School Improvement Service

Areas of work

Primary Team

The Primary Team provides advice, support and guidance on a range of issues across the primary phase.

The team has been involved in such local authority projects as the English and mathematics projects, setting minimum standards for each year group in each subject, dialogic teaching and a project on Improving the Foundation Stage. In each case the team works closely with School Improvement Service subject teams.

The Primary Team provides both central and school based continuing professional development to primary phase staff and also provides written guidance to schools from time to time.

Advice and support is provided on issues relating to leadership and management, teaching and learning, curriculum planning and development, whole school planning, and the coordination of subjects and aspects within the primary school.

The Primary National Strategy has initiated a number of recent national initiatives. Members of the Primary Team work closely with the Primary National Strategy to coordinate implementation and support schools to interpret, use and profit from these national initiatives.

The Primary Team works closely with the Early Years and Childcare Team in the Integrated Family Services Division of Children's Services. This joint working ensures that there is a coordinated approach to the monitoring, support and development of Early Years and Foundation Stage provision across the borough.

The Primary Team focuses particularly on the quality of provision in school nursery and reception classes and on transition, both from other settings to schools and from the Foundation Stage to Key Stage 1.