Adverse childhood experiences and the implications for schools Half of children will live through an adverse childhood experience and around one in 10 will suffer four or more. How can schools support these young people? Lynn Miles, who suffered ACEs herself, explains more and offers her advice
Theatre-inspired ideas to boost creative skills How can we integrate creativity into the primary classroom? Drawing on the approaches of the National Theatre’s Let’s Play programme, Lorna McGinty offers some ideas and inspiration
Looking after your teaching voice As a teacher, losing your voice can be debilitating and is an ever-present risk given how much we talk day-to-day. Do you look after your voice? Nikki Doig offers some practical tips
Baseline pilots loom as DfE sticks to its guns Can any test taken by four-year-olds provide an accurate baseline to a completely different test seven years later? Since 2013 – despite embarrassing set backs – the DfE has doggedly pushed for Baseline Assessment. With the latest trials complete, a new framework is out and pilots are on the horizon
A responsive, research-informed CPD cycle Designing and implementing an effective, research-informed CPD cycle for your school requires five steps. Alex Beauchamp explains
What can schools do to lessen the impact of knife crime on pupils? The knife crime epidemic is having a huge impact on communities and is leaving our youngest children frightened and anxious. A group of schools is now convening a summit in June to discuss the role of primary schools in reassuring and supporting pupils and their families. Fiona Aubrey-Smith reports
The four Cs of effective teaching assistants Professional collaboration between teachers and teaching assistants is crucial to high-quality lessons and teaching. Matt Bromley outlines his four Cs for creating outstanding working relationships
CPD in the EAL classroom As schools become linguistically and culturally diverse, it makes sense to ensure that teaching staff are adequately prepared. Silvana Richardson looks at CPD to enable teaching staff to work effectively in diverse multilingual classrooms
RSE: Engaging with parents Parents cannot opt-out of new statutory relationships education in primary schools, but should still be consulted over the curriculum. Lucy Emmerson looks at how schools can engage with parents
What do you want to be when you’re older? The importance of careers education and breaking down gender stereotypes at primary age is increasingly recognised. After the publication of a new report, Suzanne O’Connell looks at some best practice examples
Staff wellbeing: Taking care of ourselves Learning how we can handle and beat stress is vital to maintaining our wellbeing as teachers and school leaders. Ross McWilliam offers some practical reflections and easy techniques
A STEM-inspired primary school curriculum Pupils at Willowtown Primary in South Wales benefit from a STEM-rich curriculum. Headteacher Paul Keane discusses what the school offers and how this curriculum has been developed
Getting the ‘E’ of PSHE right There are many ways for primary schools to bring financial education lessons to life. Julian Wright offers some ideas and advice from the free RedSTART programme
Recruitment: Selling your school Primary schools with 200 to 600 pupils are the most common school type in England, making for a crowded recruitment market. Imogen Rowley outlines how you can refresh the way you advertise this year and ensure your school stands out
The challenges facing primary science education Primary science education faces some key challenges since it was overhauled in the national curriculum reforms, including questions over how well ‘working like a scientist’ is promoted and how confident teachers are to deliver lessons. Deborah Roberts explains
Three pastoral challenges: What would you do? Inclusion expert Daniel Sobel outlines three common pastoral challenges that he comes across in schools and discusses how he would approach each situation in order to achieve positive outcomes
Making school-to-school CPD collaborations work The benefits of schools working together to deliver effective CPD can be far-reaching. Maria Cunningham looks at some practical steps schools might take to overcome the barriers to school-to-school CPD collaboration
What is behind the spike in home education? A notable spike in the number of pupils being home educated has sparked suspicions that a minority of schools are using ‘off-rolling’ practices. Suzanne O’Connell looks at the figures, recent research and the background of home education in England
Addressing secondary traumatic stress Secondary trauma occurs when the act of supporting a traumatised young person becomes traumatic in itself – and it is a danger that teachers should be aware of. Darren Martindale advises
How to close the vocabulary gap The best way to tackle the disadvantage gap in the early years and throughout primary school is to improve children’s literacy and language skills. Matt Bromley offers some practical strategies and interventions
Ofsted's Education Inspection Framework: Finally moving in the right direction? The consultation over Ofsted’s draft Education Inspection Framework is almost at an end. With its new focus on curriculum breadth and balance and with the chief inspector speaking out against teaching to the test, the framework has been broadly welcomed. What are the key talking points?
Taking measures to avoid permanent exclusion When the behaviour challenges presented by a pupil spiral so far out of control, there is only one solution – isn’t there? Daniel Sobel discusses how we can avoid turning to the last resort
RSCs and Headteacher Boards: Lifting the veil The world of Regional Schools Commissioners and Headteacher Boards has long seemed opaque. Brian Rossiter looks at how the system has evolved and advises how we can best engage with our RSC
Supporting an effective transition for EAL pupils Continuing our series on supporting learners with English as an additional language, Kamil Trzebiatowski looks at how we can best help EAL pupils to prepare for their transition to secondary school
In defence of the staffroom When it comes to staff wellbeing, the staffroom plays a crucial role. Kate Sarginson offers some ideas to give staff morale and wellbeing a boost
