Teaching and Learning

Rationale

Network 7 is committed to proving consistently excellent learning opportunities for all of our children. We understand that the emotional well being of our school community is directly linked to standards of attainment within the curriculum and beyond.

Therefore, teaching and learning at Network 7 must take full account of our work in Emotional Literacy, Thinking Skills and Learning Styles that are all contained within our co-ordinated approach to the curriculum. All of this is grounded in a nurturing ethos that understands that positive relationships are the key to learning.

Aims

•  To encourage the development of independent, confident and creative children who are able to apply their knowledge.

•  To raise achievement in all areas of the child's life in order to prepare them for a lifetime of learning.

•  To create a school culture that is consistently seen to value the strength of relationships.

Inclusion

At Network 7 we embrace the principles of inclusion. We do this through our approaches to teaching and learning as outlined in our rationale and also through our involvement in initiatives such ‘Coventry Standards for Inclusion'.

Learning

We believe that children learn best when:.

•  Their individual learning styles are understood and catered for.

•  They have clear expectation of work and behaviour.

•  There is good opportunity to think and reflect.

•  They have a positive attitude to work.

•  Work is challenging but achievable, supported by meaningful feedback.

•  The environment is supportive, calm, well ordered and stimulating.

•  Parents are involved and supportive.

Teaching

We believe that teaching is most effective when:

•  There is full account made of children's learning styles.

•  Lessons are well planned with objectives made clear to children.

•  There are high expectations on all children combined with effective feedback.

•  Children's independence is encouraged through the development of thinking skills.

•  Inclusion is promoted through effective differentiation in all aspects of the classroom.

How we promote good teaching and learning

•  Effective planning through short, medium and long term sequences.

•  Effective monitoring, ranging through a variety of strategies, including; planning evaluation, classroom observations, book trawls, summative and formative assessment and data interrogation. .

•  Implementation of developing Thinking Skills, supported through, brain gym, mind mapping, emotional literacy, use of music within the classroom, thinking times and free access to drinking water.

•  Clear expectations for behaviour which are acted on fairly and consistently.

•  Small group support for children with SEN and those identified as gifted and able.

•  A school ethos based on nurturing principles that maintain that effective learning has a basis in the strength of relationships that exist throughout the school.