The offer for academic year 2023-24 draws on the expertise of city headteachers, practitioners and consultants to ensure a joined up approach to improving outcomes in English for children in Leicester. Opportunities included in this year’s offer cover reading, writing and oracy, and aim to support the training and development of staff in schools who lead, teach and support English.
The English offer is commissioned by Closing the Gap (CtG) & Whatever it Takes (WiT). As both of these initiatives are funded via de-delegation, all opportunities are offered at a free, or subsidised cost for Leicester City maintained schools. Non-maintained and Leicestershire schools are very welcome to participate, but a full charge will apply.
Briefing Session
This video below provides a short briefing to explain the rationale of the English training available to Leicester maintained and non-maintained schools during 2023-24. It will provide an overview of the courses on offer, explain the links between the sessions and which courses are recommended for which teachers.
Booking links
Book all CtG training via the individual booking links within the course information.
Book all WiT training/ initiatives via the single booking link below.
Strategic Leadership - CtG
Cost: Free for Leicester City maintained schools. £240 (for experienced Leaders) £560 (for new Leaders) for non-maintained and Leicestershire schools.
Course Leads: Mel Hendy, Jo Puttick, Annmarie Williams and English Specialists
No. of session(s): 3 x half day sessions (for all Leaders), plus 4 x half day sessions (for new Leaders)
Overview
These half-day sessions for English Subject Leaders will provide opportunities to receive subject knowledge input and to share good practice and network with other schools. Content, from across different aspects of English, will be linked to intent, implementation and impact to support leadership in school. Additional training will be available to develop leadership skills for new English Leaders in CPD, monitoring and evaluation.
Senior leaders and English subject leaders will have a clear understanding of the rationale underpinning recommended teaching strategies for each area of English and will understand how English (reading, writing, phonics and oracy) are taught from Early Years to Year 6, linking together to form their whole school English Curriculum intent. They will also receive CPD ensuring that their knowledge is up-to-date with national developments including Ofsted’s Review of the English Curriculum.
Leaders will lead English more strategically and understand why they are implementing different approaches to teaching and learning and what impact they are having. They will be well-prepared for Ofsted deep-dives. Over time, this should lead to improved standards in reading and writing.
Well-informed leaders will be able to select which staff in school should attend which training session from the CtG menu, ensuring that subsequent attendance is strategic, valued and followed-up to ensure maximum impact.
Session dates
Strategic Leadership of English Meetings
To be attended by all Leaders (new and experienced). It is also recommended that a member of the Senior Leadership team attends to support impact at a whole school level and sustainability,
Session 1: 12th October, 9-12 at NSPCC
Session 2: 25th January, 9-12 at NSPCC
Session 3: 21st March, 9-12 at St Martins House
Session 4: 2nd May, 9-12 at NSPCC - Cancelled
Sessions for New Leaders
To be attended by new English Leaders
Session 1: 2nd October, 9-12 at St Martins House
Session 2: 1st December, 9-12 at NSPCC
Session 3: 9th February, 9-12 at NSPCC
Session 4: 12th April, 9-12 at NSPCC
Writing - CtG
Cost: Free for Leicester City maintained schools. £240 per delegate for non-maintained schools and Leicestershire schools.
Course Lead(s): Jo Puttick and Emma Spiers
No. of sessions: 3 x half day sessions
Audience: EYFS and Y1 Teachers
Overview
Teachers will have a clear understanding of the research and rationale underpinning best practice in the teaching of early writing and these principles will be foundations for both strands of training. Training will be broken down into small steps so that leaders and practitioners have the opportunity to apply it in their classrooms, before reflecting on its its impact during follow-up sessions.
Session Dates
Session 1: 3rd November, 9-12 at NSPCC
Session 2: 13th February, 9-12 at NSPCC
Session 3: 19th April, 9-12 at NSPCC
Cost: Free for Leicester City maintained schools. £295 per delegate for non-maintained schools and Leicestershire schools.
Course Lead(s): Jo Puttick and Mel Hendy
No. of sessions: 3 x half day sessions and 1 x twilight session
Audience: English Subject Leaders, plus 1 teacher
Overview
The course relates to how to teach writing effectively for lower achieving writers to support them to make accelerated progress towards age related expectations. Training will be broken down into small steps so that leaders and practitioners have the opportunity to apply it in their classrooms, before reflecting on its its impact during follow-up sessions.
Session Dates
Session 1: 24th November, 9-12 at NSPCC
Session 2: 19th January, 9-12 at NSPCC
Session 3: 29th February, 9-12 at NSPCC
Session 4: 21st May, 9-12 online
Cost: £195 per delegate for Leicester City maintained schools. £240 per delegate for non-maintained schools and Leicestershire schools.
Course Lead(s): Hannah Cooper
No. of sessions: 3 x half day sessions
Overview
These sessions will support teachers with planning using AFL and ensure that the teaching sequences are developed to teach and apply appropriate national curriculum skills required to create good writing outcomes at Yr1 and 2. There will be a focus on ensuring model texts allow children to see appropriate writing expectations to base their writing on. There will be an opportunity to review own writing in order to ensure progression over time.
Session dates
Session 1: 19th January, 9-12 at SDSA
Session 2: 14th March, 9-12 at SDSA
Session 3: 9th May, 9-12 at SDSA
Cost: £195 per delegate for Leicester City maintained schools. £240 per delegate for non-maintained schools and Leicestershire schools.
Course Lead(s): Hannah Cooper
No. of sessions: 3 x half day sessions
Overview
These sessions will support teachers with planning using AFL and ensure that the teaching sequences are developed to teach and apply appropriate national curriculum skills required to create good writing outcomes at Yr3 and 4. There will be a focus on ensuring model texts allow children to see appropriate writing expectations to base their writing on. There will be an opportunity to review own writing in order to ensure progression over time.
Session dates
Session 1: 9th November, 9-12 at SDSA
Session 2: 8th February, 9-12 at SDSA
Session 3: 11th April, 9-12 at SDSA
Cost: £195 per delegate for Leicester City maintained schools. £240 per delegate for non-maintained schools and Leicestershire schools.
Course Lead(s): Hannah Cooper
No. of sessions: 3 x half day sessions
Overview
These sessions will support teachers with planning using AFL and ensure that the teaching sequences are developed to teach and apply appropriate national curriculum skills required to create good writing outcomes at Yr5 and 6. There will be a focus on ensuring model texts allow children to see appropriate writing expectations to base their writing on. There will be an opportunity to review own writing in order to ensure progression over time.
Session dates
Session 1: 25th January, 9-12 at SDSA
Session 2: 21st March, 9-12 at SDSA
Session 3: 2nd May, 9-12 at SDSA
Oracy - CtG
Cost: Free for Leicester City maintained schools. £240 per delegate for non-maintained schools and Leicestershire schools.
Course Lead(s): Hannah Cooper, Laura Bisiker and Oracy Hub Leads
No. of sessions: 3 x half day sessions
Overview
The aim of the Network is to support oracy/ English leaders with managing the subject and developing appropriate action plans, as well as to provide subject updates and CPD. As well as supporting subject leadership, the sessions will also provide the opportunity to engage in immersive oracy masterclasses. Masterclasses will be delivered by the oracy lead teachers and will provide examples of key strategies and practice which can be taken back in to schools to share with colleagues.
During the sessions, leads will be able to consider who to send to the larger twilight events and additional training offers so that they can support the development of teachers in their schools.
The network is open to all schools, whatever their stage of oracy development. Schools are not required to have attended Voice 21 training in order to access these sessions.
Session Dates
Session 1: 26th October, 9-12 at NSPCC
Session 2: 18th January, 9-12 at NSPCC
Session 3: 18th April, 9-12 at NSPCC
Cost: Free for Leicester City maintained schools. £55 per session, per delegate, for non-maintained schools and Leicestershire schools.
If you are a non-maintained school who has already paid to access the Oracy Hub Network, attendance will be free of charge (per delegate).
Session Lead: Laura Bisiker
Focus on History: 27th November, 3:30pm - 5pm at Imperial Avenue Infant School
Focus on PSHE: 18th March, 3:30pm - 5pm at Imperial Avenue Infant School
Overview
Oracy / English Leads or designated Oracy Champions who attend the Oracy Hub Network can invite additional colleagues to these twilight events.
The aim is to support leads with implementing oracy across the curriculum and to immerse teachers in a learning sequence that can be applied back in school. Schools can sign up multiple delegates e.g. curriculum leads, phase leads & class teachers to work together during these immersive workshops.
During previous sessions, some schools found it beneficial to use this session as a designated staff meeting, or a designated time to offer cpd to teaching teams.
Cost: Free for Leicester City maintained schools. £55 per session, per delegate, for non-maintained schools and Leicestershire schools.
If you are a non-maintained school who has already paid to access the Oracy Hub Network, attendance will be free of charge (per delegate).
Session Leads: Oracy Teachers
Teach Meet 1: Thursday 15th February, 3:30pm - 5pm at Humberstone Infant School CANCELLED
Teach Meet 2: Wednesday 24th April, 3:30pm - 5pm at Parks Primary School
Overview
These Teach meets will be an opportunity for teachers to be immersed in the sharing of good practice through short ‘presentations’ hosted by the Hubs and delivered by any teacher involved in the teaching of oracy who wishes to participate.
It is an opportunity to hear from teaching practitioners who will share all things oracy including areas such as demonstrating groupings, quick wins, using sentence stems, developing a specific strand, engaging the reluctant speaker, assessing talk, etc. A menu of content will be shared closer to the time of the event.
Cost: £195 per delegate for Leicester City maintained schools. £240 per delegate for non-maintained schools and Leicestershire schools.
Course Lead(s): Hannah Cooper and Oracy Hub Leads
No. of sessions: 3 x half day sessions
Overview
This training is for teachers or schools who are new to oracy. It offers an introduction to key oracy teaching and learning principles, giving participants the opportunity to consider effective pedagogy around the notion of ‘learning to talk’ and ‘learning through talk’, and types of talk. Ideally, schools will also send an oracy leader to the Oracy Leaders' Network.
Session dates:
Session 1: 16th November, 9-12 at SDSA
Session 2: 14th December, 9-12 at SDSA
Session 3: 1st February, 9-12 at SDSA
Reading - Whatever it Takes (WiT)
Cost: Free for Leicester City maintained schools. £240 per delegate for non-maintained schools and Leicestershire schools.
Course Lead(s): Jo Puttick, Emma Spiers & Monika Singala
No. of sessions: 3 x half days (9am-12pm). Wed 1st Nov, Wed 31st Jan, Wed 17th April.
Audience: EYFS Leaders / Y1 teachers / English Leaders / Reading Leaders
Overview
The aim of this network is to connect colleagues across the city and to give an opportunity to develop teachers’ and leaders’ understanding relating to best practice in reading development in the Early Years and Y1. Now in its second year, sessions will focus on areas such as phonics, leading reading, early language development, closing the gap, using feedback, poetry, transition and vision for early reading development. There will also be input from CLS, linked to the themes of the sessions.
Session Focus and Dates:
| Session | Focus | Date | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Keeping children up with phonics teaching. Moving beyond phonics only books to ensure progress in Y2. Leading reading across the curriculum. | 1st November 2023 (AM) | NSPCC |
| Gap Task | Monitor the reading across the curriculum that takes in EYFS and Y1 | N/A | N/A |
| 2 | Early language development. Closing the gap for pupils who may not achieve ARE (bottom 20%). Using best practice in feedback to secure pupil progress in reading. | 31st January 2024 (AM) | NSPCC |
| Gap Task | Identify how feedback supports progress in reading in your school | N/A | N/A |
| 3 | Using poetry to support progress in reading in EYFS and Y1. Identifying best practice in transition to secure ongoing progress in reading. Your vision for early reading development. | 17th April 2024 (AM) | NSPCC |
| Gap Task | Secure your vision for your school and plan for the work that needs to be done to move towards this vision | N/A | N/A |
Cost: Free for Leicester City maintained schools. £160 per delegate for non-maintained schools and Leicestershire schools.
Course Leads: Jo Puttick and Mel Hendy
No. of session(s): 2 x half day sessions
Overview
These network sessions aim to provide focussed support to Reading Leaders. Each foci will be linked to evidence-based approaches in the teaching of reading, with course leaders sharing supporting models and guidance from identified areas of good practice.
Discussion and sharing of good practice will be central to each meeting so that schools with similar needs can discuss strengths and CPD approaches.
Session dates
Session 1: 10th November 2023 (AM) at NSPCC
Session 2: 15th February 2024 (AM) at NSPCC
Gap Task for Session 2: In anticipation of the Reading Leaders’ Network session on Thursday 15th February, the course leaders invite you to add to this Padlet, listing books and topic areas for the year group that you would like to plan for. This will help to inform the planning for the session.
Cost: Free for Leicester City maintained schools. £525 for non-maintained schools and Leicestershire schools.
Overview
Our Best Picture Book Award, especially for Year 2 children in Leicester! Year 2 pupils and families will be asked to read and talk together about six picture books and to vote for their favourite. Schools provided with books and resources to support the running of the award.
Contact: hayley.carter@sdsa.net
Cost: Free for Leicester City maintained schools. £525 for non-maintained schools and Leicestershire schools.
Overview
A book award, especially for Year 5/6 children in Leicester! Pupils are asked to read 12 books and to vote for their favourite. Schools will be provided with books and resources to support the running of the award. Cost covers multiple copies of titles, resources, videos and virtual author visits.
Contact: nicola.gale@sdsa.net
Cost: Free for Leicester City maintained schools. £525 for non-maintained schools and Leicestershire schools.
Overview
This comprises of a termly box of exciting books - simply for children to enjoy reading throughout the school! Suggested activities and competition challenges will be provided.
Contact: nicola.gale@sdsa.net
Authors on Tour will run during June 2024 with face to face author visits for all year groups. Books will be supplied to schools to accompany their chosen author visits. More information to follow in January 2024.
Contact: sonia.dayal@sdsa.net
Overview
We are planning 4 face to face Reading Champions’ Conferences this year in approximately September and December 2023, March and June 2024. More details to follow in the Autumn term.
Contact: sonia.dayal@sdsa or nicola.gale@sdsa.net
Overview
This year WiT will offer a range of CPD to complement the wider CtG offer to cover various aspects of reading. WiT will also be supporting phonics in the city. More details to follow in September.
Contact: nicola.gale@sdsa.net