• Teaching - you will use what you learn  to support teachers at all levels in your school to develop their knowledge of literacy development and literacy learning and to improve their literacy teaching, including language, reading and writing.
• Developing language - you will learn about the crucial role of language development in general academic success and in particular how oracy underpins literacy development. Within the context of your role, you will learn how to develop your school’s oracy teaching and provision and how to support your colleagues to maximise the opportunities to model and develop high-quality speaking and listening and to ensure high-quality talk is prioritised in the classroom.
• School culture - you will learn how to enhance literacy teaching and to champion all aspects of literacy across a school, strengthening your ability and that of your colleagues to contribute to a school culture in which pupils can thrive and succeed.
• Developing reading - you will learn how language development underpins reading development, you will deepen your knowledge of the key theories of reading development and explore the development of the component skills involved in reading and from the perspectives of different learners.
• Developing writing - you will deepen your knowledge of how to develop pupils' written transcription by working with colleagues to ensure that they know how to teach, spelling, handwriting and sentence construction.
• Professional development - you will deepen your knowledge of the best ways to provide effective professional development in literacy curriculum, pedagogy and assessment across the whole school community. You will engage in leading and developing a team of teachers focused on improving literacy attainment across your school.
• Subject and curriculum – you will learn about the fundamental importance of literacy and recognise the impact it has on pupils’ future achievement and life chances. You will learn how to support and improve high quality teaching, learning and assessment in your subject or phase. You will acquire the essential knowledge, skills and concepts that underpin successful literacy teaching.
• Implementation – focusing on literacy, you will learn how to implement change successfully within your context by understanding the stages of implementation and applying them with the support of your facilitators and colleagues.

To view the full DfE framework click here

Our participants have noted many benefits to studying for an NPQLL. Overall, they outline how the programme has given them professional confidence, time and space to reflect on themselves about the kind of leader they want to become and increased knowledge in thier chosen area of study. 

You will be able to:

• Develop the skills, confidence and knowledge to implement new literacy initiatives successfully through a supported implementation project.
• Develop the skills to implement meaningful interventions as part of a whole school literacy approach.
• Learn how to help students develop ways to improve oracy developing confidence that transpires into academic progress.
• Learn practical approaches to develop language, reading and writing skills in your school context.
• Recognise the key elements of pupils’ literacy journeys from Primary school into Secondary settings.
• Access research and materials and have many opportunities to discuss a variety of literacy approaches and models with other teachers.

We know that our children and young people need teachers who are committed to their education and are confident learners themselves. Our NPQ programmes have been developed with teachers and leaders to:

• Create professionally confident teachers and leaders.
• Grow the next generation of leaders with the skills and knowledge to use the evidence-base for the benefit of their children and young people.
• Retain the best teachers who are excellent, collaborative role models for their schools and communities.
• Inspire leaders who can harness the power of rich learning environments for their children and young people no matter the current circumstances.

• 12 month programme.
• Approx 1 hour per week of independent study.
• Six in-person events.
• The only assessment is a 1500 word response to a case study at the end of your 12-month programme.
• Attendance at in-person sessions and engagement with course materials is required to qualify for the final assessment.

Anyone working in a school, in early years or in childcare can register for an NPQ. You will need a TRN (teacher registration number). If you are not a teacher, the DfE registration process will guide you through how to request one. If you are working in early years or child care you will need the Ofsted unique reference number (URN) of your setting.

Not everyone will be entitled to full funding. Please see the section below for details.

FREE for all state schools in England in 2023/2024 

Currently the DfE are funding all NPQ's for academic year 2023/24 for participants from all state schools in England.  However, your school will incur costs in covering your absence so that you can attend in-person events.  Teachers from Independent schools are welcome to apply, but will need to self fund.

Full funding is available for all NPQs for teachers and leaders employed by:

• state-funded schools
• state-funded 16 to 19 organisations
• independent special schools
• virtual schools (organisations run by local authorities that support the education of children in care)
• hospital schools
• young offender institutions

Additional funding available for small schools