What is Quality First Teaching: Everything You Need To Know

In today’s diverse UK classrooms, all students must have equal chances to succeed. Providing structured lessons to each and every student in the classroom is essential. This is where you need to be responsible and understand what is quality first teaching.

Quality first teaching is an approach that focuses on delivering high-quality, inclusive education for every student in the class. Quality first teaching uses differentiated teaching methods to support SEN students in a classroom. This approach ensures that all students get equal opportunities to succeed.

Want to see how these quality first teaching principles translate into effective classroom practice? Stay tuned for specific strategies and examples in my next section!

What is Quality First Teaching?

Quality first teaching is a highly standard method of teaching that enhances the quality of teaching. The main aim is to ensure that all learners get competent and committed teachers who offer them the education they need, despite their differences in background or gifts.

Core components of quality first teaching include:

✅ High Expectations: Setting ambitious but attainable goals for every student.

✅ Differentiated Instruction: Adapting lessons to suit varied learning styles, readiness levels, and interests.

✅ Focus on the Learning Process: It prioritises understanding, critical thinking, and problem-solving over mere memorisation.

✅ Formative Assessment: Uses ongoing checks to track student progress. It informs and adjusts teaching strategies in response.

✅ Inclusive Environment: Creating a classroom where all students feel valued, respected, and supported.

Quality First Teaching History

Quality First Teaching highlights the inclusive teaching. The concept of inclusive teaching has existed since the 1970s and 1980s. However, Quality First Teaching was formally introduced in 2010. 

Improving inclusivity and equity learning for children with special educational needs disabilities (SEND) gave birth to quality first teaching. In the early 2000s, differentiated learning and evidence-based practices were gaining significant importance, aligning with the Special Educational Needs Code of Practice (2001).

Based on these codes of practices, Quality First Teaching was introduced or widely adopted back in 2010.

Why is Quality First Teaching Important?

Quality First Teaching technique improves the quality of teaching for students with SEND needs. Customised learning is essential for SEND students. With quality first teaching strategies, teachers can quickly help students by providing customised learning. 

As a teacher, it is your responsibility to ensure that every student in your class receives a high-quality education. It is your duty to provide personalised teaching for your students.

For students with SEND, quality first teaching is essential. By using quality first teaching strategies as a teacher, you can ensure that all students are engaged in every activity.

Why is the new name for Quality First Teaching?

Quality First Teaching is also known as Wave 1 teaching. In this teaching technique, we consider what we do and why we do it. 

As discussed earlier, quality first teaching focuses on inclusive teaching. Also, there are three waves of intervention models to improve inclusivity in educational settings.

Three Waves of Intervention Model

The three waves of intervention model was introduced to ensure that all schools integrate inclusive teaching as a part of a national effort. This is a three-tier model to provide a framework for teachers.

Wave 1: Universal – Quality First Teaching

Wave 1 is all about providing high-quality teaching for everyone in the classroom. Teachers must carefully plan their lessons to reflect clear learning goals.

In this wave of teaching, teachers must use activities, worksheets, and learning methods to help all students achieve the learning outcomes.

Wave 2: Targeted- Extra Support

Wave 2 can be used by offering extra help to students who are slightly behind and not meeting their expected progress. It can be used alongside Wave 1. In this wave, you must identify these students and customise their learning experiences so they don’t fall behind.

Wave 3: Specialist- Personalised Support

Wave 3 is for students who need more help than what is provided in Wave 2. It involves creating a personalised learning plan to support their specific needs.

At this stage, specialist help may be needed. This could include working with SEND specialists or teaching assistants to provide targeted support and help these students make progress.

Quality First Teaching SEND Code of Practice

The SEND Code of Practice is a UK guide that explains the rules and best ways to help children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) from 0 – 25 years. 

It highlights how Quality First Teaching provides a strong, inclusive base to support students with SEND.

The SEND code of practices are:

✅ Early Identification and Intervention

✅ High-Quality Teaching as the First Line of Support

✅ Graduated Approach (Assess, Plan, Do, Review)

✅ Personalised and Differentiated Support

✅ Involving Students and Families

✅ Reducing Barriers to Learning

✅ Collaboration with Specialists

✅ High Expectations for All

✅ Focus on Outcomes, Not Provision

✅ Continuous Professional Development

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Quality First Teaching Checklist

The Quality First Teaching checklist is essential to regularly check if the teaching practices align with the core principles. Keeping a checklist will help you identify your gaps and improve yourself.

➡️ Are lessons planned with clear objectives?

➡️ Is differentiation applied to support all learners?

➡️ Are students actively involved in their learning?

➡️ Are regular assessments helping adjust teaching?

➡️ Is a welcoming and respectful classroom created?

Key Principles of Quality First Teaching

Quality first teaching is set up to shape a teaching environment. It helps each child get proper direction and use their potential. It’s like a strategy to prevent problems. It’s based on a student-teacher relationship.

They build it together with targeted help. It stops learning problems instead of reacting to them. Here are a few foundational principles:

✅ Focused Lessons: Quality first teaching lessons have clear goals. They match curricular aims, keeping teachers and students on track.

✅ Engaging All Learners: Learning isn’t passive! A quality first teaching classroom has high expectations for student involvement. It uses active learning.

✅ Learning Through Dialogue: Teachers encourage rich discussions. In these, students question, analyse, and form their own understandings.

✅ Praise and Encouragement: Authentic praise fuels student motivation. It should focus on effort and process. This kind of praise helps build a positive learning culture.

Differentiated Instruction in Quality First Teaching

One of the hallmarks of quality first teaching is the understanding that there is no single “right” way to learn. Differentiated instruction means being proactive.

It means designing lessons for how students process information, including their interests and place in their learning journey.

This could mean offering various ways to access content, like videos, readings, or hands-on activities. It could mean giving students choices in how they show their knowledge. Or, it could mean adjusting the pace of instruction.

Inclusive Practices in Quality First Teaching

True quality first teaching celebrates diversity. Inclusion means designing a classroom where everyone feels a sense of belonging and can thrive. Teachers ensure this by:

☑️Universal Design for Learning (UDL) means planning lessons from the start. These lessons have varied ways to access information, show knowledge, and engage with the content.

☑️Flexibility in student groups promotes teamwork and peer support. Avoid fixed-ability groups, which can be limiting.

☑️Embracing Diversity as Strength means teaching respect for differences. We must weave diverse views into the curriculum to enrich everyone’s learning.

High Expectations and Support

Quality first teaching means believing every student can succeed and setting the bar high. But those ambitious expectations need to be supported.

This means being clear about learning goals, breaking complex tasks into small steps, giving timely, helpful feedback, and creating a classroom where students feel comfortable asking for help and taking learning risks.

Practical Strategies for Implementing Quality First Teaching

While quality first teaching is a powerful philosophy, putting it into practice is key. Here are actionable strategies educators can use:

➡️Start Small: Don’t try to revamp your entire approach overnight. Focus on one aspect of quality first teaching (like differentiation or powerful questioning) at a time.

➡️Collaborative Planning: Work with colleagues! Share ideas, resources, and lesson plans tailored for QFT principles. This eases the burden and fosters consistency.

➡️Student Involvement: Make students partners in their learning. Teach them about quality first teaching goals and get feedback on what works and doesn’t.

➡️Data-Driven Decisions: Make data-driven decisions. Regularly check student progress. Use both formal and informal data. It shows where to provide more help. pen_spark

Varying Teaching Methods

Quality first teaching doesn’t limit teachers to a single method. Variety keeps learning exciting and caters to different learning styles. Some strategies include:

➡️Direct Instruction: Clear for skill-building or introducing new concepts.

➡️Inquiry-Based Learning: Students solve problems or explore investigations with teacher guidance.

➡️Project-Based Learning: In-depth study on a topic, students choosing how to demonstrate their knowledge.

➡️Cooperative Learning: Structured groups where students learn from each other and develop social skills.

Effective Questioning

In a quality first teaching classroom, questions aren’t just a way to check if students have the right answer. They’re tools to spark deeper thinking, guide learning, and encourage student ownership. Here’s why specific types of questions are so powerful:

➡️Open-Ended Questions: Ask open-ended questions. They don’t prompt yes/no or single-word answers. They make students think. “Why do you believe that?” forces students to justify their reasoning.
“How might this be different if…?” encourages creative problem-solving and exploring many possibilities. These broaden students’ perspectives and push them beyond simple recall.

➡️Wait Time: This is as crucial as the question itself! Often, teachers rush to rephrase or answer a question for the students. Intentional wait time, even a few seconds, helps. It allows every student to process the question and think of a good answer. This promotes inclusivity, ensuring participation from students needing longer processing time.

➡️Student-Generated Questions: Shifting from teacher-led to student-led empowers students to take charge of their learning. Techniques like the Question Formulation Technique provide a structured way. They help students generate their own questions about a topic. Engaging in this process helps them identify what they know and what they still need to learn and fosters a lifelong love of inquiry.

Technology Integration

Technology, when integrated well, can greatly enhance quality first teaching. Adaptive learning tools offer personalised pathways, tailoring instruction to each student’s pace and skill level.

Assistive technology removes barriers for students with disabilities. It ensures equal access to learning materials and gives them diverse ways to show their understanding. Multimedia projects also allow students to show their knowledge.

They can use creative outlets like videos, presentations, or podcasts. These dynamic forms of expression cater to various learning styles and provide avenues for deep engagement.

Benefits of Quality First Teaching

The benefits of quality first teaching go far beyond test scores. A quality first teaching classroom boosts students’ grades. It also nurtures key skills, good attitudes, and a sense of power. Also, quality first teaching creates a better and team-focused environment for teachers. It adds to a thriving school culture.

Benefits for Students

• Academic Achievement:
  • Higher scores on standardised tests and assessments
  • Deeper understanding of concepts across subjects
  • Improved skill development
• Equity and Inclusion:
  • Narrowed attainment gaps between student groups (socioeconomic, learners with special needs)
  • Increased sense of belonging and support for all learners
• Engagement and Motivation:
  • Higher levels of interest and investment in learning
  • Reduced behavioural disruptions
  • Improved attendance
• Long-term Skills and Attitudes:
  • Critical thinking and problem-solving skills
  • Growth mindset and resilience
  • A lifelong love of learning

Benefits for Teachers:

• Job Satisfaction:
  • Seeing real progress in all students is highly rewarding
  • Focusing on strong teaching practices leads to greater professional fulfillment
• Reduced Stress and Burnout:
  • Proactive quality first teaching strategies mean less time spent reacting to problems
  • Less strain from classroom management issues
• Professional Growth:
  • Quality first teaching emphasises collaboration and shared best practices. It fosters a strong community where teachers learn.

Supporting Success with Quality First Teaching

Teaching quality comes first. It isn’t just about the classroom. The whole school needs to ensure lasting success. Here are crucial elements that support a thriving quality first teaching environment:

Continuous Professional Development for Quality First Teaching

Quality first teaching demands that educators become lifelong learners. Continuous professional development is vital for teachers, as they need it to master quality first teaching’s core ideas and methods. This should include deep quality first teaching training.

It should focus on fundamentals, offer workshops to develop expert skills, and provide spaces for teachers to collaborate. Schools do this by creating a culture of ongoing learning.

They also provide teachers with the resources and support they need, ensuring that Quality First Teaching becomes consistently excellent classroom practice.

Speaking of CPD, if you’re interested in better understanding effective teaching strategies in health and social care, check out our related blog, “[What is CPD in Health and Social Care]? In-Depth Guide]

Parental Involvement in Quality First Teaching

Parents play a vital role in supporting their children’s learning. In a quality first teaching environment, strong parent-school partnerships are essential. This means going beyond traditional parent-teacher conferences and fostering genuine collaboration.

Schools can do this by openly discussing quality first teaching principles and goals. They can give parents practical strategies to help them learn at home. And they can create systems for open dialogue.

These allow parents to share feedback and feel heard. By involving parents as partners, schools can create a strong support network. It improves student success within the quality first teaching framework.

Monitoring and Evaluating Quality First Teaching Practices

Effective monitoring and evaluation are crucial for ensuring quality first teaching’s ongoing success. Schools should use many methods, including data collection, teacher feedback, and a willingness to adapt.

This might involve collecting formal assessments, student work samples, and classroom observations. These will give a full picture of student progress. Also, teachers should be given regular, helpful feedback on their quality first teaching implementation. This feedback allows for correction and improvement.

Finally, analysing data and asking all stakeholders for feedback pave the way for adjustments. These adjustments can be made to teaching or school-wide support. This cycle never stops. It involves monitoring, evaluation, and adaptation. It makes sure quality first teaching stays a dynamic and effective force for student learning.

FAQs

Conclusion

So, what is Quality First Teaching? Quality First Teaching is a high-quality, inclusive teaching for every student in a UK classroom. Teachers empower all learners by embracing differentiated instruction. They also do this by creating inclusive environments and setting high expectations. They pair these expectations with strong support.

As an educator, it’s worth reflecting on your current practices. Where can you introduce greater differentiation? How can you make your classroom even more inclusive? Even small changes aligned with quality first teaching principles can make a big difference in student outcomes.

Be sure to explore the resources at Careskills Training. They have more strategies and practical quality first teaching tips. Together, we can create classrooms where all students thrive.