Ofsted versus Early Years? The debate about ‘poorly planned play’
November 26, 2024
In this post, Lauran Doak reflects on current debates around the status of play in Early Years settings Ofsted and play in Early Years ‘Play-based learning in Reception classes sometimes does no more than occupy children’s time. If it does not challenge their thinking, problem-solving, persistence and collaboration, it is ineffective in developing their executive …
We need to talk: four implications for primary schools of the Oracy Education Commission’s report.
October 21, 2024
This month has seen the publication of We Need to Talk, the final report from the Oracy Education Commission. In this blog, I reflect on some immediate takeaway messages for primary schools. The work of the Oracy Education Commission has examined a mass of evidence over a busy six-month period. I’ve been fortunate to have …
Higher-order questions or questioning for higher-order thinking?
September 9, 2024
In this post, I contrast higher-order questions with questioning for higher-order thinking and suggest some principles for developing this aspect of practice. Why ask questions? Let’s imagine a visit to a Year 5 class where pupils have been studying Roman Britain for the last few weeks. It’s the penultimate lesson in the unit and time …
Getting them out there: the importance of fieldwork in Geography and getting students in the zone to notice
June 13, 2024
In this post, Alex Booth and Mal Kerr make the case for the importance of fieldwork in geography and offer some guiding principles. “Geography wants to take children outside the school and into the streets and fields; it wants to take the keyboard tappers out of their gloomy offices and into the rain or sunshine.” …
PE is just playing sport…right?
May 1, 2024
In this post, Chris Pinnington from Brocklewood Primary School in Nottingham challenges traditional views of Physical Education (PE) as he describes the journey he and his school have been on to ensure the PE curriculum is fit for all children and staff in school. Introduction I’m not sure if there is any other school subject …
Is it possible to abolish primary homework? A view from Norway
March 25, 2024
In this post, Rachel Lehner-Mear revisits the place of primary homework with an international eye. I recently came across a report documenting the introduction of a ‘no homework policy’ in one Norwegian municipality. This is not the first time the idea of a homework ban has been discussed in Norway. In 2015, a coalition of …
Social Justice, Anti-racism, and Decolonisation: what place do they have in Teacher Education?
February 19, 2024
In this post, Balbir Kaur (PGCE tutor), Charlie Bird, Mary Scoular and Shannon Bains (PGCE student teachers) reflect on their understanding of Social Justice (SJ), decolonisation and anti-racist approaches to teacher education. These reflections stem from their engagement with academic literature, taught sessions on the Primary PGCE course and a personal commitment that …
How can we support male primary teachers?
January 15, 2024
At a time of intense focus on a ‘crisis’ of teacher recruitment and retention, Esther Fulton considers why the proportion of males in primary teaching remains stubbornly low and how we might respond. It is well documented that there is a lack of male primary teachers worldwide. For all ITE providers across the UK, …
My science teacher is telling tales
November 20, 2023
In this post, Jane Morris, from the University of Cumbria considers the potential contribution of a storytelling approach to science teaching. Doris Stickley’s thoughtful book “Water Bugs and Dragonflies” tells the story of a small colony of water bugs living happily below the surface of a quiet pond. Every so often one of them climbs up …
A collaborative approach to research-informed teaching
October 11, 2023
In this post, Rupert Knight offers examples of school-level collaborative inquiry as a teacher-driven form of research-informed practice. A broad and inclusive view of educational research A few years ago, in an early blog in this series, I considered ways that teachers might engage with research evidence. Back then, I made the case for teaching …
