Page 11 - Primary Year 4 SK SoW

8. Main Skill and Complementary Skill

Each lesson within the Scheme of Work focuses on one Main Skill and one Complementary
Skill. To ensure that pupils receive sufficient exposure to and practice in every Learning
Standard within the Curriculum Framework, each Learning Standard appears at least once in
the Scheme of Work. Learning Standards are covered as a main skill or as a complementary
skill. It is therefore critical that teachers ensure that both the Main Skill and the Complementary
Skill are covered in each lesson. The Complementary Skill is not an optional skill that can
be ignored or dropped from the lesson. Doing so may mean that pupils do not receive adequate
practice in and exposure to all the given Learning Standards within the Curriculum Framework.
When teachers are planning their lessons, they must therefore ensure that both the Main Skill
and Complementary Skill are each assigned a suitable lesson Learning Objective.

Teachers should also be aware that the Main Skill and Complementary Skill are not normally
given equal time and attention within the lesson. Teachers will need to ensure that the
Complementary Skill is covered, but the degree of attention this receives in comparison to the
Main Skill will be up to the teacher’s own professional judgement as they will know better the
specific learning needs of their pupils.

Please note that some Learning Standards appear less frequently than others. Less frequent
Learning Standards must be covered as they appear in the Scheme of Work.

9. Learning Outline
The Learning Outline provides guidance to teachers for the delivery of a lesson. Three main
stages of every lesson are highlighted: Pre-lesson, Lesson Delivery and Post-lesson. Teachers
will also need to refer to the Teacher’s Book, which provides detailed information about the
delivery of the textbook activities for textbook-based-lessons.

The Lesson Delivery stage is where the main and complementary skills should both be
addressed to develop pupils’ language skills. Teachers should create their own Learning
Objectives for each lesson based on the specified Learning Standards - both for the main skill
and the complementary skill. The Learning Objectives should relate to and reflect the activities
in the Lesson Delivery stage.

Textbook-based lessons in the Learning Outline provide teachers with a structured description
for what and how teachers can plan their lessons. They refer to specific activities in the
Student’s Book and associated guidance available in the Teacher’s Book. Some additional
explanation or instruction may be provided in the Lesson Delivery to ensure teachers plan
activities that relate to the main and complementary Learning Standards specified for the
lesson. Please note that textbook-based activities may not appear in the same order as in the
Student’s and Teacher’s Book. This is to ensure the best activities are selected for the stated
Learning Standards and to follow the lesson cycle (Listening, Speaking, etc.).

As teachers are working with pupils and supporting their learning, they should be aware of
their pupils’ development and the emerging challenges. Throughout the lessons, teachers are

Primary Year 4 SK Scheme of Work 12