Learning Friends: An Introduction

"Learning Together for an Exciting Future" is our vision at school but learning is challenging and often difficult so we have 4 learning friends to help improve children’s learning capabilities. Building Learning Power or BLP is based on the work of Professor Guy Claxton. It is an approach to learning that is taught across our school through the narrative concept of Learning Friends. It helps children:

• Learn more
• Learn better
• Become better learners
• Become lifelong learners

Building Learning Power involves developing the behaviours a child or young person will need to face challenge calmly, confidently and creatively and as a result, give them the life skills that they need for their journey through school and into the real world. We strive for the children at our school to be lifelong learners.

We want the children to see learning as a process. For them to see that ability is not a gift or fixed, but something that can be improved with hard work and practice. We want them to know that they are all good at something and that they can get better at the things that they find a challenge. We believe that we need to give our children the skills they need to face whatever career path they take in a future that we may not recognise.

The approach that we take is realistic and accessible to all and it is an approach that can be cultivated at home and school.

The way that we teach these behaviours to the children is through the 4Rs:

• Resilience
• Resourcefulness
• Reflectiveness
• Relationship

We call these behaviours our learning muscles and explain to the children that they need to be exercised in order to get learning fit. Each muscle is broken down into a set of associated behaviours that we teach explicitly through our normal timetable and curriculum. Accompanying guidance will be available via the school office or on our website.