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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Discovery and discussion: Running university seminars for primary pupils

The Griffin University initiative sees primary pupils at schools across the Griffin Schools Trust experiencing university-style seminars every week. Sue-Ellen Lamb explains how it works at Race Leys Junior School

Exhausting, painful, lonely: The impact of Long Covid on children

Tens of thousands of children are suffering with Long Covid. In the first of two articles to help schools support children with Long Covid, Dr Sue Peters considers the impact of this mysterious and often debilitating illness on pupils

Recovering handwriting: Five tips for the classroom

One of the consequences of the shift to remote learning at the height of the pandemic has been a subsequent loss in handwriting skills. Year 3 teacher Sophie Lamb offers some helpful tips for recovery

Covid recovery: Promoting playground play and social skills

There are anecdotal reports that some pupils are finding unstructured playground play and socialisation difficult after two years of living with Covid. Jenny Mosley looks at what primary schools might do about this

Cooperative learning: Using CLIPs in the primary classroom

The cooperative learning approach allows pupils to practise their knowledge and skills and is guided by ‘CLIPs’. In this article, Drew Howard explains how to introduce this approach to your primary school

Poverty on the brain: Five strategies to counter the impact of disadvantage in the classroom

What does disadvantage do to our cognitive functions and what can we do about this as teachers? Poverty researcher and teacher Sean Harris examines emerging research findings on poverty, the implications for the classroom, and five strategies we might adopt in response

The school library: A powerful weapon in the battle for wellbeing

A new report suggests the school library could play a critical role in addressing young people’s health and wellbeing. Alison Tarrant and Caroline Roche from the Great School Libraries campaign explain how

Curriculum review and redesign: A case study

From building vocabulary to cooperative learning and the 60 Curriculum Challenge, a curriculum review at Stalham Infant and Junior Schools led to a range of innovative reforms. Emma Lee-Potter finds out more

Instructional coaching: Cycles, systems and processes

Considered by many to be the most effective form of teacher CPD, instructional coaching is gaining popularity in schools. In part two of a two-part article, Robbie Burns looks at implementing instructional coaching across the primary school

Pupil Premium tutoring: A Champion for Every Child

A Champion for Every Child is a pastoral tutoring programme that has had a notable impact for thousands of Pupil Premium pupils across the Kemnal Academies Trust. Emma Lee-Potter finds out more

The best learning goes with the flow: The work of Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi

Early years learning pioneer Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi passed away last year. Known as the father of ‘flow’, his theories of pupil engagement are crucial. Neil Henty looks at how his work can help us to promote optimal experiences in the classroom

The chronicles of a therapeutic classroom: Lights, Camera, Action!

All this year, Shahana Knight has been working with a school to transform a year 3 classroom into a fully therapeutic teaching space. Staff have been inspired and children awestruck – and now you can watch a film of the entire transformation...

The climate crisis, the curriculum and CPD

The role of school leadership in responding to the environmental challenges of our generation is crucial – and will include ensuring high-quality teacher support and CPD. Heena Dave advises

Climate change and hope: Getting children outside

Getting children outside to enjoy nature and outdoor learning could be a key element in the fight against climate change, say Jacqui McDermid and Jo Gordon from the Natural Thinkers initiative

One-to-one tutoring: Dos & don’ts

Many schools are implementing small group or one-to-one tutoring programmes as part of their Covid recovery work. This article asks tutors at the Kemnal Academies Trust for their dos and don’ts of effective tutoring provision

Vocabulary development for EAL students

Vocabulary development is vital for those using English as an additional language. Sheila Hopkins considers how teachers can identify key vocabulary during lesson planning and outlines strategies for teaching these key words to EAL learners

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In the classroom: Planning your learning spaces

How can we transform traditional classroom spaces to achieve more personalised learning? Headteacher Mel Shute describes her school’s involvement in the Planning Learning Spaces in Practice project

The chronicles of a therapeutic classroom: The pupils arrive...

After months of planning and a hectic half-term makeover, Shahana Knight‘s vision for a therapeutic classroom environment is about to be unveiled and put to the test by excited year 3 children...

Case study: Developing an Early Help offer in response to Covid

Given the impact of the pandemic on families and children’s lives, work is on-going in Lambeth to revisit and revamp intervention and support via the Early Help offer. Headteacher Laura McPhee explains

Post-Covid: Building a resilient education system

A report into the pandemic experiences of primary schools offers some stern and direct messages which the government should heed we are to truly Build Back Better. Suzanne O’Connell reports

Where next? Taking edtech into 2022

After almost two years of edtech development in response to the pandemic, Dr Fiona Aubrey-Smith looks at what 2022 has in store for us, touching upon the changing nature of the digital divide, assessment, parental engagement and personalised learning

After COP26: What and where next for climate work in primary schools?

From eco-anxiety to the curriculum, from school travel to buildings, there is much to do if we are to truly prioritise climate change education and carbon reduction in schools. Dr Verity Jones advises and signposts to a range of resources to help

EAL: Adaptive teaching in language-heavy subjects

History, geography, English literature and religious studies are undeniably language-heavy subjects, making them particularly challenging for learners who have English as an additional language. Caroline Bruce offers some advice, ideas and resources to support your teaching of EAL pupils

A curiosity cabinet: How school libraries can develop curious students

Curiosity is crucial to lifelong learning and motivating our pupils – and the school library can play a key role in fostering this skill. Valerie Dewhurst offers some ideas and advice

Language and literacy: Closing the gap for disadvantaged white children

By the age of five, the language and literacy gaps faced by working class white children are already apparent. Jean Gross advises on some effective strategies and interventions to support these children

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