Bespoke Training Programme for Schools Direct Students

Not only do students have the opportunity to receive training from their chosen university and their school they have access to additional opportunities. The Southwark Teaching School Alliance offers a bespoke additional training programme to all students within the alliance including training from renowned trainers in phonics, drama and mathematics. Here is a summary of some of the courses and opportunities available:

Full on phonics!

Course description: An introduction to teaching phonics. The course focuses on phonics subject knowledge and explores a range of activities to support the teaching of phonics throughout Key Stage 1.

Planning for progression through the phonics phases is explored as well as strategies for assessing pupils’ phonic knowledge.

This course is led by Ruth Dollner who was Regional Adviser for London on the Communication Language and Literacy Programme which launched ‘Letters and Sounds’

Feedback from the students:

“I am currently two weeks into my schools direct course and I think this has been an excellent introduction to phonics. I feel much more comfortable surrounding phonics and how / why they’re used.”

“Excellent practical ideas for lessons, clear overview of expectations (progress and assessment).”

Supporting children with SEND - Strategies to develop early learning and communication.

Course description: This course focuses on how to best support SEND children in mainstream educational settings. The course covers the following:

Early learning - overview of EYFS, small steps to learning and how this relates to the progress of children with SEND.
Develop an understanding of target setting and appropriate strategies .
Use of signs and symbols to support language development - including an introduction to Makaton.
A practical session about how to apply the above learning to a mainstream setting including the opportunity to plan for any SEND children in the class you are currently working with.

This course is led by Shona Morgan who is an experienced Advanced Skills Teacher, Outreach Adviser and SEN Training Facilitator. She is a highly experienced teacher with experience in both mainstream and special schools. She has a wealth of experience including working with the Autism Support Team and supporting students with SLD in mainstream settings. She has a vast experience of supporting schools across Southwark with their provision for pupils with SEND.

STSA Secondary School experience – Autumn term

As part of the STSA Schools Direct experience we offer a day’s observation in a secondary school. In 2015 Dulwich College hosted STSA students for the day. Dulwich College is an independent school for boys in Dulwich and the STSA students were thrilled to have the chance to observe lessons at the school.

Feedback from STSA student:

“I just wanted to thank you for organising the Dulwich observation day. I really enjoyed it, saw some amazing teaching, one (teacher) in-particular blew my mind, she was incredible and had year eights completing GCSE English standards, phenomenal!”

STSA Alternative Educational Setting Experience – Summer Term

As part of the STSA Schools Direct experience, Southwark Teaching School Alliance are excited to offer all students an alternative setting placement. This is an excellent opportunity to gain experience in a different setting. As a mainstream teacher it is extremely important to have a broad knowledge and experience of different educational settings and the experience may lead students to decide that they would like to work in such a setting in the future.

Placements include

one day placement at Evelina Hospital School
Evelina Hospital School has a thriving school community which educates children and young people who are patients of the Evelina London Children’s Hospital. The school was established in 1949 and is proud of its tradition of excellence in educating children who are unable to attend their home schools because of their medical needs.
A one day placement at Rye Oak Primary School Autistic Spectrum Condition (ASC) Resource Base.
Rye Oak ASC Resource Base is part of the provision that the school offer for children with Autism. This provision is based around the school’s belief that all children with ASC require personalised learning opportunities. Each child has an individual timetable to ensure that they are accessing as much of their learning as possible within their mainstream classroom, whilst also receiving specific intervention to support their needs. This may include explicit teaching around speech and language, social skills, motor skills and sensory development.
A four day placement at Cherry Gardens Primary School
Cherry Garden School is a special school for pupils from 2-11 years old in Southwark. The school is committed to providing individualised learning, support and opportunities for pupils with severe learning difficulties, complex needs and autism, and to meeting individual needs. A key aim of the school is to provide learning experiences which are child-centred, stimulating, challenging and enjoyable.