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…

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Why all the talk about oracy?

It seems almost impossible at the moment to avoid the conversation about importance of oracy in education – and rightly so. As James Britton once said, ‘Reading floats on a sea of talk’ (Britton, 1970, p. 164), but good oracy skills go further than that.  Strong oracy skills are essential for our young learners to…

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World Book Day 2026 – making it meaningful

World Book Day 2026 takes place on Thursday 5th March this year. It provides a wonderful opportunity to celebrate books, authors, illustrators, and the love of reading with children and adults alike.   Research tells us that reading for pleasure is the single biggest indicator of future success for a child – even above family circumstance,…

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The National Year of Reading 2026

The National Year of Reading: why it matters and how schools can get involved In 2026, schools across the UK will be invited to take part in the National Year of Reading. This is part of a coordinated effort, led by the National Literacy Trust, to reignite reading for pleasure, strengthen literacy outcomes, and reconnect…

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Adaptive teaching: same lesson, different learners

Adaptive teaching is no longer a ‘nice to have’: it is essential for schools striving to meet the diverse needs of learners in today’s classrooms. The recently published Ofsted tool kits, have inclusion as a golden thread running through aspects of school life. With increasing recognition of the importance of inclusion, differentiation, and responsive pedagogy, teachers…

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Christmas book recommendations for primary schools

The build up to Christmas is well underway in schools: performances and end of term activities adding to children’s excitement! Amidst all this, it can be enjoyable to find some quiet time to enjoy a Christmas story or two. Here are two of my favourites which can be explored as a class, or by children…

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