Guidance and Support for ICT Coordinators from the Nottinghamshire School Improvement Service

News

January 2004


Reading posters

The Literacy team have created a set of posters for use in classrooms in Key Stages One and Two to support children's reading, the strategies listed support navigation through texts, decoding and comprehension.

Speaking and Listening materials

These materials posted on the Standards site include:

  • a set of objectives for speaking and listening in Years 1-6;
  • examples of teaching sequences for the objectives;
  • a video illustrating the teaching of speaking and listening linked to some of the sequences;
  • a handbook with advice on the principles behind the materials and on assessment, together with commentaries on the video;
  • leaflets on the four aspects of speaking and listening (speaking, listening, group discussion and interaction, and drama);
  • a poster focusing on progression across Years 1-6.


The National Literacy and Numeracy Strategies and the primary curriculum

This OFSTEd report provides continuing evidence about the national literacy and numeracy strategies and their effects on the primary curriculum. It summarises the standards attained, reports on teaching and curriculum organisation and suggests areas where further work is needed.


Y2 and Y3 planning exemplification and spelling programme

This booklet combines the NLS planning exemplification with a spelling programme for Years 2 and 3. Progression in phonics has accelerated the work in spelling for children in Foundation Stage and Year 1. Progression in phonics and the Key Stage 2 Spelling bank do not address Year 2. This booklet serves to fill this gap and provide continuity between key stages.
 


New to Year 6: Support for teachers new to Y6 and NQTs in Y6

This leaflet offers insights and advice from the Primary National Strategy and experienced Y6 teachers for those new to teaching in Y6. it provides guidance on key aspects of teaching and learning and on how to prepare sensibly for the end of KS2 tests. It also gives access to relevant Primary Strategy resources.

 

   

November 2003

Tuned-in.org

The Literacy team has bought a year's subscription for all Infant, Junior, Primary and Special schools in Nottinghamshire for the web site www.tuned-in.org . You may well have seen it mentioned in the press nationally and will be at the forefront of the drive for creativity in Nottinghamshire under excellence and enjoyment. To access the site use the link above and select a module from the bars at the top of the screen.  Look out for the advice on planning from the team which should be in school in late November.

   

October 2003


Phonics seminar

Following the seminar of 17 March looking into the effective teaching of phonics in the National Literacy Strategy, an independent report has been published as well as seven papers presented at the seminar and the response to the report's recommendations from the Department of Education and Skills.
 


The Big Read

With the Top 21 now revealed, Clive Anderson steps up the search for the nation's favourite Big Read.

This week Meera Syal extolled the virtues of Pride and Prejudice, William Hague fought his corner for Birdsong and Benedict Allen explored His Dark Materials. Join the search and register your vote.


Standards Site communities

The further development of the Literacy Standards web site has seen the introduction of communities. Each area has links to key sites or pieces of information

KS1 teachers                              KS2 teachers

NQTs                                        Inclusion             

Reading is Fundamental

Reading Is Fundamental, UK is an initiative of the National Literacy Trust that helps children and young people (aged 0 to 19) to realise their potential by motivating them to read.

This interesting site includes a list of recommended storytellers to use in schools
 


Training timetable

We have updated our training list to include the Spring term, there is a wide range of training coming up including Speaking and Listening, Year 3, More able pupils in Year 6, Literacy across the curriculum and Co-ordinator's training.

Early Literacy Support Top up sessions

As promised on the ELS training this term we have posted the Top up sessions from the Literacy Standards site
 

   

May 2003


FLS top up module

This Top-up module is designed to follow on from the Further Literacy Support (FLS) intervention programme. It is intended that it should be used in the second part of the summer term for those children who have benefited from the FLS modules but still need some limited support beyond what they would get in the lessons, in order to consolidate their progress.

Colour version                          Grey version


Excellence and Enjoyment - A strategy for primary schools

Speaking at the Institute of Civil Engineers Mr Clarke has emphasised the need to build on the success of the literacy and numeracy strategies through excellent teaching within a stimulating and enjoyable curriculum in order to give every child the life chance they deserve.

Copy of Charles Clarke's speech
 


The Big Read

The National Literacy Trust is working in conjunction with the BBC to support the Big Read 2003. Use the links below to find out more

National Literacy Trust site

School Library Association information

BBC Big Read home page


New look standards web site

Have you looked at the NLS home web page recently?

They have overhauled it and made it more user friendly.

NLS home page

 

 

 

April 2003


Medium Term Planning from the NLS

If you haven't already done your Summer medium term planning then you may well want to print off the new planning from the NLS. It is grouped into sequences with reference to PiPs, Developing Early Writing, Grammar for Writing and Spelling Bank.

Many schools are already using it in Nottinghamshire.
 

Quality Texts for the Teaching of Writing

These materials support teachers to select quality texts from the full range included in the NLS Framework for teaching for Y3, Y4, Y5 and Y6, and provide worked examples on their use in linking reading and writing across the Literacy Hour.

We have collated the Summer term  examples in an easy and quick to download way.


Teaching writing: narrative, poetry and plays

These teaching ideas can be downloaded for adaptation and use in the classroom. The narrative and poetry sections are based around the main writing text-level objectives. They provide examples for Year One up to Year Six and even give you the text for the modelling sessions in your shared writing.

We have collated the Summer term  examples in an easy and quick to download way.

Write Here, Write Now!

The writing awards support the National Literacy Strategy and are open to pupils aged 8-10 across the country. Over 20,000 entries were received last year, and this year it is hoped that even more young people will take part.

Children who enter Write Here, Write Now 2003 have the chance to complete opening lines provided by well-known authors in one of three categories: a poem begun by Brian Patten, a story started by award-winning children’s author Gillian Cross, and a piece of persuasive writing by TV presenter Adam Hart-Davis. For the journalism category, children can write a news report following advice from BBC Newsround presenter Lizo Mzimba.

We strongly recommend this fantastic competition to all schools with Years 4 and 5, all area winners have their work published in a nationally published book.

Details of the launch of WHWN

Write Here, Write Now home site


English primary pupils are among the best readers in the world

England’s primary school pupils are the third most able readers in the world behind Sweden and the Netherlands, according to a recent international study.

The study, which examined the reading habits and achievement of 10 year olds in 35 countries, showed that England was one of the highest-performing countries in the world, and the most successful English-speaking country.


Year Four to Year Five Bridging Unit

This bridging unit written by the NLS was written for First and Middle schools, however we strongly recommend all schools with Key Stage Two classes to take a look at this. Remember this is free planning!



Micheal Morpurgo is coming to Nottinghamshire in late June. Keep checking your post bag and this site for details. Some of your children could get the chance to meet the man himself!

 

March 2003

Changes to the tests 2003

The QCA has produced guidance and sample materials for teachers at Key Stages 1 and 2 on the changes to assessment in 2003.

We have collated information on the changes to the tests which can be accessed through the link above

Link to QCA pages on test changes

Sample test materials from the QCA


ICT in the Literacy Hour: Independent work and guided reading

This new CD ROM from the NLS has recently arrived in your school. All schools with KS2 classes will have received a copy in the Year 6 Refresher pack.

It provides guidance on how ICT can become an integral component of the independent work and guided reading elements of the Literacy Hour. It complements the CD ROM ICT in the Literacy Hour: Whole class teaching sent out to all schools in September 2001.

ICT in the Literacy Hour gives you a great training resource for:

  • individual teachers and student teachers;
  • staff meetings;
  • whole-school and cluster INSET;
  • LEA training;
  • initial teacher training.

 

Medium Term Planning

Have you seen the new Medium Term Plans from the National Literacy Strategy?

It may prove very useful and time saving, available from Early Foundation Stage all the way up to Year 6


Year Four to Five Bridging Unit

The NLS has written a Bridging Unit for Year Four and Year Five children, although this was originally aimed at First and Middle schools, all schools with Key Stage Two classes should find this incredibly useful.

Grammar for Writing

A new section to support the Grammar for Writing training including sentence level strand tracker, 'where can I find?' and the on line CPD Grammar units.

January 2003


Subscribe service

The NLS now has a subscribe service that will automatically allow all primary schools to order National Literacy and Numeracy Strategy publications before they are widely available.

The Subscribe homepage shows what publications will be available, and gives you a brief overview of the content of each document.

By following the easy to use on-screen prompts, you can choose the quantity and selection of publications that you require, and complete your order online.

Once the publications are released for distribution, they will be sent directly to your school, saving you time and giving you easy access to the materials you need.

The service currently applies to all primary publications and materials produced from September 2002 until December 2002.

 

National Literacy Strategy- the first four years 1998–2002

The latest HMI report on the Literacy Strategy is now available.

"The National Literacy Strategy and National Numeracy Strategy have brought about substantial improvements in the teaching of literacy and mathematics in English primary schools..."

You can download the full report in less than one minute.