Accepted a new role but scared I can’t live up to it…

[Lilllypad11]

I’ve taken on KS3 and KS4 whole school literacy lead. I’m worried though, no one’s given me a heads up as to what to do when I start it or how to even begin.

I’ve obviously got things in mind such as what kind of interventions I’d like to bring in, events to raise awareness for literacy in the school. Displays to place around school etc. But I need some advice. I know it’s a huge ask but if there are any HOD/literacy leads here. Please could you advise on what you did in the first 3/6/12 months of your role.

I’m bricking it because it’s a whole school thing too. I know I’ll need to deliver CPD at some point and as someone who’s hugely autistic, I’m scared I’ll eff it up.

Me.
Start by working out where the gaps are in your current provision - use the EEF stuff.
Join the National Literacy Trust.
Write your action plan.
Find out what your budget is and what it needs to cover.

I have whole school literacy, which includes intervention. That was fun when ofsted rocked up last term.

Sorry, just wanted to ask but is your whole school literacy role a separate TLR or part of being a second in department? Sorry, just asking for myself. Thanks

I work at trust level but part of my job is working with all our literacy leads.

You need to know your existing provision. How do you screen for struggling readers and what interventions do you use? Yes to the EEF guidance, plus I’d recommend reading the Ofsted guidance report ‘Now the Whole School is Reading’. If you have pupils who need phonic interventions, what programmes are currently in place? IMHO this needs to come before the nice posters and ‘promoting a reading culture’; if you have a significant cohort of struggling readers that you aren’t adequately supporting as a school then everything else is window-dressing.

As an example, one of my literacy leads picked up the job a year ago where there was virtually nothing in place and she has had to spend all of her time so far on systems and interventions. What you do in your first 3-6-12 months will completely depend on your intake and the existing provision but if you have a high level of need and minimal existing provision you could easily spend a year establishing robust protocols for screening, diagnosing, intervening and tracking progress before you manage to look at anything else.

If at all possible get yourself enrolled on the January cohort for the NPQLL. It’s the last one with guaranteed funding.

My role is lead practitioner and literacy is one part of that