COURSES
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Vicky Crane
Independent consultant
Founder of ICT WAND
Inspire - Facilitate thinking - Empower
Quality support and training - bringing with me my winning smile and passion for learning
Vicky is a school improvement consultant offering a range of teacher and leader CPD, from short sessions to longer-term projects. Vicky has over twenty years of teaching, leadership and consultancy experience in the education sector and understands the demands leaders face in both the day-to-day running of a school and forging ahead with a school improvement agenda. She provides training and support for individuals and groups, designs and delivers bespoke training courses, and offers facilitation services to senior leadership teams.
My mantra is about empowering primary teachers and leaders, enabling colleagues to achieve professional growth and thrive in their roles. I believe this is achieved through:
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Having one foot firmly placed in the theory and one foot in the practical;
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Encouraging colleagues to challenge themselves, to be open minded, to be curious, to ask questions, be analytical, and evaluate current practice;
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Supporting colleagues to acquire knowledge and develop a deep understanding of educational issues so they can take action with confidence and implement quality solutions;
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Facilitating thinking and enable colleagues to explore problems from a variety of perspectives;
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Offer challenge and support in equal measure - high expectations and a continued commitment to collective excellence.
Those who gain the most from CPD are participants with an open mind, a desire for growth and a commitment to achieving their personal / school goals. People who are committed to making a difference.

Live Zoom Courses - Book Now
Other training and development options for schools.
Bespoke pupil premium support for your school
Design a 12-month leadership support package with a view to maximising the impact of pupil premium actions. Vicky can work 1:1 with the senior leader with responsibility for pupil premium at a frequency and intensity that is right for your school. Schools need different types of support - some might require a review, some want leadership sessions to increase their knowledge base of the most effective pupil premium strategies, some need support on action planning. Some schools need support for just the senior leaders, some need input into a working party and some need support for subject leaders, e.g. considering writing progression for disadvantaged pupils; considering progression in geography for disadvantaged pupils; considering the needs of disadvantaged pupils in EYFS. Why not tap into Vicky's knowledge base and create a plan that suits you.
Design your own subject leadership support package
Short zoom training sessions and 1:1 coaching can be a great way to develop middle leaders in school. Professional dialogue sessions can take into account the current skills and experience of each leader, and the demands of the subject they lead. Subject leaders really appreciate the time to discuss their vision and action plans and to reflect on developments. Alternatively, design a group training course by selecting leadership modules, or set your own leadership objectives and Vicky will design a course to match your needs.
Curriculum Development
Vicky has significant knowledge regarding curriculum design. Vicky has worked with a variety of schools through face-to-face courses and bespoke support. Audits and development materials produced by Vicky have been published by 'The Key' and these have helped a number of school leaders and governors set out their vision and intent. Schools currently tend to be focused on the challenge of implementation and impact. Vicky can provide strategic leadership for senior leaders and more direct support for subject leaders depending on the needs of the school. Why not get in touch to discuss how Vicky can support the school in the goal to make the ambitions of the curriculum a reality.
Strategic leadership for teams
There are two types of strategic leadership training and support that can be provided. 1) a kick-start (usually summer term) for the the school development process, or 2) Support over a series of half-days to work on developing the startegic skill set of the senior leadership team with activities designed to support thinking. Schools often appreciate a person being involved in strategic planning to provide an outside, fresh perspective and find the 'facilitation' aspect of it enables everyone to participate inhigh-quality discussion. Get in touch to discuss your requirements.
Self-paced reading comprehension training
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.
Self-paced EYFS boost language and vocabulary
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This mini online course is aimed at boosting language and vocabulary through areas of provision.
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The course will help to teachers to take action which will increase sustained plan and improve the quality of play.
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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.
Self-paced writing progression - information texts
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.
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."
Word reading review
An initial half-day meeting with the English leader / reading leader to help colleagues reflect on current strengths, identify quick wins, and plan a route forward.
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Word reading speed, accuracy and prosody assessments - Assessments can be provided if you don't currently assess all pupils. Advice on interpreting and acting on results.
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Review of interventions - can gains be made by switching to high-leverage interventions? Consideration for best practice.
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Implementing reading research in EYFS and KS1.
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Ensuring KS2 day-to-day teaching maximises progress in reading fluency.
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.
Metacognition (working party option)
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.”
Growth Mindsets
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.
Developing oracy
Oracy is vital for academic and life-long success. 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. collaborative structures, group discussion strategies, individual oracy performance.

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, e.g. word reading and handwriting.
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.

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.