Learning Values

At Fawley Infant School we teach our children through a predominately integrated curriculum where subjects are combined to create a highly engaging project which we refer to as an 'integrated learning unit' (ILU). Within these ILUs we cover the national curriculum which dictates what what the children need to be taught.

Key Principles

It is a learning culture that encourages children and teachers to become better learners
It allows children to approach difficulties in learning without fear of failure
It allows the children to take small steps within learning
It develops confidence
It is not additional to teaching but should be grounded within everyday teaching and learning
It gives clear labels for the children to use to develop understanding of learning processes

Why are we Building Learning Power?

We believe that BLP is beginning to allow us to develop a common language for learning across the school. The language is used in all classrooms, with all children. This helps everyone talk about understanding learning to learn. We hope that this understanding will begin to spill over into life outside school, where you will be able to reinforce the ideas by encouraging the children to use their learning language in their everyday lives.

The idea is that the four dispositions (4 Rs) are like a group of "learning muscles". Just as we can build our physical muscles with the right kind of exercise, learning muscles can also be developed and can grow in strength and stamina. It is these we are aiming to develop in the children.

What does BLP look like?

You may have heard your children already using some of the language that has been introduced in school. Professor Claxton suggests there are four main learning dispositions:

Resilience- not giving up,
Resourcefulness- –being able to use a range of learning strategies and knowing what to do when you get stuck,
Reflectiveness- being able to think about yourself as a learner and how you might be able to do this better,
Reciprocity- –being able to learn with and from others, as well as on your

These dispositions are then split into seventeen learning ‘muscles’ that the children are encouraged to ‘stretch’ within their everyday lessons and activities and apply to different aspects of their learning.

Resilient

I try my best
I keep trying, even when it is tricky
I persevere

Resourceful

I learn using everything around me
I ask for help if I need to

Reflective

I think about what I have learnt
I think about what to do next
I think about how I can improve

Reciprocal

I can help people
I can share my ideas
I can understand how others feel