The Importance of Christmas: The origins of our traditions
Christmas is one of the most widely celebrated holidays worldwide. More than 2 billion people in over 160 countries around the world celebrate Christmas, which is rich with spiritual, cultural, and social significance. As the popular Christmas song by Andy Williams suggests, it’s the most wonderful time of the year for many of us. In…
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Creative Christmas Learning in Early Years
Ah, Christmas time in the Reception classroom – where the joy is contagious, the excitement is palpable, and the tinsel crowns are perpetually slipping off little heads. It’s a time full of giggles, chaos, and, of course, a certain cheeky elf or two. Now, settle in, my friends, because I have a little tale to…
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Christmas Book Recommendations for Early Years Settings
‘Tis the season! The run-up to Christmas in Early Years is always hectic yet joyous: nativity performances, crafts, decorations, glitter everywhere, alongside the everyday observations and caregiving. All of this makes being an Early Years Practitioner not only challenging but profoundly rewarding. The smiles, the wonder, and the small moments of connection remind us why…
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Busting Myths About EAL Learners: What You Really Need to Know
Every classroom has learners learning English as an Additional Language (EAL). Teachers and classmates want to help, but sometimes myths and assumptions get in the way. Let’s clear the air and look at what’s true. Myth 1: “If they struggle with English, they’re not smart.” Wrong. EAL learners can be incredibly bright. They just…
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White Ribbon Day 2025 – “We Speak Up”
On Tuesday 25th November 2025, North Tyneside proudly joins the global movement for White Ribbon Day and the 16 Days of Action against gender-based violence. Why It Matters 71% of women in the UK have faced sexual harassment in public spaces. Ofsted’s 2021 review found 79% of girls and 38% of boys believe sexual…
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A Guide for Parents: Choosing Tech Gifts for Kids This Christmas
As Christmas approaches, tech gifts are often at the top of kids’ wish lists. While these gifts can be fun, educational, and engaging, parents should consider a range of factors to ensure their choices are age-appropriate, safe, and beneficial. Here’s some guidance to help you with choosing great tech gifts for your kids at Christmas.…
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A focus on fluency
What is Reading Fluency? There is often a misconception amongst pupils (and sometimes adults) that being a fluent reader means being a fast reader. Fluency involves the ability to read smoothly, accurately, and with expression. This will mean that the reader takes note of punctuation, phrases and clauses, along with how text is presented, to…
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The New Writing Framework and EAL learners
A Fresh Start for Teaching Writing Writing remains one of the most complex skills to both teach and learn. Recognising this, the Department for Education (DfE) has introduced a new Writing Framework (July 2025) designed to raise writing standards in primary schools. The framework focuses on explicit teaching, oral rehearsal, and writing with purpose across…
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Our Outstanding Teacher Training Programme
North Tyneside’s outstanding early years and primary teacher training programme is looking for the next generation of inspiring trainee teachers. An outstanding provider with strong partnerships North Tyneside SCITT was established in 2004 and is judged as an outstanding provider by Ofsted. We are proud to be the only outstanding initial teacher…
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Using poetry in teaching: A Tool for the Classroom
Poetry is a little like Marmite – you either love it or hate it! This may be based on your own experiences when you were younger, or it is not a genre you have ventured to explore. Poetry is not just about rhymes and verses; it is a powerful tool that can transform the learning…
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Rhymes with a message
Next week is World Nursery Rhyme Week – an annual event founded since 2013. The initiative highlights the importance of nursery rhymes in early childhood development, focusing on benefits like language, literacy, and motor skills. This year’s event takes place over five days from the 10th to the 14th November. Our fifth and final article…
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Maths with Nursery Rhymes: A Guide for Early Years
Next week is World Nursery Rhyme Week – an annual event founded since 2013. The initiative highlights the importance of nursery rhymes in early childhood development, focusing on benefits like language, literacy, and motor skills. This year’s event takes place over five days from the 10th to the 14th November. Our fourth article in this series…
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