Emotional Literacy

Wootton Bassett Evening Lecture

Key stage 1 moderation training powerpoint April 2009

Inspirational Science Course March 2009 (Photgraphs)

Give the page time to load up with the photos. Navigate through them with your arrow buttons or click on them with your mouse curser.

Devizes Schools Science Cluster day download February 2008

DON'T MISS:  assessment protocols and guidance document

Explore the resource links. There are plenty of downloadable documents including extracts fro the updates Wilts Science Scheme of Work

Tom is the Advisory Team Leader (science, assessment & learning) for Wiltshire Council. His first priority is to support Wiltshire schools but he is let out occasionally to support schools across the  UK  and in other parts of the world.  

Science

This years focus will be:

•  helping teachers track pupils learning in science, particularly Sc1.
• focusing on moderation of Sc 1 and help colleagues make judgements about the levels of attainment that is demonstrated by pupils work.

If you come to the network meetings please bring along with you your  samples of pupils' science work so we can practice levelling and discussing the characteristics of  attainment and achievement.

Next science network meetings is:

Tisbury Cluster June 29th 2009

Meeting start at 2 pm

The focus will be on making assessment judgments and tracking Sc 1 progress.

Book now with Vicky Hughes  to make sure you have a space. They are free!

The topics we intend to cover include over the next year:

• making science mysteries See downloadable example; Tim's tea
• produce more Sc 1
•  investigation modules
• analysis and interpretation of data including graphs
• small steps in learning See downloadable example (INSET version with some text missing)
• tracking Sc 1 across the school
• the role of the SL in science
• planning a science week
• carrying out full investigations
• using the Smart board effectively
• stimulating resources for KS 1 (puppets etc)
• improving your own K&U of science
• Sc 1 workshop for teachers - improving my own Sc 1 skills

Moderation in science support

 Recently Tom has been working with the science leading teachers with the aim of producing a document which will support the moderation of science in your school. It helps develop the teachers own knowledge of Sc 1 and what to look for and listen to in the classroom that characterises good science and thinking about what level the learning might represent.  The full document is now available for schools.

Teachers in the school should know what skills they should be teaching to their class. Many teachers find this a challenge and so find it almost impossible to track pupil’s progress in Sc 1. Please contact Tom if you would like further support in the planning, teaching and tracking of Sc 1 skills.

 What does SC 1 look and sound like in the classroom

Tom has produced a new document that helps teachers understand what a SC 1 skill might look or sound like in the classroom at different levels. One page from the document has been attached. The document gives the skill to be developed and then breaks down the skill into what it might look or sound like in terms of development from just learning it to being fully competent in its use. If you want any support with this aspect of science please contact Tom.

 

Assessment & Learning

   KEY MESSAGE for assessment for 2009 - 2010 

• Promote the use of moderated and standardised teacher assessments, supported by tests to back up judgements where appropriate.
• Know what you want the pupils to learn and have a system in place which allows you to track pupils progress formatively, using tests to moderate your judgements.

Checklist for assessment

Spring terms checklist

·   RAISEonline and FFT Live available (validated data)

·   KS1 tasks and tests arrive

·   Applications for Access Arrangements – deadline for early opening and additional time is 5 pm on 2 March 2009.  See page 54 of the KS2 ARA

·   Schools receive materials for KS2 test administration

 Summer Term check list: 

·   The Early Years Foundation Stage Profile (EYFSP)

·   ‘Continuing the Learning Journey’ (EYFSP ð Year 1)

·   Finalise end of KS1 TA

·   Confirm end of year level judgements, backed up by Optional Tests as appropriate

·   KS2 Tests – 11 – 15 May 2009

·   Review of external marking

·   Finalise end of KS2 TA

·   Enter EYFSP, KS1 and KS2 data into MIS and submit to LA/QCA including P scale data for KS1 and KS2

·   Question level analysis of NC tests

(Yr 2,3,4,5, and 6) using RAISEonline

·   Update individual pupil records

·   Review pupils’ progress

·   Annual report to parents

·   Common Transfer File (CTF) updated for those pupils moving from one school to another

·   In school review of assessment policy and practice which should lead to: identifying priorities for school development plan (SDP)

·   Transition meetings for all staff

 Autumn terms checklist 

·   Review of marking outcomes for KS2 tests

·   Check results prior to validation

·   Application for removal of recently arrived pupils with EAL

·   RAISEonline and FFT Live available (unvalidated data)

·   Statutory and LA target setting-LA/school/GB (quantitative)

·   Head Teacher (HT) receives username and password for NAA Test Forms website

·   HT receives test order pin number (4 digits)

·   HT creates school user accounts for Test Forms website

·   Order test papers including modified papers

·   Updating Section 3 (Standards and Achievement) of the School Evaluation Form (SEF)

·   Receive KS1 and KS2 Assessment and Reporting Arrangements (ARA) booklets for current academic year, dispose of previous year’s copy

 On-going

 ·   Assessment for Learning

·   Appropriate use of KS1 task/test material

·   Tracking children’s progress, e.g. using Assessing Pupil Progress (APP) materials

·   Monitoring and evaluation of assessment procedures

·   Monitoring and evaluation of assessment practices – influencing classroom practice

·   Supporting development of curricular/teaching targets/individual pupil targets informing school targets

·   Developing consistency of assessment judgements – whole school/cross school and cross-phase standardisation and moderation using, for example:

-          Continuing the Learning Journey

-          QCA ‘Building a picture of what children can do…’ materials

-          NC Action website materials

-          APP Materials

·   Dialogue with parents/governors and the wider community

Assessment network meetings:

For downloads of some of the materials given out at the netwrok meetings:

APP powerpoint click here

skills assessments sheets click here

summer term meetings dates to be confirmed

To book a free place contact  Vicky Hughes or ring 01225 793349

Assessment Action research Projects:2009 - 2010 

A letter will be going out  to schools in a few weeks time inviting colleagues to take part in this years project. If you are planning to do any work on assessment this year why not apply for the free support and action research grant. Contact Tom if you want more details.

Statutory Assessment 2009

Updates on APP

 The new KS1 standards files (Working towards Level 1 to Level 3) are now online. At present they are located on the National strategy site – see link below http://nationalstrategies.standards.dcsf.gov.uk/search/primary/results/nav:45920

The KS1 files are best viewed online as they include video clips, audio clips and photographs.

 Key stage 1 moderation

 Please note that there are still a number of places available on the KS1 moderation twilight sessions running throughout the year at different venues across the county.  If you would like support regarding a pupil’s teacher assessment level in reading, writing and/or maths or if you teach in a small school and would like the opportunity to discuss pupils’ work with other teachers please go the Wiltshire CPD website for details of the remaining sessions.

Key Stage 2 testing

As a result of the problems experienced last year there have been a number of changes. The NAA is now amalgamated with the QCDA. OFQUAL will now regulate them. The KS2 tests will continue, with the marking contract returning to EDEXCEL. Notably, this will see the return to paper mark sheets that will accompany the scripts. Scripts will be sent to markers and not a depot. There will be a new courier company and the Marking quality assurance from 2008 (known then as ‘Benchmarking’) will continue, but will now be paper-based. Further details will follow as part of Head’s briefings. There are 2 documents to look for: The Key stage 2 NCT March mailing - 10 March 2009. This will include Pupil registration guidance, TAG and checklist and March circular and a Security factsheet - online only, 13 April 2009. Schools are reminded to read the ARA carefully and QCDA request that schools remember to return all envelopes and labels. These are tagged and will show up as the school ‘missing’ scripts. The pilot of Single Level Tests concludes in June.

 Please ask us to clarify any issue you have regarding test security. All KS2 scripts must be kept securely. i.e. locked away. The authority and QCDA is obliged to visit schools before, during and after the tests to ensure security is maintained.

Using data to track pupils progress

 The  LA strongly recommends that schools record assessment judgements three times a year using TA as their prime source of data, backed up by the use of relevant tests where appropriate.  They also need to be able to look at the performance of a variety of vulnerable groups within cohorts. To support schools the LA has developed an electronic tracking tool, which will be in use in 60 schools by Easter. A new version will be available to all schools by early June. INSET and training for the summer term is currently being organised and will be published on the CPD website in early March. The tool and an initial setup is available free of charge to all Primary, Infant and Junior Schools.

News on upcoming courses

Neurolingistic Processing:

Tom has set up an action enquiry group that is exploring the impact of using NLP strategies on ourselves as teachers and how we can use NLP to enhance learning capacity of pupils. If anyone is interested in this project and its finding please contact Tom. The NLP group will be putting on a series of courses in the future based on their findings.

 Assessment & Learning  conference planning

 The assessment team is just about to plan the annual assessment conference. We are hoping to make use of some of the excellent practice that we have in the county and make reference to some of the great action enquiry assessment & learning projects that have been taking place in recent years. We will keep you updated about future dates and venues.

How we make memories - There are a number of new courses Tom has produced for the coming year that explore how memories and emotions are linked. You can choose from a menu of modules to suit the needs of your teachers and pupils.

The modules are designed to help us understand how our actions as teachers not only affect the short term learning of pupils but also their long term capacity for learning too.  Example of the modules include;

• What are memories?

• How are memories made?

• How memories are affected by emotions?

• What is the link between attention span and emotions?

• Gender, memories and emotions

• Age, memories and emotions

• Language, learning and emotions

• Effect of violence and stress on memories

• Effect of happiness (and alcohol) on memories

• Keys to developing better memory