Network progress 2013 2014

Well yesterday was the last of three Subject CoordinatorsCPD afternoon sessions this academic year for Janet Lloyd Network.51 localprimary schools have participated in  these sessions and we have run each session  twice so that the groups were half that sizeand colleagues who signed up at the start of the year could make one of the twosessions. We have shared our findings and discussions and the materials we haveconsidered via our subject coordinator pages on the JLN website with all ourcolleagues . 

When we set off in October it was very much led by myself as we began to unpick the new DfE POS but over the second and certainly the third sessions it’sbeen wonderful to observe and listen to the teachers’ discussions and opinionsand to hear what they have done or are doing back in school. One colleague andone school has learned from another school but we have kept a steady keel and aclear focus and view by working together and breaking down the steps we havetaken.It’s also important to understand that the network schools teachdifferent languages – French (in the main), Spanish and a few teach German. Oneor two have considered Mandarin particularly later in UKS2.

Our main focus has been the new DfE POS from September 2014,but the benefits have been extended networking , building working relationships andsharing of ways forward. Yesterday we welcomed two new coordinators on board and it was the support I observed other colleagues offering these two new coordinators that not only made me smile but made me feel confident that this is a supportive way to work. 

The CPD sessions have been some of the most enjoyable trainingsessions I have been involved in. Why? Well I think there are a few reasons. Ithink one very large reason is that we see it as “our” network and we enjoy newmembers joining us too. Here are some of the other important reasons why Ithink it works: 

• Our network has schools within it that have worked with togetheralongside myself for at least 11 years and we have experience to draw upon fromearlier language learning.
• Our network never stopped .It was established back in 2001when I was a local AST – it’s just grown.
• Our network also has new network members who have joined us recentlyor are still joining us and they bring different approaches and new horizonsand views of primary languages.
• Our network members share and appreciate each others’ opinionsand ideas.
• Not everything is “rocket science” ,much is down to earthand practical approaches to the weekly ways to deliver effective primarylanguage learning.
• Colleagues ask and challenge and don’t just accept.
•  The sessions have focused on the mechanics of developinglanguage learning in individual schools
• All the colleagues are keen to plan for, look for and demonstrateprogress.

All of the 90 networks have subject coordinators and eachsubject coordinator has or becomes committed to the development of primaryforeign language learning in their school. Why shouldn’t they? 

For each of themit becomes a role in which they can have very positive impact and in which rolethey can develop activities and learning programmes that the children in theirschool enjoy and benefit from. This is probably one of the greatest joys frommy viewpoint- watching individual s grow and watching often quite scaredindividuals take on the challenge of establishing primary languages in theirschool and amongst their staff. What they all do and want to do is findsolutions that work. 

Our subject coordinators are a diverse group too:

• Degree level secondary trained linguists who became primaryclass teachers
• Degree level linguists who are PGCE primary trained
• Primary QTS teachers who have a language specialism or an A Levelin a language
• Primary QTS who have an interest in languages
• Literacy coordinators with a responsibility forcommunication skills in school
• Primary teachers who have spent several years working ortravelling abroad and learned their language whilst abroad.
• Primary teachers who struggled at school to learn a languageand want t make a difference to their young learners’ experience of languages
• Teaching assistants who have developed a very special role asthe person in charge of language learning in their school- some of these peoplehave degrees in a language or two, have learned a language all their lives orhave a passion for a language

The diverse nature of the network and the colleagues I workwith, is what helps us thrive. Each person and every school has the right to bewithin the network. The network is built around primary language learning andthe native speakers who work with us adapt their understanding of how they learnedEnglish or taught English so that they can work with us and provide creativeprimary approaches to language learning. As Emilie @EWoodruffe often says tome  in her tweets #ilovemyjob.

Who are the native speakers in our network? Well in general they are oursupport and link to the real language and the real culture. This has definitelymade a difference for us all. When we don’t know or we want to learn more wehave Emilie, Stephanie, José, Ana and Barbara who we can turn to. In thenetwork 31 schools work with associate language  teachers every week ( either native or fluent languagedeliverers)and this works best when it suits the school and the staff embracethe language learning too!

And so to next week It’s our conference – the afternoon teais important- always has been , but the meeting up as one very large group of peopleis far more important. This year the network has been able to invite ClareSeccombe and Julie Prince to speak so we can take on board new ideas for phonology, communication and literacy skills. As always there is a local speaker. Lastyear it was two subject coordinators who had good practice to share and Ana andher subject coordinator who shared their trip to Malaga with 12 year 6 children.This year it’s Emilie and her down to earth but effective work with speakingand APPS.

It seems to me that the driver of our progress is based upon effective and appropriate networking.Thank you to everyone of the colleagues who works within the network!