Growing Brains, Guiding Behaviour
Supporting young children can be joyful, rewarding, and at times overwhelming-especially when big feelings take over. In the Early Years, children’s brains are developing at an incredible pace, shaping how they learn, communicate, and respond to the world around them. This rapid growth brings curiosity and opportunity, but it can also lead to behaviours that…
Opening the doors to reading: why class visits to the local library matter
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 far more than a pleasant…
Powering Primary Maths: Why Teaching Assistant Subject Knowledge Matters
Teaching assistants (TAs)can play an important role in primary mathematics classrooms. Often working with small groups or individuals, they are uniquely positioned to influence children’s confidence, understanding and progress. However, the impact they can make depends significantly on their own mathematical subject knowledge. When teaching assistants have a secure understanding of maths, use precise mathematical language, recognise misconceptions and feel confident…
Everything, Everywhere, All at Once
May you live in interesting times! In the ever-demanding world of school leadership, we are entering a period of unprecedented complexity. New national directives and frameworks, The Curriculum Review, and the new OFSTED Toolkit require leaders to reframe their educational offers. As every school leader knows, an audit of existing practice is only the first…
Chinese Lunar New Year 2026: Welcoming the Year of the Fire Horse
Chinese Lunar New Year 2026: Welcoming the Year of the Fire Horse Chinese New Year, also called Lunar New Year or the Spring Festival, is one of the most joyful and important celebrations in China. It’s a time for family, tradition, and new beginnings. Unlike New Year’s Day on January 1st, the date follows the lunar calendar, which changes every year. In…
How my Early Years experience prepared me for fatherhood
Having worked in early years for over 12 years, I wanted to share the experience I have as being a man in childcare and how it prepared me for fatherhood. Men make up just 3% of the entire early years workforce in the UK. It can be isolating, lonely, and the profession seen as ‘female orientated’. However, I…
Ramadan: A Special Month for Muslims
Ramadan: A Special Month for Muslims Ramadan is one of the most important and sacred months in Islam. It commemorates the time when the Qur’an was first revealed to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). During this month, Muslims focus on worship, self-discipline, kindness, and gratitude. From dawn to sunset, Muslims fast by avoiding…
World Book Day 2026 – making it meaningful
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 – even above family circumstance,…
Safer Internet Day 2026
On Tuesday 10th February 2026, schools across the UK will once again come together to mark Safer Internet Day. Since 2004 this annual event has been a celebration of digital citizenship, online wellbeing, and a chance to encourage young people to shape a better online world. This year’s theme, “Smart tech, safe choices – Exploring the safe and…
Sensory Play: The Enchantment of Treasure Baskets
Ever wonder why on Christmas morning young children are more fascinated with the wrapping paper, packaging and cardboard boxes than the gift inside? That’s because these objects provide many opportunities for children to engage with their senses such as touch, smell, taste, sound, sight and bodily movement. The wrapping paper may make an interesting noise,…
Race Equality Week 2026
Celebrating Diversity and Unity: Race Equality Week In a world often divided by differences, celebrating unity in diversity is a beacon of hope and progress. Race Equality Week 2026 (2nd – 8th February) is a significant annual event that encapsulates this spirit by fostering understanding, challenging prejudices, and promoting inclusivity. This week serves as a…
North Tyneside Active Mile
The North Tyneside Active Mile has been in place for 9 years, originally it was part of the Daily Mile, a national initiative to promote basic exercise, through running on a daily basis one mile. However, the Active Mile grew out of the recognition that we are not all runners and that to be sustainable the activity…