Resources

From tennis to singing: Resources for primary schools

The arts Resources and projects CPD Curriculum Lesson planning Tutoring
From tennis equipment to singing support, from CPD to effective tutoring advice, Headteacher Update offers a round-up of recent resources for primary schools

Supporting refugee pupils

Guidance and resources have been published to help schools support children who are refugees. A year ago, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine caused the largest population movement in Europe since the Second World War. At the same time, the UK is also seeing refugees arriving from Afghanistan, Hong Kong, Syria, and other countries. And of course, this includes many children whose education will have been interrupted.

The guidance, entitled Recommendations for sustainable provision in schools, for children who are refugees, has been published by The Bell Foundation, a charity offering resources for schools to support the education of children who use English as an additional language.

It has been drawn up to help schools create environments in which refugee children feel safe, feel they belong, and have opportunities to succeed academically and beyond.


Effective tutoring practice

The secrets to effective tutoring interventions in the primary school were discussed by an expert panel during Headteacher Update’s recent webinar – which is still available to watch back for free.

The hour-long best practice discussion offers practical advice, ideas, and tips whether schools are delivering tutoring via the National Tutoring Programme or their own in-house tutoring programmes.

The discussion touched on topics including setting up tutoring, identifying pupils, working with families, tutor-teacher liaison, and advice about the structure and focus of tutoring (one-on-one or small group, academic or pastoral).


Singing toolkit

A range of practical singing strategies for use in the primary school are available from a free digital resource. The Primary Singing Toolkit, published via the ISM Trust, includes activities focused on upon call and response, pitch and composition, notation, healthy singing practices, leading a choir, part singing, and refining a song.


Guide to early years CPD

The Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) has published a guide to professional development designed to complement the work of the Stronger Practice Hubs set up by government to aid Covid recovery. This guide explores four areas that the EEF recommends for effective CPD, including the key features or mechanisms of each area. It includes links to further evidence-based resources and tools.


First Wednesday of the month

The Headteacher Update Podcast is packed full of advice and tips from practising school leaders and other experts. More than 2,000 people have listened to our episode focused on Ofsted inspection, with advice on handling the phone call, subject deep dives, supporting colleagues, and little tips that make a big difference.

Other popular episodes include effective outdoor education, ideas for boosting school attendance, how to lead schools in difficult circumstances, and curriculum assessment. The podcast publishes on the first Wednesday of the month and next up is multi-agency working (June 7) and how to have difficult conversations (July 5).


Digital and technology standards

New filtering and monitoring standards for schools have been introduced by the Department for Education. Key areas covered include safeguarding leads taking more responsibility within day-to-day management of filtering and monitoring systems, regularly testing efficiency across devices, documenting robustness, as well as ensuring strategies that meet safeguarding needs.


Free tennis equipment on offer

Free tennis equipment and teacher training is being made available to primary schools across the UK. Tennis for Schools is aiming to give more children the opportunity to play tennis in their own school and entitles those participating to £250 worth of free tennis equipment and teacher training with the Lawn Tennis Association.

The scheme is being run by the LTA and Premier Education and schools will receive curriculum-linked tennis themed lesson plans and videos from the LTA Youth Schools programme. The offer is available until July 31.


STEM funding boost

STEM Learning is to continue its work supporting the CPD of teachers and technicians thanks to renewed funding until 2028 from charity Wellcome. STEM Learning runs the National STEM Learning Centre in York and the funding will also support the ENTHUSE project which provides subsidies and support to teachers in challenging schools.