English resources

Resources, services and events to support the teaching of English in all schools and settings.

The National Year of Reading 2026

The National Year of Reading 2026 is a UK-wide campaign designed to inspire more people to make reading a regular part of their lives.

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The Summer Book-nic 2026

Bring your favourite book, get the sandwiches and cakes ready and lay out a blanket!

On Friday 3rd July 2026, schools across North Tyneside and beyond will come together for our second Summer Book-nic - a virtual reading picnic to celebrate and promote reading for pleasure.

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English articles

Read articles with an English focus from our team of expert advisers. Our full collection of articles can be found HERE.

Love Your Library: Why Local Libraries Are Magical Places for Families

By Eve Morton | 05 May 2026

Libraries are one of the most joyful, welcoming and enriching places a family can visit. In the National Year of Reading, there’s no better time to rediscover everything your local library offers – far beyond borrowing books. Whether you have a toddler who loves story time, a child discovering new…

Celebrate World Book Night 2026: A Chance for Schools and Settings to Inspire a Love of Reading

By Eve Morton | 20 April 2026

Every year on 23 April, schools, settings, families, and communities across the UK come together to celebrate World Book Night – a national event dedicated to sharing the joy and power of reading. Led by The Reading Agency, this annual celebration encourages people of all ages and backgrounds to discover…

Why all the talk about oracy?

By Eve Morton | 24 March 2026

It seems almost impossible at the moment to avoid the conversation about importance of oracy in education – and rightly so. As James Britton once said, ‘Reading floats on a sea of talk’ (Britton, 1970, p. 164), but good oracy skills go further than that. Strong oracy skills are essential…

Opening the doors to reading: why class visits to the local library matter

By Eve Morton | 02 March 2026

Why class visits to the local library matter more than ever As we celebrate the National Year of Reading, there has never been a better moment to reconnect children with one of the most powerful reading spaces in their community: the local library. A class visit to the library is…

World Book Day 2026 – making it meaningful

By Eve Morton | 09 February 2026

World Book Day 2026 takes place on Thursday 5th March this year. It provides a wonderful opportunity to celebrate books, authors, illustrators, and the love of reading with children and adults alike. Research tells us that reading for pleasure is the single biggest indicator of future success for a child…

The National Year of Reading 2026

By Eve Morton | 14 January 2026

The National Year of Reading: why it matters and how schools can get involved In 2026, schools across the UK will be invited to take part in the National Year of Reading. This is part of a coordinated effort, led by the National Literacy Trust, to reignite reading for pleasure,…

Adaptive teaching: same lesson, different learners

By Eve Morton | 05 January 2026

Adaptive teaching is no longer a ‘nice to have’: it is essential for schools striving to meet the diverse needs of learners in today’s classrooms. The recently published Ofsted tool kits, have inclusion as a golden thread running through aspects of school life. With increasing recognition of the importance of inclusion,…

Making effective pedagogical choices to impact learning – the role of modelling and questioning

By Eve Morton | 16 December 2025

What Does High-Quality Teaching Look Like Today? What does high-quality teaching look like in your school? Do staff have the knowledge and expertise to ensure that pupils know more and learn more? High-quality teaching remains the most powerful lever for improving pupil outcomes. Much research tells us: ‘High-quality teaching…

Christmas book recommendations for primary schools

By Eve Morton | 05 December 2025

The build up to Christmas is well underway in schools: performances and end of term activities adding to children’s excitement! Amidst all this, it can be enjoyable to find some quiet time to enjoy a Christmas story or two. Here are two of my favourites which can be explored as…

Three shelves full of books to promote reading fluency.

A focus on fluency

By Eve Morton | 19 November 2025

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…

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Contacts

Eve Morton

School Improvement Advisor
Primary English
eve.morton@northtyneside.gov.uk

Lisa Heatherington

School Improvement Advisor
Primary Maths and English
lisa.heatherington@northtyneside.gov.uk