Professional Development and Leadership Courses For Teachers
Inspire - Facilitate thinking - Empower
Vicky is a school improvement consultant offering a range of senior leadership courses and continuing professional development (CPD) courses for teachers. From short live Zoom courses to self-paced training courses, there are several options available to help boost teachers CPD. With over twenty years of teaching, leadership, and consultancy experience in the education sector, Vicky understands the demands leaders face in both the day-to-day running of a school and forging ahead with a school improvement agenda. From senior leadership courses for newly appointed Deputy Headteachers to developing a growth mindset school and using metacognition in the classroom, Vicky has put together a range of high impact courses for teachers CPD particularly related to improving leadership and increasing academic achievement.
Now registering for leadership courses -
new cohorts starting Sept 2023.
Sign-up now for multi-day courses.
These continuing professional development courses are designed for teachers and senior leaders in primary schools. From training for new to post Deputy Heads to how to lead with a focus on disadvantaged pupils, these courses are designed to be challenging, yet rewarding.
Live Zoom Courses - Book Now for Sept starts
My guiding principle centres around empowering primary teachers and leaders to achieve professional growth and thrive in their roles. To achieve this, I believe in:
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Balancing theory and practical application. Colleagues need to be able to turn research and theory into reality.
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Encouraging colleagues to challenges themselves, be open-minded, ask questions, analyse current practices, and remain curious.
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Supporting colleagues to acquire a deep knowledge base so that they empowered to take action and implement quality solutions that are right for their schools.
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Facilitating critical thinking to enable colleagues to explore problems from multiple perspectives.
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Providing equal levels of challenge and support - high expectations and a commitment to excellence.
If you are someone committed to growth and achieving excellence, then I am the right training provider and school improvement partner for you.
Other training and development options for primary schools
I also provide bespoke training for schools and a range of online self-paced CPD options. Quite a number of the courses I offer are directly linked to closing the gap for disadvantaged pupils, particularly in overcoming difficulties in communication.
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METACOGNITION in the classroom
TRY A SESSION FOR FREE: INTRODUCTION TO METACOGNITION ONLINE COURSE
Do you want to develop metacognition in school but are unsure where to start? Turn theory into reality with this practical course that focuses on harnessing the advantages of metacognition. Select a group of colleagues in school (or across a number of schools) to work together across a year. Participants will grow and develop a deep and thorough understanding of metacognition which they will then be able to use every day in the classroom. They will then be able to share their good practice with the rest of the school and lead on developments. “Useful resources and excellent activities that I have been able to use in twilight training sessions in school. Vicky is a very generous and engaging course leader.” “Really practical resources. Lots of activities to take back for immediate and long-term action.”
Developing a growth mindset school
Many schools have worked with Vicky to create and implement a successful growth mindsets strategy that has helped pupils to take greater ownership of their school and life successes. The work on growth mindsets very much overlaps with metacognition and memory research. Vicky helps leaders to harness the theory in a way that enables it to have impact. Schools do need to appoint a key senior leader that Vicky can work with. This person needs to be in a position to drive forward developments across the year and maintain the impetus beyond this. Vicky can also put you in touch with schools to see examples of how growth mindset theory has been put into practice. "The impact of the growth mindset work has been amazing."
Developing oracy (and thinking!)
Oracy is vital for academic and life-long success. Vicky can work with a senior leader or group of teachers to design and implement a school-wide approach to oracy. From oracy frameworks to practical resources, Vicky can help you turn theory into reality. Improving oracy is a key strategy in supporting disadvantaged pupils to thrive in the classroom.
Training days and twilights can focus on how teachers can build and utilise oracy in the classroom. Training on questioning can also be delivered for teachers and/or TAs. What are your favourite questions? What techniques do you use to elicit pupil learning? How do you use the power of questions to probe understanding, unpick misconceptions, and move learning forward?
There are many different elements of oracy that can be developed, e.g. oracy for effective collaborative learning, how to ensure group discussion are effective, how to improve individual pupil oracy performance, classroom structures and resources to aid oracy, interventions with a focus on oracy.
Vicky designed the oracy framework used in projects by Leeds School Improvement Team. She is passionate about the enabling pupils to be pro-active in their own learning through confidence and skills in oracy, through excellent collaboration skills, through systematic thinking skills, and well-developed metacognition alongside ensuring there are no barriers to learning.
This work also links to Vicky's commitment to closing the gap for disadvantaged learners. Many of the aspects of teaching development that Vicky is involved with link back in some way to the desire to ensure ALL pupils can thrive and no educational doors are closed.
Self-paced courses
Reading comprehension training : self-paced CPD
This online course can be for a single user, e.g. the Reading Leader. The course can also be provided to everyone in the school (teachers and TAs) to build school wide expertise. This is an extensive package of online training. Colleagues can train together, e.g. watching video tutorials together during a phase training sessions, or colleagues can work independently self-paced, perhaps supported by regular group / individual coaching. The course is modular and menu driven allowing participants to jump to sections of the course most relevant to them. This allows everyone, from new entrants to experienced teachers to study at a depth and breadth that is right for them. Teams, such as phase teams, can plan together the elements of training to complete or colleagues can be directed to sections. Improving reading is of benefit to all pupils, and particularly so for disadvantaged pupils. If you are seeking to close the gap for disadvantaged pupils, investing in boosting reading is a proven high impact strategy.
EYFS boost language and vocabulary : self-paced CPD
It is essential that young children have an excellent start and we know that many pupils, particularly disadvantaged pupils, need support to increase their vocabulary and improve their communication skills. I love approaches that have multiple benefits. This is a high impact approach that will not only improve language skills but will also improve the quality of play!
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This mini online course is aimed at boosting language and vocabulary through books linked to areas of provision.
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The course will help to teachers to take action which will increase sustained play and improve the quality of play interactions.
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The approach is particularly successful at supporting disadvantaged pupils, EAL pupils and pupils with communication delays.
Ideally, the EYFS leader completes the course first and then uses the materials to lead twilights / training sessions for other colleagues in the school. This fantastic course is incredible value for money at just £60, or get in touch for a group rate that enables each colleague to have their own account.
Writing - progress with information texts - self-paced CPD
1. It is important for pupils to have good genre knowledge to write well. It is equally important for teachers to have indepth genre knowledge to help teach, guide and support pupils.
2. Different skills and techniques need to be developed in different phases if progress is to be achieved.
It is hard to deliver writing CPD to every phase at the same time. The needs of EYFS teachers are clearly not the same as for teachers in Year 6! Work in teams by purchasing this online course (£120 including VAT). There is a common introduction followed by sections for EYFS, KS1, LKS2, UKS2. Colleagues can access materials from any phase.
Schools will find this course valuable if they are seeking to close the attainment gap for disadvantaged pupils. Nonfiction writing is important for achievement across the curriculum. The study of texts will help improve both reading to learn and writing to learn.
Training video tutorials, guidance and advice, downloadable booklets, supporting classroom resources, assessment materials.
"I really liked how many practical ideas and suggestions there were. I think there were loads of 'take aways' that staff could pick up and start doing - I liked the resources that span more than one year group idea too. It was also good to see real life examples of pupil work."
School handwriting package
This online package enables schools to easily deliver 15-minute daily handwriting sessions based on the Debbie Hepplewhite font style.
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Videos modelling each letters and showing multiple joins.
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Videos for short words containing the target letter.
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Extra videos for difficult letter formations.
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Videos for 100 most common words.
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Additional printable resources to support development.
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Introductory teacher CPD section.
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The programme can also be used for interventions.
Excellent value for money and proven to have impact.
Courses are all delivered remotely.
Courses can be designed to suit your need across a range of teaching and leadership issues, from single events to year-long programmes.
“After the final session I cannot tell you how many staff burst through my door very inspired by the activities they had been part of. I am delighted by the way this programme has developed all my leaders and managers. I know it will have a lasting impact on everyone who has been a part of it which of course will translate to the continued success of our school. I cannot thank you enough for understanding what I needed to achieve and being able to inspire and engage at such a high level.” Headteacher in reference to a year-long leadership programme.
“Just a quick email to say a massive thank you for the training you did on Tuesday. I have had many positive comments about it and people have made a point of coming to tell me about some things they have tried or changed over the past few days...which is great so thanks very much.” Headteacher in reference to a full training day focusing on reading.
“Just to say a very big thank you for your work on Friday. I very much appreciated your direct approach and your hard work. I know the day will move the school on in our marking and feedback and increase the impact on pupil progress.” Headteacher in relation to a marking and feedback review day.
“A massive success and I thank you for your first class training and organisation.” Headteacher in relation to a multi school event for over 90 teaching assistants.
“I appreciate everything you've been doing with EYFS and transition. Staff have spoken extremely highly about everything. Both EYFS and KS1 have had successful moderations with the authority, and transition strategies that were worked out with you are going extremely well. You've really helped with helping to move both these key stages forward, and have a really successful year. A real credit to all involved.” Headteacher in relation to an EYFS / Year 1 writing project.
If you have not worked with me before, why not book a 'discovery meeting' to see how I can be of assistance. Choose a date and time to discuss your requirements and ask questions about the service you can expect.
Or, if you are a school who has worked with before but you have a new project in mind, book a 1 hour discovery meeting to map out the deliverables.