The local authority adviser/consultant with a responsibility for primary languages plays a pivotal role in sustaining languages across an authority and developing the support mechanisms to provide teachers in schools with the appropriate CPD opportunities.

The adviser/consultant has the opportunity of working collaboratively with other LA advisers from other curriculum areas. They also often coordinate a team of AST s or lead teachers who support teachers in schools through a range of programmes from team teaching, modelling lessons, coaching and discrete CPD sessions.

Within a school the subject coordinator for primary languages, working with the senior management team and head teacher, has the responsibility for planning an action plan and policy which ensures progression and sustainability. Planning for primary languages within a school context depends on a number of crucial factors, including the size and structure of the school, time allocation and the linguistic confidence of staff. The model of delivery in individual schools will necessitate flexibility in planning to suit the context of the school.

Questions

- What are the main priorities for primary languages within your local authority at the current time?

- Has your school already produced an action plan for primary languages? If not, what steps should be taken to support entitlement in your school and where can you find support for this?

- What skills does a primary class teacher bring to the planning discussions with a secondary partner? What skills does a secondary teacher bring to the planning discussions with a primary partner?

Activity

What model of delivery do you have in place in your school? Is it sustainable? Who is available to support you?

- Your local authority adviser/consultant?
- A team of ASTs or Lead Teachers for primary languages?
- Teachers at a local specialist language college or secondary school?
- Other local authority advisers from other curriculum areas who can draw on experience from other subjects?
- National organisations?

Are there any other sources of support on which to draw?