Why all the talk about oracy?
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 for our young learners to…
The Benefits of Maintaining Your Home Language
In a world that’s becoming increasingly interconnected, it’s easy to feel that the language we speak at home may not be as “useful” or important as the dominant language in our community or workplace. But the benefits of maintaining proficiency in your home language reach far beyond mere communication. They touch upon identity, culture, cognitive growth,…
FIRST LEGO League North Tyneside & Northumberland 2026
Last week we completed three days of incredible FIRST® LEGO® League Challenge regional tournament events for North Tyneside and Northumberland. These events are always such a privilege to be involved with. They are the culmination of months of hard work for students, teachers, volunteers and our team too! What is FIRST® LEGO® League Challenge? FIRST® LEGO® League Challenge is a global STEM competition.…
Wonderful wordless works of art
Some of our most engaging books for younger children are those which have very few words or no words at all. The illustrators of these wordless books are incredibly skilled in spinning a narrative through an unfolding sequence of pictures so exquisite, so imaginative, so carefully considered and sequenced that readers are immediately captivated and…
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,…