Quality First Teaching at St John's

Our Approach to Teaching and Learning at St John’s C.E. Primary School

At St John’s, we believe that education is about more than simply acquiring knowledge—it is about creating meaningful learning experiences that children can remember, apply, and build upon throughout their lives. This document sets out our approach to Quality First Teaching, which underpins everything we do in the classroom.

The front page of the document linked below reflects our school vision and values, showing how they run throughout our curriculum. It also highlights what we believe good teaching looks like—teaching that is purposeful, inclusive, and designed to help every child succeed.

Our approach is built around the acronym LEARN, which stands for:

• Language – Developing rich vocabulary and communication skills as the foundation for all learning.

• Evidence – Capturing learning in varied ways to reflect progress and understanding.

• Assessment – Using assessment to inform teaching and support every child’s next steps.

• Retrieval – Embedding knowledge in long-term memory through regular recall and application.

• Networking – Making connections between prior and new learning, and understanding how knowledge fits into a wider context.

Our aim is to ensure that every child develops a deep understanding of what they learn, sees how it connects to prior knowledge, and understands its relevance in a wider context. We achieve this through carefully planned lessons that prioritise language development, retrieval practice, and opportunities for reflection. By revisiting and recalling previous learning, children strengthen their long-term memory and are better equipped to make links and progress confidently.

We also recognise that learning is most effective when it is inclusive and adaptive. Our teachers plan for a range of strategies—such as scaffolding, questioning, and targeted feedback—to meet the needs of all learners. Assessment is used not just to measure progress, but to inform teaching and support every child’s next steps.

Ultimately, our approach is designed to nurture curiosity, independence, and resilience. By embedding strong learning behaviours and fostering a love of learning, we prepare our children not only for academic success but for life beyond the classroom.

Click the link below to see the full document