Teaching and learning is crucial to the success of a primary school and the delivery of the curriculum plays a key role. Furthermore, literacy and numeracy are crucial to children's development and a key area for primary education. We offer case studies and best practice to help schools boost curriculum delivery and wider education in this area.

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Phonics screening check: Ten ideas to support pupils

With the annual phonics screening check around the corner, Nicola Romaine offers some top tips for teachers to support all primary children, whatever their ability, with their phonics learning

Reading for pleasure: Sustaining and developing your school’s reading culture

How can we build on the buzz of World Book Day to develop our school’s reading culture? We must focus on an evidence-based approach to reading for pleasure, not an activity-oriented one. Professor Teresa Cremin explains

Media, information literacy and fake news: Using the skills of your school librarian

The school library and school librarian can play a key role in supporting pupils to develop their media and digital literacy skills, especially when it comes to misinformation and fake news. Elizabeth Hutchinson and Clare Brumpton look at ideas for how they can do this

Welcoming and supporting Ukrainian refugees in your school

Of the more than 126,500 Ukrainian refugees who have arrived in the UK since the war began, a third are children. How can schools welcome and support them? Sheila Hopkins advises and signposts to resources to help

School libraries and reading development

Recreational reading. Reading for learning. Reading for life. The school library and school librarian has a vital role to play in supporting pupils to read. Clare Brumpton and Elizabeth Hutchinson look at how they can do this

Twenty books to diversify your school library stock

It is crucial that the books we stock in our schools represent our pupils and the world they are growing up in. Sarah Wordlaw offers 20 titles to consider for your primary school library

Literacy: Top tips for instilling a love of reading

Summer reading learning loss is a common issue that primary schools face every autumn term, exacerbated this year in the wake of Covid. Dr Sarah McGeown shares some tips to help teachers instil a love of reading this academic year

How your school library can help pupils and staff

An effective school library can support the whole school. Clare Brumpton and Elizabeth Hutchinson look at how libraries – and librarians – can play a key role in raising standards and improving outcomes

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Beating the drum for literacy

Can we use music to help boost recovery and wider literacy lessons in the primary school? Nicola Hankey discusses the approaches used in her school and the benefits of building music into school literacy recovery strategies

The power of words: Teaching vocabulary

It is said that learning floats on a sea of talk. So how can schools build systems, processes, and strategies to make sure students develop powerful word knowledge over time? Robbie Burns advises

Phonics: The debate continues...

Synthetic phonics is the accepted way of teaching young children to read in the UK. The phonics screening check, backed up by Ofsted, has ensured this. But not all teachers or researchers are convinced. Suzanne O’Connell reports

Post-pandemic language recovery in reception year

We know that the pandemic has hit language development and literacy skills among our youngest pupils. In this article, Neil Henty considers post-pandemic language recovery in the reception year

Writing & literacy: How to help children beat writer’s block

For young pupils, writing is one of the skills that has been hardest hit by lockdowns and the pandemic. In this article, Kathy Ewers suggests ways to help pupils develop essential writing skills and learn to love writing

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

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

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

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

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

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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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

Ideas to foster a love of reading in primary-age students

How can we continue to foster a love of reading and books during lockdown and remote/bleaned learning? Dr Sarah McGeown offers some tips and ideas

'The first thing I invested in was the school library'

The library must sit at the heart of our teaching and learning environments. Former headteacher, Richard Gerver – the new president of the School Library Association – explains why school libraries have never been more important and looks at some tenets of good practice