Hambrough Primary and Nursery School

At Hambrough Primary School, we are committed to delivering excellent teaching for every child, every day. Our approach is grounded in evidence-informed practice and designed to ensure equity and high achievement for all learners—particularly those who need the most support. 

Our Teaching and Learning Framework provides a clear, consistent structure that supports pupils to know more, remember more and do more over time. 

Our Approach: From Teacher to Independent Learner 

We use a structured approach to teaching known as the Gradual Release of Responsibility: 

I Do → We Do → You Do 

This means: 

• Teachers first model new learning clearly 

• Pupils then practise with support 

• Finally, pupils apply their learning independently 

This approach is particularly effective for novice learners, ensuring that all children are carefully guided towards success. 

Building Strong Foundations for Learning 

Every lesson begins by preparing pupils for success. We: 

• Establish clear routines so pupils can focus on learning 

• Use regular retrieval practice to strengthen memory 

• Provide feedback on previous learning to address misconceptions 

• Carefully link new learning to what pupils already know 

• Check that pupils have the necessary prior knowledge before moving on 

This ensures that learning builds securely over time and that no child is left behind. 

 

High-Quality Teaching 

When introducing new learning, teachers: 

• Clearly explain the purpose of the lesson 

• Present new content in small, manageable steps 

• Use explicit teaching and live modelling to demonstrate success 

• Think aloud to show pupils how experts approach tasks 

• Ensure all pupils are fully attentive and engaged 

We know that what pupils pay attention to is what they learn, so we create classrooms where focus and participation are the norm. 

 

Learning Together 

Before working independently, pupils take part in structured practice where they: 

• Answer questions using strategies such as mini-whiteboards, talk partners and choral response 

• Receive immediate feedback through regular checks for understanding 

• Develop their thinking by speaking in full sentences and using precise vocabulary 

Teachers carefully monitor learning and adapt teaching to ensure that all pupils are ready to succeed independently. 

 

Independence and High Expectations 

When pupils move to independent learning, we ensure: 

• Clear success criteria so pupils understand what success looks like 

• Explicit expectations for how to work (time, outcomes, resources and behaviour) 

• Opportunities for pupils to think hard and persist before receiving help 

• High levels of engagement and focus from all pupils 

We believe that all pupils can achieve highly, and we support them to do so. 

 

Supporting Every Learner 

We are committed to equity in the classroom. This means: 

• Providing scaffolding to support pupils who need it 

• Maintaining high expectations for all 

• Carefully monitoring progress during lessons 

• Responding quickly to address misconceptions 

Support is always temporary and purposeful, helping pupils become confident, independent learners. 

 

A Consistent Experience for Every Child 

Across our school, you will see: 

• Calm, purposeful classrooms 

• Clear routines that maximise learning time 

• Teachers using consistent, research-informed strategies 

• Pupils who are engaged, confident and proud of their learning 

 

Our Commitment 

At Hambrough, we believe that great teaching changes lives. Our framework ensures that every child receives: 

• High-quality instruction 

• The support they need to succeed 

• The opportunity to develop independence and resilience 

Together, we are building learners who are knowledgeable, confident and ready for the future.