Learning without limits in Renfrewshire

In January, we launched our new Limitless Learning programme in partnership with Renfrewshire Council.

In light of the ongoing disruption to education caused by the pandemic, Limitless Learning is designed to ensure every child can progress in their learning without any lasting negative effects from school closures and restrictions.

The need for Limitless Learning is clear. The Scottish Government’s recent ‘equity audit’, a broad study of literature alongside a detailed survey of 54 Scottish schools, identified that:

• the mental and physical health and wellbeing of children and young people may have been negatively impacted during school building closures
• the closures are likely to have had a negative effect on pupil progress and attainment, and socio-economically deprived children and young people are amongst those who may have been most negatively affected
• Additional training for staff, parents and pupils increased user confidence and knowledge and this remains an important ongoing focus

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Limitless Learning uses growth mindset principles and practice to provide teachers with access to a series of e-learning modules that offer practical learning and pedagogy to support the return to formal education.

The modules are supported by a complementary series of ‘live’ virtual seminars to allow collegiate discussions between teachers, where they can share ideas and best practice, and embed learning. 

The modules and seminars concentrate on applying a growth mindset approach in maths. This includes a focus on areas such as:

• Mindsets – developing a lifelong love of learning
• Brain growth – understanding how we can train our brain to learn
• Struggle – the value of making mistakes and using different strategies to learn

 
The course combines two key approaches to assist teachers as they seek to ensure every child in Renfrewshire gains maximum educational benefit following a year of disruption:
 
1. A growth mindset – helping children navigate school and life with a positive work ethic and the ability to overcome failure and setbacks.
2. A curricular boost – providing schools with ideas and stimulus to help pupils reintegrate with maths and catch up on any lost learning.

Grant Small, Impact and Delivery Manager at Winning Scotland said: “We’re delighted to add Limitless Learning to our growing portfolio of growth mindset professional learning programmes. The importance of growth mindset in schools has never been greater, as we seek to ensure this generation of learners are given the best possible chance to succeed in their education and life in general.”

Lee Gray, Numeracy & Digital Learning Development Officer at Renfrewshire Council, said: “Our ongoing partnership with Winning Scotland at this critical time has been invaluable.  The conversation at all times was centred around responding to the needs of our schools, teachers and learners.  We collaborated to create a bespoke programme of learning that will have a huge impact in our classrooms through the recovery period and beyond.”

Learn more about our work in education or get in touch to enquire about Limitless Learning.