Refugee Week 2026: Courage Beyond Borders
Refugee Week 2026 is taking place from 15th – 21st June 2026. It calls on us to: “Come together and share the courage to welcome, to stand for what we believe in, and to celebrate culture and community – to be joyful, imagine new possibilities, dream, heal, and connect.” What does courage really look like? For many…
Eid -ul-Adha: The Festival of Faith, Sacrifice, and Compassion
The morning of Eid ul-Adha arrives quietly, like a soft whisper before dawn. The sky is still painted in shades of blue and silver, and the world seems to hold its breath. Then, slowly, the streets begin to glow with life, children in new clothes, families gathering, hearts full of gratitude, while millions of pilgrims in Makkah complete the…
When Every Child Feels Seen
Belonging Begins With What Children See Around Them Picture a classroom where the books on the shelves, the artwork on the walls, and the stories being told feel familiar. Imagine a classroom where a child can point and say, “That looks like me.” In that moment, something powerful happens. A child feels rooted, feels recognised…
Early Years Conference 2026 North Tyneside
Annual Early Years Conference 2026 North Tyneside Education North Tyneside has proudly hosted an Early Years Conference every year of this millennium and before. Over the years, the conference has welcomed leading keynote speakers such as Sally Featherstone, Alistair Bryce Clegg, and Jean Gross. Each event explores a wide range of key early years themes,…
The Power of Empathetic Leadership: Listening to Understand
In today’s data-driven educational environment, a crucial leadership element is often overlooked: empathy. This human-centred quality-the ability to listen, understand and share others’ feelings-creates the foundation for meaningful connections in our schools and settings. Research shows empathetic leadership delivers measurable benefits in innovation, staff commitment, and organisational inclusivity. As education systems face unprecedented challenges,…
Women in Maths day
The 12th May is ‘Women in Maths’ day. How can we encourage girls to believe that they can be mathematicians? Perhaps looking to some inspirational female figures is the answer! Inspiring Girls in Maths: Heroines Who Paved the Way It’s so important that all children – and especially girls – grow up believing that they can…
Supporting Primary Pupils Through Statutory Assessments
It’s the time of year when our focus turns to primary statutory assessments again. Whether your focus is the Phonics Screening Check, the Multiplication Tables Check or Key Stage 2 SATs, they can feel like a high‑stakes moment in your school year. For pupils, they represent unfamiliar routines and the pressure of being “tested.” For…
One More Step Along the World I Go
Managing Transition in the Early Years For Early Years educators, this time of year can feel particularly challenging. There’s the emotional weight of saying goodbye to your class, alongside summative assessments, report writing, sports day preparations, and-almost quietly but just as significantly-the organisation of transition. For Early Years leaders, the scale is even greater. You…
A Sense of Belonging
Creating a sense of belonging for EAL (English as an Additional Language) learners is about making sure they feel safe, seen, valued and connected in school, socially, emotionally, culturally, and academically. So what does “belonging” look like for EAL learners in schools? Seeing their Identity Reflected and Valued A sense of belonging grows when EAL…
Love Your Library: Why Local Libraries Are Magical Places for Families
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 interests, or you simply want…
May Day in the UK: A Look at a Much‑Loved Tradition
May Day in the UK is one of those celebrations that just feels cheerful. It arrives every year on 1 May, right when the weather starts to brighten up, and flowers begin to appear everywhere. Even though it’s been around for thousands of years, it still brings a sense of fun, colour, and community Where It All Began…
FIRST LEGO League Challenge 2026 – It’s a wrap!
This weekend saw the culmination of the 2025/26 FIRST LEGO League Challenge season in the UK, with the national finals taking place at the Harrogate Convention centre. After running five regional tournaments across the North East earlier in the year, I was lucky enough to spend Saturday 25th April as a judge at the finals.…