Building Learning Power

Building Learning Power

Building Learning Power (BLP) enhances and expands the capacity of children to learn. It helps children to develop transferable learning skills and prepares them for a lifetime of learning.

At Sandgate we introduce children to the idea of BLP in Foundation Stage and develop and extend their meta-cognitive understanding of ‘how’ they learn throughout Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2.

By building up a coherent picture of what it takes to be a good learner our children are able to develop their learning character and habits, as well as their appetite and ability to learn in different ways.

We are much indebted to the research and publications of Professor Guy Claxton, who has informed our approach to BLP.

In Key Stage 1 children consider their BLP in terms of Reflectiveness, Resourcefulness, Reciprocity and Resilience (the 4 R’s).

In Key Stage 2 children further develop their learning power as they are introduced to the 17 Learning Muscles. These relate to positive learning attitudes and provide a clear picture of ‘the powerful learner’.

Children make links with their BLP throughout their learning and are encouraged at the start of each lesson to consider and record which learning muscles will help them learn best.