Teaching & Learning

At Wey Valley, our teaching and learning approach is guided by Rosenshine’s Principles of Instruction. These evidence-based principles help teachers deliver high-quality teaching in every classroom, ensuring that all students can access the curriculum and make strong progress.

Our focus is on Quality First Teaching. This means lessons are designed so that every student can succeed. Teachers pay particular attention to checking in with disadvantaged students and those with SEND, ensuring they receive the support they need while still being part of the same high-quality learning experience as their peers.

Below are some of the key practices you will see in classrooms across the school.

Calm, Focused Learning Environments

We believe students learn best in classrooms that are calm, organised, and focused.

Teachers work hard to create this environment by:

• Setting clear expectations for behaviour
• Building positive relationships with students
• Using consistent routines to start and run lessons smoothly
• Moving around the classroom to support students as they work

A predictable environment helps students feel safe, confident, and ready to learn.

Starting Lessons with Retrieval

At the start of most lessons, students complete a short activity that helps them recall previous learning.

This helps students:

• Strengthen their memory
• Build confidence in their knowledge
• Prepare their brains for new learning

Teachers quickly check answers and address any misunderstandings so students know how to improve.

Clear Teaching of New Ideas

When introducing new learning, teachers:

• Break information into small, manageable steps
• Give clear explanations
• Ask questions regularly to check understanding
• Encourage discussion so students can talk through their thinking

This ensures that students stay engaged and no one falls behind.

Modelling What Success Looks Like

Teachers regularly demonstrate how to complete tasks so students understand what strong work looks like.

This might include:

• Showing examples on the board or visualiser
• Talking through their thinking step by step
• Gradually increasing the level of challenge

Seeing examples helps students feel more confident about how to approach their work.

Independent Practice

Students are given time to apply what they have learned independently.

During this time teachers:

• Move around the classroom supporting students
• Give feedback to help students improve
• Share strong examples of work to clarify expectations

This allows students to build confidence, resilience, and independence in their learning.

Consistent Lesson Routines

Across the school, lessons follow a similar structure so students know what to expect. This consistency helps students stay focused and feel secure in their learning.

Lessons typically include:

1. A calm start and retrieval activity
2. Introduction of new learning
3. Teacher modelling and guided practice
4. Independent work
5. A clear and calm end to the lesson

Supporting Every Student

While lessons are designed for all students, teachers make sure to check in regularly with disadvantaged students and those with SEND to ensure they fully understand the learning.

This may include:

• Additional explanations
• Breaking tasks into smaller steps
• Providing examples or prompts
• Checking understanding more frequently

Our aim is that every student feels supported and confident to take part in learning.

Our Commitment

Through clear teaching, strong routines, and a shared approach based on Rosenshine’s principles, we aim for every student at Wey Valley to:

• Feel confident in the classroom
• Understand what they are learning and why
• Be supported when they find things challenging
• Build the knowledge and skills they need for the future

Our staff continually reflect on and improve their teaching so that every student can succeed, every lesson, every day.