Recently Appointed Literacy and Numeracy Coordinators Primary November 2013

Aim of the day To consider the role of the Coordinator in raising standards in Literacy and Numeracy.

Objectives Participants will have opportunities to consider: the evolving role of the coordinator; and effective strategies for planning, monitoring and evaluation. 3

Programme 09:30 Introduction Setting the Scene Roles & Responsibilities 10:30 Coffee 11:00 School Improvement Cycle Effective Use of Data Auditing Action planning Monitoring and Evaluating 13:00 Lunch 13:45 Sharing Effective Practice The Way Forward Plenary and Evaluation

Key Documents Every School a Good School (ESaGS) Count Read: Succeed (CRS) Chief Inspector’s Report 2010-12 Together Towards Improvement (TTI) Better Literacy Better Numeracy Levels of Progression Communication & Using Maths CASS Website

Every School a Good School To ensure that every learner fulfils his or her full potential at each stage of their development Raising the educational standards for all Closing the attainment gap between the highest and lowest achievers http://www.deni.gov.uk/index/curriculum-and-learningt-new/standards-and-school-improvements/every-school-a-good-school.htm

Count, Read: Succeed A Strategy to Improve Outcomes in Literacy and Numeracy (Department of Education, 2011) http://www.deni.gov.uk/index/curriculum-and-learningt-new/standards-and-school-improvements/03-literacy-and-numeracy/count-read-succeed--improving-outcomes-in-literacy-and-numeracy.htm

Overview of Count, Read: Succeed High level strategy Sets targets and milestones Contains an Action Plan 2011- 15 Includes the Levels of progression Sets expectation every child progresses a Level over the course of a Key Stage. Sets out roles for: school leaders teachers education bodies Defines literacy, numeracy and underachievement

Targets for 2020 Key Stage 2 – 90%+ 5+ GCSE A*-C inc English and Maths – 70%+ overall; 65% for FSME 5+ GCSE A*-C inc Gaeilge, English and Maths (pupils in IM) – 70%+

Role of the Coordinator What do you think the role of the coordinator entails? Think: Write down what you think are the key priorities for you as a new coordinator Pair: Discuss priorities with your partner Share with the whole group

Roles and Responsibilities Workshop Discuss the given statements and place them in the appropriate column of the recording sheet: Definitely Maybe Definitely Not

Role of the Coordinator As curriculum leaders to: demonstrate a commitment to providing professional development opportunities for staff, particularly teachers, and promote a readiness to share and learn from best practice monitor and evaluate effectively school outcomes, policies, practices and procedures…

Role of the Coordinator To ensure that teachers: use adaptable, flexible teaching strategies that respond to the diversity within the classroom; are committed and enthusiastic, enjoying a positive relationship with their pupils and with other school-based staff and dedicated to improving learning; and reflect on their own work and the outcomes of individual pupils.

Chief Inspector’s Report 2010-12 Primary Education There is a need to: ◊ further raise standards in literacy and numeracy for almost one in five children; ◊ improve around 18% of learning and teaching that is satisfactory or below: key areas involve developing adequately children’s reading and writing skills and their mathematical understanding; and ◊ increase the quality of leadership and management in 22% of the schools inspected, where there is a need for a relentless pursuit of high standards and achievements for all children through highly effective learning and teaching and high levels of teacher expectation.

Literacy & Numeracy Policy Context Definitions What does a policy do? Child Centred Provision High Quality Teaching & Learning Effective Leadership Connected to Local Community Monitoring & Evaluation of Policy The Development of a Literacy and Numeracy Policy A guidance for Primary Schools

What does a policy do? It sets out the school’s principles and practices for the promotion and development of literacy & numeracy, both across the curriculum and within the areas of English and mathematics. It clarifies the responsibilities for all stakeholders in ensuring the support and development of literacy and numeracy skills. It reflects classroom practice in relation to the statutory learning experiences within the NI Curriculum.

Policy Workshop Read the Guidance Document on the Development of a Literacy and Numeracy Policy Consider your current policy and use the worksheet to record strengths, areas for improvement, next steps and any additional comments.     

COFFEE

School Improvement Planning Cycle AUDIT UNDERSTANDING IN DETAIL WHAT IS GOING ON EVALUATE OUTCOMES AND IMPACT EVIDENCE BASE SET TARGETS QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE MONITOR PROGRESS MAKE CHANGES ACTION PLAN

Effective Use of Data

What can data be used for ? Data can provide information to help evaluate performance at: Whole School Level Class/Year Group Level Individual Pupil Level

DE Targets Annual School targets for DE Emphasis on FSME pupils - based on a range of evidence - based on current cohorts of pupils current levels of progression Emphasis on FSME pupils Action Plans support achievement of school’s DE targets

Under Achievement Low Achievement Underachievement is used to describe a situation where performance is below what is expected based on ability. It can apply at the level of an individual pupil or describe a class or school, or indeed a system. Low achievement is different from underachievement. Low achievement is where a pupil is achieving to the full extent of her or his ability, but is well below average compared to her or his peers.

Audit Process Why? Who? What? How? When?

Action Planning

Action Planning Identify the focus for the plan Establish the baseline Set the targets Identify the success criteria Agree the approaches Identify specific strategies for monitoring and evaluating Agree the timescale Cost the plan

Action Planning Workshop Working in pairs, sort the cards.

Planning in Action Review your own school action plan and consider the following: Are all of the targets SMART? Are there too many/few targets on the plan? Have you identified appropriate success criteria? Do your approaches support the development of your target?

Monitoring and Evaluation

MONITORING is the activity that is undertaken routinely to keep a check on progress and to check that what is supposed to be happening is happening in the way that was planned. EVALUATING Is the process of looking at the data gathered through the process of monitoring and making judgements about that data.

Monitoring and Evaluation Workshop In your group discuss the given strategies and agree on the most appropriate ones to use in order to: monitor; and evaluate each of the targets.

LUNCH

Sharing Effective Practice

Benchmarking Data http://www.deni.gov.uk/index/curriculum-and-learningt-new/standards-and-school-improvements/03-schools_school_improvement_programme-school_development_planning_pg/03-schools_school_improvement_programme-target-setting_pg.htm

Together Towards Improvement The purpose of self-evaluation is to: promote school effectiveness; improve the quality of learning and teaching; improve the experiences of the pupils; and raise the standards which the pupils attain. http://www.etini.gov.uk/index/together-towards-improvement.htm

Better Literacy/Numeracy http://www.etini.gov.uk/index/surveys-evaluations/surveys-evaluations-primary/surveys-evaluations-primary-2008/better-literacy-in-primary-schools.htm http://www.etini.gov.uk/index/surveys-evaluations/surveys-evaluations-primary/surveys-evaluations-primary-2010/better-numeracy-in-primary-schools-evaluations-and-prompts-for-self-evaluation.htm

PIRLS & TIMSS Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study Executive summary may be found at: http://www.nfer.ac.uk/publications/PRTI01/PRTI01Summary.pdf Progress in International Reading Literacy Study Full report may be found at: http://www.nfer.ac.uk/nfer/publications/PRTI01/PRTI01.pdf

The way forward Personal reflection;

Objectives Participants will have opportunities to consider: the evolving role of the coordinator; and effective strategies for planning, monitoring and evaluation. 39

Contact Details Yvonne Mathers yvonne_mathers@welbni.org Sylvia Thornton sylvia_thornton@welbni.org Nan Millar nan_millar@welbni.org Marie Mc Cann marie_mccann@welbni.org Mary Quinn mary_quinn@welbni.org Michael Burns michael_burns@welbni.org