Teaching and Learning at Bonneygrove and Millbrook Primary Federation

At Bonneygrove and Millbrook Primary Federation, we ensure that our teaching and learning experiences are real, rich and relevant, rooted in educational research and responsive to how children learn best.

Across both schools, we have high expectations for every child from the outset and are committed to developing the whole child—academically, socially and emotionally—so that education is fully accessible for all. Inclusion is central to our approach, ensuring that every pupil is supported to achieve and succeed.

Our Approach to Learning

Our curriculum is carefully designed to:

• Build knowledge and skills sequentially in small, manageable steps
• Ensure learning is meaningful, engaging and purposeful
• Support children in becoming independent, confident and lifelong learners

Teaching across the Federation is informed by well-established educational research. In particular:

• Rosenshine’s Principles of Instruction underpin our teaching, ensuring lessons are well-structured, clearly explained and build on prior learning
• EEF research informs our approach to effective teaching strategies, especially the use of high-quality feedback, allowing pupils to reflect on and improve their learning in real time
• Guy Claxton’s Building Learning Powers supports the development of resilience, independence and self-regulation (metacognition), enabling pupils to take ownership of their learning

Learning in the Classroom

In our classrooms, children are encouraged to:

• Work collaboratively, sharing ideas and learning from one another
• Develop strong oracy skills and subject-specific vocabulary
• Ask questions, explain their thinking and deepen their understanding

Teachers:

• Break learning into clear, structured steps
• Regularly check for understanding and address misconceptions promptly
• Provide support and challenge in a way that builds confidence and maintains self-esteem
• Maximise learning time so that every lesson is purposeful and effective

Developing Independent Learners

We actively support children to take responsibility for their own learning. This includes:

• Opportunities for self and peer assessment
• Encouraging pupils to set goals and reflect on their progress
• Creating a culture where children feel confident to take risks, ask questions and seek clarification

Through this approach, pupils develop the skills, knowledge and attitudes needed to succeed now and in the future.

Our Aim

Across Bonneygrove and Millbrook Primary Federation, our aim is to provide a high-quality, inclusive education that enables every child to thrive—academically and personally—preparing them for the next stage of their learning and for life beyond school.