Happy Wednesday!

• SLT Members & Priority Subject Leads: Book places on Implementing WELL: Workshop 3 with the School Development Team by 21st November.

Please Note: Thursday 27th November 09:30 - 12:30, Energus is now fully booked. Please email WELL@cumberland.gov.uk if this is an issue.

• NGRT Leads: Attend Autumn Learning Community Meeting - Wednesday 19th November 15:30 - 17:00, Online 
• MITA (Cohort 2): Complete RAG Self-assessment tool and bring to Day 2 training - Thursday 20th November 09:30 - 15:30, Whitehaven Golf Club
• MITA (Cohort 2): Book places for TAs on INSET Day training - Tuesday 6th January 2026 09:30 - 15:00, Energus
• Express an interest in NGMT by Friday 28th November

The latest from the WELL Team:

Deep Dive into Evidence with Simon Cox: KS2/3 Mathematics

Thank you to everyone who joined the Deep Dive into Evidence series with Simon Cox, exploring the EEF’s Improving Mathematics in Key Stages 2 and 3 guidance report. We hope you found the sessions insightful and useful.

Recordings of Session 1 and Session 2 are now available for all WELL schools: HERE.

Simon will deliver a 'follow-up webinar' on Monday 20th January 2026, 15:30–17:00, Online. To receive the link, please email WELL@Cumberland.gov.uk.

New Group Maths Test (NGMT) from GL Assessment

We’re excited to share an opportunity for our Primary schools to strengthen Maths provision.

The New Group Maths Test (NGMT) from GL Assessment is a digital, adaptive, standardised assessment designed for pupils in Years 2 - 6. It provides reliable, detailed insights into pupils’ understanding across key maths domains, helping teachers tailor support and track progress effectively.

Why NGMT?

• Adaptive and inclusive - adjusts to each pupil’s ability for a positive experience.
• Comprehensive coverage - number, algebra, fractions, geometry, measurement, and more.
• Actionable data - detailed reports for targeted interventions and curriculum planning.
• National benchmarking - compare performance against age-related norms.
• Easy to administer - no preparation required and auto-marked.

WELL will fully fund NGMT in school for two years until 2027.

To express an interest in this offer, please email WELL@Cumberland.gov.uk by Friday 28th November.

Cumberland Spring Term ELSA Cohort

The Cumberland Educational Psychology Service are delivering a Spring Term ELSA cohort from January - February 2026.

Full details can be found in the course flyer: HERE. Including all training dates and course fees.

If you would like to book a place on this cohort, please contact the School Development Team.

Implementing WELL: Workshop 3

We’re looking forward to welcoming you to Implementing WELL: Workshop 3 on either 26th or 27th November.

This workshop will focus on:

• Defining core components
• Understanding implementation strategies
• Refining problem statements

During the session, we’ll split into learning community groups, lead by leading experts, based on priority focus areas.

Please bring to the session:

• A detailed description in the ‘problem' and 'final outcomes' columns on your Implementation Plan

These will help guide discussions and ensure the session is practical and productive.

Several WELL Element Leads will be present at the workshops to provide direct support for your school’s implementation priorities.

To get the most from these sessions, we recommend attending in person with both an SLT member and the subject lead for your focus area. Universal/Targeted grant funding can be used to release staff and cover supply costs.

A full workshop schedule, including Element Leads for each session, is available below. If your focus area isn’t listed but appears in your Implementation Plan, it will be covered under ‘Other’.

The online workshop on 26th November (15:30–17:00) will provide a broader focus on core components and strategies, led by Jonathan and Jon.

Please note that the session on Thursday 27th November 09:30 - 12:30 at Energus is now fully booked. Please email WELL@cumberland.gov.uk if this is an issue for you.

What's new from ERA?

EEF: Maths Champions Programme - Nursey Scale-up

The National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) has secured funding to deliver the Maths Champions programme through the EEF and the Department for Education (DfE).

Maths Champions programme builds the knowledge of Nursery practitioners to support children’s early mathematical development. It is an online, one-year programme delivered to all Nursery settings.

In each setting, a ​‘Maths Champion’ is selected: a senior member of staff, who is supported to drive improvement in maths practice across the setting. This member of staff, with support of an allocated Deputy Maths Champion, is supported to audit current practice and create and implement an action plan for supporting colleagues to improve maths practice throughout the year.

The support includes bespoke online training, including modules on early mathematical development and coaching, resources and one-to-one support.

Register your interest in the 'Maths Champions - Nursey Scale-up Programme': HERE. 

Early Years Writing Webinar with WISE Academies

Wednesday 14th January 2026 15:30 - 17:00, Online

For those of you that were unable to attend the WISE Academies: 'Unlock Early Years Writing Success' webinar earlier this month. There is an opportunity to attend the webinar again on Wednesday 14th January 2026 15:30 - 17:00, Online.

Join Katrina Di Girolami, WISE Academies Early Years Trust Lead
and Great North Stronger Practice Hub Lead, to discover how WISE Academies is prioritising early writing. Exploring the Ofsted Strong Foundations in the First Years of School and DfE Writing Framework guidance.

This webinar is open and free to all WELL schools.

Register your attendance at the 'Unlock Early Years Writing Success' webinar: HERE.

Strive-for-Five: Enhancing
Language Through Conversation

Town End Research School are delivering a webinar  focused on Early Years Language and Communication - 'Strive-for-Five: Enhancing Language Through Conversation' - on Thursday 19th March 2026 15:30 - 17:00, Online.  

The 'Strive-for-Five' framework builds children’s comprehension, critical thinking and expressive skills through at least five back and forth exchanges. This simple yet powerful strategy extends thinking in one to one interactions while enriching the language environment for all.

This webinar is open and free to all WELL schools.

Register your attendance at the 'Strive-to-Five' webinar: HERE.

For all other upcoming Town End Research School and WISE Academies webinars, please view the linked flyer. 

Grant Funding Available

We’re delighted to share that 1,693 pupils are participating in the Cumbrian Award this year, including 605 disadvantaged pupils.

Grant Offer Letters, providing funding to support pupil participation, were circulated to Headteachers and Cumbrian Award Leaders on Monday 17th November.

Please read, sign and return these letters to WELL@cumberland.gov.uk by Friday 19th December to confirm acceptance.

Upcoming Quality Experiences

If your school has any upcoming quality experiences or Cumbrian Award activities planned, the Award team would love the opportunity to attend and support where possible. Please email details to Cumbrian.Award@Cumberland.gov.uk.

Need help planning? You can also explore ideas and inspiration from other participating schools on the Cumbrian Award Delivery Ideas Padlet (Password: Ace2025).

Thank You for Joining Our Great Teaching Toolkit Learning Community Meeting

A huge thank you to everyone that joined us at yesterday's Great Teaching Toolkit Learning Community meeting. It was fantastic to see all 34 of our GTT schools come together - whether new to the toolkit or further along in their journey - to share successes, explore challenges and celebrate progress.

Your collaboration and commitment are what make these sessions so valuable, and we look forward to continuing this shared learning throughout the year.

The Spring Term Learning Community meeting will take place on Tuesday 28th January 2026 15:30 - 17:00, Online.

Autumn Term Data Reflective Community Meeting

Wednesday 19^th November 15:30 - 17:00, Online

We’re looking forward to welcoming all NGRT Leads to the NGRT Reflective Learning Community Meeting this afternoon, Wednesday 19th November, from 15:30 – 17:00 (Online).

This session is a valuable opportunity for NGRT Leads across the 12 WELL secondary schools involved in the project to review, collaborate, and discuss the data and findings from the Autumn Term 1 testing window, and compare these with 2024/25 data at project level.

If you haven’t already, please 'accept' the meeting invite to confirm your attendance. Please note: Attendance at termly learning community meetings is a condition of grant funding.

Cohort 2: Day 2 Training

Thursday 20th November 09:30 - 15:30, Whitehaven Golf Club

We’re looking forward to welcoming all Cohort 2 schools involved in the MITA Programme to Day 2 training tomorrow, Thursday 20th November from 09:30 to 15:30 at Whitehaven Golf Club.

Please complete the RAG self-assessment tool before the session and bring the document with you on Thursday. This will help ensure a productive and focused discussion during the training.

INSET Day: TA Training

Bookings are filling up quickly for the Spring Term INSET Day Teaching Assistants Training with Sally, taking place on Tuesday 6th January, 09:30 – 15:00 at Energus, Lillyhall.

To secure places, please email the names and email addresses of colleagues you would like to attend to School.Development@cumberland.gov.uk as soon as possible.

Community of Practice Meetings

Wednesday 3rd / Thursday 4th December

Thank you for joining us at last week’s Module 2 webinar focusing on Handwriting, Spelling, and Sentence Construction.

We’re looking forward to seeing all SLT members and English Leads involved in this programme at the face-to-face Community of Practice meeting on Wednesday 3rd or Thursday 4th December.

Meeting invites for each cluster were re-shared earlier this week. Please 'accept' the invite to confirm your attendance and email any dietary requirements by Wednesday 26th November to WELL@cumberland.gov.uk, as lunch will be provided.

Module 2: Recordings Available Soon

The recording of Module 2 content will be available on the Sentenced to Success Google Drive from Wednesday 26th November. These recordings are accessible to all WELL schools, regardless of participation in the programme.

Annual Events Planner & Implementing WELL Padlet 2025/26

All 2025/26 WELL Events and training sessions are detailed in the WELL Annual Events Planner.

Events with the 'green dot' are bookable via SLA Online/ School Development Team.

For all other events, please email WELL@Cumberland.gov.uk directly to express an interest.

The Implementing WELL Padlet includes all  presentation slides, recordings and resources to support participation in the Implementing WELL project.

Please do not share these resources more widely than your school.