Experiencing the Impact of Professional Learning in Primary

All through this experience, members of the Primary Staff share some of their professional learning experiences from this year and talk about the impact this has had in their classrooms.

TLC - Seesaw Pioneer - certificated course

I thoroughly enjoyed the Seesaw TLC as not only did it give me the skills to create fantastic learning opportunities online for the children, but whilst doing the TLC, it felt as though we were creating a community; sharing learning, supporting each other and celebrating our success. To think of where I am now after starting this year with no previous experience working with Seesaw is just incredible really! I would like to thank Miss Banthorpe for running and organising the TLC.

James Harper
Year 1 Teacher in the Primary Section

Being part of the Seesaw TLC training has definitely helped me become a better professional at what I do, as a teaching assistant in the primary section. I have learned new skills with the Seesaw app, and with its community, which allowed me to create my very own activities, and gave me the freedom to teach in my own way. Thanks to this opportunity, I was able to support children’s learning through lockdown, keep them engaged, and watch them become independent and responsible with their learning.

Tania Cuan
Primary Teaching Assistant in the Primary Section

Taking learning outside of the Classroom and Forest School

I learnt a new word recently - Cynefin¹. I think it's the word that describes how I feel when I am out in nature. It's a word that goes hand in hand with Forest School. 
Forest School. Cynefin. 
I am passionate about giving children the opportunity to connect to nature; not just to play in nature, but to connect deeply to it by learning about it, by appreciating the beauty of it, by understanding the importance of it, by being curious about it. Children are the future change-makers - if they care deeply for nature, are emotionally connected to it, they will want to protect it, to preserve it.

Now more than ever children need to be outside. There is research about the benefits of nature not only on social and emotional wellbeing but on children's academic development.

Back to Forest School. I am only beginning to understand how powerful and life-changing a Forest School experience can be. How important it is to be in an equitable environment that lends itself to success, freedom, resilience, creativity, curiosity, collaboration.... aren't they all the skills that every child should be given the chance to develop and experience. What better classroom than the Great Outdoors could we provide for our children.

As part of Year 6 Art day, I ran a creative outdoor session - and I was moved and inspired to see our students fully engaged and absorbed in the challenge. They have asked to go back to the forest to continue building their Bogart villages. The stories they have told are amazing. It is a very powerful and moving experience.

1 Cynefin (Welsh) - a place where a being feels it ought to live and belong; where nature around you feels right and welcoming.  (definition adapted by Get the Kids Outside)  
 
Christina Ridley-Thomas
Year 6 Teacher in the Primary Section

Higher Level Teaching Assistant Qualification

I have been a teaching assistant and a level 4 Early Years practitioner for a number of years. I have attended lots of in-house training but wanted to further my qualifications, so this year I have been working towards my Higher Level Teaching Assistant qualification.

During this course, I have developed more knowledge and understanding of supporting students with English as an additional language and gained more awareness of Special Educational Needs. This course has helped me to support the children more in class and also enabled me to share my knowledge with other TA’s. 

Rachel Reed
Teaching Assistant in the Primary Section