Teaching in EnglandTeaching in England

Preparing your placement Preparing your placement

20072007

IUFM de ParisIUFM de Paris

Your tasksYour tasks• Choose one of the following, do research and Choose one of the following, do research and

make a quick presentation of your findings:make a quick presentation of your findings:

Teacher education and training:Teacher education and training:

http://www.http://www.tda.gov.uktda.gov.uk//

The National Curriculum – choose a subject:The National Curriculum – choose a subject:

http://www.ncaction.org.uk/index.htmhttp://www.ncaction.org.uk/index.htm

The University of East London:The University of East London:

http://www.uel.ac.uk/http://www.uel.ac.uk/

• Organisation of Organisation of school time in school time in England and WalesEngland and Wales

• 2006/7 school year2006/7 school year

Source: Source:

www.www.eurydice.orgeurydice.org

Pre-primary educationPre-primary education

• Organised provision since late 18th Organised provision since late 18th century (voluntary and philanthropic)century (voluntary and philanthropic)

• Pre-school education influenced by the Pre-school education influenced by the ideals of Robert Owen, Rousseau, ideals of Robert Owen, Rousseau, Pestalozzi, Froebel and MontessoriPestalozzi, Froebel and Montessori

• 1998 School Standards and Framework Act 1998 School Standards and Framework Act – Local Authorities have the duty to – Local Authorities have the duty to provide pre-school education in their areaprovide pre-school education in their area

• Since April 1999, all 4 year-olds have been Since April 1999, all 4 year-olds have been offered 5 two-and-a-half hour sessions per offered 5 two-and-a-half hour sessions per weekweek

Specific legal frameworkSpecific legal framework• The Schools Standards and Framework Act The Schools Standards and Framework Act

defines nursery education as full-time or defines nursery education as full-time or part-time education suitable for children part-time education suitable for children who have not reached the compulsory who have not reached the compulsory school age (i.e. the term after a child’s fifth school age (i.e. the term after a child’s fifth birthday)birthday)

• Free part-time places have been available Free part-time places have been available for all three-year-olds since April 2004for all three-year-olds since April 2004

• The Government’s ’Every Child Matters’ The Government’s ’Every Child Matters’ agenda has aimed to develop more agenda has aimed to develop more effective pre-school provisioneffective pre-school provision

• 2002 Education Act – introduced the 2002 Education Act – introduced the foundation stagefoundation stage as a part of the National as a part of the National Curriculum (3-5 years old)Curriculum (3-5 years old)

General objectivesGeneral objectives• All 3 and 4 year-olds are entitled to a All 3 and 4 year-olds are entitled to a

free, good-quality pre-school placefree, good-quality pre-school place

• Goals for pre-school learning:Goals for pre-school learning:

literacyliteracy

numeracynumeracy

development of personal and social development of personal and social skillsskills

AdmissionsAdmissions• In England and Wales, parents have a In England and Wales, parents have a

right to express a preference for a right to express a preference for a particular nursery institution for their particular nursery institution for their childchild

• If demand for places exceeds If demand for places exceeds availability, LAs give priority to children availability, LAs give priority to children with special educational needs (SEN) with special educational needs (SEN) and to children from socially and and to children from socially and economically deprivedeconomically deprived

families families

Age levels and grouping of Age levels and grouping of childrenchildren

• Children in nursery schools are Children in nursery schools are between 3 and 5 years oldbetween 3 and 5 years old

• They may be grouped according to They may be grouped according to ageage

• There are no legal requirements There are no legal requirements concerning the number of adults per concerning the number of adults per child needed but their are guidelines child needed but their are guidelines (Children Act 1989) = minimum of 2 (Children Act 1989) = minimum of 2 adults for 26 childrenadults for 26 children

Organisation of timeOrganisation of time• The year runs from September to July and is The year runs from September to July and is

divided into 3 termsdivided into 3 terms• Each term should be at least 11 weeks in length Each term should be at least 11 weeks in length

(excluding half-term holidays)(excluding half-term holidays)• Minimum of 5 sessions of nursery education per Minimum of 5 sessions of nursery education per

week (but parents can choose fewer)week (but parents can choose fewer)• Each session must be two-and-a-half hours in Each session must be two-and-a-half hours in

lengthlength• Maintained nurseries tend to follow the same Maintained nurseries tend to follow the same

terms as primary schools (open 38 weeks of the terms as primary schools (open 38 weeks of the year)year)

• Day nurseries (private sector) are generally open Day nurseries (private sector) are generally open from 8am until 6pm and are open all year roundfrom 8am until 6pm and are open all year round

Curriculum, types of activity, number of Curriculum, types of activity, number of hourshours

• The foundation stage targets:The foundation stage targets:

personal, social and emotional personal, social and emotional developmentdevelopment

communication, language and literacycommunication, language and literacy

mathematical developmentmathematical development

knowledge and understanding of the knowledge and understanding of the worldworld

physical developmentphysical development

creative developmentcreative development

Teaching methods and Teaching methods and materialsmaterials • The headteacher and staff are free to The headteacher and staff are free to

decide on the teaching methods and decide on the teaching methods and materialsmaterials

• LAs have no power to impose teaching LAs have no power to impose teaching methodsmethods

• Evaluation: statutory assessment Evaluation: statutory assessment begins when children enter the begins when children enter the foundation stagefoundation stage

• Child’s development assessed Child’s development assessed

• For more detailed information go to For more detailed information go to www.eurydice.orgwww.eurydice.org

Primary educationPrimary education• Starts at approx. the age of 5Starts at approx. the age of 5• Many children start in the reception Many children start in the reception

class of primary school at age 4class of primary school at age 4• In primary education, pupils follow key In primary education, pupils follow key

stages 1 and 2 of the National stages 1 and 2 of the National CurriculumCurriculum

• Primary education caters for pupils Primary education caters for pupils between the ages of 5 and 11between the ages of 5 and 11

• Key stage 1 = 5-7 year-oldsKey stage 1 = 5-7 year-olds• Key stage 2 = 7-11 year-oldsKey stage 2 = 7-11 year-olds

• Education provided by publicly funded Education provided by publicly funded maintained schools must be FREEmaintained schools must be FREE

• There may be some charges for extra-There may be some charges for extra-curricular activitiescurricular activities

• The National Curriculum aims to raise The National Curriculum aims to raise educational standards for all children aged 5 educational standards for all children aged 5 to 16to 16

• Local Authorities must ensure FREE Local Authorities must ensure FREE transport to and from school for all pupils of transport to and from school for all pupils of compulsory agecompulsory age

Age levels and Age levels and grouping of pupilsgrouping of pupils

• Most children are Most children are taught in mixed-ability taught in mixed-ability classes with children classes with children of the same ageof the same age

• Many primary schools Many primary schools have one or more have one or more mixed-age classesmixed-age classes

School timeSchool time

• The school year runs from The school year runs from 1 September to 31 August1 September to 31 August

• The summer break is of The summer break is of about six weeksabout six weeks

• Shorter breaks of 2-3 Shorter breaks of 2-3 weeks at Christmas and weeks at Christmas and EasterEaster

• Schools are generally Schools are generally open between 9.00 am open between 9.00 am and 3.30/4.00 pm with and 3.30/4.00 pm with approx 1 hour for lunch approx 1 hour for lunch

• A 15 min break may A 15 min break may punctuate the morning punctuate the morning and afternoon sessionsand afternoon sessions

LessonsLessons

• Number of lessons per week:Number of lessons per week:

21 hours for pupils aged 5 to 721 hours for pupils aged 5 to 7

23.5 hours for pupils aged 8 to 1123.5 hours for pupils aged 8 to 11

This is in addition to a daily act of This is in addition to a daily act of worship, registration and breaks for worship, registration and breaks for lunch and recreationlunch and recreation

• The school year is 190 days (38 The school year is 190 days (38 weeks)weeks)

Curriculum, subjects and number of Curriculum, subjects and number of hourshours• The Education Act 1996 requires LAs, school The Education Act 1996 requires LAs, school

governing bodies and the headteacher of all governing bodies and the headteacher of all maintained schools to guard against the maintained schools to guard against the political indoctrination of pupils by forbidding political indoctrination of pupils by forbidding the ‘pursuit of partisan activities’the ‘pursuit of partisan activities’

• Political issues must be presented in a Political issues must be presented in a balanced waybalanced way

• English, mathematics and science are English, mathematics and science are corecore subjectssubjects

• ICT, design and technology, history, ICT, design and technology, history, geography, music and PE are geography, music and PE are foundation foundation subjectssubjects

• Religious education is also taught (the Religious education is also taught (the syllabus is agreed locally and reviewed every syllabus is agreed locally and reviewed every 5 years)5 years)

The six key skills in KS1 and The six key skills in KS1 and KS2KS2

• CommunicationCommunication

• Application of numberApplication of number

• Working with othersWorking with others

• Information technologyInformation technology

• Improving own learning and Improving own learning and performanceperformance

• Problem-solvingProblem-solving

Citizenship, personal, social and health Citizenship, personal, social and health educationeducation

• Publicly funded maintained schools Publicly funded maintained schools are expected to follow a framework are expected to follow a framework of citizenship, PSHE in KS1 and KS2of citizenship, PSHE in KS1 and KS2

• Certain aspects of drugs education Certain aspects of drugs education (particularly tobacco and alcohol as (particularly tobacco and alcohol as well as illegal drugs) are compulsorywell as illegal drugs) are compulsory

Pupil assessmentPupil assessment Formative elements help Formative elements help

teachers decide how a teachers decide how a pupil's learning should be pupil's learning should be taken forward, and give taken forward, and give the pupils clear and the pupils clear and understandable targets understandable targets and feedback about their and feedback about their achievements. This achievements. This information helps teachers information helps teachers and others to identify the and others to identify the need for further diagnostic need for further diagnostic assessments for particular assessments for particular pupils in order to help pupils in order to help their educational their educational development. This form of development. This form of assessment is becoming assessment is becoming known as 'assessment for known as 'assessment for learning'. learning'.

Summative elements Summative elements provide evidence of provide evidence of pupils' achievements pupils' achievements and of what they and of what they know, understand and know, understand and can do, and is can do, and is becoming known as becoming known as 'assessment of 'assessment of learning'. learning'.

There is no certificate There is no certificate awarded at the end of awarded at the end of primary school.primary school.

Attainment targetsAttainment targets EnglandEngland

• Key stage 1 and 2 English Key stage 1 and 2 English Attainment Target 1 Speaking and listening Attainment Target 1 Speaking and listening Attainment Target 2 Reading Attainment Target 2 Reading Attainment Target 3 Writing Attainment Target 3 Writing

• Key stage 1 and 2 mathematics Key stage 1 and 2 mathematics Attainment Target 1 Using and applying mathematics Attainment Target 1 Using and applying mathematics Attainment Target 2 Number and algebra Attainment Target 2 Number and algebra Attainment Target 3 Shape, space and measures Attainment Target 3 Shape, space and measures Attainment Target 4 Attainment Target 4 Handling data (not applicable at key Handling data (not applicable at key

stage 1)  stage 1)  

• Key stage 1 and 2 scienceKey stage 1 and 2 science Attainment Target 1 Scientific enquiry Attainment Target 1 Scientific enquiry Attainment Target 2 Attainment Target 2 Life processes and living things Life processes and living things Attainment Target 3 Materials and their properties Attainment Target 3 Materials and their properties Attainment Target 4 Physical processes Attainment Target 4 Physical processes

• Education Welfare OfficersEducation Welfare Officers (EWO) (EWO) offer guidance and support on offer guidance and support on attendance and related pupil welfare attendance and related pupil welfare issues to schools and families. They issues to schools and families. They play an important role in helping to play an important role in helping to ensure regular school attendance.ensure regular school attendance.

For further information about primary For further information about primary education in England go to education in England go to www.eurydice.orgwww.eurydice.org and specific English and specific English websites.websites.