Skills builder

Millfields Primary School works with The Skills Builder Partnership to ensure every learner has opportunities to build eight essential skills to support them now and in the future. 

Research has shown that building these eight essential skills can support the children’s  motional wellbeing, academic success and prepare them for a life beyond school.  Skills Builder has developed a Universal Framework that breaks each of these essential skills down into small teachable steps. In class, Teachers explicitly teach a new skill every quarter using high quality resources from the Skills Builder Hub and children have ample opportunities to further practice and master these skills in other subjects, after school clubs, off-timetable days and projects.

Each year, every child completes a Challenge Day. Last year, it was a 'Creative Spaces' Challenge Day. Pupils from Early Years to Year 6 used the eight essential skills to present a new Arts Centre for the local community.  They produced a 3d floor plan with miniature models of furniture and arts equipment.

What are the 8 essential skills?

These skills are taught during discrete Skills Builder sessions each week, as well as being integrated into all lessons so that children are continuously working on them each day. The language of the essential skills are now part of our school vocabulary and links are made in all parts of the school day, for example assemblies.