teaching need to be explored. Management of students 1st teachers are finding it a challenge to hear all children read individually September 2013 – Nine parents are supporting teachers to hear class reading on Wednesday mornings (3 parents in each of the three 1st classes). This will be monitored and reviewed at the end of the year. withdrawing pupils. The practice is being monitored, and will be reviewed at the May 2014 staff meeting. Assessment Need for more of a focus on learner focused and self- assessment Teacher dialogue and discussion identified a need to focus on pupil The principal found the teacher reflection section on the monthly reports informed her of the classroom context, the real and genuine needs of the teacher and pupils as well as the daily challenges faced and good practice. 2nd PRIORITY 2012 - 2013 Evidence of self-evaluation in pupils’ work. Children record progress and evaluate their work using a tool similar to SALF folders, depending on the age and ability of the child. Evidence of more ‘teacher reflection’ on teaching and learning in monthly reports … Use of teacher reflections to improve teaching and learning in the school overall. Teachers are using a range of tools to encourage pupil such as: SALF – reflections, learning logs, conferencing, learning journey, KWL charts Rubrics, Mind-mapping, traffic lights, 2 stars and a wish Play diaries, red/green faces, green/orange/red cubes, questionnaires, oral evaluations, thumbs up/down, WOW wall, seeking child’s view of progress, photo diaries May 2014:- a copy of each teacher’s monthly reflection on learning and teaching, with an emphasis on literacy
Learning environment School Library Up to 2013, there was no school library or reading area in the school. All library books in the school have been recorded on the school DATABIZ LIBRARY system. This system will identify reluctant/avid readers, popular authors/titles etc. Classroom libraries will be stocked with 150? books from the central school library. Resource rooms will be stocked with 30? books from the central library. Stock can be renewed/replaced easily from this central library. June 2014: The BoM will arrange substitute cover for teachers to learn how to keep track of books on the system. Parents have offered to help with the library and this support will be availed of. Learning to learn/ Engagement in learning Comprehension strategies Following a review of literacy, Comprehension strategies was identified by staff as a priority. 2nd PRIORITY 2013 - 2014 A whole school plan for developing comprehension strategies has been developed. The whole school plan in English has been revised with the updated version put on the school website. June 2014 It is hoped that standardised test results at the end of June will show an improvement in comprehension abilities of the children. Learning to learn/ Engagement in learning writing in different genres Following a review of literacy, writing in different genres was identified by as a priority. What evidence was used? 3RD PRIORITY 2013 - 2014 A two-year plan for teaching writing Genres has been developed June 2015 Teachers will design/decide on tools to assess children’s understanding of the different writing genre and report on same. Attainment of curriculum objectives Teachers don’t always share the learning outcomes of a lesson with the children. Learning objectives were stated in all long-term plans but were not stated in some short-term plans. Teachers did not always share the learning objective with the children before they taught them. 3RD PRIORITY 2012 - 2013 Learning objectives will be stated clearly in all long-term and short-term plans (evidence in planning documents) All teachers share learning objectives with the children. (evidence in planning documents). Is implemented by all staff.