Why Flow Routines Matter

Our FLOW routines build on ‘Every Second Matters’ and provide a shared approach to teaching and learning across the trust.

They are designed to reduce cognitive load, strengthen participation and ensure all learners can access challenge—without lowering expectations.

At their core, these routines help teachers make thinking visible, give students time to prepare, and use predictable structures so every learner can participate and think with increasing depth, precision and independence.

The model videos

Our model videos introduce the core routines in action. They are not scripts to copy, but examples to help colleagues understand the purpose and design of each routine.

Across all routines, five adaptive principles consistently strengthen learning:

1. Thinking time: Give students time to think before responding

2. Rehearsal: Build in rehearsal before public participation

3. Clear Routines and Steps: Use clear, consistent routines and steps

4. Scaffold thinking: so all learners can contribute

5. Relational language: Use calm, precise language to support effort and persistence

For further detail please click the link to the document found below

Together, these help create classrooms where all learners are supported to participate and challenged to think deeply.

Our Flow Routines