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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How to talk to pupils about the news

Many teachers would like to use the news to spark great classroom discussions as part of their subject teaching, but it can be challenging to do well. Tom Bigglestone from the Topical Talk project offers 10 tips for getting it right

The chronicles of a therapeutic classroom: Makeover day!

This year, childhood trauma expert Shahana Knight is working to transform a year 3 classroom into the ultimate therapeutic space. This diary chronicles the project. This time, work begins on transforming the physical classroom environment...

Responding to COP26: A robust cross-curricular approach to climate education

How do teachers make sense of the decisions emerging from COP26? Alan Kinder says clear curriculum thinking will be required and offers ideas for ensuring a robust approach to climate change education

Crafting your curriculum with poverty in mind

Poverty is an ever-present challenge in our schools and there are important links to our curriculum. Sean Harris, a teacher and post-doctoral researcher investigating poverty in schools, offers practical ways in which we can recalibrate our curriculum with poverty in mind

Quality first teaching: Three principles for maintaining high expectations

We would all agree about the power of high expectations for all students. Robbie Burns offers three broad whole school principles for ensuring high expectations, as well as suggested actions and questions for reflection

Teaching for mastery: Changing mindsets in maths

Using the teaching for mastery approach in maths has led to deep, long-term, secure and adaptable understanding of the subject. Assistant headteacher John Canavan explains

How would you respond? Dealing with pupils who can’t settle

In her articles this year, Shahana Knight spotlights common behaviours or classroom scenarios, looking at why they might occur and how we can respond therapeutically. This time, she looks at the pupil who is unable to settle and is distracting others...

What the DfE’s reading framework means for your school

The DfE’s new reading framework is being implemented this year. Kathy Ewers picks out five key elements of the guidance and looks at bringing them into the classroom

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Seven principles of setting effective primary homework

What is the secret to effective homework at primary level? Drawing upon the research, author of a new book on the topic Andrew Jones offers seven key principles for setting good homework

Case study: Keeping the MFL flag flying

Languages education has been hit hard during the pandemic, while an Ofsted subject report has indicated varied quality in MFL delivery at primary level. Suzanne O’Connell finds out how Hounslow Heath Junior School is maintaining languages as a priority

Six steps to supporting Afghan refugees arriving in your school

As refugees from Afghanistan begin to arrive in the UK, primary schools across the UK are ready to welcome the children of these families. Katy Isaac offers six steps for supporting these children and signposts to useful resources

Animal therapy: Down on the school farm

From lambs to donkeys to pigs, the animals at York House School are helping pupils to adopt and model positive behaviour. Head Jon Gray explains why all schools should consider ‘animal therapy’

Metacognition in the primary classroom

Metacognitive strategies can empower even the youngest children to think about how they are learning and equip them to learn new tasks. Jane Downes explains

The chronicles of a therapeutic classroom: The vision begins to form

This year, childhood trauma expert Shahana Knight is working with a primary school to transform a year 3 classroom into the ultimate therapeutic classroom. This diary chronicles the project. This time, she sketches out her initial plans…

Quality first teaching: Six features of excellent explanations

Teaching is explaining. But how do we explain effectively? Robbie Burns draws on research evidence and best practice and distils them into the six principles of excellent explanations

What works in maths?

Maths is one of the subjects reported on in Ofsted’s series of research reviews. Suzanne O’Connell looks at the main themes and messages in the report and the implications for practice in our primary schools

Pedagogical content knowledge and the sequence of learning

When it comes to great teaching and pedagogy, the sequence of learning trumps everything – and our new goal is pedagogical content knowledge. Ben Harding offers some insights into what this means in the classroom and school

Case study: Teaching Mandarin and a virtual trip to China

The LEO Academy Trust launched its immersive Mandarin programme three years ago and recently held a virtual trip to China to give pupils further opportunities to practise speaking. Chris Ansell explains

EAL recovery: Creating opportunities for talk

As the pandemic continues, promoting oracy and opportunities to talk will be crucial to supporting the recovery of students who use English as an additional language. Sarah Moodie offers some ideas

The chronicles of a therapeutic classroom: He said yes!

This year, childhood trauma expert Shahana Knight is working with a primary school to transform one of its year 3 classrooms into the ultimate therapeutic classroom. This monthly diary will chronicle the project, the ups and downs, and the lessons learned

Covid-19: Ideas for taking learning outside this autumn

During the pandemic, many schools have become more adept at making the most of their outside spaces. How can we ensure that teaching outdoors continues to feature in our planning? Suzanne O’Connell gets some tips from headteacher Emma Barker and the charity Learning through Landscapes

LGBT+ and gender: Auditing your school’s curriculum

It is vital that your school curriculum represents the diversity seen in modern Britain. Katherine Fowler outlines what to consider when carrying out a curriculum review focused on gender and LGBT+ and considers how to instil a cross-curricular sense of inclusivity

Teaching and Learning