Meta-Cognition and Learning Powers

Building learning powers is based on the idea that we are all capable of becoming better learners and that through this we can help our pupils secure skills and characteristics that will prepare them for adulthood.

“To thrive in the 21st Century, it’s not enough to leave…. with examination certificates. You have to have learnt how to be tenacious and resourceful, imaginative and logical, self-disciplined and self-aware, collaborative and inquisitive” Claxton 2002.

Key principles of Building Learning Powers:

• Creating a learning culture that encourages children and teachers to become better learners
• To allow children to approach difficulties in learning without fear of failure
• To allow children to take small steps within learning
• To develop confidence
• This is not additional to teaching but should be grounded within everyday teaching and learning
• To have shared key words for the children and staff to develop understanding of learning processes

Our school has developed a language for learning through the use of meta-cognition. This has involved creating and developing an ethos, atmosphere and language of learning throughout the school. Meta-Cognition allows us to teach pupils how to deepen their understanding by encouraging them to think and communicate even more about their learning.Teaching our pupils to practice the learning powers allows them to develop the capacity to learn in challenging circumstances throughout school and wider life, maximising success. Our learning powers support the teaching of meta-cognitive skills throughout the school.

Learning Powers at Oaklands

	Explore	Connect	Persevere	Feel	Reflect
Willow
Cherry
Chestnut

Explore:

Providing opportunities to explore is crucial for healthy brain development and social-emotional well-being. As children follow their curiosity and try new things, they build strong neural connections that will play a key role in learning and behaviour throughout life.

Connect:

Loving, stable and responsive relationships are fundamental to child development. Through relationships, children learn how to think, understand, communicate, behave, express emotions and develop social skills.

Persevere:

Perseverance is all about continuing to try something, even when you’re facing difficulty, failure or some delay.

Resilience is broader. It’s about overcoming negative circumstances or adversity in your life, handling your emotions, and still remaining healthy and competent. 

Feel:

Recognising your emotions and learning to manage them is one of the most important skills you can have. In fact, people who are good at noticing how they feel and can calm themselves down or adjust their behaviour are more likely to do well in life, have healthy relationships, and manage difficulties and setbacks.

Reflect:

By developing reflection skills, children are learning that they can always improve, no matter how fantastic their learning has been. They are also learning to value and learn from mistakes, and see them as part of the learning process.

How can Parents and Carers Help?

• Questions you could ask: Why not ask your child ‘how have you learned at school today’ or you might ask ‘which of the learning powers did you use today?’ or you might ask ‘which learning power do you need to use more tomorrow?’
• Sharing your experiences: Share how you learn, be your child’s learning hero. Talk about the learning powers and encourage those attributes at home and in other out of school activities such as swimming, going to the park and learning to ride a bike, etc.