A Parent’s Guide to Keeping Your Children Safe Online
Last week I was delighted to be able to deliver a short online safety session to a school hall packed full of parents and carers at one of our local schools. Family life is so busy and attendance is not always that high at these things, but it was fantastic to be able to share…
The Significance of Diwali: A Festival of Lights
Diwali: The Festival of Lights and Its Significance Diwali, known as the “Festival of Lights”, is one of the most important and widely celebrated festivals for Hindus, Jains, and Sikhs. This vibrant festival takes place annually over five days, usually between October and November, marking the start of the Hindu New Year. The exact dates…
Coaching for New School Leaders: A Strategic Investment in Educational Leadership
Why the Transition to School Leadership Is So Challenging Stepping into a leadership role in education represents one of the most significant career transitions a professional can make. Whether moving from classroom teacher to department head, or from deputy to headteacher, new school leaders face a complex landscape of responsibilities that extends far beyond their…
How to Consider a Sustainability Leadership and Climate Action Plan in your Setting.
Context A study conducted by Nature found that a child born in 2020 will experience an ‘unprecedented increase’ in extreme weather events over their lifetime, and their world will be ‘fundamentally shaped by the climate crisis.’ The Department for Education (DfE) recognises that education settings have a vital role to play in responding to climate…
Still Human and Education North Tyneside Launch School Staff Wellbeing Programme
We are excited to announce a partnership with Still Human, backed by funding from the North East Combined Authority (NECA), to launch a fully funded staff wellbeing programme for schools across North Tyneside. This initiative comes at a critical moment for the education sector, where staff burnout, recruitment challenges, and retention issues are at an…
FIRST LEGO League 2025/26 – Unearthed
We are delighted to be launching another FIRST LEGO League season across the North East, as we dig deep into the new ‘Unearthed’ season. Students will explore this year’s archeological theme as they take on the biggest STEM programmes in the world! Around 1000 young people will put their team work, problem solving, coding and…
Celebrating World Mental Health 2025 in Schools
World Mental Health Day, observed annually on October 10th, is an important reminder of the significance of mental well-being in all sectors, including education. This year the theme is “Access to Services: Mental Health in Catastrophes and Emergencies,” and highlights the urgent need to ensure mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) reaches people affected by conflict, disaster, and…
Talk, Transcription, and Text: Reflections on the DfE Writing Framework
On 8 July 2025 the Department for Education published The Writing Framework, a 150-page, non-statutory guidance document aimed primarily at primary schools in England. It represents a concerted attempt to bring coherence, evidence-based principles and a clearer vision to writing pedagogy from Reception through to Key Stage 2. Key Shifts in Teaching Writing One…
Safeguarding Practitioner Forum: A Vital Space for Shared Learning and Collaboration
Following the overwhelming response to our last safeguarding Practitioner Forum, North Tyneside Safeguarding Children Partnership are pleased to announce an extra date, Tuesday 21st October. This will focus on one of the most complex and sensitive areas of child protection: intrafamilial child sexual abuse. This is a complex and deeply sensitive area of safeguarding, and…
Yom Kippur: A Day to Pause, Reflect, and Begin Again
Every year, as the leaves start to turn and the world begins to slow down, Jewish communities around the world observe a sacred day unlike any other-Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. It’s a holiday not of feasting or celebration, but of reflection, honesty, and deep spiritual renewal. If Rosh Hashanah is the birthday of…
Black History Month: Standing Firm in Power and Pride
Every October, the UK marks Black History Month, a chance to pause, reflect, and celebrate the richness, resilience, and achievements of Black people, both here and across the world. This year’s theme, “Standing Firm in Power and Pride,” is a powerful reminder to recognise the strength, dignity, and influence of Black communities in shaping not…
What the New Ofsted Toolkit Means for EAL Pupils
Ofsted’s new State-Funded School Inspection Toolkit (coming into effect in November 2025), alongside guidance from organisations such as The Bell Foundation, sets out clearer expectations for how schools support pupils who speak English as an Additional Language (EAL).Here’s what you need to know: Recognise Every Language Counts: Inspectors expect leaders and teachers to value the…