Women in Maths day
To celebrate ‘Women in Maths’ day on 12th May, 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…
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Forest School: Learning Outdoors
As we are amid Spring and the weather improves, we naturally gravitate towards the outdoors. Learning outdoors is a fantastic tool, and Forest School is a significant part of this approach. Its popularity continues to grow, but what does it mean to have a Forest School ethos, and is it for everyone? A Very…
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Education North Tyneside Early Years Conference
The Education North Tyneside Annual Early Years Conference was held on 28th March at The Linskill Centre. 100 delegates attended from across North Tyneside, from regional authorities and North East Combined Authority. Speakers The keynote speaker was early years consultant and expert Ruth Swailes and workshops were led by New York Primary School, Shooting Stars…
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Significance of Easter Weekend for Christians
Easter Weekend is the most significant Christian celebration, marking Jesus Christ’s resurrection, which is central to their faith and practice and is a foundation for the church’s mission and community life. Christ’s act of washing His disciples’ feet and sharing the Last Supper with them, commemorated on Maundy Thursday, highlights the values of kindness, love,…
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Valuing home languages at school
A language learned in childhood at home is called home language, also referred to as mother tongue, first language or native language. Home language plays a significant role in learning and acquiring a second language. English should not replace the home language; it should develop alongside it. There are many reasons to maintain the home…
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Reflecting on an effective writing curriculum
The focus on the teaching of reading in schools for the last few years has been high following DfE guidance about teaching phonics and the Reading Framework publication in 2021. This focus has led to greater consistency in the teaching of reading and closing gaps, with a clearer focus on the aspects of reading that…
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The Big Maths Party
On March 21, 2025, North Tyneside witnessed an extraordinary celebration of mathematics as 8,000 children from 35 schools across the region participated in the first ever Big Maths Party. Organised by our expert advisors at Education North Tyneside, the event aimed to ignite a passion for mathematics among students by exploring its presence in everyday…
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Eid ul-Fitr: Understanding the Joyous Festival of Breaking the Fast
As the holy month of Ramadan draws to a close, Muslims worldwide eagerly anticipate the joyous celebration of Eid ul-Fitr. This significant festival, also known as the “Festival of Breaking the Fast,” holds deep cultural and religious significance for Muslims. Understanding the traditions and customs associated with Eid ul-Fitr enriches our appreciation of this special…
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Nowruz: The Persian New Year
Nowruz, also called Norooz or Nawruz, is the Persian New Year celebrated by millions of people worldwide. This ancient festival marks the beginning of spring and is a time for renewal and joy. When is Nowruz Celebrated? Nowruz falls on the first spring day, around March 20th or 21st (March 20, 2025, at 5:24 p.m.…
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Holi-Festival of Colours
When and why is it celebrated? The festival of Holi is celebrated annually in March. It is the end of winter and the beginning of spring. It’s a two-day Hindu festival celebrated in India and other parts of the world. On the first day, people gather around a bonfire and celebrate good triumphing over…
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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 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 carried…
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Purim: Jewish Festival of Deliverance
Purim is a vibrant and joyous Jewish festival that commemorates the salvation of the Jewish people from the threat of extermination in ancient Persia. The story of Purim is recorded in the biblical Book of Esther, which recounts how Queen Esther and her cousin Mordecai thwarted the wicked plans of Haman, the prime minister of…
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