Teaching and Learning Toolkit

The Teaching and Learning Toolkit is an accessible summary of education research. It is designed to support teachers, school leaders, and policymakers who are making decisions about how to improve learning outcomes.

This summary was developed by QRF in collaboration with the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF). It involves EEF’s Toolkit leaders: Jonathan Kay, Muhammad Zaman, and Amy Fox; Toolkit researchers, headed by Dr. Steve Higgins, Professor of Education at Durham University; and QRF’s Toolkit team, including Eng. Sandy Qarmout (2020-2023), Dr. Sandra Baroudi, Assistant Professor of Education at Zayed University (2020), and Dr. Lama Nassif, Associate Professor of Arabic Studies at Williams College (2022-2023), with the support of Dr. Hanada Taha, Endowed Professor of Arabic at the College of Education, Zayed University. The summary reflects the update launched in March 2023.

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Introducing the Toolkit

Toolkit Strand	Cost	Evidence strength	Impact (months)
Arts Participation Moderate impact for very low cost based on moderate evidence.			+3
Behaviour interventions Moderate impact for low cost based on limited evidence.			+4
Collaborative learning approaches High impact for very low cost based on limited evidence.			+5
Extending school time Moderate impact for moderate cost based on limited evidence.			+3
Feedback Very high impact for very low cost based on extensive evidence.			+6
Homework High impact for very low cost based on very limited evidence.			+5
Arts participation Moderate impact for very low cost based on moderate evidence.			+3
Aspiration interventions Unclear impact for very low cost based on insufficient evidence.			0
Learning styles Unclear impact for very low cost based on insufficient evidence.			0
Outdoor adventure learning Unclear impact for moderate cost based on insufficient evidence.			0
School uniform Unclear impact for very low cost based on insufficient evidence.			0
Individualised instruction Moderate impact for very low cost based on limited evidence.			+4
Mastery learning High impact for very low cost based on limited evidence.			+5
Mentoring Low impact for moderate cost based on moderate evidence.			+2
Metacognition and self-regulation Very high impact for very low cost based on extensive evidence.			+7
One to one tuition High impact for moderate cost based on moderate evidence.			+5
Oral language interventions Very high impact for very low cost based on extensive evidence.			+6
Parental engagement Moderate impact for very low cost based on extensive evidence.			+4
Peer tutoring High impact for very low cost based on extensive evidence.			+5
Performance pay Low impact for low cost based on very limited evidence.			+1
Phonics High impact for very low cost based on very extensive evidence.			+5
Physical activity Low impact for very low cost based on moderate evidence.			+1
Reading comprehension strategies Very high impact for very low cost based on extensive evidence.			+6
Reducing class size Low impact for very high cost based on very limited evidence.			+2
Repeating a year Negative impact for very high cost based on limited evidence.			-3
Setting and streaming No impact for very low cost based on very limited evidence.			0
Small group tuition Moderate impact for low cost based on moderate evidence.			+4
Social and emotional learning Moderate impact for very low cost based on very limited evidence.			+4
Summer schools Moderate impact for moderate cost based on limited evidence.			+3
Teaching Assistant Interventions Moderate impact for moderate cost based on moderate evidence.			+4
Within class attainment grouping Low impact for very low cost based on very limited evidence.			+2

Teaching and Learning Toolkit

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