1. Assertive Mentoring Woodbridge Junior School

2. Today’s aims to explain what Assertive Mentoring is to see how it will work in our school to see how it will benefit you and your child

3. Aims of Assertive Mentoring To raise standards for all To motivate and involve children To inform and involve parents

4. Why bother changing? We have very inconsistent results historically as picked up by the DFE Ofsted noted a good capacity for improvement so now we have to make those improvements. The school is satisfactory rather than good because pupils are not always well enough informed how to improve their work When teaching is at its best, pupils are fully engaged and teachers use accurate assessment information to guide their planning of learning.

5. What do we need to do? Ensure pupils are always actively engaged in their learning and have clear, personalised targets and consistent feedback that help them to improve their own work. By July 2013, improve the quality of teaching so that it always ensures pupils make good or better progress, by: -using assessment information to match learning accurately to pupils’ needs and developing pupils’ independence in their own learning.

6. Learners learn best when they: Understand what they are trying to learn Are given feedback about their work Are shown how to make it better Are fully involved in the process

7. Assessment for Learning ‘... is the single most powerful tool we have for both raising standards and empowering lifelong learners.’ (Assessment Reform Group)

8. What is Assertive Mentoring? “Assertive Mentoring is a focussed, child centred, collaborative approach based on a dialogue about the child’s present and future learning needs.” (G. Downey SIP 2008)

9. It incorporates and facilitates: Assessment: Where are the children? Tracking: How are they progressing? Target Setting: What do they need next? Support: What help is needed?

10. Attitude and Behaviour Children made it very clear they wanted some changes. They felt good behaviour was not rewarded enough and the ‘white slip’ system did not have enough effect. They feel there is bullying at school in some areas and poor behaviour sometimes disturbed their learning.

11. Key changes. Rewards: Attitudes are monitored termly through mentoring meetings. High expectations of children taking responsibility for their own behaviour and attitudes. Positive attitudes and behaviour strongly rewarded through a daily smiley collection system, individual stickers leading to prizes and class smileys leading to additional fun Friday time. Fun Friday has to be earned by the class rather than an expectation. Gold star status

12. Sanctions: Verbal and visible warnings Time out in class - reflection Time out in another class – reflection Working in isolation for a period of time Being placed on report Lunchtime isolation (exclusion for regular offences) Exclusion Parents will be informed by letter about any time out in another class and we would expect to be supported.

13. Inclusion: We are an inclusive school and we are expected to provide what each child needs to achieve and thrive. Inclusion does not mean that all children receive the same, it means that all children receive what they need. Some children, for a variety of reasons, need additional and different provision. We work with outside agencies and parents to ensure that we meet those needs to the best of our abilities whilst balancing that against the needs of the class.

14. Track attitude progress AttitudeLast year T1 T2 T3 Attendance98%96%92% Punctuality Behaviour Effort Homework Uniform

15. Laddishness: Support and challenge Negotiate deals Involve parents early Set targets and check

16. Consistency Means maximum effect and efficiency

17. Where next? Assertive Mentoring: We have started with maths and attitudes Next is reading and writing

18. Benefits for children Focussed teaching Know here they are Relevant intervention Personalised learning Motivation Targets met Success

19. Parent’s role: Know your child’s targets Support them in achieving them Support the school Attend any meetings and check Star files