RE and the National Curriculum – What Does It Mean for Schools?
You may have seen the recent announcement that Religious Education is set to become part of the National Curriculum for the first time. While there are still details to come, it’s a significant moment for the subject and one that many people in the RE community have been working towards for some time. Whenever there is…
Every Child Achieving and Thriving: An EAL Teacher’s Perspective on an Invisible Cohort
The Every Child Achieving and Thriving white paper positions itself as a bold step toward a more inclusive education system. It promises early identification, consistent national standards, and a commitment to ensuring that no child is “side-lined”. As an English as an Additional Language (EAL) teacher, I welcome this ambition. Inclusion matters. Early intervention matters. High‑quality teaching matters. But…
FIRST LEGO League Explore 2026
This week we held two FIRST® LEGO® League Explore Festivals at the Village Hotel Newcastle, for schools across North Tyneside and Northumberland. Over fifty teams took part in the STEM programme this year, with over three hundred children attending the two half-day festivals. What is FIRST LEGO League Explore? FIRST® LEGO® League Explore is…
Humanism Explained: A Guide for Curious Minds
What is Humanism? Humanism is a way of thinking that focuses on people and not gods or supernatural beliefs.Humanists believe that we can live good, meaningful and happy lives by using reason, kindness, and science. They think we have one life, so it is important to make the most of it and help others. Do…
Midsummer: Threads of Courage
On 20th June, a truly inspiring event at the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art brought together families, friends and community members to celebrate Refugee Week through creativity, culture and connection. Guests enjoyed an unforgettable midsummer evening featuring food, creative workshops, henna, flower garland making, sewing and embroidery activities, storytelling and music. Midsummer: Threads of Courage was created through a remarkable collaboration between Northeast organisations and together, these…
Great Adventures in Early Writing
I want to tell you about a boy called Archie. Archie was four years old. He had the energy of a small tornado, the concentration span of a particularly easily-distracted goldfish, and an absolutely ferocious dislike of anything involving a pencil. If you so much as placed a writing tray within three metres of Archie,…
A Summer of Sound: Celebrating North Tyneside’s Young Musicians
Join North Tyneside Music this June and July for an exciting programme of live events showcasing the very best of local talent. This summer, young musicians from across North Tyneside will take to stages across the borough in a vibrant series of performances, celebrating creativity, collaboration and musical achievement. From large-scale concerts to intimate live…
The Value of Home Language GCSEs
In the UK’s increasingly multilingual education system, recognising and developing pupils’ home languages is both an educational and social imperative. With over one in five pupils using a language other than English at home, schools are uniquely placed to capitalise on linguistic diversity, recognising it as a key asset that enhances teaching, learning and whole-school inclusion. …
Supporting transitions into school for Early Years children with Special Educational Needs or Disabilities
Transitioning into school or nursery is a huge milestone for all Early Years children that can bring with it a whole host of feelings. Some children may be excited, they love the idea of playing with new toys and being ‘grown up’. Some children may feel nervous or worried, it’s a big change, an unfamiliar…
From Discussion to Impact: How Our Teacher Reading Group Shapes Classroom Practice
From September, I will once again have the privilege of leading an Open University Teacher Reading Group (OU TRG) with what I know will be a dynamic group of practitioners. Previous groups have been made up of teachers and librarians from nursery to secondary schools. Our shared aim is simple but powerful: to deepen our…
Early Years Conference North Tyneside: Inspiring Adventure in Early Education
The Longstanding Tradition of the Early Years Conference North Tyneside There has been an early years conference in North Tyneside every year this millennium (and longer), with keynote speakers including Penny Tassoni, Ruth Swailes and Jean Gross. Over the years, the Early Years Conference North Tyneside has explored themes such as developing an effective curriculum,…
No Place Like Home – Art and Poetry Competition for Schools
No Place Like Home is more than an art and poetry competition; it is a celebration of pupil voice and the power of young people sharing their stories through creativity. By encouraging children to explore what “home” means to them, whether through culture, memories, identity, or belonging, the initiative creates meaningful opportunities for pupils to…