This course provides everything that teaching assistants need for supporting learning in English in years 3 and 4.

This course provides everything that teaching assistants need for supporting learning in English in years 3 and 4. You will get an overview of progression in skills for both reading and writing and be provided with a range of effective teaching strategies to support learning. All our training is based on research-based best practice and promotes the application of grammar through meaningful contexts for writing.

Course curriculum

  • 1

    Module 1: Reading - Welcome to the course

    • Introduction

    • Reflecting on own practice

    • Resources
  • 2

    Module 1: The reading curriculum

    • Expectations from EYFS to Y4
  • 3

    Module 1: Exploring strategies

    • Word reading strategies

    • Comprehension strategies
  • 4

    Module 1: Grouped reading

    • Selecting appropriate texts

    • Planning ahead

    • Grouped reading with beginners

    • A walk-through a grouped reading session

    • Reading themes to master

    • Follow on tasks
  • 5

    Module 1: Conclusion

    • Review and reflect

    • Module evaluation
  • 6

    Module 2: Writing - Welcome to the course

    • Introduction

    • Reflecting on own practice

    • Resources
  • 7

    Module 2: Guided writing

  • 8

    Module 2: Building memory skills

    • Building memory skills
  • 9

    Module 2: Other grammar skills

    • Punctuation

    • Progression in tense

    • Supporting pupils with tense

    • Progression in detail and description

    • Adding detail and description
  • 10

    Module 2: Improving sentence structure

    • Progression in sentence structure and punctuation

    • Oral rehearsal

    • Constructing sentences
  • 11

    Module 2: Conclusion

    • Review and reflect

    • Module evaluation

What to expect

  • Reading

    Your course instructor will take you through the progression of reading skills from EYFS to year 4, focusing on the expectations of the reading curriculum for years 3 and 4. There is advice on how to support pupils with word reading and a focus on developing pupils’ reading comprehension skills effectively though questioning. There is also clear advice on how to run an effective grouped reading session for pupils.

  • Writing

    Your course instructor will provide practical strategies for supporting pupils in the development of memory strategies, sentence structure and other grammar skills relevant to the curriculum in years 3 and 4. There is also advice on planning for and running a guided writing session and a demonstration of how to carry this out effectively with a group of pupils.

Course attendee

“It was great to gain planning ideas and activities for the children.”

Course attendee

“So many fantastic ideas to magpie.”

Sample: Module 2- Guided writing 'When is guided writing appropriate?'

FAQ

  • What resources are included?

    There is a sample of a blank planning frame for guided reading sessions, suggested question stems suitable for pupils and resources outlining appropriate activities to support pupils in developing their reading comprehension strategies. To support writing there is a document to show the progression of skills in sentence structure and punctuation as well as exemplification of writing expectations in years 3 and 4. All resources can be downloaded for use in the classroom.

  • Do I get a certificate?

    Yes – you will receive a certificate on completion of the training which can be downloaded for your records.

  • How long is the course?

    The running time for the sessions is approximately 2 hours but the course will take longer to complete depending on how long you spend on the activities. We would suggest setting aside at least 2.5 hours to complete the course.

  • Do I have to watch the course all in one go?

    No – the online learning platform will save your progress through the course, so you can split the course into manageable chunks and return to the training as many times as you like at times that suit you best.

  • For how long do I have access to the course?

    You will have access to the course for 100 days so you can revisit the training as many times as you like during that period.