Effective Learning

 The curriculum that we offer is knowledge-based.  It is therefore vital that our pupils are aware of how to learn and why we learn.  The act of learning cannot be underestimated.  Our SAINT curriculum has been carefully designed to support the development of pupils’ self-regulation and executive function. 

Self-regulation involves a complex range of skills and abilities that enables learners to monitor their emotions and thoughts and how choose how to adapt their behaviour in different circumstances.  This supports a child’s executive function, which helps learners to resist their impulses and control how they direct their attention.  Self-regulation and executive function are closely interrelated.  They are typically applied together to help learners gain greater control over their thoughts, actions and emotional responses.  Supporting the development of these skills will enable our pupils to do better in school and to reach their full potential.

Through our form time SAINT curriculum which is delivered to all year groups, we have planned a sequence of sessions called ‘Investing in me’ which explicitly teaches pupils self-regulation and executive function.

Some of our strategies includes:

·       Growth Mindset & the VESPA model

·       Retrieval

·       Quizzing

·       Chunking

·       Look, say, cover, write

·       How to use knowledge organisers and glossaries

·       Cornell notes

·       Dual coding

·       Spaced practice

·       Interleaving

Additionally, behaviour is taught as a distinct curriculum through our age-appropriate Character Education programme.  Some of our strategies include teaching:

·       Responsibility

·       Empathy

·       Resilience

·       Humility

·       Courage

These strategies are even more effective when combined with hard work and good attendance.  With clear links between attendance, attainment and behaviour, parents can best support their child by promoting good attendance and requiring their child to put these strategies into practice when engaged in home learning and revising for assessments.