The Early Intervention Programme

Raising Standards in Literacy and Numeracy

Falkirk Council

Strategy

Working with parents - Family Literacy Opportunities.
Staff Development on Oracy, Literacy, and his teaching of Reading.
The learning and teaching environment in pre-school and P1.
Establishing starting points through recognition of prior learning in pre-school and P1.

Scope

		No of Children
4 Primary Schools		220
1 Nursery Class	Phase 1	40
1 Day Nursery	1997-98	10
1 Nursery School		160 430

As above with the addition} of P2 x 7 classes	Phase 2	210
2 Primary School	1998-99	110
2 Nursery Classes		80
1 Day Nursery		12 412
Total children participating in the coming session 842.

Achievements and emerging lessons

Greater emphasis on taking account of parents views of children’s learning/interests at home.

Nursery staff interesting children in print and discarding the view held previously that "print was not allowed in nursery".

Children displaying greater interest in writing.

P1 staff and Headteachers on "non-intervention" schools commenting on the need to adjust their view of the nursery curriculum.

P1 teachers adjusting their planning of teaching and learning opportunities to take account of the strengths and skills of nursery nurses.

Material resources, particularly the additional funding available for picture books and non-fiction books by mainstream publishers have extended children’s access to quality books.

Baseline Assessment Pilot involvement has extended the dialogue with parents and other staff about which elements of the pre-school curriculum framework underpin achievement in numeracy and literacy.

Local Views

"Another pair of hands with Primary 1 is fantastic - the nursery nurse is magic" (Teacher).

"I have really enjoyed the Family Literacy especially making the parents leaflets on learning at home" (Nursery Parent).

"I cannot believe how they have come on. Further ahead than my usual classes" (experienced teacher returning to P1 after 6 month maternity leave).