STEM: Why we should do more tinkering How can we foster creativity, open-mindedness and resourcefulness while still working towards key academic outcomes. The Royal Academy of Engineering says the answer is to tinker. Rhys Morgan explains
The therapeutic teacher Continuing her regular series, expert Shahana Knight advises schools on supporting the emotional and mental health of children and staff, offering easy-to-implement and cost-effective activities. Here she focuses on therapeutic teaching skills
Computing: Resources, ideas, advice The move from ICT to computing continues to challenge schools, especially those relying on non-specialist teachers. Fiona Aubrey-Smith looks at some useful resources and offers three steps to help move your computing curriculum forwards
School trip tips: Effective planning and organising Gill Harvey offers her advice on planning and running educational and safe school trips, including tips for schools that decide to work with a tour operator or other provider
Relationships and health education The consultation over proposed guidance for statutory relationships education and health education has closed. John Rees looks at how schools might begin preparing for these vital new subjects
Teaching essential skills Is it possible for schools to adopt a whole-school approach to essential skills while still meeting curriculum demands? Tom Ravenscroft says it is
Supporting speech, language and communication needs The recommendations from the Bercow: Ten Years On review can help primary schools to ensure that pupils’ speech, language and communication needs are properly supported. Mary Hartshorne explains
EAL: Supporting new arrivals in your primary school Many primary schools will have new arrivals this September who have English as an additional language. Continuing our series on EAL, Emma Parsons recommends effective induction procedures, an EAL assessment tool, and differentiation strategies and resources for use in the classroom
Religion, culture and diversity Today more than ever primary schools need to adopt an interesting and creative approach to teaching issues relating to diversity and difference, argues Phil Champain
Engaging reluctant readers Engaging reluctant and struggling readers is a clear challenge for every primary school. Ahead of a workshop focused on this issue, Angela Fuggle from the literacy charity Beanstalk offers some practical tips
Learning environments: Finding the Catch Zone... How effective is your school’s learning environment? How do you organise your classroom and school displays for maximum impact on learning? Fiona Aubrey-Smith discusses the secrets to success and introduces the Catch Zone...
The vocabulary gap: A cross-phase challenge Differences in vocabulary acquisition might be particularly noticeable at age 5, but it doesn’t stop there. Teachers report that the word gap is increasing across primary education and into secondary. Suzanne O’Connell reports
Maths mastery uncovered Maths mastery is the latest policy being supported by the government. Tony Staneff explores the truth behind some common maths mastery myths and outlines four ways to kick-start your school’s journey to mastery 1 comment
Oracy: Speaking up for speaking Plans are afoot to create an All-Party Parliamentary Group on oracy. Primary school leader Anthony David considers the importance of speaking skills for children of all ages
Sport and PE Premium: Making a song and dance Dance activities are not the first thing you might think of when it comes to the PE and Sport Premium funding, but it is a popular way of spending the money. Chris Parr takes a look
Case study: Turning around a curriculum When turning around a school, a focus on creating the right curriculum is the most important priority, according to headteacher Nadia Paczuska
Literacy: What can we learn from PIRLS? Fifty countries took part in the most recent Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS), the world-wide study of reading at ages 9 and 10. Rachel Classick looks at some key findings from England and Northern Ireland and what lessons we can learn
Improving pupils' working memory Achieving effective differentiation in the classroom and improving your pupils’ working memories are key priorities for teachers. Margaret Reeve offers some quick CPD ideas
Maths Mastery and the National Maths Hubs The national network of Maths Hubs are recruiting schools for the 2018/19 Teacher Research Groups. We hear from the London North East Maths Hub about this year’s work on Maths Mastery 1 comment
Give them a challenge outside! With the summer here, it’s a good time to take the children outdoors. Suzanne O’Connell summarises what the Education Endowment Foundation has to say about the benefits of outdoor adventure learning
The battle to take back control of the curriculum With the momentum growing behind evidence and research-based teaching practice, arguments to give back control of the curriculum to the profession are becoming louder – led, perhaps surprisingly, by Ofsted’s chief inspector...
Case study: Making PE and sports a priority With today’s educational climate focusing on literacy and numeracy, PE can sometimes be left behind. Not so at Birchwood Primary. Suzanne O’Connell finds out how deputy headteacher Melanie Alexander and her team have made PE and sports a priority
Helping quiet pupils to find their voices In each class, half a dozen children dominate and half a dozen are rarely heard. Jason Buckley advises on how we can help the ‘silent six’ to find their voices
Maths Mastery: A journey towards a new curriculum A trip to Shanghai inspired one primary school leader and her team to transform maths teaching as part of an approach to a ‘knowledge-rich’ curriculum. Liam Donnison explains
Successful approaches to the computing curriculum When the new computing curriculum was introduced there was concern about the capacity of primary schools to deliver it. Suzanne O’Connell speaks to two schools, both possessing Naace’s ICT Mark, about how they prepare their pupils to be IT literate in the 21st century
