Supporting an Integrated Teaching for Learning community  

What is the Impact for learning framework?

A practical guide for schools to use which outlines the conditions and processes for effective teaching and learning.

Background

All schools have developed a teaching and learning policy which provides the key framework against which they carry out observations and provide feedback to teachers.

Often the policy doesn't contain detailed descriptors against which secure and moderated judgements can be made. In many cases schools use the Ofsted criteria to inform their judgements but these are still fairly limited in nature.

The Impact Framework for Learning provides schools with complete and detailed descriptors alongside other useful guidance and audit documents.

The descriptors are fully compliant with the latest Ofsted Framework but also take into consideration other important areas such as SEAL and Personal, Learning and Thinking Skills.

There are two main sections.

The Impact Manual

Contains a clear rationale and places the development of teaching and learning in the context of Continuing Professional Development and the accountability of schools for standards of achievement. It outlines clear principles for securing and developing effective practice, such as protocols for observation and pointers for high quality feedback, which enhance schools' processes and systems and ensure they are firmly focused on improving the quality of learning for pupils.

The Practical Toolkit

This includes:

• detailed descriptors that help identify strengths and areas for development and make overall judgements if required;

• evidence gathering sheets for use in the learning session;

• other useful tools to use in self-review and evidence gathering;

All the sheets may be copied for use in the school and a CD ROM is enclosed containing editable versions of all the tools so that schools can make alterations if they wish.

Benefits

• ensures a common language across all staff;

• identifies areas for training, CPD

• enables practitioners to see what they have to do to improve

• saves time for the school in developing quality systems but enables "fit to context"

• ensures a common understanding about the importance of focusing upon impact and outcome - puts learning at the forefront

The Impact Framework for Learning costs £125 and £50 for each additional copy. There is a special price of £400 for an order of ten copies.