At Carr Infant School, our pedagogy is built on structured, engaging, and inclusive teaching practices that foster confidence, communication, and creativity in all children. We believe that effective learning happens when lessons follow a consistent structure, expectations are clear, and children are actively involved through collaboration and purposeful talk.

Lesson Structure

Our lessons follow a carefully designed sequence to ensure engagement, understanding, and progression in learning. Each session is structured into four key parts:

• Recap and Recall – We begin by revisiting previous learning to strengthen retention and activate prior knowledge. This might include retrieval practice, questioning, or a quick challenge related to previous lessons.
• Attention Grabber – A short, engaging activity or stimulus is introduced to spark curiosity and focus children’s attention on the learning ahead. This could be a question, story, image, or practical demonstration.
• Main Event – The core teaching and learning segment where new concepts are introduced, modeled, and explored through structured talk, guided practice, and independent application. Teachers use clear explanations, scaffolding, and Kagan structures to ensure active participation.
• Wrapping Up – A structured reflection where children consolidate their learning, articulate key takeaways, and demonstrate understanding. This might include a partner discussion, summary task, or whole-class review.

Knowledge Organisers

At Carr Infant School, our Knowledge Organisers distil the essential knowledge from each subject into clear, child-friendly formats. They are vital in helping our young learners recall their learning over time by providing consistent reference points that support understanding and memory.

Kagan Cooperative Learning Structures

We integrate Kagan Cooperative Learning Structures across our teaching to promote active engagement, collaboration, and oracy in all subjects. These structures ensure all children are involved in learning, develop social skills, and build resilience in a supportive environment. Some of our key Kagan strategies include:

• Think-Pair-Share – Encouraging children to formulate their thoughts independently before discussing with a partner and sharing with the class.
• Rally Robin – Supporting turn-taking and oral rehearsal, where children take turns generating ideas in pairs.
• Stand Up, Hand Up, Pair Up – Encouraging movement and engagement as children interact with different peers to discuss and share learning.
• Numbered Heads Together – Promoting teamwork and accountability, with children working in groups to discuss and answer questions before a randomly selected member shares with the class.

By embedding these structures into our daily practice, we create a collaborative, inclusive, and language-rich learning environment where all children are actively involved in their learning.

Our pedagogical approach is designed to ensure that every child is supported and challenged, with clear expectations, meaningful talk, and structured opportunities for success. This approach not only builds academic knowledge and skills but also nurtures social and emotional development, preparing children for the next stages of their education.