This
innovative project was commissioned by New Addington Education
Action Zone to develop ways of teaching literacy through the
humanities. The project focused on speaking and listening
at KS1 and reading and writing at KS2. Two CLPE advisory teachers
provided INSET and consultancy for eight schools over one
term. The programme included central and school based INSET,
demonstration lessons and in-class support; discussions and
meetings with teachers; planning and resourcing. This work
was highly valued by all the schools.
Significant
outcomes
A significant outcome of making cross-curricular links in
long and medium-term planning was a real increase in time
for both humanities and literacy. Teachers felt that their
confidence to provide opportunities for speaking and listening
had significantly grown, and began to prioritise it in their
planning. They felt more able to provide genuine contexts
in which to ask real questions and address real problems and
audiences, increasing children’s engagement with texts.
There was a distinct move away from using short extracts in
the literacy hour.
Extended
writing
The time allocated to writing, particularly at KS2, increased.
Teachers had greater flexibility to plan extended writing
sessions with clear outcomes, genuine purposes and audiences.
Children had more time to prepare for writing and for the
writing process and this supported both the style and the
quality of their work.
Unplanned
outcomes
An unplanned, but significant outcome of the project was the
impact on teachers themselves. Some felt they had regained
ownership of the teaching in their classrooms; others stated
that they were more motivated and empowered as professionals
‘as if permission had been given to be creative once
again.’
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