The Curriculum Toolkit
(inc. 'Subject September' and updated
Subject Leader & EYFS Toolkits)
The Curriculum Toolkit.
A self-guided approach to professional development that gives you the control to enhance subject leadership, EYFS practice and curriculum leadership at your pace, in your own time.
What is it?
An online suite of 50+ films and associated resources divided into three levels of leadership: subject, EYFS and curriculum.
It is focused on the pedagogy, content and knowledge of subjects, EYFS and the wider curriculum.
How could a school use it?
To address specific outcomes of visits and inspections
Target different levels of leadership, i.e. those new to subject leadership to experienced subject leaders to enhance and refine practice.
Develop whole school curriculum conversations, coherence, consistency: using films and sections as a SDP/CPD programme throughout a year.
Why is it different?
The range of voices: we continue to talk to experts and practitioners on the ground.
It's live: continually updated and enhanced.
It's focused on the 'what next' of curriculum.
The Curriculum Toolkit can be self-guided by schools or through guidance and/or facilitation by Lighting up Learning.
Intro to The Curriculum ToolkitIn 5 minutes, Nicholas introduces The Curriculum Toolkit with 50+ films and associated resources, signposts, research papers, blogs, websites, links to associations and organisations, the aim is to inspire and support leaders of all levels create debate, discussion and dialogue with others to drive change.
Unlimited access to the 50+ sections per school per 12 months is £840 in total (that works out as £12 per film) and can be facilitated by Lighting up Learning for an extra fee or self-guided within school. Each setting gets a username and password to access the materials on a dedicated part of the website.
Contact: nicholas@lightinguplearning.com for further information, MAT or small school packages.
For Subject Leaders
Getting to grips with intent, implementation and impact
For EYFS Leaders
Developing the team and enhancing practice
For Curriculum Leaders
Supporting the leadership of others
For Subject Leaders
Divided into three sections, each section has a film and four signposts to more reading, watching or listening.
Intent: getting started and leading the way
1. One size does not fit all explores how different subject could be led in different ways.
2. New to leading the subject? helps to get you going when you've just taken on a new subject.
3. What is an 'intent' statement? gets you started.
4. Keeping the momentum going; does what it says on the tin!
Implementation: how to engage and empower
5. Sources of inspiration come in many forms.
6. Managing Change takes you through different aspects of leading others.
7. Know More! helps to explore how to improve subject knowledge.
Impact: how do you know what has been learnt?
8. Learning Walks: the why, how and what.
9. Looking at learning uses the words, walks and walls approach.
10. Asking people what they think looks at the focus group model.
11. Feeding back or feeding forward looks at a more productive way of instigating change.
And specific subject content...
...which includes: Ofsted guidance, subject association articles, papers, blogs and books, signposted websites as examples of practice, and more.
English | Mathematics | Science | Geography | History | Music | Art | DT | PE | Computing | Languages | RE/PSHE
And interviews with expert practitioners including:
Charlie Proctor (Science; Science Creates Outreach)
Michael Gorely (History; Historic England)
Sarah Whitehouse (Geography; UWE)
Ben Smith (PE; 401 Foundation)
Sarah Francis and Clare McLoughlin (D&T: food; Travelling Kitchen)
Ed Harker (Art; Mostly Drawing)
Sophie Kingston (Music; May Park Primary)
A sample of a Subject Leadership section ⬇︎
One size does not fit all
There is no one definition of subject leadership, and the mistake many people make is thinking that leading means 'being at the front all of the time, checking, checking and more checking. This is not the case. Every leader is different as is the subject, the state of the subject and the teachers in the schools are all different. What one Art Leader might do in one school will not be the same in another. It is a balance of being proactive and reactive. Thinking of subject leadership as a three year plan and what types of leadership might be needed at what time can be helpful. Breaking each academic year up into three: Autumn, Spring and Summer and thinking about how you might dip in and out of different form of leadership.
Film length: 25 minutes
Different 'modes' of subject leadership.mp4What might the different 'modes' of subject leadership be?
Want a book to get into? Try this:
Garnett, S. (2018) The Subject Leader. Camarthen: Crown House Publishing.
Like a blog? Read this one as a start
What I have learnt about being a Coordinator (Goulds, 2020)
Something a bit more academic?
Rees, T. (2020) An article drawing together research and think pieces. Ambition Institute [online].
For EYFS Leaders
Divided into two parts, each section has a film, four signposts to more reading, watching or listening and key questions to reflect on or drive a team conversation.
Part 1: Intent, Implementation Impact
A. Challenges of EYFS leadership
B. What is an EYFS intent statement?
C. The team you lead
D. Aspects of EYFS practice
E. Assessments, observations and documentation.
Part 2: Developing practice and team
F. Enquiry-led learning
G. The Learning Environment
H. Family Engagement
J. Storytelling and Vivian Gussin-Paley
K. Different Early Years Traditions
L. Schemas, Play and Continuous Provision
M. Promoting Oracy
N. Exploring observations and documentation
A sample of an EYFS section ⬇︎
A. Challenges of EYFS leadership
EYFS is a wonderful part of the educational journey. Well, it is the best actually but keep it quiet or everyone will be wanting to join. EYFS Leads get to work with the most energetic, curious, fascinating and creative young minds. EYFS is based on teamwork, meaning triumphs and frustrations of teaching the tiny learners are shared. Generally, EYFS teams have more freedom to develop practice that is carefully tailored to meet your unique setting. Having said this, EYFS also has its own particular challenges to go with all the opportunities. The film looks deeper int o what some of the challenges might be.
Film length: 10 minutes
EYFS Challenges.mp4Key questions to consider:
What can be done to ensure that EYFS has a clear and effective voice in your school's strategic plans?
Who writes the EYFS section of the School Develop Plan? If there is a separate EYFS action plan, how does this develop your provision and team?
How is EYFS Leadership part of the wider SLT? If not, how is progress shared, or how are issues and developments raised and addressed?
How well does the wider school understand EYFS? To what extent does EYFS feature within whole school staff meetings?
How large is the EYFS team? How diverse are the skills and experience? To what extent does the school leadership support the leading of EYFS? What role does statutory supervision play?
How is the team connected to other EYFS settings? What opportunities are (or could) available for team to make links?
Want a book to get into?
Barber, J. (2018) 'Effective Leadership and Management in the EYFS'. Practical Pre-school Books
Here's a more 'in depth' book
Siraj and Hallet (2015) 'Effective and Caring Leadership in the Early Years'. SAGE
Like a blog?
A light general overview of EYFS issues
A range of articles
From Early Excellence
For Curriculum Leaders
Curriculum Leaders can choose from a wide range of topics that affect curriculum and/or the leadership of others.
How can I help my subject leaders to be effective?, a seminar by Kevin Jones.
Dialogue, Discussion, Debate?, a seminar by Dr. Nicholas Garrick
How can I get the most out of teams and teamwork?, a seminar by Kevin Jones.
How do I reconnect with my work? with expert guest: Sophie Devonshire, Author
How do I manage subject leadership when I’ve got a small staff ? with expert guest: Jon Barr, Executive Headteacher.
Challenging the status quo: how to do things differently in subject leadership?, a seminar by Kevin Jones.
How to develop the soft skills of subject leadership?, a seminar by Kevin Jones.
A sample of a Curriculum Leader section ⬇︎
2. Dialogue, Discussion, Debate?
Dr. Nicholas Garrick explores how to gain trust in change with others through authentic and inclusive use of different communication forms, such as the 'but' of debate, the 'if' of discussion and the 'and, so' of dialogue.
After watching the film, consider how you could build in debate, discussion and dialogue to drive change forward in your subject?
What debates would you create?
What discussions would be helpful to explore alternatives?
What dialogue would be good and with who to get undert he skin of something?
Dialogue, discussion and debate, with Nicholas GarrickContact: nicholas@lightinguplearning.com for further information, MAT or small school packages.