Teaching and learning is crucial to the success of a primary school. Our best practice articles and case studies focus on how school leaders can support their teachers to sustain high quality teaching and learning.

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Building back better: Teaching, pedagogy and learning

Some schools have already begun changing and adapting their in-school teaching practices in light of their experiences during remote education. Dr Fiona Aubrey-Smith asks how your school is already 'building back better'

Musical play: A powerful tool for self-regulation

Musical play can help to teach young children crucial self-regulation skills, research has suggested. Dr Antonia Zachariou explains more and offers some practical ideas based on their findings

Lockdown teaching and learning: A quick guide for families

Feeling daunted by the return to remote teaching? In this two-part series Sara Davidson and Sean Harris look at some of the basic research-informed principles that can help teachers and parents to navigate learning at home. In part two they offer advice for parents/carers

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Ideas for developing global citizens through STEM activities

There are plenty of links between practical STEM study and global citizenship. Drawing on her new book, Emily Hunt offers quick ideas for your lessons

Lockdown teaching and learning: A quick guide for teaching staff

Lockdown: Ideas to boost children’s wellbeing during Covid

As we face-up to another national lockdown, pupil wellbeing will once again come to the fore. Shahana Knight offers some ideas and advice for primary schools

Lockdown: How are you ‘holding in mind’ your pupils?

The benefit of “holding in mind” our children and families during these difficult times are numerous. Angela Greenwood looks at what this might mean for your primary school

Closing the gap: Supporting the most disadvantaged EAL pupils during the pandemic

When supporting learners with English as an additional language to catch-up with their studies following this year’s disruption, formative assessment is vital to understanding new starting points. Emily Curran continues Headteacher Update’s recent focus on supporting EAL pupils

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

Teachers and technology – six key research findings

Your teachers and your technology – what do you need to be thinking about next? Fiona Aubrey-Smith looks at the emerging findings from new research into teachers’ technology use during the pandemic

Black Lives Matter: How schools must respond

What implications should the Black Lives Matter movement have for what and how we teach in our primary and secondary schools? Matt Bromley considers the key questions we must be asking of our curriculum in light of events around the world this year

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…

Ten ideas for developing life-skills in the classroom

How can teachers teach life-skills as part of their day-to-day lessons? Louise Treherne suggests 10 practical ideas

Case study: Learning together to bridge the maths transition gap

Primary and secondary maths teachers have been learning from each other in a MAT-wide project that is having an encouraging impact on pupils’ outcomes. Yvonne Gandy finds out more

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

Student wellbeing: Maslow before you Bloom

The idea of ‘Maslow before you Bloom’ is once again gaining traction in light of the Covid-19 pandemic. SENCO Sanjo Jeffrey says this approach is crucial to supporting academic outcomes this year and beyond

Closing the Covid-19 gap for EAL pupils

Headteacher Update has previously outlined the risks presented by Covid-19 to learning and progress for specific pupils with English as an additional language. Continuing this focus, Emily Curran now offers some practical socially distanced strategies to support EAL pupils during the pandemic

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

Music education: A plea to schools

People cannot learn to like what they never hear. Brenda Watson urges schools to give music education a higher profile in their schools and offers four ideas to get started

Remote learning: How to handle objections from parents

Whether you have individual pupils self-isolating, or groups of pupils learning from home, you may come across objections from parents about the remote learning you are providing. Ciara Lamb looks at some potential concerns and how we might respond

Pupil Premium: Tracking progress, challenges and involvement – a case study

A small sheet of paper completed four times a year has transformed one primary school’s approach to Pupil Premium support and intervention. Jessica Hawley explains

Some big questions about CPD and learning this term and beyond

What has been the impact of coronavirus on staff professional development in your school? What are the questions you and your teachers should now be asking? Fiona Aubrey-Smith gives us some food for thought

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

Six steps for a positive mindset in the maths classroom

If a student believes they are not good at maths it can have a negative impact on their attitude and confidence. Alexandra Riley offers six tips to help shift young people’s mindset and make a positive difference to their outcomes

Covid recovery: What kind of support will EAL pupils need this term and beyond?

Teaching and learning post-lockdown presents many challenges. Silvana Richardson considers how we can support the most disadvantaged EAL pupils, who as well as suffering a hit to their learning, may have also experienced a language learning loss...

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