculum for Wales, will spelling feature on your plan for LLC provision? Are your pupils accurate spellers or do they lack independence? Have you struggled to identify what good practice in spelling should look like in your class/across your school?
The Spelling Attack approach and comprehensive bank of resources is the answer to cracking the spelling conundrum. It includes a toolkit for teachers as well as a full spelling policy that underpins the approach.
The format of the training day will be somewhat different as we will be ‘meeting’ virtually. The sessions will be for a small group so that they can be interactive. The day will be chunked into more bitesize pieces and will include tasks for reflection as well as discussion.
This course will unpick the AoLE for Health & Wellbeing from Nursery to Y3.
Our original strategic course from Collective Learning provides an essential fundamental insight into how the Humanities AoLE is structured, what it comprises and how to make sense of these needs and requirements. A really useful first step.
The Humanities AoLE has been compared by some to a plate of cooked spaghetti; a bit of a tangled mess, tricky to deal with, but very tasty just the same. This follow-up course is aimed specifically at Humanities Coordinators, to furnish them with the knowledge, understanding, skills and confidence to lead, support and inspire their colleagues, and ensure that the potential tangle is actually blended into a healthy and nutritious dish.
This course will clarify what is happening to the Foundation Phase under the new curriculum in Wales. It will focus on what needs to stay the same and what needs to change.
Science is the perfect vehicle for both developing and applying literacy skills within a meaningful context. This one day training event will explore how we can develop pupils’ science knowledge and skills as well as their ability to speak, listen, read and write.
In his ‘Successful Futures’ Report the ethos, principles and pedagogy of the current Foundation Phase was identified as a significant strength of current educational practice in Wales. It was recommended that schools build on successful ‘Foundation’ practice, philosophy and pedagogy into the middle and later years of primary education and beyond. How this works in practice needs to be carefully managed to ensure that transition issues are removed and progression is ensured.
This two-day Inset will focus on the new arrangements for assessment, as set out in Curriculum for Wales. It will explore how to embed assessment into day-to-day practices. The focus will be specifically on each of the four purposes and identifying means of ascertaining pupil progress. Emphasis will be on doing this with high levels of learner involvement. Resources will be provided to support this.
Dates: Thursday 26th May 2022 & Tuesday 14th June 2022
Delegates must bring a laptop (PC, Laptop, Mac or Chromebook) to run the free Crumble software. (Does not currently work on tablets or phones)
How can we address Estyn findings that state: ‘in too many schools, pupils’ understanding of ‘systems and control’ is weak’; and address some of the requirements of the Computation is the Foundation for Our Digital World Description of Learning in the Science and Technology AOLE.
This course is suitable for complete beginners and more confident practitioners. All delegates will receive a Crumble Controller. starter pack
This 3-day module is a rolling programme. The days can be completed in any order and can also be booked as stand-alone days.
This 1-day course is part of a 3-day rolling programme. The days do not have to be done in any order and can be stand alone 1-day courses.
This course will unpick the AoLE for Health & Wellbeing from Y4 to Y6.
This 1-day course is part of a 3-day rolling programme. The days do not have to be done in any order and can be stand alone 1-day courses.
This 3-day module is a rolling programme. The days can be completed in any order and can also be booked as stand-alone days.
This course is based on Cath’s new book – Being an Effective Primary School Teacher
Everyone attending the course will receive their own copy of the book
Who is the book for?
The book is for teachers of any age group, in whatever school or LEA you teach in. It is operational, classroom based and as practical as I could make it. It is also a book for school and LEA senior leaders.
What does it look like?
There is a section for every letter of the alphabet (see the table below). Each section begins with an introduction, followed by a section headed ‘hints and tips’, a conclusion and finishes with a ‘be aware’ section. It is the same format throughout the book. The hints and tips sections include as many practical examples as possible.
Both the course and the book will provide you with a practical guide, a toolkit really, of hints, tips and ideas to help you be a highly effective primary school teacher wherever you are currently teaching.
Guided Group Reading is a practice that is well-embedded in many schools across Wales. Despite this, many of us often question if we are running our GGR sessions correctly. What should good practice look like across the Foundation Phase and KS2?
As we begin addressing some of the challenges that have impacted on literacy in the last year, why might GGR be more important than ever?
The format of the training days will be somewhat different as we will be ‘meeting’ virtually. The sessions will be for a small group so that they can be interactive. The days will be chunked into more bitesize pieces and will include tasks for reflection as well as discussion.
This 1-day course is part of a 3-day rolling programme. The days do not have to be done in any order and can be stand alone 1-day courses.
This course will allow teachers to explore the use of readily available technology that can add purpose and focus to thematic work and develop skills across a range of AoLEs. The day is workshop based with an emphasis on film-making and Expressive Arts.
This course will explore the potential for using film-making techniques with learners to showcase their development whilst creating purposeful and enjoyable video presentations. The course aims to equip practitioners to use equipment and software readily available in schools to work with learners to create content-rich media that learners can truly take ownership of.
Restorative Practice is a behaviour strategy for whole school or whole class communities. It originated from Maori indigenous society. It is more than just a behaviour strategy, it is a value system. It has been adopted by Police forces in North America and Australasia. It has been adopted by Thames Valley Constabulary in the UK. Large institutions and many UK schools are using restorative approaches to facilitate conflict management.
Have you tried lots of behaviour strategies to no avail? Have you felt like something was missing from your own/your schools approach to behaviour? Are you ‘owning’ the conflict?
‘WATCH, WAIT, WONDER … making learning visible in Early Years’
This event focuses on capturing significant moments in learning – noticing, analysing and responding. What really matters to young children? During the day, we will explore a range of excellent systems for gathering and recording young children’s development, interests and fascinations.
(Delegates must bring a Windows based lap-top computer)
How can we use Computer Aided Design (CAD) as a tool for graphic and product design and to produce high quality products?
This exciting, hands-on course will explore the use of CAD at PS2 and PS3. This is a very interesting and motivating aspect of the AoLE for Science and Technology and is, of course, a fundamental tool in engineering and product design.
This course will consider the opportunities to teach, practise and consolidate mathematical skills in the Science & Technology AoLE from Nursery to Y3.
What can I do with this concrete ‘space’?
Introducing, organising, and managing an outdoor classroom can be extremely challenging, especially in schools where there is little access to suitable outdoor space.
This event will focus specifically on areas adjacent to classrooms (the ‘bit’ outside the classroom) and will provide practitioners with the opportunity to refine and further develop current systems for organising and managing this interesting area.
This course will examine Progression Step 3 of the new AoLE for mathematics and numeracy and clarify what this looks like in the classroom.
Getting to Grips with the ‘Expressive Arts AoLE’
This programme will give you creative and practical strategies for improving and developing the Expressive Arts in PS3. As well as giving comprehensive and inspiring activities for Progress step 3, delegates will also have time to plan collaboratively for this AoLE, and they can link this to other areas of learning. This course will give inspiring ideas for progress step 3 as well as pedagogical strategies to improve progress in this AoLE.
This course will review the AoLE for Humanities at Nursery – Y3, explaining key changes and terminology; suggesting effective and challenging activities; resources and learning strategies to support successful implementation.
This course will review the AoLE for LLC Welsh (in English medium primary) at Y4, Y5, Y6 and suggest effective and challenging activities, resources and learning strategies to support their successful implementation and how to utilise the language patterns across other areas of learning.
What does Design and Technology look like at PS3?
Design and Technology is the perfect area to develop and support the four purposes of the new curriculum.
This course will also show how D and T can inspire learners to be independent, creative and critical thinkers, risk takers, problem solvers, decision makers as well as how to develop creative, innovative, ambitious capable learners, applying Literacy and Numeracy in real contexts.
This course will review the new curriculum for Design and Technology at Y4, Y5, Y6, explaining key changes and terminology; suggesting effective and challenging activities focused on the aspect of mechanical systems.
There will be practical sessions where delegates can develop their understanding of mechanical systems and use real tools as they explore – levers and linkages, pulleys, gears and cams.
Drama has a high profile in the new curriculum. Having the confidence to use drama as one of your classroom approaches is an incredible tool to master as a teacher.
How can you achieve this and ensure that your colleagues also have the skills to embrace and use drama in their classroom?
The format of training session will be somewhat different as we will be ‘meeting’ live, but on screen. The training will be for a small group so that we can be interactive. The day will be chunked into a series of bitesize pieces and will include tasks for reflection as well as discussion and collaboration.
Getting to Grips with the ‘Expressive Arts AoLE’
This programme will give you creative and practical strategies for improving and developing the Expressive Arts in primary school. This course will give inspiring ideas for progress step 1-3 as well as pedagogical strategies to improve progress in this AoLE.
This course will clarify what is happening to the Foundation Phase under the new curriculum in Wales. It will focus on what needs to stay the same and what needs to change.
This course will review the AoLE for Science & Technology, explain key changes and terminology; suggest effective and challenging activities, resources and learning strategies to support their successful implementation.
This course will unpick the AoLE for Health & Wellbeing from Nursery to Y6.
This course will focus on the new arrangements for assessment, as set out in Curriculum for Wales. It will explore how to embed assessment into day-to-day practices. The focus will be specifically on each of the four purposes and identifying means of ascertaining pupil progress. Emphasis will be on doing this with high levels of learner involvement. Resources will be provided to support this.
Reasoning and problem solving are fundamental to knowing and doing mathematics and yet it is often this area that learners find difficult and the area that is often considered difficult to teach.
In his ‘Successful Futures’ Report the ethos, principles and pedagogy of the current Foundation Phase was identified as a significant strength of current educational practice in Wales. It was recommended that schools build on successful ‘Foundation’ practice, philosophy and pedagogy into the middle and later years of primary education and beyond. How this works in practice needs to be carefully managed to ensure that transition issues are removed and progression is ensured.
This course will cover:
- CfW and your AoLE…The Big picture!
- your AoLE and curriculum development
- assessment and progression in an AoLE
- monitoring and evaluating your AoLE
- evaluating your personal role
- action planning and managing change
This course will review the AoLE for Humanities in primary school, explaining key changes and terminology; suggesting effective and challenging activities, resources and learning strategies to support successful implementation.
This course consists of 2 sessions, the first is Using Drama for Learning to teach History and the second is Using Drama to Explore Global Issues.
Patrice Baldwin and Pie Corbett worked together over several years, developing ‘Drama and Talk for Writing’.
This course will review the new curriculum for Humanities at PS3, Y4, Y5, Y6, explaining key changes and terminology; suggesting effective and challenging activities; resources and learning strategies to support successful implementation.
Getting to Grips with the ‘Expressive Arts AoLE’
This programme will give you creative and practical strategies for improving and developing the Expressive Arts in Nursery, Reception, Years 1, 2 & 3. As well as giving comprehensive and inspiring activities for Progress steps 1 & 2, delegates will also have time to plan collaboratively for this AoLE, and they can link this to other areas of learning. This course will give inspiring ideas for progress steps 1 & 2 as well as pedagogical strategies to improve progress in this AoLE.
This course will examine Progression Step 1 of the new AoLE for mathematics and numeracy and clarify what this looks like in nursery and reception classes.
The Additional Learning Needs transformation programme came into practice on the 1st of September 2021. The idea was to create a unified approach for young people from the age of 0-25.
An important part of this system is accurate and relevant assessment of Additional Learning Needs of pupils already identified as needing extra support. It is also important to develop screening systems within the mainstream setting in order to recognise needs in pupils that might not be presenting their additional learning needs in an obvious way in class.
We will explore different Assessments and ensure that practitioners have a plethora of tools to assist in ascertaining the needs of all pupils.
This course will consider the opportunities to teach, practise and consolidate mathematical skills in the Science & Technology AoLE from Y4 to Y6.
Guided Group Reading is a practice that is well-embedded in many schools across Wales. Despite this, many of us often question if we are running our GGR sessions correctly. What should good practice look like across the Foundation Phase and KS2?
As we begin addressing some of the challenges that have impacted on literacy in the last year, why might GGR be more important than ever?
The format of the training days will be somewhat different as we will be ‘meeting’ virtually. The sessions will be for a small group so that they can be interactive. The days will be chunked into more bitesize pieces and will include tasks for reflection as well as discussion.
The ability to read independently with fluency and comprehension underpins each child’s academic success. Successful schools have a clear reading journey that helps pupils to master phonics and learn to read for meaning.
This course will help the AoLLC lead to meet the differing needs of pupils in each progression step and ensure that there is a clear vision for the teaching of reading in their setting.
This course will highlight what really matters to children, the features of authentic learning and the relevance and importance of first-hand experiences. It will focus on the types of effective learning environments schools need to create to fully support the New Curriculum vision for children 3 – 7 years of age.
This two-day Inset will focus on the new arrangements for assessment, as set out in Curriculum for Wales. It will explore how to embed assessment into day-to-day practices. The focus will be specifically on each of the four purposes and identifying means of ascertaining pupil progress. Emphasis will be on doing this with high levels of learner involvement. Resources will be provided to support this.
Dates: Thursday 6th October 2022 & Thursday 13th October 2022
This two-day Inset will focus on the new arrangements for assessment, as set out in Curriculum for Wales. It will explore how to embed assessment into day-to-day practices. The focus will be specifically on each of the four purposes and identifying means of ascertaining pupil progress. Emphasis will be on doing this with high levels of learner involvement. Resources will be provided to support this.
Dates: Thursday 6th October 2022 & Thursday 13th October 2022
Pupils’ literacy skills are embedded and enhanced when they read, write, talk and listen in real contexts across the curriculum. This one-day training event will show you how to build effective links across the curriculum. It will explore how we can make the most of the daily opportunity to develop effective literacy teaching outside of the language lesson, across AoLEs.
‘WATCH, WAIT, WONDER … making learning visible in Early Years’
This event focuses on capturing significant moments in learning – noticing, analysing and responding. What really matters to young children? During the day, we will explore a range of excellent systems for gathering and recording young children’s development, interests and fascinations.
Curriculum change gives schools the opportunity to stop and reflect. This one-day training event will help colleagues to assess the quality of their provision and to further develop their approach for the teaching of writing that meets the needs of all pupils. We will explore what is required to build a robust, exciting and effective writing journey across the school.
We will examine what good practice looks like to help AoLLC leads to plan the school’s unique writing curriculum.
Mark making to writing – It’s only scribble, isn’t it?
Mark making is integral to the process of creating confident and competent writers. This course examines
mark making in its own right and shares a range of practical and appropriate activities to support this often
neglected and crucial pre-writing stage for 3-5-year-olds.
This 1-day course is part of a 3-day rolling programme. The days do not have to be done in any order and can be stand alone 1-day courses.
This 3-day module is a rolling programme. The days can be completed in any order and can also be booked as stand-alone days.
‘BRILLIANT BLOCK PLAY – the world through the eyes of the child’
Block play is the perfect way to support the four purposes. It offers a vast range of open-ended experiences, enriches every curriculum area and supports child development. Through block play children may investigate the basic principles of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics – not to mention problem solving, thinking and social skills! Block play fosters a child’s natural curiosity.
This 3-day module is a rolling programme. The days can be completed in any order and can also be booked as stand-alone days.
This 1-day course is part of a 3-day rolling programme. The days do not have to be done in any order and can be stand alone 1-day courses.
What can I do with this concrete ‘space’?
Introducing, organising, and managing an outdoor classroom can be extremely challenging, especially in schools where there is little access to suitable outdoor space.
This event will focus specifically on areas adjacent to classrooms (the ‘bit’ outside the classroom) and will provide practitioners with the opportunity to refine and further develop current systems for organising and managing this interesting area.