To receive and consider the report of the Cabinet Member for a Learning Powys.
Minutes:
· Report of the Cabinet Member for a Learning Powys – Curriculum for Wales and Professional Learning (including Thematic review on curriculum)
Issues Discussed:
· The new curriculum is about the four purposes. There are 27 mandatory statements of what matters across 6 areas of learning and experience.
· The curriculum framework requires each school to design its own curriculum and assessment requirements. It is acknowledged this is a significant challenge for schools.
· An added element for small schools is their capacity to manage the considerable workload of engaging with the wide range of professional learning required by the new curriculum in addition to the wider transformation agenda.
· Most of the schools are engaging positively with the curriculum for Wales. Allocating time for school staff to engage in additional time for professional learning has been challenging.
· The roll out is supported by 19 pedagogy leads, 3 for each of the 6 areas of learning and experience, except science which has an additional pedagogy lead.
· Powys has invested in professional learning and providing practitioners with a high quality entitlement which is easily accessible. The Powys Professional Learning Offer for 2022-2023 has already been published for schools in advance of September to incorporate this with the school’s own professional learning needs.
· Questions:
Question |
Response |
An area of concern is that pre-school in approved settings whilst not compulsory is the earliest education provision for children and they are introducing the new curriculum from September. There is no information about pre-school education which should be included in the report. There is also no information about the next steps in relation to pre-school provision. |
There is additional guidance for pre-schools and this could be included in the report, and the report does not link with the Early Years phase team.
The foundation phase team supports pre-school settings. Powys was one of two authorities who piloted the early years curriculum developments, so Powys has been trialling some of this in our settings. |
Is the structure different for settings. |
The support for settings is coming from the early years advisory teachers. |
It was stated that most schools are engaging positively with the curriculum for Wales, which suggests that not all are engaging positively. A great deal of training is being provided but time for accessing this training could be a problem particularly for small schools. Is this the major issue or are some schools not in the right headspace to engage with the new curriculum. |
All schools are engaging. What the report was trying to reflect was the continuum and the capacity to engage with all aspects of the curriculum for Wales guidance. All schools have prepared a vision and engaged with the 4 purposes. Reports are being prepared for the Minister as to preparedness of schools. There has been a high level of preparation but there is no expectation that everything will be in place by September.
The pandemic has affected the practitioner design of the curriculum. Schools are starting to think about the continuum of learning up to 16 which includes cross school phase conversations. This is a journey and we are all at different places on the continuum. |
Are there opportunities for small schools to work together to design elements of the curriculum and spread the burden. |
Yes this is why cluster working is so important as there are leads within the cluster. Working together has been emphasises with everyone supporting each other. |
The curriculum is an inspiring way forward and beneficial for learners. In relation to the 6 areas for learning and experience, the vast number of schools are defined as small schools. In the vast majority of schools teachers will have to take on at least 2 areas of responsibility which puts a lot of work on teachers. Would we use the experience of teaching assistants in settings as well. Are Powys using the whole teaching and support team. |
Teaching Assistants are important to supporting the teaching and learning that is going on in relation to the new curriculum, which is why they joined the cluster Inset day on Monday. This is also a priority for the Minister in terms of the professional learning entitlement for Wales and professional learning for Teaching Assistants is an important part of the agenda moving forward. However there are different responsibilities for teachers and Teaching Assistants and whilst Teaching Assistants might not lead on an area of learning and experience they can support and add capacity. |
Outcomes:
· Noted.
Supporting documents: