The Foundational Literacy and Numeracy (FLN) Programme offers specialised assistance to Foundation Phase teachers for literacy and numeracy. The programme was initially established in response to the significant disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and the valuable teaching time lost for learners in crucial foundational years of learning. A new format of the project has emerged which spans pre- and in-service teacher professional development.
ITE student teachers receive specific training on FLN in regualr professional development workshops. These hands-on sessions educate student teachers studying for Foundation Phase and Intermediate Phase teaching to become more competent in developing the core foundational skills required by all children. For in-service teachers, KICP offers a school-based, experiential intervention model which includes a change leadership initiative for school managers. This provides essential support to school leadership teams and helps create the enabling environment necessary for sustained change in teaching. Other shorter-term interventions are also offered by KICP in response to requests from the Department of Education and schools specifically for this specialised training.
The FLN programme is deeply rooted in KICP’s overarching focus on social-emotional learning (SEL). By anchoring the programme in this foundation, KICP is able to address teachers’ concerns about learners’ abilities and create a more supportive environment for both teaching and learning. Training begins by meeting both teachers and learners at their current level, rather than imposing unrealistic expectations onto them. The KICP approach enables teachers to adopt and sustain informed, responsive pedagogical practices with growing confidence in their Foundation Phase classrooms.
To meet the objectives of the FLN Programme, KICP works closely and intensively with each participating school community. As part of its commitment to knowledge-sharing and capacity-building, KICP has published two open-access resources to support the wider implementation of FLN programmes: Curriculum Recovery Programme: Toolkit to Support Implementation and A Practical Guide to Foundation Phase Teaching.
