1. Primary Team Update Summer 2010
This is the Summer Term edition of the Primary Team Update. It is an
opportunity to share information with you about what is happening at local
and national level. The Primary Team are based at Castle Hill Centre,
Castleton Street, Bolton, BL2 2JW. The telephone number for the team is
01204 338099 and the fax number is 01204 338350.
A booklet detailing the CPD for the 2010/2011 academic year will be sent
to schools. The aim is to have this delivered to schools by the last week of
term.

2. Assessment
Local Information
Assessing Pupils’ Progress (APP): Development Update
As schools grow in their knowledge and proficiency with the APP materials, our support has
shifted to integrate APP within LA CPD rather than offering discrete training sessions about
APP. For example, Subject Leader briefings will include examples about how APP has been
successfully embedded within school development work. However, Science specific APP
training has been arranged for the Autumn term.
In addition to this, we recognise that there is much scope to develop and share effective
practice between schools. We now have a small group of leading APP practitioners who are
working with us to develop a cluster based model of support. This has so far led to a series of
sessions aimed at Assessment Leads, and also Maths and Literacy Subject Leaders. These will
take the form of discussion based sessions led by the leading teachers but with opportunity for
everyone to contribute in terms of current practice and intended next steps. Supporting
materials will also be shared. For further details about how to draw on this model of support
please contact Catriona Fletcher or Deb Butler on 01204 338099.
.
National Information
Recent publications
The most recent publication to support schools with the
development of teacher assessment is entitled „Assessing
Pupils‟ Progress: learners at the heart of assessment‟ (ref.
QCDA/10/4768), which looks at how the assessing pupils‟
progress approach is being adopted by schools throughout
England and the positive impact it is having. This is available
online at http://www.qcda.gov.uk/resources/5304.aspx

3. Literacy
Local Information
Every Child a Reader
Many thanks to all our Reading Recovery teachers at Harwood
Meadows, Johnson Fold, Pikes Lane, Plodder Lane, St Paul‟s,
SS Simon & Jude‟s and Tonge Moor. Their commitment to the
Reading Recovery programme and the impact of the programme on their pupils has been
excellent. May we welcome new Reading Recovery teachers at Johnson Fold and Tonge Moor
onto the programme for the next academic year and also Horwich Parish and Sunning Hill
primary schools who will be joining the Reading Recovery family. We look forward to working
with you all next year.
Every Child a Writer
There have been 30 schools taking part in the Every Child a Writer programme across the LA
this academic year. The focus of the ECaW programme is to secure pupil progress in writing in
lower KS2. This year, this has involved 10 lead teachers who have led the programme in their
own schools as well as working in partnership with two supported schools.
The programme provides a three tier model within lower KS2 through:
 Improving quality first teaching in writing for the whole class
 Improving guided writing to meet group needs
 Providing one-to-one tuition in writing for those children who need it most.
Without a doubt, the programme has enabled our dedicated leading teachers to develop their
coaching skills and has provided a means for many teachers to work collaboratively.
The programme will continue into the next year and participating schools will all be advised this
term regarding the nature of their involvement. Resources for the programme, many of which
will be of use to all schools, can be found on the Primary National Strategy site.

4. National Information
Recent publications
The guide entitled „Understanding progress in English: a guide
for parents‟ helps parents and carers understand how children
progress in English at each National Curriculum level. It includes
ideas for what parents can do to support the development of
their child's speaking and listening, reading and writing at home.
This is available online at
http://nationalstrategies.standards.dcsf.gov.uk/node/349599

5. Mathematics
Local Information
Mathematics Specialist Teacher Programme (MaST)
Nine delegates from our LA attended the first MaST residential led by Manchester Metropolitan
University Manchester on the 27th and 28th March 2010 for a two day conference. Eleven other
LAs from the North West were also in attendance. It was wonderful to see so many enthusiastic
teachers in one room together talking about the programme, discussing their experiences so
far, sharing their expectations and considering how this role will develop in future years as
recommended in the Williams Report of June 2008.
A keynote speaker was Julia Anghileri, who focussed on the scaffolding of children's
mathematical experiences. To close the first day, there was a short presentation from National
Centre for Excellence in the Teaching of Mathematics (NCETM). The NCETM website
(https://www.ncetm.org.uk) is a useful resource for all teachers.

6. National Information
Recent publications
The publication entitled „Steps to success in mathematics: Securing
progress for all children‟ (00098-2010-DVD-EN) is a DVD-based
compendium of National Strategies primary-focused mathematics
materials and resources. These resources have been developed to help
you to plan and provide teaching and learning in mathematics that will
ensure all children make progress through the National Curriculum
levels over Key Stages 1 and 2. The DVD is structured around a level-
to-level approach and brings together the following publications and
documents:
 Securing levels in mathematics for levels 1 to 5
 What I can do in mathematics for levels 1 to 5
 Overcoming barriers in mathematics for level 1 to 2, level 2 to 3,
level 3 to 4 and level 4 to 5
 Assessing Pupils‟ Progress mathematics guidelines for level 1 to
2, level 2 to 3, level 3 to 4 and level 4 to 5
All of these publications are linked to the Primary Framework but to help you to access
supporting materials the DVD also contains:
 Primary Framework yearly overviews for years 1 to 6
 Pitch and expectations for years 1 to 6

7. The publication entitled „Numbers and patterns: laying foundations
in mathematics‟ is set of resource materials that are intended to
help practitioners working with children in the Early Years
Foundation Stage (EYFS) and teachers working with lower Key
Stage 1 children to plan their mathematics provision and help
children to secure some of the key mathematical ideas that they will
use throughout the rest of their lives. The materials have a strong
focus on Number, particularly counting, and the children's
developing understanding of the patterns that underpin early work
within this aspect of mathematics. In hard copy, this publication
consists of loose-leaf pages (01011-2009DOM-EN) within a binder
(01011-2009FLR-EN). It is also available to download online at
http://nationalstrategiesstandards.dcsf.gov.uk/node/273401
The guide entitled „Understanding progress in mathematics: a
guide for parents‟ (00267-2010) helps parents and carers
understand how children progress in maths at each National
Curriculum level. Also included are ideas for what parents can
do with their child to support development in maths at home and
help them make progress. It is available online at
http://nationalstrategies.standards.dcsf.gov.uk/node/349603

8. ICT
Local Information
Resources
We have lots of new and exciting resources to use through the
learning platform. 2simple online tools have been relaunched
as „purple mash.‟ There are all the old programmes as well as
simplecity, Key Stage 2 Maths Games and 2type. Alongside
these, there are hundreds of „apptivities‟ which are aimed at
supporting you in class. These are regularly updated to reflect
current national events, including lots of work around the theme
of the world cup. Also look out for our very own Bolton activities
– make a magazine or a tourist information leaflet with photos of
our landmarks.
As well as the 2simple content, the ROAR esafety
package is being extended to include Key Stage 1 to
Key Stage 4 activities. This is a great teaching
resource for esafety and you may want to try the KS4
module to test your own knowledge! The new
packages will appear in your learning platform
esafety area soon.

9. National Information
Home access
The home access scheme, which aims to provide underprivileged
children in Key Stages 2 and 3 with a computer, has been a huge
success in Bolton. Currently, 1283 children in Bolton have
benefitted from this programme, which is a large proportion of our
eligible children. As of the beginning of June, there are only
70,000 grants still available nationwide. We would encourage anybody who is eligible for a
grant to apply now. For more information, speak to the ICT subject leader at your school.
BECTA
As you may be aware, BECTA is being dissolved as an organisation. However, they will be
going ahead with planned changes to the self review framework on the 18th June and will
ensure that schools can still access and use this tool. Naace will continue to assess the ICT
mark at this time. The changes will include:
 A reduction in the number of elements, strand and aspects
 A more streamlined look and feel
 All ICT mark thresholds will move to level 2
 An automatic migration of data you have previously entered
We will pass on any other information to ICT subject leaders, via email, as we receive it. If you
are a subject leader and do not currently receive emails from us, please contact Karen Fox or
Katie Hague with your preferred email address.

10. Science
Local Information
Primary Science Conference
This year‟s Primary Science Conference took place on the 29th June and was all about
connecting the science in your classroom to the world that your children live in.
The key note speaker, Paul McCrory, runs „Think Differently‟ (www.think-differently.co.uk), an
education consultancy that specialises in science engagement. He discussed how to engage
children with the science they experience all around them.
There will be a comprehensive programme of Science CPD in the next academic year.

11. MFL
Local Information
Overseas projects
In the Spring Term edition of the Primary Team Update, we informed you about the highly
successful two week project in Amiens, France, undertaken by thirteen of our primary school
teachers, who enjoyed a week of intensive language training and a further week of job
shadowing in a French primary school.
We now intend to submit an application to the British Council to request funding for a further two
week project, to take place in Spain in February 2011. An initial meeting took place at Castle
Hill in April, to give teachers and TAs involved with Spanish in Key Stage 2 an opportunity to
register initial interest. The meeting was well attended (not least by our enthusiastic French
teachers who were keen to inform would-be applicants about their Amiens experience - a big
thanks to them!) and we are now gathering names of committed applicants who have received
the backing of their Headteachers. Please contact us if you wish to know more about this
project.
Immersion Training
We are also offering our schools a place on a number of exclusive one week immersion
courses in French and Spanish. The courses will take place over the coming months, starting
with a French immersion week from Monday 5th July to Friday 9th July 2010, at Lancashire
College, Southport Road, Chorley, PR7 1NB. Our aim is to promote the upskilling of teachers
and teaching assistants at beginners and lower intermediate levels in line with current
Department for Education recommendations. We anticipate that our teachers will also leave the
course with ideas for good practice in the primary classroom.
This is a fantastic opportunity to further develop the confidence and language skills of our
primary teachers in a friendly, expert environment. These courses are intended solely for Bolton
LA staff, with lunch and refreshments provided each day. As a condition of participating, the

12. MFL Primary Team would expect nominated delegates to attend the college on every day of
their week-long course, to facilitate progression. We are willing to meet any reasonable and
unavoidable supply costs your school may incur on remittance of the appropriate invoice.
Merci/Gracias/Danke
Finally, we would like to express our thanks to everyone who has „spread the word‟ throughout
the academic year. It has been a truly uplifting experience to visit our schools and see children‟s
MFL skills and enjoyment growing as a result of your commitment to MFL. So, to all those who
have attended twilight training, evening classes, held assemblies and French/Spanish days,
applied for International School Awards, studied overseas or simply worked hard to keep MFL
in its place on the Key Stage 2 timetable – thank you and well done!
.

13. Gifted and Talented and More Able
Local Information
Gifted and Talented Clusters
Several clusters are working well on supporting Gifted, Talented and More Able children in
enrichment activities. The Kearsley and Little Lever cluster are busy planning for the Mile
Awards for the second year running. This is a ceremony to celebrate the independent learning
in school on the theme of the World Cup. The Westhoughton cluster have had a focus on
music, which will culminate in a music concert for all of the schools.
Publication to support schools and coordinators in provision for the Gifted, Talented and
More Able
The primary and secondary team from Bolton and Bury are currently working with leading
practitioners to develop a publication to support provision in schools. The publication will be
available for schools in the summer term 2011 and will be a practical resource for schools to
use.
From September, Katie Hague will be the Gifted and Talented and More Able link.

14. EAL
Local Information
Parenting Project
As part of the Narrowing the Gap agenda aimed at narrowing the gap between vulnerable
groups of children and all other children, 12 primary schools in Bolton with a large proportion of
children learning EAL are involved in the first steps of a parenting project aimed at improving
parental involvement and tackling barriers to their children‟s learning which can lead to
underachievement. This project is in partnership with Urban Solutions and their “Strengthening
Families, Strengthening Communities” programme. Nominated staff from each primary school
involved will attend a training course in June and then begin the parenting workshops in their
schools during the next academic year.
Community Cohesion
Bishop Bridgeman has recently completed a project aimed at developing community cohesion
with the aid of ICT with support from the Schools‟ ICT unit. This involved using video
conferencing technology to link their school, which has a high proportion of EAL pupils, with
another primary school in Wigan, which has very few EAL pupils. A series of lessons were run
over the spring term with pupils from both schools working together using webcams. The
lessons ended with a dance teacher from the primary school in Wigan teaching children from
both schools a Bollywood dance routine using a webcam and all children then performing
together.

15. The Team
Name Role Email
Deb Butler Primary Adviser deb.butler@bolton.gov.uk
Catriona Fletcher Primary Adviser catriona.fletcher@bolton.gov.uk
Karen Hardman Primary Adviser karen.hardman@bolton.gov.uk
Lynn Robinson Teaching and Learning Consultant (Literacy) lynn.robinson@bolton.gov.uk
Joanna Steele Teaching and Learning Consultant (Literacy) joanna.steele@bolton.gov.uk
Katharine Pyke Teaching and Learning Consultant (Maths) katharine.pyke@bolton.gov.uk
Karen Fox Teaching and Learning Consultant (ICT) karen.fox@bolton.gov.uk
Katie Hague Teaching and Learning Consultant katie.hague@bolton.gov.uk
(ICT/G&T/Leading Teachers)
Hester Wildman Teaching and Learning Consultant (Science) h.wildman@ntlworld.com
Ian Harrison Teaching and Learning Consultant (MFL) ian.harrison@bolton.gov.uk
Judith Oldham Teaching and Learning Consultant (MFL) judith.oldham@bolton.gov.uk
Yousif Islam Teaching and Learning Consultant (EAL) yousif.islam@bolton.gov.uk
Congratulations to Karen Hardman on securing the Headteacher post at St. Mary Magdalene
C.E. School in Accrington and to Yee Greenhalgh on securing the Assistant Head post at
Chorley New Road C.P. School. We all wish them both well in their new roles.