Rhymes with a message
An Introduction to Nursery Rhymes Do we need an introduction?! We all know that a nursery rhyme is a short, simple song often sung to young children. Most nursery rhymes have simple rhythmic structures and repetitive patterns, making them both entertaining and memorable. They commonly develop language skills through playful content, typically containing nonsensical elements…
Read MoreMaths with Nursery Rhymes: A Guide for Early Years
Nursery rhymes play a crucial role in early childhood education, cherished for their rhythmic, playful verses. However, beyond their entertainment value, these rhymes serve as powerful tools for introducing mathematical concepts to young learners. Early Years teachers can leverage the natural structure of nursery rhymes to teach foundational maths skills, ensuring the learning experience remains…
Read MoreThe government’s wraparound care offer for families
The government has an aspiration that all primary school aged children (4 – 11 years) in England, will be able to access wraparound care from 8 am to 6 pm. What would this wraparound care look like? It would be during term time. It would be provision such as breakfast clubs and regular after school…
Read MoreMore Than Baby Talk: How Nursery Rhymes Can Benefit Older Students
This is world Nursery Rhyme Week and millions of children around the globe will be singing, doing the actions and exploring a range of nursery rhymes. Much research has shown that nursery rhymes are incredibly beneficial for children as they can boost vocabulary and language development; develop literacy and numeracy skills; and develop social and…
Read MoreMelody, Memory and Prosody: Tuning in to Nursery Rhymes
The traditional songs of childhood are widely recognised as one of the most powerful resources in early language development. This is true across all cultures, with parents universally singing with their babies and young children. Intriguing vocabulary, syntactical patterning, repetition and rhyme command the attention of very young listeners. In our society, perfectly crafted miniature…
Read MoreThe Power of Nursery Rhymes
Nursery rhymes are more than just short verses or songs for children; they play a crucial role in early childhood development and cultural transmission, providing numerous key benefits. Language Acquisition Nursery rhymes are highly recommended by speech and language therapists. Rhymes support children’s communication and language development at whatever stage they are at. They also…
Read MoreThe Importance of Music Education in Primary Schools
The importance of music education in primary schools cannot be overstated. It plays a vital role in children’s development, bringing joy while shaping cognitive, emotional, and social skills. The UK’s National Plan for Music Education (NPME) emphasizes the need for every child to access high-quality music education from an early age, highlighting its essential role…
Read MoreOur Outstanding Teacher Training Programme
North Tyneside’s outstanding early years and primary teacher training programme is looking for the next generation of inspiring trainee teachers. An outstanding provider with strong partnerships North Tyneside SCITT was established in 2004 and is judged as an outstanding provider by Ofsted. We are proud to be the only outstanding initial teacher training…
Read MoreUsing poetry in teaching: A Tool for the Classroom
Poetry is a little like Marmite – you either love it or hate it! This may stem from your own experiences when you were younger, or perhaps it’s a genre you haven’t explored much. But poetry is more than just rhymes and verses; it is a powerful tool that can transform learning in the classroom.…
Read MoreTeaching reading fluency: a focused look
What is Reading Fluency? Reading fluency involves much more than just reading quickly. A common misconception among pupils-and sometimes adults-is that being a fluent reader means being a fast reader. However, fluency refers to the ability to read smoothly, accurately, and with expression. Fluent readers pay attention to punctuation, phrasing, and the structure of text,…
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