NPQ in Leading Literacy

All literacy teachers want their pupils to learn to read smoothly, and to take real pleasure from reading.

Our NPQLL will provide access to cutting-edge research, developed by people who know what teachers need. You’ll be supported in putting this into practice, designing and implementing literacy-improvement strategies. You’ll also learn the best ways to support colleagues as they develop pupils’ reading, writing and wider understanding of language.

At the heart of it all will be your pupils. Everything you learn will help ensure that your pupils develop a genuine love of reading, and are able to live the fullest and most successful lives they possibly can.

• Essential knowledge: There is no fluff – every minute spent working towards an NPQLL will enable you to make a greater impact in your job.
• Research-informed practice: You’ll have access to the latest and best evidence of what works in education, and will be able to apply this to developing pupils’ language and vocabulary.
• Create a reading culture: You’ll learn how to build a school culture that encourages reading for pleasure.
• Joined-up learning: The techniques you learn will support the teaching of synthetic phonics and joined-up handwriting.
• Community of educators: You’ll be part of a diverse community of educators, all learning from one another during the course – and potentially afterwards, too.
• Fulfilment: The better and more knowledgeable you are at your job, the more enjoyable and exciting you will find it – and that enthusiasm will be passed on to your pupils.

We are a new, pioneering institute, representing a diverse community of schools. We have worked with teachers and teacher-educators who are specialists in their fields to develop an NPQLL programme that specifically addresses the challenges facing teachers today.

It is an exciting time to be a teacher right now: there is an ever-increasing body of evidence of what works in education. We will be generating our own research, and putting those findings to immediate use in the classroom. We are part of a new school-led movement to change education – if you join us, you will be helping to shape the teaching profession. And you will be learning alongside similarly enthusiastic teachers, building networks and forging connections.

We are rooted in schools. We know the unpredictability of school life – the day-to-day challenges that teachers face. Our time-efficient NPQLL has been drawn up specifically to meet the needs of time-poor, commitment-heavy teachers. Teachers know best what teachers need – our programme will give you only the information essential to providing the best literacy education possible for your pupils.

What you’ll learn

• How to support colleagues to develop pupils’ language capability and wider understanding of language, word reading, reading comprehension and writing skills
• How to design and implement literacy-improvement strategies
• How to contribute to effective professional development related to teaching, curriculum and assessment across the school

How you’ll learn

The programme is made up of four modules, studied over 12 months. Each module contains a combination of self-study units, locally delivered in-person sessions, online masterclasses delivered by specialists, practice clinics and virtual visits to a school.

On average, participants will spend between one and two hours a week working towards the NPQLL. Where possible, study should be done in dedicated career-development time during school hours.

Please contact npq@niot.org.uk so that we can let you know your nearest National Institute of Teaching delivery school or centre.

We can confirm that we will be delivering NPQs in schools near the following locations:

North and West: Bolton, Bury, Rochdale, Blackpool, Blackburn and Preston.

South, East and London: Bury St Edmunds, Ipswich, Norwich, London and South Essex

North and East: Tyne and Wear, Doncaster, Redcar and Halifax

South and West: Birmingham, Bristol, Swindon, Coventry, Trowbridge and Worcester

More locations will be added regularly, please check back/apply and we’ll confirm if there’s delivery near you.

In order to receive NPQLL accreditation, participants will need to complete the programme and achieve a pass mark in a written, ‘open book’ style, structured assessment of up to 1,500 words.

We will support participants with writing clinics before they embark on gaining their accreditation.

The assessment itself takes place over an eight-day window. There are two assessment windows per year and participants have two opportunities to take part.  

To join the next NIoT NPQLL cohort, first complete our application form. You will also need to register with the Department for Education before you begin the programme.

For staff from state-funded schools or 16-19 organisations in England, places are fully funded by the DfE. There will be no cost to the participant.

You can study towards more than one NPQ, but will only be eligible for funding for each NPQ once. If you withdraw from or fail your programme, you will not be funded again for the same NPQ.

If you are not eligible for funding, please get in touch for further information on programme costs.