Articles

Welcome to articles from the Education North Tyneside team.

Here our team of passionate educators and experts come together to provide you with a diverse range of articles, covering everything from events, innovative teaching and leadership methods to practical advice for educators.

Whatever your role, you’ll find valuable resources and thought-provoking content designed to empower and elevate education in North Tyneside and beyond.

 

Dive in and discover what’s shaping the future of learning today!

Father Holding A Book Beside His Child

Rhymes with a message

By Claire Graham

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…

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Girl in Yellow and White Dress Learning To Count With Her Fingers

Maths with Nursery Rhymes: A Guide for Early Years

By Rebecca Sowden

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…

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Two children playing with toys with their backs to the camera.

The government’s wraparound care offer for families

By Maddy Kennedy

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…

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AI generated image showing a collection of scenes from well know nursery rhymes.

More Than Baby Talk: How Nursery Rhymes Can Benefit Older Students

By Eve Morton

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…

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AI generated image showing a range of characters from nursery rhymes dancing in front of a page of musical notes.

Melody, Memory and Prosody: Tuning in to Nursery Rhymes

By Catherine Worton

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…

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Children and a teacher playing simple instruments and signing

The Power of Nursery Rhymes

By Zuzana Puente

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…

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The Importance of Music Education in Primary Schools

By Jenny Williams

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…

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Our Outstanding Teacher Training Programme

By Kate Ritchie

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…

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AI generated image. The background of the image is made up of fanciful images escaping from the pages of an open book in the foreground of the picture.

Using poetry in teaching: A Tool for the Classroom

By Eve Morton

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.…

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Embracing Inclusivity: The School of Sanctuary Award

By Diane Embley

In a world often fraught with division and discord, the concept of sanctuary holds a profound significance. It evokes notions of safety, acceptance, and refuge. In educational settings, creating a sanctuary goes beyond mere physical structures; it encompasses fostering an environment where every individual feels valued, respected, and included. The School of Sanctuary Award finds…

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A Parent’s Guide to Keeping Your Children Safe Online

By Neil Brown

As children become more connected and tech-savvy, ensuring their safety online is a top priority for parents. However, with the ever-changing digital landscape, it can be overwhelming to keep up. This guide offers quick, practical tips and handy tools to help you keep your children safe online and navigate online safety confidently, whether it’s managing…

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Three shelves full of books to promote reading fluency.

Teaching reading fluency: a focused look

By Eve Morton

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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