Reception Year: The Birth to Five Matters Guidance With a revised Early Years Foundation Stage becoming statutory in September, the early years sector has united to produce research-led guidance offering a pedagogically sound method of delivery. Neil Henty looks at its implications for primary schools and Reception year teaching
Schools post-Covid: Five changes for the better What changes should schools make in the post-Covid world? What are the new priorities? Malcolm Groves outlines five changes for the better that school leaders say they want to see
What is cultural capital? Satisfying Ofsted’s tone-deaf interpretation Ofsted’s tone-deaf interpretation of cultural capital brings with it profound dilemmas for school leaders, who may be of a mind to resist… Phil Beadle, author of a new book on the topic, offers his plan to satisfy inspectors without having to turn things upside down
Online learning: There is nothing remote about it Learning cannot be remote. But it can take place online. Having seen the various official contributions to the remote education push, Bob Harrison despairs…
What should remote education look like in your school? What is remote learning? What isn’t it? And how are schools approaching it? Tom Middlehurst takes a practical look at what school leaders and teachers can and should be doing to fulfil their legal and moral obligations this term and beyond
RSE and parental consultation: Getting it right Parental engagement and consultation is a vital component of effective relationships and sex education. Leah Jewett offers her advice to primary schools on RSE delivery and parental engagement
A question of time? Priorities and considerations for the ‘catch-up’ funding The Covid catch-up funding should not be used simply to create more ‘time’ for schooling, but should be used to make the most of the time we have and to get students to a place where they can re-engage with their learning. Jon Gibson and Ben Slater explain
The National Tutoring Programme roll-out: How will it work? The £350m National Tutoring Programme will begin operation after the October half-term. Two main strands will support schools’ work with pupils whose education has been hit hard by the Covid-19 lockdown. Director Robbie Coleman looks at how it works in practice
Back to School Guide: Teaching & Learning In this 12-page guide, we consider what teaching and learning should look like in schools from this September when all pupils are due to return following the Covid-19 lockdown...
Back to School Guide: Staff wellbeing and support In this 12-page guide, we consider how lockdown has affected the wellbeing and mental health of school staff and offer practical advice and ideas for promoting wellbeing and supporting colleagues, both now and this autumn
GDPR, data protection and remote learning In a world of online learning, data protection has never been more important. Have you got your bases covered? Lynne Taylor advises
June 1 re-opening: The concerns and considerations of a headteacher Like headteachers across the country, Rachel Jones is working with her team to plan for a possible June 1 re-opening. She talks us through her thinking, how she plans to set-up her school, and the pressure that comes with such a significant responsibility
A judgement call like no other The science on school re-opening is reassuring, but it is not immutable. In the end, it is a judgement call and schools must be given the flexibility to do what is in the best interests of their communities, says Geoff Barton
Ed-tech: Making industry collaboration work for your school Collaboration between schools and ed-tech companies is one of the priorities of the government’s digital strategy. Al Kingsley looks at the risks, rewards and cost-benefits for schools considering a co-production partnership
Behaviour hubs: Experts to get behaviour on track – again Every teacher knows how important it is to have good behaviour in the classroom. However, for some schools, behaviour management remains an issue. Suzanne O'Connell looks at what is being recommended and asks: Haven’t we been here before?
Coronavirus: Key messages from latest DfE guidance for schools Government guidance published on Sunday (March 22) outlines how schools are expected to operate during the coronavirus pandemic. Former school leader Matt Bromley takes a look and offers his advice
Coronavirus: Provision and teaching in school during the crisis For the foreseeable future, schools are only open to children of key workers, vulnerable students or those with an EHCP. Matt Bromley looks at what kind of provision we can reasonably offer these pupils at a time of national crisis and staff shortages
FGM: The safeguarding responsibilities facing schools and teachers Teachers in England and Wales are subject to the duty to report FGM. What does this mean in practical terms and how should you advise and train staff to ensure compliance? Suzanne O’Connell recaps the duty
Coronavirus: Crisis management and school closure – issues to consider Schools are closing across the UK in the face of the coronavirus emergency. As they prepare to shut their doors, Matt Bromley looks at some of the issues headteachers will need to think about, including practical considerations, supporting staff, the continuation of learning, and safeguarding
Tackling period poverty: Primary school roll-out The government has agreed to fund free sanitary products in schools to help end period poverty. Chris Brown looks at what the research says and how schools might approach implementation
Reception Baseline Assessment: What to expect The pilot of the new Reception Baseline Assessment (RBA) has begun and the national roll-out is due in September 2020. Katherine Fowler from the National Foundation for Educational Research – which has developed and will deliver the new assessment – explains how it will work in practice and ...
Supporting your pupils with medical needs Many schools work hard to make the best provision they can for young people with medical needs, but it is not always easy. Jackie Wheatley highlights key areas of best practice, considers some of the legal requirements placed on schools, and offers her advice
GDPR: One year on... GDPR recently celebrated its first anniversary, but there is still confusion in schools about data duties and obligations. Richard Skipper provides clarity on some common problems
Time-out and isolation under scrutiny At the National Education Union annual conference, delegates recounted stories about school isolation rooms filled with SEND children. It seems that the use of ‘time-out’ or ‘reflection rooms’ is increasing at primary level. Suzanne O’Connell looks at this growing trend and its place in school ...
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
