Support for the Essex Disadvantaged Strategy


Saffron Teaching School Hub has been delighted to witness the early successes of the Essex Disadvantaged Strategy, and is working in partnership with the LA, the Education Endowment Foundation and the Research Schools Network to support this county-wide initiative. Here are some examples of what we currently provide and how we can support you with the core elements of the strategy. We will provide information about additional opportunities in future newsletters, as and when appropriate.


Essex Partnership Programmes

Improving outcomes for disadvantaged pupils in Essex through evidence-informed professional development

We are excited to launch a regional partnership between the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF), Essex County Council, Saffron, Alpha and Chafford Hundred Teaching School Hubs and Unity and East London Research Schools.

This collaboration aims to co-ordinate and cohere the school improvement offer across the county, improve pupil outcomes in Essex - particularly for the most disadvantaged - and further embed a culture of evidence use in schools. Through funding from the EEF, schools in Essex will be able to access subsidised training that is high-quality, evidence-informed and tailored to local needs.


What does the partnership involve?

Across the academic year 2022-23, six cohorts of training will be available to Essex teachers and leaders, co-delivered by the Research Schools Network and local Teaching School Hubs. These training programmes will explore the evidence base and review best practice within three thematic evidence strands:

  • Language and communication
  • Metacognition and self-regulation
  • Evidence informed curriculum development

Each programme will bring the evidence to life with practical tools and exemplification, and in addition, participants will engage with additional wraparound support with implementation through a series of collaborative meetings or one-to-one coaching. We are delighted that our Evidence Leads in Education will be involved in the delivery of these programmes.


Partnership programmes currently being offered

Click on the links below for more information about the partnership programmes currently being offered:

Metacognition and self-regulation (Spring Term 2023)

For more information: https://researchschool.org.uk/eastlondon/event/metacognition-self-regulated-learning

To register for this programme, click here.

Training dates: 21st March, 25th April, 16th May and 6th June. All sessions run from 3-5pm online.

Week of 5th June: additional modules on the role of metacognition in the teaching of literacy and maths, and supporting the work of teaching assistants. 

Evidence informed curriculum development (Spring Term 2023)

For more information: https://researchschool.org.uk/eastlondon/event/evidence-informed-curriculum-development

To register for this programme, click here.

Training dates:

This programme will be delivered face-to-face and online as follows:

Day 1 face-to-face: 7th February 9am-4pm at ARU, Bishop Hall Lane, Chelmsford, CM1 1SQ

Webinars (3 x 2 hours): 23rd February, 9th March, 23rd March (all 2-4pm) 

One-to-one coaching with Evidence Leads in Education: Details to follow 

Day 2 face-to-face: 18th April 9am-4pm at ARU, Bishop Hall Lane, Chelmsford, CM1 1SQ 

Improving literacy at KS4 (Spring Term 2023)

For more information: Improving literacy at KS4 - Essex Partnership… | Unity Research School

To register for this programme, click here.

Training dates:

This modular training programme is aimed at leaders of literacy and senior leaders involved in leading literacy/teaching in secondary schools. It will explore the recommendations from the EEF Improving Literacy in Secondary Schools guidance report and how they can support effective practices across transition.

Scheduled dates (all sessions run 2:30-4:30pm online):

  • Tuesday 10th January – 2:30-4:30pm
  • Tuesday 7th February – 2:30-4:30pm

Optional Q&A/implementation support sessions (online):

  • Tuesday 17th January – 8:30-10:00am
  • Tuesday 21st February – 8:30-10:00am

Inter-sessional activity will be provided to support in-school implementation of the principles and practices explored within this programme.

Support for the core elements of the strategy

Language development and comprehension

In addition to the Language and Communication Partnership Programme detailed above, Professional Learning Network (PLN), as a Strategic partner of Saffron TS Hub, have for several years run a highly successful Developing Reading Comprehension programme with and beyond Essex for both primary and secondary phase schools. Information about the programme can be found here.

Metacognition and self-regulated learning

You may wish to look at our Spotlight article about the resources available from the Education Endowment Foundation which can be found here.

You may also be interested in our Evidence Informed Practice Blog post which highlights the pivotal role Teaching Assistants can play in the development of metacognition: Teaching Assistants - The Key to Metacognition

Support for Early Years

Crucial to ensuring the core elements build on the strongest possible foundation

Essex Primary SCITT, based in Chelmsford, delivers the EYITT programme across the Saffron TS Hub region and beyond. The year-long programme, offered as both full time Graduate Entry and part-time Graduate Employment Based routes, leads to the DfE accredited award of Early Years Teacher Status. More information can be found here.

We also currently offer FREE termly Early Years seminars to all Early Years providers. These seminars include presentations linked to the latest themes and research in Early Years education, alongside ‘best practice’ case studies from practitioners.

Details of our spring term Early Years seminars will be published on our website and in our spring term newsletter.

Evidence informed practice development

“Research evidence should be used to inform decision-making. It should be used to challenge assumptions and beliefs, not simply to justify actions already taken”

Addressing Educational Disadvantage – The Essex Way

Visit the Evidence Led Practice section of our website here – this is where we Spotlight key evidence based research, including materials that link to the core elements of the Disadvantaged Strategy, and provide examples of Evidence in Action via our ELE Blog. You will also find about our team of Evidence Leads in Education (ELEs), practitioners who have been accredited with the EEF/Research Schools network as leading practitioners in evidence informed school improvement approaches.