Terms of Reference: Nigeria English Studies Scope and Sequence Curriculum Specialist

Location:  Nigeria (remote work with a visit to Abuja, Nigeria)

Apply by:   21 September 2026 23:59

1. 1. Background and context about the project

The British Council is the UK’s international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities. We create friendly knowledge and understanding between the people of the UK and other countries. We do this by making a positive contribution to the UK and the countries we work with – changing lives by creating opportunities, building connections and engendering trust. We work with over 100 countries across the world in the fields of arts and culture, English language and education. Each year we reach over 20 million people face-to-face and more than 500 million people online, via broadcasts and publications.

The British Council, through its English and School Education (ESE) team, is working with the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) on strengthening the implementation of the existing English Studies Curriculum, with particular attention to the progression of foundational literacy and English language learning across the nine years of Basic Education (Primary 1–Junior Secondary School 3).

This assignment is not a proposal to review or rewrite the curriculum. It seeks instead to identify where greater clarity and articulation within the curriculum can support stronger and more consistent implementation across the education system. As part of this work, the British Council has undertaken a technical mapping of the English Studies Curriculum against the National Reading Framework (NRF) and internationally recognised phonics and phonological progression, using the British Council phonemic framework as a technical reference.

The mapping indicates that, while much of the phonics and phonological content is present within the curriculum, several critical sound patterns are implicit, fragmented or introduced too late for systematic literacy development. Vowel progression, phoneme–grapheme correspondence and cumulative sequencing in particular require greater articulation. These are implementation challenges rather than deficiencies of intent, and their effects are cumulative across scope and sequence, teaching and learning materials, teacher professional development and instructional leadership, and learning assessment.

To take this work forward, the British Council intends to develop practical, implementation-ready instruments that preserve the integrity of the existing curriculum. This Scope of Work engages a Scope & Sequence Consultant to provide the specialist technical input required for the Teaching and Learning Materials (TLM) workstream.

2. Overview of the English Studies Scope and Sequence Curriculum Specialist Role

Task Overview:

Objectives

The assignment will:

• strengthen the technical rigour and coherence of the NERDC and British Council's curriculum mapping and alignment approach;
• produce an explicit, cumulative Scope & Sequence Framework and templates that translate curriculum intent into an implementation-ready progression;
• establish the structural basis for aligned instructional materials and structured pedagogy; and
• equip the TLM workstream with the technical inputs and facilitation required to advance shared decisions with NERDC.

Scope of Work

The Consultant will undertake the following six tasks. The tasks are sequential but interdependent, and the Consultant is expected to maintain coherence across them so that each output feeds cleanly into the next.

1. Review and refinement of the curriculum mapping and alignment approach

• Review the existing technical mapping of the English Studies Curriculum (Primary 1–JSS3) against the NRF and the British Council phonemic and phonological progression framework.
• Interrogate the methodology, coding logic and coverage, giving particular attention to vowel progression, phoneme–grapheme correspondence and cumulative sequencing.
• Refine the alignment approach so that curriculum intentions map cleanly onto an implementation-ready progression, while preserving the integrity of the existing curriculum (implementation guidance, not revision).

2.  Development and validation of the Scope & Sequence Framework and templates

• Design a Scope & Sequence Framework that articulates the explicit, cumulative progression of phonics, phonological awareness and language skills across the nine years of Basic Education.
• Develop the accompanying templates (for example grade, term and unit-level mapping) that operationalise the framework for materials developers and teachers.
• Set out validation considerations and a proposed validation approach, including technical review, alignment with NERDC, and expert and practitioner validation.

3.  Proposed structure for the English Studies Instructional Template (Pupil Book Model)

• Propose the structure and architecture of a pupil-facing instructional template consistent with the Scope & Sequence Framework.
• Define the anatomy of a lesson unit, the progression of decodable and connected text, and cycles of cumulative practice and review, together with relevant print and illustration considerations.

4.  Draft concepts for the Structured Pedagogy Framework and lesson routines

• Draft the structured pedagogy approach underpinning delivery, including explicit instruction and gradual-release principles.
• Propose standard, repeatable lesson routines across phonics, decoding, fluency and comprehension, and set out the implications for teacher guides and instructional support.

5.  Cross-cutting recommendations

Building on earlier feedback, the Consultant will provide practical recommendations across the following areas:

• Assessment alignment — aligning formative and summative assessment with the intended learning progression.
• Literacy progression — ensuring a coherent trajectory from early decoding to comprehension and wider language skills.
• Teacher competency requirements — the competencies teachers require to deliver the progression effectively.
• Inclusivity provisions — provisions for learners with diverse needs and for multilingual and language-of-instruction contexts.
• Implementation readiness — the conditions, sequencing and supports required for feasible roll-out across states and publishers.
• Digital adaptation — considerations for adapting materials and routines for digital and blended delivery.

6.  Preparation and facilitation of the TLM workstream sessions

• Prepare for and facilitate the workshop sessions assigned to the TLM workstream, including any presentation materials and technical inputs required.
• Support the capture of session outputs and agreed next steps and reflect the outcomes in the final workstream materials.

3.  Deliverables

The following deliverables are payable against acceptance by the British Council. Indicative timing assumes signature at Week 0 and will be confirmed at inception. Provide well-presented, fully edited and proofed materials using templates provided.

4.  Duration and Level of Effort

The assignment is expected to run over approximately eight to ten weeks, with an indicative level of effort of 25 working days between 1 October and 31 December 2026. The precise number of days, the schedule of deliverables and the workshop dates will be agreed at inception.

5.  Reporting and Management Arrangements

The Consultant will report to the Director, English and School Education (ESE), British Council Nigeria, or a nominated Programme Manager. The Consultant will work closely with the ESE team and coordinate technical inputs with the British Council–NERDC technical working group. All deliverables will be submitted in editable electronic format and are subject to British Council review and acceptance.

6.  Consultant Profile

The British Council is seeking a consultant with the following profile:

7.  Working Arrangements and Terms

• Location: the assignment is primarily remote, with in-person participation in the Teaching and Learning Materials workshop in Abuja on 21 October 2026.
• Fees and expenses: payable on a deliverables basis at agreed rates.
• Intellectual property: all outputs produced under this assignment are the property of the British Council and its partners.
• Confidentiality and safeguarding: the Consultant will comply with British Council confidentiality, data protection, safeguarding and equal opportunity policies.

8.  Submission Requirements

Interested consultants should submit a technical response outlining their proposed approach and work plan; a curriculum vitae demonstrating the required expertise; at least two relevant work samples or references; and a financial proposal.

9. Fee & expenses

The specialist is requested to quote a daily rate for the services outlined in this TOR, as well as the number of days (measured at 8 hours per day) required for the assignment. The quotation must remain open for acceptance by the British Council for a minimum of thirty (30) days from the date it is issued in response to this requirement.
All travel and related expenses, if applicable, will be reimbursed in accordance with British Council guidelines.

10. How to apply

Applicants must submit:

1. An updated CV highlighting relevant experience and track record relevant to this role.
2. Sample of previous similar work.
3. A written proposal (1- 2 pages) that includes:

• Approach to delivering the scope of work: Describe your methodology and strategies for achieving the deliverables outlined in the TOR.
• Daily Fee Rate: State your proposed daily professional fee in GBP, inclusive of all applicable taxes, and the number of days the assignment will take.
• The names and contact details of two references who confirm the application

Submission Details:

• All applications must be submitted via email to Ishioma Okolo Ishioma.okolo@ng.britishcouncil.org : by Monday 21st September 2026 by 23:59 Nigeria time
• Subject heading: Curriculum Specialist 

11. Criteria for evaluation

Responses from applicants will be assessed to determine the most suitable candidate using the following criteria, and will be assessed entirely on your response submitted:

• Overall professional qualifications and experience relevant to the assignment
• Track record relevant to the assignment
• Approach to carrying out this assignment
• Value for money