Thetford
All teachers were using random talk partners changing weekly, usually on a Friday which caused excitement. If teachers forget to change the partners the children remind them. Children can work more easily with a variety of partners but it is still not completely successful between children who don’t get on. Peer support was very successful, with children sometimes being helped and other times being the helper.
Teachers used to stream or ability group within the class but random talk partners took away the lowering of expectations. Rows or horseshoes helped the organisation as it is easier for taking and listening. So far there had not been as much impact on learning as anticipated.
Asking for paired discussion needed more unpicking.