Course Details

Centre for Educational Excellence in the North 

A Partnership between Salford Professional Development Ltd and the National Education Trust 

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Friday 21st June 2013, 09.30-15.30, Media CityUK

It is the Coalition’s Government’s stated aim, that all children and young people with SEN or disabilities reach their full potential in school. They should also be supported to make a successful transition into adulthood, whether into employment, further or higher education or training. For this aim to become a reality, the importance of creating outstanding classrooms cannot be understated.

Outstanding classrooms in the special school can be created when dedicated professional teams place children at the centre of their vocation and ensure that every child matters. By doing this they can reduce the achievement gap between children from different backgrounds. There are a number of factors that are key contributors, namely; appointing staff of the highest quality and investing in and developing them; treating children as individuals, supporting them well and expecting them to achieve well; having staff who are passionate about finding ways of doing things better, with an unremitting focus on learning, development and progress; and demonstrating high-quality leadership to promote, support and sustain the drive to perfect teaching and maximise learning.

A clear common factor across the successful special school is having high expectations. These expectations come from strong values and they are set in a way that leaves everyone – pupils, parents, staff and governors – clear about what they are. It is then important that those high expectations are applied consistently and never relaxed.

In special schools a key driver is centred on putting children first and faith in what children can achieve and teachers can do. Transformational school leaders with a belief that all pupils can achieve high standards, given sufficient time and high-quality support, is an important background to the creation of an outstanding classroom in the special school.

This course is focused on creating outstanding teaching and learning in special schools. A copy on the specially devised leaflet 'Sparkling Classrooms' will be available to course participants.

Rooted in Simon Knights extensive work at Frank Wise School, Banbury and special schools nationally, he will share practical ideas and approaches, including best practice use of ICT in the classrooms. Bring a portable device if you have one! 

Attendance at this course will provide you with a knowledge and skills set that you will be able to take back to your classroom to the benefit of your school and institution, including:

• The journey to the classroom
• The fun and fundamentals of learning
• Values and expectations
• Knowing your subject
• Knowing your students
• Smart Classrooms
• Interventions and digressions
• To teach is to learn
• Reflection and evaluation
• What have I learned as a teacher

Agenda

09:30  Registration and Coffee

10:00  Opening Presentation: Creating Outstanding Classrooms in the Special School

10:15  The Journey to the Classroom

• Creating stimulating environments in which to explore new skills and knowledge

10:45  The Fun and Fundamentals of Learning

• Providing a climate for learning that engenders confidence and motivation amongst the learners
• Opportunities for risk taking, exploration of new knowledge and concepts and experimentation
• Education – “to lead out”- underpins the learning environment

 11:15  Coffee Break

11:30  Values and Expectations

• The importance of “How” we teach
• Doing things differently for different people

12:00  Knowing your Subject

• The teacher who loves their subject and shares that passion with their students  

12:30  Lunch

13:30  Knowing your Students

• Knowing your pupils’ individual predispositions to learn
• Recognising which teaching and learning styles are more or less effective
• Having a clear grasp of the potential pupils have to develop their multiple intelligences, talents and aptitudes in various directions

14.00  Smart Classrooms

• Moving the lesson to a higher level through “applied learning”
• Ensuring that book and technological resources are accessible and fit for purpose
• Understanding the optimum group size that is conducive to good learning and progress

14:30  Coffee Break

14.45  Interventions and Digressions

• Building on pupils’ previous knowledge and encouraging them to think differently through creative digression
• Knowing when to intervene and when to draw back from the learner

          To Teach is to Learn

• Understanding what true independent learning means
• Managing independent learning in the best interest of the learner

     Reflection and Evaluation

• Allowing learners the opportunities to reflect
• The importance of regular reflection and creating two-way pathways
• Valuing what students are producing, indicating its strengths an “even-better-ifs”
• Feedback is the fuel that propels the acquisition of learning

         What have I Learned as a Teacher

• Continually seeking improvement and development

15.30    Close