Schemes of Work and Lesson Planning

Lesson plans are a key part of a teacher’s development. They enable teachers to plan their lessons drawing on skills such as; recording, monitoring, demonstration, adaption, discussion and extensive planning. Effective lesson plans enable a teacher to prioritise and organise the learning and provide a manageable learning environment to adhere to the diverse and complex needs of those in the lesson.

Lesson plans set the format for what students are to achieve and how they will do this. Schemes of work essentially form the basis for lesson planning , although schemes of work can be adapted, they are informed by the requirements of the National Curriculum which sets the foundation of what is to be taught. Schemes of Work draw upon the expertise of staff, resource implications and timescales.

The scheme of work is an extensive plan that shows subject by subject, key stage by key stage, the outline of what is being taught and how it interlinks with the context of learning, taking into account students prior learning Not only this, Schemes of Work provides parents, teachers, governors and other individuals with a broad outlook on what is to be/being taught. Long Term planning This takes into consideration the learning and planning for the year. It is based upon the curriculum framework as well as the schools aims, policies and statuary requirements.

It outlines what will be covered for each year group/key stage. Albeit, long term planning is constituted as a team (school) rather than individual, long term lesson plans are the teachers’ plans for implementing the curriculum within the classroom. They should outline the aims to be covered in each subject area, in accordance with the National Curriculum, drawing on teacher’s judgement and knowledge of the needs and ability of the class. Long term planning offers a broad framework for the following:

• units of work for each subject area learning objectives to be addressed
• national curriculum
• cross-curricular links
• sequence in which the work will be delivered (progression)
• activities that the children will engage in
• assessment to be undertaken
• Long term planning forms the basis of medium term planning.

Medium term planning This type of planning is typically the responsibility of the individual. Like long term plans they generally outline; units of work for each subject area, learning objectives to be addressed, cross curricular links etc.

Medium Term Planning outlines the content of what is to be taught in some detail during a term or half a term, and should be used to support the exploration of content as outlined by the National Curriculum. Medium term planning will inform short term planning to enable a teacher to map out their activities on a weekly basis or daily basis. Short term planning These plans involve the individual teachers and outline what is going to be taught on a daily and lesson by lesson basis.

These lesson plans are more specific to what the students will learn and how this will be achieved, i. e. the aims and objectives. Short term lesson plans are formulated from the outcome of previous lessons for that subject and build on progression based upon previous learning, evaluation and assessment process. Short term lesson plans also details how the work will be differentiated, meeting the needs and abilities of all in the group whilst taking into consideration different learning styles and behaviours, this will inform how the work will be achieved i. . group work, pairs or individual. Short term lesson plans will highlight how to keep all children included and motivated whilst achieving learning. These plans will identify which children are struggling, what resources will be needed and where best to allocate resources i. e. teaching assistants. A teacher will also identify how learning will be achieved, choosing suitable activities, space and time.

Short term plans will have assessment opportunities to monitor students learning and plan for future lessons, depending on the activity will depend which method of assessment will be used, however a short term lesson plan should identify this. Lesson plans are a key developmental tool of a teacher’s evaluation and planning. Appropriate plans provide a framework for revisiting and evaluating the success of the lesson in meeting its objectives. Lesson plans enable progression. Fundamentally progression cannot be met without planning, evaluating and assessment.