Takeaways:

• The BBC Bitesize initiative provides comprehensive educational resources tailored for students aged five to sixteen.
• The integration of AI into educational frameworks necessitates a strong emphasis on critical thinking skills for students.
• Research indicates a significant number of teenagers lack awareness regarding effective AI resource utilization and its implications.
• The Bitesize platform aims to empower students by promoting media literacy and informing them about the risks of misinformation.
• Teachers play a crucial role in navigating the complexities of AI and misinformation in educational settings.
• The BBC emphasizes trust and quality in educational content, ensuring all materials are developed with input from educational professionals.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize

Instagram: @bbcbitesize

Chapters:

• 00:03 - Introduction to BBC BiteSize
• 05:55 - Navigating the Future: AI and Education
• 09:35 - Navigating AI in Education: Challenges and Opportunities
• 17:46 - Navigating the New Digital Landscape
• 21:22 - Engaging Young Learners Through Innovative Education
• 29:00 - Empowering Young People Through Education

National Association for Primary Education (NAPE)

Primary First Journal: https://national-association-for-primary-education-shop.fourthwall.com/en-gbp

2026 Conference

Keynote : Reading for Pleasure – Dr Roger McDonald

Workshops focusing on National Year of Reading : Writing, TESOL, Oracy, Drama and Story Telling, Poetry

https://www.trybooking.com/uk/events/landing/105006

https://www.educationonfire.com

The idea for Silent Snow came from Kirsty’s own experiences as a dyslexic parent. She used to find reading to her children difficult, and when she stumbled over words, she felt like she was letting them down. But instead of giving up, she started making up her own stories based on their lives and the little adventures they had. Bedtime soon became one of their favourite times of the day.

https://kirstyheap.com/silentsnow/

https://nape.org.uk/

Find out more about our Primary First Journal -

https://national-association-for-primary-education-shop.fourthwall.com/en-gbp

Under Mashood’s leadership, Gigabit IQ has pioneered services like FamilyGuard+, a network-level parental control solution designed to meet the real-world needs of modern families. He has spearheaded initiatives supporting vulnerable communities, including children in care, refugees, and low-income households, through fair access broadband and safety education.

Mashood is the author of the white paper “Beyond the Act: The Hidden Layer of Online Harm No One’s Regulating”, which challenges current UK online safety legislation and proposes a new national ISP Safety Rating System, akin to NCAP for cars or Ofsted for schools.

A frequent speaker on digital safety, Mashood is leading an Online Safety & ISP Accountability session at the UK Internet Parliament Conference with ISPA, and continues to work with regulators, MPs, and safety groups to shape a safer digital future for all.

https://www.gigabitiq.com/

https://parentline.ai/

https://nape.org.uk/

Find out more about our Primary First Journal -

https://national-association-for-primary-education-shop.fourthwall.com/en-gbp

• digital resources for primary and secondary schools
• flexible cross-curricular resources for SEND settings
• training for teachers from our team of experts
• world-class programme of live activity for children and young people.

Music at the heart of your primary school

Bring Aurora Orchestra into your classroom using our free music resources, designed for music specialists and generalist teachers alike. Explore our fully planned 10-week units of work or build your own music lessons from our library of hundreds of activities and audio excerpts.

Build your own unique SEND programme 

Aurora’s inclusive and adaptable resources for children with additional needs enable teachers to build bespoke units of work by selecting activities from a number of learning strands:

Live events for schools

Aurora Orchestra is a pioneering orchestra that creates concert experiences beyond the ordinary, introducing children to music in an innovative and exciting way.

https://www.auroraorchestra.com/

https://nape.org.uk/

Find out more about our Primary First Journal -

https://national-association-for-primary-education-shop.fourthwall.com/en-gbp

Third Space Learning believe an AI tutor should do more than just generate questions and mark answers.

What if it could provide scaffolded support according to knowledge gaps, speaking to students and encouraging them to verbalise their reasoning as they go?

What if every pupil who needs it could work through maths problems in this way for one fixed low cost?

Meet Skye, the low-cost AI maths tutor built by expert maths teachers

Skye mimics the behaviours of a pedagogically sound subject matter expert and prompts ensures responses are effective, adaptable, and focused on improving understanding and increasing confidence.

Prompts are specified in detail for each slide, and use insights from thousands of maths tutoring sessions to teach concepts effectively, address common misconceptions and ensure Skye adapts the pitch and pace of the session and personalises the instruction to suit each learner.

‘Since 2013, over 4,100 schools have chosen Third Space Learning’s cost-effective one-to-one maths tutoring – giving them more time to focus on whole-class teaching and learning.

We’ve used all the online tutoring insights we’ve gained in the last decade to create Skye, an AI maths tutor like no other.’

Takeaways:

• The primary objective of our mission is to make effective tutoring accessible to underprivileged children, thereby assisting in closing the educational attainment gap.
• Utilizing artificial intelligence for tutoring can provide substantial scaling benefits while maintaining the essential requirements necessary for effective tutoring.
• Our tutoring programs are designed to be seamlessly integrated into school timetables, enhancing the overall learning experience and reinforcing classroom instruction.
• We have observed that the interaction between students and AI tutors fosters a low-stakes environment, encouraging children to engage more freely without the fear of judgment.
• Our approach focuses on high-impact tutoring, which necessitates a proactive and structured interaction rather than reactive responses to student inquiries.
• The transition from human to AI tutors is grounded in extensive research and data, ensuring that we continue to meet the needs of schools and students effectively.

https://thirdspacelearning.com/maths-tutoring/ai-maths-tutor/

https://thirdspacelearning.com/

National Association for Primary Education (NAPE)

https://nape.org.uk/

Primary First Journal - Get the digital download at:

https://national-association-for-primary-education-shop.fourthwall.com

Tapestry’s annual survey had some interesting findings around the use of AI in the early years; engaging with families; and supporting families with ideas for play at home.

More info about the survey: https://tapestry.info/tapestry-early-years-education-survey-2025-what-we-learnt/

Tapestry has teamed up with award-winning Playworker Amber – aka Amber Ogunsanya-William – to collaborate on a project championing children’s freedom to play. The animation shares Amber’s story, and highlights provocations for play at home.

https://tapestry.info/

https://tapestry.info/let-play-lead-the-day/

National Association for Primary Education (NAPE)

https://nape.org.uk/

Professor Dr Ger Graus OBE is a renowned figure in the field of education – once described as “Jean-Jacques Rousseau meets Willy Wonka”. He was the first Global Director of Education at KidZania and the founding CEO of the Children’s University. In 2019, Ger became a Visiting Professor at the National Research University in Moscow, Russia. He is also a Professor of Practice at the University of Cumbria, United Kingdom, and a Member of the PhD Advisory Council at the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Italy.

Ger is a frequent keynote speaker at some of the world’s leading education conferences. Driven by his famous mantra that “Children can only aspire to what they know exists”, Ger champions the cause of equity, progress, purpose, creativity, and innovation in children’s learning.

Born in the Netherlands, Ger moved to the United Kingdom in 1983 where he began his teaching career, later becoming a Senior Inspector, and Education Director.

Ger is a member of Bett’s Global Education Council; DIDAC India’s Advisory Board; and Junior Achievement’s Worldwide Global Council. He chairs the Beaconhouse School System’s Advisory Board, Pakistan; advises the Fondazione Reggio Children, Italy; supports a range of education start-ups globally; and was invited to help shape the future of education in Dubai as a member of the Dubai Future Councils. In 2023, he joined the Global Teacher Prize Judging and the World’s Best School Prize Academies as a judge. In 2024, Ger was invited onto the Board of Trustees of the Sharjah Education Academy by Sultan bin Mohammed bin Sultan Al Qassimi, Ruler of Sharjah.

In the 2014 Queen’s Birthday Honours List Ger was made an Honorary Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to children, and in 2018 he received the Global Education Leadership Award at the World Education Congress, India. In 2022, he was granted the award of Iconic Leader Creating A Better World For All by the Women Economic Forum (WEF) and the following year, Ger was made a Companion of the Harry Volker Genootschap in The Netherlands.

https://www.gergraus.com/

Find out how National Association for Primary Education can support you at https://nape.org.uk/

www.drjamesmannion.com

www.makingchangestick.co

Full details about National Association for Primary Education https://nape.org.uk/

Mark started his small business about 30 years ago as a result of trying to find left-handed scissors for his youngest son when he was 4.

Mark’s wife Heather had no training in helping left-handed children during her Teacher Training so they started to campaign with their left-handed MP, Peter Luff, to change the Education system to be proactive rather than passive.

They had meetings with Ministers, questions and a 30 minute adjournment debate in the House of Commons, produced a training video in 1999 (now downloadable/interactive and was updated last year) as well as writing an information/activity book titled “So You Think They’re Left Handed?” and 3 books titled “Left Hand Writing Skills”. We have also produced other resources specifically for left-handed children in education. Over the years I have run over 200 training workshops.

In 2021 Mark co founded and is co-chair of a global group called “LEFT-IN” Left-Handers Education Forum and Training International Network (left-in.org) with the aim to improve the information and education available to the educators of left-handed children around the world.

www.leftshoponline.co.uk

For full details of what National Association for Primary Education can support you with please visit:

https://nape.org.uk/

Neuroscientists used to think that our brain was fixed and unchangeable from birth. It was believed that our intellectual capacity was fixed – the brain with which we were born, was the brain we had for life.  

We now know that the brain is a highly active and malleable organ across a person’s lifespan. This powerful capacity for change is called neuroplasticity. 

Arrowsmith was born from Barbara Arrowsmith-Young’s own painful struggle with her learning disorder and the journey she went through to not only overcome it, but to begin helping others strengthen their brain and change their educational and professional lives.

Debbie Gilmore is the Executive Director of Arrowsmith. She is passionate about education. During her 40+ year career as an educator, she has worked as a teacher, literacy advisor, assistant principal, principal and as Head of Diverse Learning Needs at the Sydney Catholic Schools, Sydney, Australia.

Now in Canada, as Executive Director of Arrowsmith, she works with educators around the world to bring about educational change. Her experience has helped her understand the need to ‘unlock’ the potential of all students through the power of neuroplasticity, cognitive enhancement and systemic change.

Debbie holds a Masters of Education and various Graduate Certificates in Education in a range of areas of diverse learning.

Takeaways:

• The principles of neuroplasticity are essential for facilitating meaningful change within the brain.
• Engaging in positive cognitive activities enhances the brain’s capacity to adapt and grow.
• In today’s AI-driven world, strong cognitive functions are vital for discerning information accuracy.
• Neuroplasticity provides a hopeful avenue for individuals with learning difficulties to overcome challenges.

Website

www.arrowsmith.ca

Within this episode, we delve into the vital role of fostering a learning culture, where the focus is not merely on raising aspirations but rather on instilling a belief that dreams are attainable for every child. Jonathan shares his commitment to modelling expectations and actively engaging with students to ensure they feel supported in their educational journey. He emphasises the necessity of embracing challenges, both for educators and students, underscoring the significance of relationships and emotional regulation in shaping positive behaviour within the school environment.

Takeaways:

• Education is currently one of the most challenging yet rewarding professions we can pursue.
• As educators, we possess the unique privilege of fostering meaningful changes in children's lives.
• It is essential to cultivate an environment where children can believe in the attainability of their dreams.
• Building a learning culture requires dedication and a visible commitment to education and community involvement.
• Effective leadership in education centers on integrity, open communication, and shared values among all staff members.
• Fostering resilience in children involves teaching them to navigate challenges and express their emotions constructively.

www.badockswoodacademy.e-act.org.uk/

www.ilminsteravenueacademy.e-act.org.uk/

https://nape.org.uk/

 https://www.educationonfire.com/

Noel Duffy, Chairman of the Board, Dolphin Computer Access

Awarded the RNIB (Royal National Institute of Blind People) Lifetime Achievement Award in April 2022, for 30 years’ work empowering visually impaired people to succeed in a digital world, Noel Duffy has been the driving force behind many UK and international initiatives that bring low-cost access tech and reading systems to blind and partially sighted people facing digital exclusion.

Noel also sits on the board of ATIA (Assistive Technology Industry Association) and is a member of APPGAT (All Party Parliamentary Group for Assistive Technology). Additionally, Noel is on the board of trustees at New College Worcester, a UK residential school and college for young people who are blind or vision impaired.

Joshua Murphy – Testing Apprentice at Dolphin Computer Access

Josh is completing his apprenticeship in Software Testing at Dolphin Computer Access, where he is part of a team that conducts a range of digital tests to ensure the software operates as it is designed to do. His role plays a key part of the business, and his attention to detail and problem-solving skills ensure the company creates an exceptional product. 

Josh is blind and uses screen magnification and screen reading technology to access the information on his computer and other devices. Josh is also a Guide Dog owner, so can usually be found in the company of his Guide Dog, Horatio.

Website

https://yourdolphin.com/Education

Alongside these roles, Al also sits on the DfE’s Regional Schools Directorate Advisory Board for the East of England and is the Independent Chair of the County’s SEND Board. As a firm supporter of lifelong learning, he is also a regional Apprenticeship Ambassador and Chair of the Employment and Skills Board for his region’ s combined authority.

An active writer about all things Education, Al is a member of the Forbes Technology Council and sits on the advisory council for the Foundation for Education Development.

Website

www.alkingsley.com

NAPE is the long term sponsor of Education on Fire. This episode is repurposed for NAPE from the Education on Fire podcast hosted by Mark Taylor - NAPE, Vice Chair

www.nape.org.uk

www.educationonfire.com

Watch Mark Taylor interview Al Kingsley – ‘Creating Digital Strategies for Schools’ from the Primary Education Summit – ‘Visions for the Future’ – 2023

When Matt Tiplin was an Ofsted inspector, he decided that something drastic needed to change in the way we both judged and developed teachers.

Teacher CPD was always something that was ‘done to’ teachers and not ‘done by’ them. And lesson observations were disruptive, costly and ineffective.

He set about creating a more supportive, teacher-led CPD programme as a senior leader in a multi-academy trust and has brought that passion and experience to his role at ONVU Learning.

Matt is a founding fellow of the Chartered College of Teaching, has a master’s degree in Education and a National Professional Qualification for Executive Leadership. He is also passionate about music and literature and is a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.

Website

www.onvulearning.com

NAPE is the long term sponsor of Education on Fire. This episode is repurposed for NAPE from the Education on Fire podcast hosted by Mark Taylor - NAPE, Vice Chair

www.nape.org.uk

www.educationonfire.com

Prior to joining BlueSky, Ally taught in secondary education. While teaching physical education at Gosport and Fareham MAT, she took on the role of Initial Teacher Training manager and professional mentor, supporting primary, secondary and special phase trainees across a range of training pathways, and developing continued professional development programmes for trainees, ECTs and experienced members of the school community.

Ally is keen to help teachers to have more constructive conversations about professional development with those who support them. She would love to discuss how teachers can take more ownership of professional development, how PD can happen throughout the year, the approaches early career teachers take to CPD.

Website

www.blueskyeducation.co.uk

NAPE is the long term sponsor of Education on Fire. This episode is repurposed for NAPE from the Education on Fire podcast hosted by Mark Taylor - NAPE, Vice Chair

www.nape.org.uk

www.educationonfire.com

He was a school teacher for more than a decade, and has been a professor since 1989. Stephen has worked, and is working, with learner led projects, with governments around the world, with international agencies, Fortune 500 companies, with schools and communities, with his PhD students and with many influential trusts and organizations.

In June 2006 Stephen was awarded the Royal Television Society’s Judges Award for Lifelong Services to Educational Broadcasting. In 2008 he received the prestigious BETT Award for Outstanding Achievement in ICT Education. In 2014 he was honoured to receive the UK’s NAACE Award for Lifetime Achievement in educational technology.

Website

www.heppell.net

NAPE is the long term sponsor of Education on Fire. This episode is repurposed for NAPE from the Education on Fire podcast hosted by Mark Taylor - NAPE, Vice Chair

www.nape.org.uk

www.educationonfire.com

Sam has been a member of Eden’s Education Team since the project opened in 2001, establishing Eden as a must-go school visit destination for schools across the UK and maintaining a focus on high quality teaching and learning across Eden’s learning programmes – at Eden and online. Following a first degree in Natural Science at Jesus College, Cambridge, she qualified as a primary school teacher, with science specialism, in 1997 and worked in schools in Bristol, Cornwall, Karachi and South Africa prior to joining Eden in 2001. In 2021 she completed an MSc in Environment and Human Health.

Website

www.edenproject.com/learn/schools

NAPE is the long term sponsor of Education on Fire. This episode is repurposed for NAPE from the Education on Fire podcast hosted by Mark Taylor - NAPE, Vice Chair

www.nape.org.uk

www.educationonfire.com

Oracy skills are vital to success in school and in life. And yet, for many children, especially those growing up in poverty, opportunities to develop these vital skills are missed. Only a minority of schools have consistent, coherent or adequately resourced provision to develop these skills in their students.

Voice 21’s sustained approach weaves oracy into a school’s DNA, ensuring current and future students have access to a high-quality oracy education. This means that students in Voice 21 Oracy Schools, including those who would otherwise miss out, develop the oracy skills they need for success in school and in life. 

Website

www.voice21.org

NAPE is the long term sponsor of Education on Fire. This episode is repurposed for NAPE from the Education on Fire podcast hosted by Mark Taylor - NAPE, Vice Chair

www.nape.org.uk

www.educationonfire.com

As a charity, Little Troopers ensures our British Armed Forces children and their families have access to child-focused support wherever they are in the world and whatever community they live in. They provide fundamental resources and initiatives to help ease repeated separation periods and keep parent and child connected even when miles apart. They are the only charity in the UK dedicated to celebrating just how special all our Little Troopers out there really are.

Louise Fetigan, founder, is a British Army veteran who saw active service in Kosovo. Her husband was also a serving soldier for 24 years, and undertook seven operational tours of duty. Together they have a daughter who spent her whole childhood as a military child and is the inspiration behind the charity, Little Troopers.

Website

www.littletroopers.net

NAPE is the long term sponsor of Education on Fire. This episode is repurposed for NAPE from the Education on Fire podcast hosted by Mark Taylor - NAPE, Vice Chair

www.nape.org.uk

www.educationonfire.com

Suzanne has been a teacher for 23 years. She has worked as a SENCO, supporting students with learning differences since 2015. She feels passionate about the positives of being neurodivergent which she regularly promotes on her Instagram page – @teachingwithadifference.

A Gobblegark’s Guide To Your Brilliant Neurodivergent Brain is quite a magical book. You’ll meet caterpillars and gobblegarks and best of all? You’ll see how fantastic being neurodivergent is! Win keys by completing some challenges along the way, each one leading you closer to the treasure and to knowing a bit more about yourself and your brain. Built-in breaktimes ensure that you won’t get overwhelmed.

Afterall, it can be tiring investigating your brain, making your way through a maze, and finding out how to use the strengths of your brain and understand yourself!

Downloadable worksheets let you truly make this book your own because you can go back to activities as many times as you need, or do them in different ways, (and of course skip the ones you don’t!). Let’s make our brilliant brains even more amazing with this Gobblegark Guide!

Website

www.suzannerobertshawauthor.my.canva.site

NAPE is the long term sponsor of Education on Fire. This episode is repurposed for NAPE from the Education on Fire podcast hosted by Mark Taylor - NAPE, Vice Chair

www.nape.org.uk

www.educationonfire.com

There are currently five short films: Three Billy Goats Gruff; Jack and the Beanstalk; Ananse and the Monkeys; the Great Race; and The Little Fir Tree. A further five will be available on Monday 25 March. The films feature an array of guest musicians, including multi-instrumentalist, Sidiki Dembélé; Guzheng player, Zi Lan Liao; and DeaF trumpeter, Sean Chandler.  

On the BBC Teach website, the classroom videos are accompanied by comprehensive activities and listening guides, exploring musical skills and cross-curricula connections for non-specialist early years and primary-level teachers.

Website

www.bbc.co.uk/teach/class-clips-video/articles/zqg2s82

NAPE is the long term sponsor of Education on Fire. This episode is repurposed for NAPE from the Education on Fire podcast hosted by Mark Taylor - NAPE, Vice Chair

www.nape.org.uk

www.educationonfire.com

​Deaf Choices UK is the only charity in the UK that provide training in Cued Speech.

Kathy Kenny works as a family advisor for Deaf Choices UK. She has a background in education and has a Deaf daughter who is now in her 20s.

Website

www.deafchoicesuk.com

NAPE is the long term sponsor of Education on Fire. This episode is repurposed for NAPE from the Education on Fire podcast hosted by Mark Taylor - NAPE, Vice Chair

www.educationonfire.com

It’s time to fundamentally change the high-stakes, high-pressure assessment system in primary schools and make good mental health the basis for good learning.

Primary pupils in England now face SATs and other government tests in five out of seven school years – that’s more formal assessments than in almost any other country.

But the evidence against the current system is growing. Parents, teachers and heads are united in calling for change.

In 2022, only 3% of heads wanted SATs to go ahead. 89% of parents say they would support an alternative. And 1 in 10 year 6 pupils didn’t sleep well in the run-up to the tests.

SATs and other government tests don’t help learning and cause unnecessary stress and pressure.

Let’s speak out for children.

Alison Ali Director/Owner Can Can Campaigns

Alison began her career in journalism, moving into international consumer publishing. Her experience runs from human rights and global finance reporting, to launching premium multi-language magazines and digital platforms for household brand names. She has run her own successful creative agency Can Can Creative since 2006 and, in 2019, launched sister agency Can Can Campaigns to harness the collective’s exceptional skills for greater good.

www.morethanascore.org.uk/

FB @morethanascore

T @MoreThanScore

Insta @morethanascore

TikTok @morethanascore_

Before becoming Director of Education for The Olympus Academy Trust, a cross-phase multi-academy trust in north Bristol, Claire Banks was a head teacher for nine years in an inner-city primary school. Throughout her career she has been interested in social and emotional learning and school climate, which has led to her work on leadership culture. Claire now works on curriculum design and school improvement in a system leadership capacity, offering school-to-school support to school trusts. Her passion for succession planning for the profession has led to her coaching and mentoring on aspiring heads and women in leadership programmes.

Website

www.crownhouse.co.uk

www.crownhouse.co.uk/a-curious-curriculum

Social Media Information

Twitter and Instagram: @CrownHousePub

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CrownHousePub

Details of the Primary Education Summit can be found at www.nape.org.uk/summit

This presentation will aim to inspire listeners to understand why Values-based Education (VbE) is now being considered as the foundation of school culture worldwide. He will explain the key elements of the VbE model and why practitioners love it so much. He will draw on good practice from Primary Schools that find it to be the 'beating heart of their education'. Neil will describe the impact that VbE is having on developing what he describes as ethical leadership and why this concept should be central in the Primary School curriculum. 

Dr. Neil Hawkes is well known as an educator, motivational speaker, broadcaster, writer and social commentator. 

He first gained international recognition when he was a Headteacher in Oxfordshire, where he worked with a school community to devise and implement a pedagogical system that would give children a transformational ethical vocabulary, based on values such as respect, tolerance, humility and justice. Pupils were empowered to be self-leaders, with an active moral compass that affected behaviour, their thinking and the quality of their school work. Values-based Education (VbE) is now recognised internationally as a key dimension in school improvement and enhancing the nature of pupil experience and many schools have now gained accreditation for the quality of their values-based education, including Bannockburn Primary School where the Schiller lecture is being hosted.

Get notified about the Christian Schiller Lecture here https://www.youtube.com/live/aFGja5aYNfM?feature=share

NAPE YouTube Channel

www.youtube.com/@nationalassociationforprim834/

Primary Education Summit

https://nape.org.uk/summit

nape.org.uk/summit

www.youtube.com/@nationalassociationforprim834/

Jon explains the journey of taking the traditional Tes magazine, which was established in 1910, to their new online delivery which can be more reactive in our modern age.

If you want to contribute to Tes in the way mentioned in the show here are the 2 contacts.

dan.worth@tes.com

helen.amass@tes.com

360 are a dynamic social enterprise developing essential skills for life in young people through an interactive learning approach we call discuss, decide and do.

360 Skills For Life provide scenario-based educational experiences that equip learners with the skills, knowledge and confidence to live active, fulfilling and safer lives in stronger and more sustainable communities.

Experience Skill City, their unique VR environment, bringing to life real world safeguarding dilemmas in realistic but safe scenarios.

Their values

• We listen in order to continually learn and improve
• We connect and collaborate because partnerships achieve more for less
• We put the learner and their needs first
• We empower and challenge rather than instruct
• We engage and involve learners in our development
• We adapt and are flexible when encountering new situations and knowledge
• We include all learners regardless of age, disability, gender, relationship or parental status, race, belief, sex or sexual orientation
• We seek the best in everyone to realise individual and collective potential

Their approach

• Holistic, cross-curricular education that delivers transferable skills for 21st century life
• Immersive, practical and interactive learning in which users discuss, make decisions and then do, rather than simply learning facts
• Awareness of surroundings to make good risk assessments, confidently make better decisions and deal with individual and collective challenges
• Blended learning where online, in-school and outdoor strands are closely integrated
• Provision of a realistic dilemma-based virtual Skill City as the core resource
• Partnership with other organisations to maximise impact and value

Full details available at www.360skillsforlife.org

Guidance is being provided by a campaign steering group comprising representatives of key organisations within the outdoors learning industry and conservation sector (campaign partners). 

In addition, the campaign will seek support from allies across multiple sectors. The private sector will be particularly important in terms of sponsoring the campaign and achieving our goal. 

The campaign has been developed and managed on an entirely voluntary basis with the FSA underwriting the costs and FSA directors contributing a huge amount of their time. We recognise that the campaign is more likely to be successful if it has additional voluntary and financial resources. 

The campaign is deliberately independent and simply seeks to increase children’s engagement with nature and realise the huge number of associated benefits. Supporters within the outdoors learning industry will, on their own terms, lay-out and make their ‘offer’ for how the nature premium could be used to support school communities, young people, and families. Each will use their own networks to support the campaign.

Dr Sara Collins is a biologist who completed her doctorate at Imperial College, London while working with the Forestry Commission. Post research she worked for a Palo Alto biotech company focusing on European sales, expanding into Poland, Lithuania, and Belarus. At the same time, she completed her MBA. She took a career break when her son was born and worked as a Visiting Teaching Fellow at Bath University where she wrote and taught a course on developing entrepreneurial skills in biotechnology. Sara qualified as a Forest School practitioner because it took her back to nature and fitted in with her son’s academic year. She is deputy-chair of a national charity and FRSA. Sara has worked in urban, multi-ethnic primary schools in Portsmouth for over ten years and developed the volunteer led Nature Premium campaign during Lockdown I. She continues to combine campaigning with her self-employed work in local schools.

saracollins@naturepremium.org

www.naturepremium.org/

Click to watch NAPE's Christian Schiller Lecture presented by Nancy Stewart 'Cherishing the growth of young children: what early years education can be'

2 online events for the summer term

Mental Health/Wellbeing - How to support pupils with transition to secondary school with Sam Moinet from Student Breakthrough (May 16th)

Ocean Plastic & Climate Change - Join Ellie Jackson author of the Wild Tribe Heroes book series as we invite pupils to write a story based on this topic in a writing festival (June 13th) 

For full details and booking forms please visit nape.org.uk/online-events

'Cherishing the growth of young children: what early years education can be'.

Nancy Stewart is a consultant and writer with wide experience across early years sectors in schools, nurseries, local authority advisory service, and National Strategies where she was Senior Early Years Adviser with a central role in Every Child a Talker. Nancy provided expert advice to the 2012 review of the Early Years Foundation Stage, drawing on her interest in communication and language for thinking, as well as children’s development as self-regulating learners. Nancy co-authored Development Matters 2012, and wrote How children learn – The characteristics of effective early learning. She led development of Birth to Five Matters (2021) as Project Lead for the Early Years Coalition, and is a Vice President of Early Education.

Nancy has earned the reputation as one of the most insightful speakers in the UK, specialising in the field of early years. This event will be of great interest to teachers, tutors, students, parents.

The lecture is free and will be held on Monday 14th March 2022 at 4.45pm.

It is being hosted by Windmill Primary School in Oxford and will be live streamed via zoom.

To book please visit:

https://nape.org.uk/schiller-online-booking or

https://nape.org.uk/schiller-in-person-booking

One of those ways has been to sponsor and support Education on Fire.

Here are links to the 5 episodes mentioned in this show.

https://www.educationonfire.com/education-on-fire/243-astro-pi-challenge-from-raspberry-pi-foundation/

https://www.educationonfire.com/education-on-fire/212-reading-writing-and-spelling-with-jane-considine/

https://www.educationonfire.com/education-on-fire/177-how-to-improve-teacher-observations-with-craig-randall/

https://www.educationonfire.com/education-on-fire/152-yoginis-yoga-training-with-susan-hartley/

https://www.educationonfire.com/education-on-fire/021-online-safety/

Details of the NAPE YouTube channel and the Christian Schiller Lecture with Nancy Stewart can be found at https://nape.org.uk/

Edurio has published their latest research examining pupil wellbeing, support systems in school and how pupils feel about school. The study drew on responses from 45,000 children of which 15,000 were from primary.

• Children feel progressively less well as the move through primary school – 76% in year 1 feel well but this drops by 17 percentage points in Y6 when 59% report feeling well.
• Children feel more stressed in Y6 (36%) than in Y1 (22%)
• More primary aged children feel overworked in Y2 and Y3 than at any other time during primary school.
• The research shows that the transition to secondary school has a negative impact on children’s wellbeing and the drop is greater than at other times during school.
• Children’s overall wellbeing drops from 59% feeling well in Y6 to 46% in Y7.
• More students often feel stressed - rising from 36% in Y6 to 43% in Y7
• More children report not sleeping well in Y7 (30%) than in Y6 (28%)

Mark Taylor chats to Iona Jackson co-author of the Edurio report about her findings.

Full details can be found at:

https://home.edurio.com/pupil-learning-experience-and-wellbeing-report

To keep up to date with all the work by National Association for Primary Education please visit:

https://nape.org.uk/

MarvellousMe engages parents by telling them about their children’s learning and success. It enriches family conversations about school and makes it easy for parents to help their children’s education and say: ‘Well done!’

Delivering a positive teacher-parent partnership, MarvellousMe makes it easy for schools to implement the best practice prescribed by experts like the Education Endowment Foundation. To build and sustain excellent parent engagement and positive behaviour school-wide.

Designed by a once disengaged dad, MarvellousMe is different from messaging systems, social media and solo teacher apps. It involves and equips parents with personal, positive and progress-led news, and gives leaders the ability to focus parent engagement on essential topics and school values, analytics to ensure whole school consistency and peace-of-mind that data is managed centrally, securely and in the UK under the GDPR.

Inspire, involve and empower parents.

www.marvellousme.com

Social Media Information

@MarvellousMeApp

This conversation was previously recorded for the Education on Fire Podcast of which NAPE is a sponsor.

We see hundreds of questions asked on social media every week. What if we could collate the answers, get your views and experiences in a way that could support thousands of others?

If you are an educator and have ever asked a question and received a great answer - online or in person - we invite you to Pay It Forward.

Please be a guest on the NAPE podcast with Mark Taylor (NAPE vice chair) and spend 10 minutes discussing these 5 things.

1. How are you currently involved in education?
2. What question did you ask?
3. What was the answer?
4. Who gave it to you?
5. What advice can you share from your own experiences?

That is it!

To get involved and find out all the details please visit nape.org.uk

Special Educational Needs CPD

Monday 6th December 2021 4:30 PM - 5:30 PM

This online zoom event will cover 3 areas of Special Educational Needs to help you support your pupils:

- English as an Additional Language (EAL)

- How to identify children who may also have dyslexia or another SPLD

- Common speech, language and communication needs

Co-occurring challenges

Do you ever worry that a child in your class is not making the progress you were expecting? There may be many reasons for this – and some will overlap. In this interactive session, we will look at some of the causes of underachievement, and try to find some solutions that could benefit the whole class.

We will start by looking at how all teachers can effectively support those learners who are using English as an Additional Language (EAL), and then move on to what we should be alert to in order to identify any children who also may have dyslexia or another SPLD. Finally, we will look at some common speech, language and communication needs, and how they could be met in the classroom.

Please feel free to bring your questions and share your experiences, so that, as a group, we can empower each other to support our learners.

Host

Mark Taylor (Vice Chair NAPE) - Mark has been a professional percussionist for 25 years and performed with some of the major orchestras and arts organisations in the UK. Mark combines his performing career with teaching drums/percussion in schools and providing whole class rhythm workshops.

Mark is the creator and host of the Education on Fire podcast. He interviews educators from around the world so that he can enable his listeners to support children to live, learn and grow to their full potential. He has recorded over 300 episodes which have been downloaded in over 135 countries.

Presenter

Dr. Anne Margaret Smith started her career as a teacher of English as a foreign / additional language around 30 years ago. Alongside her language teaching, she also works as a dyslexia assessor and specialist tutor, and has designed an assessment tool to allow us to identify SpLDs in multilingual people. She founded ELT well in 2005, to combine these two fields of education, and offers professional development and resources to language teachers in all contexts. She is currently also training to be a Speech and Language Therapist.

If you can not join us live a replay will be available.

Event Fee

£12.50 per person 

FREE to NAPE members (use promotional code at checkout)

To book please visit https://nape.org.uk/sen

Monday 18th October 2021

17.30-18.30 Live via Zoom (+ recording)

Full details and booking at nape.org.uk/primary-music

We will cover:

• Top 10 resources, organisations, work schemes
• 3 starting points for composition
• When, what, how of listening to music
• Music Assemblies
• Music across the curriculum

To keep up to date with all the events and download a FREE copy of our professional journal Primary First please visit:

https://nape.org.uk/journal

• 5 starting points for Primary Music
• Special Education Needs
• EdTech
• EYFS
• Mental Health/Wellbeing
• Climate & Ocean Plastic

To keep up to date with all the events and download a FREE copy of our professional journal Primary First please visit:

https://nape.org.uk/journal

Ellie is a teacher and mother of four from Cornwall who is passionate about inspiring the next generation to protect our planet.

Website

www.wildtribeheroes.com

Social Media Information

Fb, Insta & Twitter

@wildtribeheroes

The National Association for Primary Education speaks for young children and all who live and work with them. Get a FREE e-copy of their professional journal at nape.org.uk/journal

St Ebb's have been on a journey which has seen their curriculum transformed. We get to hear the ideas, aims, successes and struggles involved in doing this which we hope can provide insight, inspiration and understanding of what is possible.

https://st-ebbes.oxon.sch.uk/

You can listen to Dr. Tony Eaude's Schiller Lecture and the follow up Q&A on episodes 65 & 66 of the nape podcast: https://nape.org.uk/nape-podcast

To keep up to date with all of our events and get a FREE e-copy of our professional journal Primary First please visit: https://nape.org.uk/journal

He has worked for many years on the kind of compelling and inspirational teaching strategies that lead to incredible outcomes and is still in the thick of it as the deputy head at a large inner city primary school in Sheffield. Jonathan has also shared his passion for learning through his role as an Advanced Skills Teacher, Lead Teacher for Sheffield Local Authority, and associate of Ian Gilbert’s Independent Thinking company.

Jonathan is passionate about working with schools to create learning opportunities that are designed not just to impart knowledge, but also to engage, inspire, and most importantly, make children think.

http://guerrillaeducation.co.uk/

https://www.independentthinking.co.uk/

The National Association for Primary Education speaks for young children and all who live and work with them. Get a FREE e-copy of their professional journal at nape.org.uk/journal

James Archer is the Centre Director of the International Montessori Institute. Prior to this he was the Course Director of the BA Primary Education Accelerated (2 Year) degree. He has worked on and written various validations of innovative programmes in the Carnegie School of Education.

The International Montessori Institute, a centre within the Carnegie School of Education at Leeds Beckett University (LBU), has launched a scholarship programme to support the next generation of Montessori educators. The Institute was established in August 2020 and will provide the UK’s first dedicated undergraduate and postgraduate courses in Montessori education.

Funded by the Montessori Group, the first scholarships of £2,000 each will be awarded to 25 students who are studying on the BA (Hons) Primary Education Accelerated Degree (Montessori) in the 2021/22 academic year. The relationship between the Carnegie School of Education and the Montessori Group means that further scholarships will be awarded in the future years of the partnership.

This scholarship will be first awarded in the next academic year, with applicants to LBU able to apply for the scholarship as part of their application to the university.

Website

https://www.leedsbeckett.ac.uk/research/the-international-montessori-institute/

Social Media Information

Leonor Stjepic

Twitter: @LeonorStjepic

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leonorstjepic/

James Archer

Twitter: @mrjamesarcher

International Montessori Institute

Twitter: @Montessori_LBU

The Montessori Group

Twitter: @MontessoriUk

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/montessori-uk/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/montessoriUK

Instagram: @MontessoriUk

To get your FREE e-copy of the professional journal Primary First please visit https://nape.org.uk/journal

Since founding Independent Thinking in 1994, Ian has built a global reputation as an educational thinker, innovator, entrepreneur, speaker and award-winning editor and writer. He was listed by the IB magazine as one of their top 15 ‘educational visionaries’. 

Never happier than when he is making children’s brains hurt, he has a unique first-hand perspective on the world of education having lived and worked in schools and universities in the UK, the Middle East, South America and Asia.

He is now sharing his time between Rotterdam, where his wife is an international school principal, and their home in the middle of nowhere deep in West Wales.

He wasn’t always interested in exotic foreign travel and meeting interesting people from different countries, as he started off his educational career teaching French in Northampton. He didn't really want to be a French teacher and, while you would think not wanting to teach French to people who didn't want to learn it might be a match made in heaven, it was only ever really a stepping stone. His main ambition was to work with young people in the areas that most fascinated him then and in which he has become such an important figure today – thinking, learning, motivation, creativity and helping all members of the school community be the best they can be.

Through his many books including the ever-popular Thunks collection, his ongoing classroom work with children and young people, his keynotes and workshops at conferences around the world and his continuous work with teachers and leaders in schools, Ian has shown a whole generation of educators that there is always another way. 

Following a chance meeting in the staff room, Ian was encouraged to set up Independent Thinking in 1994 and, since then, has built up a unique educational organisation that acts as a platform for some of the UK’s leading innovative educators and school leaders as well as serving as a ‘lighthouse’ for so many practitioners who might otherwise fall prey to the idea that silence is respect, obedience is behaviour, grades measure education and teaching and learning are the same thing.

Website

www.independentthinking.co.uk

Social Media Information

@ITLWorldwide on Twitter

independentthinkingworldwide on Instagram

The National Association for Primary Education speaks for young children and all who live and work with them. Get a FREE e-copy of their professional journal at nape.org.uk/journal

This is a follow up Q&A taken from a subsequent Facebook live event.

Tony suggested four main arguments for a balanced and broadly-based primary curriculum:

• that the law states that schools must offer this (as it does) and that Ofsted expect this (at least from 7 years old);
• one based on how children create coherent, robust and flexible identities, enhancing their well-being and founded on a sense of agency;
• one based on a conception of democratic citizenship in which children are increasingly enabled to deal with complex ideas right from the start; and
• a social justice one that such a curriculum will open up opportunities from which many children, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds, will otherwise be excluded.

Questions & comments from our delegates

Retired Headteacher

• Dr Eaude's argument for a balanced and broadly based curriculum is compelling. Moving forwards, is it possible for schools to work with the current National Curriculum Framework to achieve this? 
• Do Academies, rather than Local Authority schools, have the most potential and freedom to develop such curriculum experiences?
• Where (in England) is curriculum innovation to be found at present?
• What is the National Association of Primary Education's role in this argument?

As a student in my final year of an undergraduate course, I am currently working on an assignment about my own educational philosophy which very much aligns with Dr. Eaude’s Schiller speech. Embarking into my NQT year in September I know the best way to change this is starting in my own classroom. However big questions arise with that:

• What can I do beyond that? If there is not enough support or like-minded colleagues,
• How can I reach out to ensure this way of teaching the curriculum is opened up on to all the children in the community?
• Where can I find more support?

For more information about Dr. Tony Eaude please visit his website https://edperspectives.org.uk/

More information about NAPE is available at https://nape.org.uk/

To find out more about Christian Schiller HMI please click on the link below

https://nape.org.uk/publications​

The Schiller Book, published by NAPE, 'In His Own Words', can be purchased for only £5.

He suggested four main arguments for a balanced and broadly-based primary curriculum:

• that the law states that schools must offer this (as it does) and that Ofsted expect this (at least from 7 years old);
• one based on how children create coherent, robust and flexible identities, enhancing their well-being and founded on a sense of agency;
• one based on a conception of democratic citizenship in which children are increasingly enabled to deal with complex ideas right from the start; and
• a social justice one that such a curriculum will open up opportunities from which many children, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds, will otherwise be excluded.

Schiller was an inspector in Liverpool in the 1920s, a role very different from that of inspectors now – more to advise and encourage than to evaluate. Schiller’s concern at the desperate squalor and poverty which he witnessed there - his humanity – and the narrow and inappropriate curriculum on offer comes through very strongly in what he said and wrote (Schiller, 1979).

His main concern was for children’s basic needs to be met, in terms of being properly fed, clothed and cared-for but he also believed passionately that children in the elementary schools he saw should have a broader, richer and more suitable range of experiences - with his emphasis being on physical activity and the arts. While Schiller 2 went on to work in other roles, supporting primary headteachers and teachers, this early experience was formative and remained with him for the next fifty years or so.

In his lecture Tony suggests that the humanities should be seen fluidly as including history, geography, religion, philosophy, literature, languages and culture, more generally; and fulfil a central role in how children construct and weave together their multiple identities into a coherent identity.

The Humanities 20:20 manifesto (www.humanities2020.org.uk) summarizes why the humanities matter, arguing that they enable children to:

1. consider questions about the meaning and purpose of their lives;

2. explore their own identities, values and beliefs and concepts such as time, space and faith;

3. develop skills and habits associated with critical and creative thinking;

4. extend their cultural and imaginative horizons;

5. learn to empathise with people who are different, as well as those who are similar, thereby celebrating diversity and challenging stereotypes;

6. learn about democracy, global citizenship and sustainability;

7. strengthen a sense of care for themselves, each other and the planet in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

To find out more please visit Dr. Tony Eaude's website https://edperspectives.org.uk/

More information about NAPE is available at https://nape.org.uk/

Other interviews between Dr. Tony Eaude and Mark Taylor can be found at:

https://www.educationonfire.com/education-on-fire/066-re-humanising-primary-education-dr-tony-eaude/

https://www.educationonfire.com/national-association-for-primary-education/nape033/

In this episode Robson Augusta chats to Mark Taylor about how it is never too early to start learning about how the climate emergency can be positively affected by our primary aged children.

Teach the Future are campaigning for change across the whole of the UK, but education in the UK is a devolved matter, meaning there are different education ministers and education laws in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. A lot of our work is relevant across the UK, but we also have specific campaign branches in Scotland, Wales and England:A student lead organisation who believe our education system needs to be reformed to reflect the urgency of the climate crisis.

https://www.teachthefuture.uk/

Twitter @_TeachtheFuture

National Association for Primary Education publish their professional journal 'Primary First' 3 times a year.

If you would like read a past issue of the Primary First journal you can receive a FREE e-copy by visiting nape.org.uk/journal

Who are you? - The importance of building identity in the early years and the place of culture within this.

Penny has spent many years working as a teaching assistant in a variety of schools. She decided to study as a mature student for a degree which focused on children in the early years. After completing that degree she decided to continue studying and completed her MA. At the time she was working as a Portage worker in a Children's Centre in a multi-cultural area so became very interested in inclusion and working with communities from other parts of the world.

She then worked for a while as a Children's Centre Co-ordinator before moving to Sheffield Hallam University to teach.

Penny's book Cultural Diversity and Inclusion in Early Years Education reveals how cultural diversity can be celebrated in every early years setting. Acknowledging the impact of culture on a child’s development and identity, the book demonstrates the need for practitioners to appreciate cultural difference, value diversity and ensure inclusive practices.

Alongside comprehensive discussion of current and historical policy relating to multiculturalism and relevant sociocultural theory, the book provides practical guidance and resources to support practitioners in responding to the challenges of working with families and children from diverse cultural backgrounds. Chapters focus on topics such as:

• policy and the role of the practitioner
• sociocultural theories relating to child development
• building working relationships with families
• the impact of culture on a child's identity
• enabling environments and inclusive strategies.

Including case studies, reflective questions and suggestions for further reading and research, this essential book will help early years practitioners and students to embrace the varied cultural heritages of the children in their care.

National Association for Primary Education publish a professional journal called Primary First 3 times a year. It is FREE to NAPE members or can be purchased for £5 from the National Office.

NAPE are creating a series of podcasts from Primary First contributors to hear from the people and organisations behind the written word.

If you would like read a past issue of the Primary First journal you can receive a FREE e-copy by visiting nape.org.uk/journal

To purchase issue 29 and read Penny's article please contact https://nape.org.uk/

In this episode Mark Taylor (Vice Chair of NAPE) talks to Seraphina Simmons-Bah who wrote an article for issue 29 entitled:

Exploring the limits of representative literature in the primary classroom?

Seraphina works as a supply teacher and practitioner in Initial Teacher Education (ITE). Her main area of interest is the representation of racially monoritised groups in children's literature and the ways in which children's literature can be used to explore racialised issues in the classroom.

Twitter: @BahSimmons

NAPE are creating a series of podcasts from Primary First contributors to hear from the people and organisations behind the written word.

If you would like read a past issue of the Primary First journal you can receive a FREE e-copy by visiting nape.org.uk/journal

To purchase issue 29 and read Seraphina's article please contact https://nape.org.uk/

The National Association for Primary Education has an online conference on 8th March 2021 entitled:

TOWARDS A BALANCED AND BROADLY-BASED CURRICULUM

Virtual Conference – Monday 8th March 2021, 4.15pm-6.45pm

The Conference, embracing a theme which has always been central to debate about children’s entitlements, has been highlighted by OfSTED as critical in curriculum development and its central importance has been further accentuated by the pressures under which primary schools are working in the post-lockdown phase as they prioritise what is perceived as essential in educational recovery.

The impact of the coronavirus pandemic on children’s education may be perceived as a justification for narrowing the curriculum at the expense of the arts and the humanities, but this conference will explore the case for preserving young children’s entitlement to as rich and diverse a curriculum as possible. Dr. Eaude’s keynote lecture will set the scene, highlighting some key issues and considering some lessons to be learnt from the period of lockdown. The subsequent presentations will focus on classroom practice, providing a spotlight on innovations which have been implemented in school and offering guidance for the future.

All are most welcome at this event, including teachers, teacher assistants, governors and students and it’s our hope that the conference will play its part in bringing together a range of stakeholders in primary education, all with a commitment to enhancing children’s entitlement to a balanced and broadly-based curriculum.

To book or find out more https://nape.org.uk/conference

In this episode Mark Taylor (Vice Chair of NAPE) talks to Penny Rabiger who wrote an article for issue 29 entitled:

Does teaching racial justice and equity have a place in our primary schools?

NAPE are creating a series of podcasts from Primary First contributors to hear from the people and organisations behind the written word.

Penny Rabiger is Director of Engagement at Lyfta Education and co-founder and trustee of the BAMEed Network. She is a school governor and MAT Trustee, and a coach for the Leeds Beckett University Anti-Racist Schools Award.

www.bameednetwork.com/

www.lyfta.com/

Social Media Information

@Penny_Ten

@BAMEedNetwork

If you would like read a past issue of the Primary First journal you can receive a FREE e-copy by visiting nape.org.uk/journal

To purchase issue 29 and read Penny's article please contact https://nape.org.uk/

The National Association for Primary Education has an online conference on 8th March 2021 entitled:

TOWARDS A BALANCED AND BROADLY-BASED CURRICULUM

Virtual Conference – Monday 8th March 2021, 4.15pm-6.45pm

The Conference, embracing a theme which has always been central to debate about children’s entitlements, has been highlighted by OfSTED as critical in curriculum development and its central importance has been further accentuated by the pressures under which primary schools are working in the post-lockdown phase as they prioritise what is perceived as essential in educational recovery.

The impact of the coronavirus pandemic on children’s education may be perceived as a justification for narrowing the curriculum at the expense of the arts and the humanities, but this conference will explore the case for preserving young children’s entitlement to as rich and diverse a curriculum as possible. Dr. Eaude’s keynote lecture will set the scene, highlighting some key issues and considering some lessons to be learnt from the period of lockdown. The subsequent presentations will focus on classroom practice, providing a spotlight on innovations which have been implemented in school and offering guidance for the future.

All are most welcome at this event, including teachers, teacher assistants, governors and students and it’s our hope that the conference will play its part in bringing together a range of stakeholders in primary education, all with a commitment to enhancing children’s entitlement to a balanced and broadly-based curriculum.

To book or find out more https://nape.org.uk/conference

 TOWARDS A BALANCED AND BROADLY-BASED CURRICULUM

Virtual Conference - Monday 8th March 2021, 4.15pm-6.45pm

The Conference, embracing a theme which has always been central to debate about children’s entitlements, has been highlighted by OfSTED as critical in curriculum development and its central importance has been further accentuated by the pressures under which primary schools are working in the post-lockdown phase as they prioritise what is perceived as essential in educational recovery.

The impact of the coronavirus pandemic on children's education may be perceived as a justification for narrowing the curriculum at the expense of the arts and the humanities, but this conference will explore the case for preserving young children's entitlement to as rich and diverse a curriculum as possible. Dr. Eaude's keynote lecture will set the scene, highlighting some key issues and considering some lessons to be learnt from the period of lockdown. The subsequent presentations will focus on classroom practice, providing a spotlight on innovations which have been implemented in school and offering guidance for the future.

All are most welcome at this event, including teachers, teacher assistants, governors and students and it's our hope that the conference will play its part in bringing together a range of stakeholders in primary education, all with a commitment to enhancing children's entitlement to a balanced and broadly-based curriculum.

SCHEDULE: 4.15PM - 6.45PM

4.15pm - Welcome followed by

Keynote lecture - Dr Tony Eaude

Why a balanced and broadly-based curriculum matters - particularly for young children and those from disadvantaged backgrounds  

Dr. Eaude has published widely on a range of educational topics extending from pedagogy in the classroom to children's moral, social and cultural development, earning himself the reputation as one of the most articulate and enlightened voices in the primary sector. His most recent book (2020), Identity, Culture and Belonging: Educating Young Children for a Changing World, characteristically draws on his wealth of teaching experience in the primary school, including headship and his insights into the changing contexts for schooling and children's development.

5.15pm -  Presentations A & B (Attendees will be ask to choose A or B when booking)

A. Social action in the Primary School - Envisioning a better future for all:  The presentation will address the variety of ways in which social action is embedded in the curriculum and how the children are encouraged to become critical, active and engaged learners who understand and embrace their responsibilities as citizens to promote equality, social justice and change. - Naheeda Maharasingham, Head of Rathfern Primary School, Lewisham

B. Developing a curriculum as rich in humanity as in knowledge:  The team will be sharing their thinking, principles and planning processes around the development of a curriculum which is as rich in humanity as it is in knowledge. Featured in her latest book, A Curriculum of Hope, our work with Dr. Debra Kidd, has developed our planning around inquiry questions which engage children of all ages in deep thinking about the past, present and future of our planet, with compassionate studies of its human inhabitants. In a nutshell, it is a curriculum designed to empower our learners to change the world. - Clare Whyles, Deputy Head of St Ebbe’s Primary School, Oxford 

6.00pm - Presentations C & D (Attendees will be ask to choose C or D when booking)

C. Beyond Teaching; Experiencing a Purposeful Curriculum:  The focus is centred around the breadth of the curriculum through the experiences children are given in and out of school using a variety of initiatives that reflect the school community such as: Umbrella Curriculum Teams, Pupil Leadership Groups, school Values, whole school and community based projects. - Rachel Ford, Head of Bannockburn Primary School, Royal Borough of Greenwich

D. Exploring History through the local : This seminar will explore ways in which ‘the local’ can be used to inspire and sustain learning. It will consider a sense of community and identity and how we can ensure that children, their families and community are reflected in the history curriculum that we offer. - Alison Hales, Senior Lecturer in Education, University of Greenwich

 6.40pm - Concluding remarks

LOCATION

Zoom Online Event - Monday 8th March 2021, 4.15pm-6.45pm

CONFERENCE FEE - Includes Keynote Lecture and 2 Presentations.

£10 per individual or £50 for 5 or more staff members from a school.

FREE for students

https://nape.org.uk/conference

National Association for Primary Education started working in collaboration with Essity in 2018 to highlight and support this venture.

'With our partners we collaborate in gathering knowledge and insights, using our different perspectives, collective competences and resources, to find solutions to societal challenges and drive global change in for example raising hygiene and health standards, thereby improving well-being and the lives of millions worldwide.

In 2018 we educated about 2.5 million people about hygiene and health, including teaching children the importance of hand hygiene, young women about puberty as well as educating people and staff at nursing homes about incontinence.'

The National Association for Primary Education has an online conference on 8th March 2021 entitled:

TOWARDS A BALANCED AND BROADLY-BASED CURRICULUM

Virtual Conference – Monday 8th March 2021, 4.15pm-6.45pm

The Conference, embracing a theme which has always been central to debate about children’s entitlements, has been highlighted by OfSTED as critical in curriculum development and its central importance has been further accentuated by the pressures under which primary schools are working in the post-lockdown phase as they prioritise what is perceived as essential in educational recovery.

The impact of the coronavirus pandemic on children’s education may be perceived as a justification for narrowing the curriculum at the expense of the arts and the humanities, but this conference will explore the case for preserving young children’s entitlement to as rich and diverse a curriculum as possible. Dr. Eaude’s keynote lecture will set the scene, highlighting some key issues and considering some lessons to be learnt from the period of lockdown. The subsequent presentations will focus on classroom practice, providing a spotlight on innovations which have been implemented in school and offering guidance for the future.

All are most welcome at this event, including teachers, teacher assistants, governors and students and it’s our hope that the conference will play its part in bringing together a range of stakeholders in primary education, all with a commitment to enhancing children’s entitlement to a balanced and broadly-based curriculum.

To book or find out more https://nape.org.uk/conference

Today we share the top 5 ways we are supporting YOU. Some resources are FREE and one award could give you £400.

1. Virtual Conference - Monday 8th March 2021
2. Podcasts & YouTube
3. FREE e-copy of our professional journal Primary First
4. Rosemary Evans Bequest Award
5. TEACHING HANDWRITING BY CHRISTOPHER JARMAN

The Conference, embracing a theme which has always been central to debate about children’s entitlements, has been highlighted by OfSTED as critical in curriculum development and its central importance has been further accentuated by the pressures under which primary schools are working in the post-lockdown phase as they prioritise what is perceived as essential in educational recovery.The impact of the coronavirus pandemic on children's education may be perceived as a justification for narrowing the curriculum at the expense of the arts and the humanities, but this conference will explore the case for preserving young children's entitlement to as rich and diverse a curriculum as possible. Dr. Eaude's keynote lecture will set the scene, highlighting some key issues and considering some lessons to be learnt from the period of lockdown. The subsequent presentations will focus on classroom practice, providing a spotlight on innovations which have been implemented in school and offering guidance for the future.All are most welcome at this event, including teachers, teacher assistants, governors and students and it's our hope that the conference will play its part in bringing together a range of stakeholders in primary education, all with a commitment to enhancing children's entitlement to a balanced and broadly-based curriculum.

https://nape.org.uk/conference

Are you a recently qualified early years or primary teacher (QTS gained since June 2019)? Are you keen to reflect on your professional development as a classroom practitioner? Are you keen to get something published in an educational journal and add it to your CV?

If so, we hope you will be interested in the Rosemary Evans Bequest Award to be given on an annual basis to the best article received for publication in Primary First from a recently qualified teacher (who is currently in their first or second year of teaching).

The award is for £400 and EITHER the theme can be selected from one of the following:

• The highlights and challenges of taking on your own class

• What do you see as the key principles and/or values which inform your approach to learning and teaching?

• How can teacher retention be improved?

• The global teacher for the 21st century.

OR you can identify your own issue for exploration which draws directly on your experience of teaching in the classroom and your developing professional awareness as a primary practitioner. This could, for example, relate to an area of responsibility you are taking on or might be linked to a masters level unit or might simply be an issue about which you feel passionate.

The article should be between 1500 and 2000 words and you are encouraged to select your own focus and title, irrespective of whether you select one of the above themes or opt for something different. The article should both critically explore aspects of your own experience and identity as a recently qualified teacher and be informed, if and where appropriate, by relevant literature. The final date for submission for this academic year is 1 August 2021.

https://www.nape.org.uk/rosemary-evans-bequest-award

Widely recognised as a leader in its field (and economically priced) Christopher Jarman’s scheme for the teaching of Handwriting matching the new National Curriculum.

There is now a new, 3rd Edition Teachers' Handwriting Book, containing the; teaching and practice handwriting pages to copy, children's development chart and the history of handwriting.

https://nape.org.uk/christopher-jarman-handwriting

Our FREE resources have expanded for you in forms of:

• Podcasts
• YouTube
• e-copies of our journal Primary First

TEACHING HANDWRITING BY CHRISTOPHER JARMAN

There is now a new, 3rd Edition Teachers' Handwriting Book, containing the; teaching and practice handwriting pages to copy, children's development chart and the history of handwriting.

Our 2021 virtual conference is called 'TOWARDS A BALANCED AND BROADLY-BASED CURRICULUM'

The Conference, embracing a theme which has always been central to debate about children’s entitlements, has been highlighted by OfSTED as critical in curriculum development and its central importance has been further accentuated by the pressures under which primary schools are working in the post-lockdown phase as they prioritise what is perceived as essential in educational recovery.

Full details of how to get tickets coming in January 2021.

To find out more about NAPE please visit https://nape.org.uk/

Finding engaging activities to show where engineering is used in the real world can take time. So, we do the hard work for you, curating the most brilliant experiences so you know they are engaging for your students, are linked to up-to-date careers information and highlight real-world applications of engineering. 

Hilary joined EngineeringUK as CEO in January 2019 and leads the organisation in its ambition to inform and inspire young people and grow the number and diversity of those coming into engineering. Previously she has been: Head of Education and Learning at Wellcome, building a team to improve science education through research, advocacy, funding and interventions; Assistant/Interim Director at Campaign for Science & Engineering working on a breadth of policy issues; and Assistant Professor at the Centre for Molecular and Behavioural Neuroscience, Rutgers. She is a governor of a 5 to 16 comprehensive school.

www.neonfutures.org.uk

Social Media Information

https://twitter.com/Neon_Futures

https://www.facebook.com/NeonFutures

You can get a FREE e-copy of the NAPE professional journal Primary First by clicking here

Al Kingsley (MD of NetSupport) has been a school governor for the last 15 years and is currently Chair of Hampton Academies Trust in Peterborough and KWEST Trust in Norfolk. Al was appointed the Chair of the Cambridge & Peterborough county SEND panel in 2018 to steer focused improvements across the Local Authorities Special Educational needs and Disabilities support provisions. Al sits on the Regional Schools Commissioners Headteacher board for North London and the South East, and works closely with the local authority and all schools across the region to help improve standards of leadership, governance and develop greater levels of challenge and accountability in our schools.

About NetSupport

With 31 years’ experience and 18 million users, NetSupport’s market-leading solutions have been providing a complete solution to managing school technology, safeguarding students and boosting learning outcomes via a comprehensive range of teaching tools – all across mixed learning environments.

www.netsupportsoftware.com or

classroom.cloud

@AlKingsley_Edu

@NetSupportGroup

@classroomcloud_

To get a FREE e-copy of Primary First, NAPE's professional journal please visit:

https://nape.org.uk/journal

Edd is a teacher and Eco Coordinator at Damers First School, Dorchester, Dorset. Edd has built up the eco work at Damers over the last 8 years from a blank canvas. Under his leadership, achieved the Eco Schools Green Flag three times in 2016, 2018, 2020, won Eco Schools Primary Eco School of the Year, Surfers Against Sewage Plastic Free Schools Champion and Jane Goodall Roots and Shoots Best Group in 2019.

With the help of volunteers Edd started a school garden from scratch including a bottle greenhouse so children can garden every afternoon planting vegetables which are then used by them to produce meals. The school gained RHS 5* status in 2017.

For three years running the school won the Young Enterprise Fiver Challenge with their environmentally friendly products including: Garden Grenades – recycled school paper mixed with wild flower seeds; Spick n Span – a multipurpose cleaning product; Waxtastic No Plastic – an alternative to cling film raising a total of £7500 in the process which was used to fund a nature area with pond and a giant solar powered stopwatch for the playground.

Edd has made Damers into one of the top Eco Schools in the country embedding the environment into the school’s curriculum. He started the Plastic Free Dorchester campaign with the Damers children who have made the school single use plastic free and help the town to achieve Surfers Against Sewage Plastic Free Community Status in July 2019.

The children and Edd took their “All in” Deposit Return Campaign to Westminster and met Michael Gove and the children appeared on Newsround. They have also inspired the community and people further afield to collect items that normally cannot be recycled at the curb side such as crisp packets, biscuit wrappers toothpaste tubes to raise money for the school’s eco projects and outside area, saving 100s of kg of waste going into land fill. The community has collected so much of this recycling that the local WI now sort and pack it up on a regular basis. They also formed part of the team to make “Boomerang Bags” an idea Edd discovered in Australia where groups make material bags for people to borrow from shops and so reduce the use of plastic bags. Prince Charles launched this initiative in May 2019 in Dorchester, even providing material for some of the bags.

Read Edd's article in Primary First here.

http://www.damers.dorset.sch.uk/curriculum/eco-schools/eco-news/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/edd-moore-a0369b86/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/plasticfreedorchester/

The Diocese of Salisbury Academy Trust has a vision for the growth of thriving learning communities, that provide everyone with the opportunity to achieve more than they ever thought possible. Christian values and service are at the heart of all we do, as we help young people to develop excitement in learning.

Mark served as Headteacher in a large challenging primary school in South Bristol. Appointed to headship at the age of 30, Mark led the school from inadequate to good. Key to the success of the school was the relentless focus on creating and maintaining an empowering vision for all members of the school community. Alongside this, development of people was key, and the school developed its own programme of coaching for all staff as well as being recognised as a Gold Level Investor in People.

Mark also led the development of the Malago Learning Partnership, a collaboration of 9 local schools. As Chair of the group he guided the development of a highly successful school improvement strategy, an in-depth joint practice development programme and a range of curriculum and assessment programmes. In 2012 he led his school through the academy conversion process. He has also served for a number of years as a governor at a secondary school within the partnership. which achieved its first ever ‘good’ inspection outcome during this time.

In addition to his work in school, Mark was very much involved in the development of the Local Leader of Education of education programme in Bristol through the National College, working in a coaching role with Headteachers to support them in the development and growth of leadership capacity; working with Headteachers to find solutions and ways forward within their own organisations.

Mark has a Business Degree from the University of Bath as well as a Masters, with distinction, in Educational Leadership and Management from the University of Worcester, the latter of which focused on the effective features of collaborative partnerships between schools. Mark has four children of his own and is very active in the work of his local church.

www.dsat.org.uk

Twitter: @thedsat

Linked In: Mark Lacey

Mark was involved with new research produced by PrimarySite. It questions how easy it is for multi academy trusts (MATS) to grow and how Covid-19 has made expansion harder.

Sustainable Growth in Multi Academy Trusts interviewed and surveyed MAT leaders and experts to get their insight on how MAT could grow. It identifies five important challenges: lack of available schools wanting to join MATs, a risk averse culture, competition from other MATs, a shortage of senior leaders with the right expertise, and limited access to funding to support growth. The research also found that managing immediate issues linked to the pandemic needed to take priority and would slow the growth of MATs plans for growth.

You can view the report by clicking here.

Along with her unrivalled success Beth has competed at three Olympic Games; Athens 2004, Beijing 2008 and London 2012 - where she won Bronze in the Uneven Bars.

In recent years Beth has shared her passion for learning and education through her business Beth Tweddle Gymnastics. Following the success of these in person classes Beth has now created an online resource for schools.

PHYSICAL LITERACY PROGRAMME

Beth and the team are passionate about ensuring all children are still given the opportunity to have fun and stay active in school. Following government guidelines, we are launching a brand new Beth Tweddle Physical literacy programme.

This is a 10 week scheme of work, aligned to Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 outcomes across Science, PHSE and Physical Education, and is centred around the development of physical literacy and our Beth Tweddle Values. 

The complete 10 week programme can be used for the whole school and each week is centred around one of our Beth Tweddle Values, such as Teamwork, Determination, Aspiration and Bravery. Your weekly pack will consist of videos and resources provided exclusively from Olympic Medallist and World Champion Gymnast, Beth Tweddle MBE.

https://www.bethtweddlegymnastics.co.uk/

For more information email samantha.scotland@btgymnastics.co.uk

Education in times of crisis: The potential implications of school closures for teachers and students. A review of research evidence on school closures and international approaches to education during the COVID-19 pandemic by Lisa-Maria Müller and Gemma Goldenberg

Full report is

here.

Lisa-Maria is the Education Research Manager at the Chartered College of Teaching, where she works on linking research and practice. She works on various research projects, member consultations and evidence reviews on a range of topics such as teachers' levels of research engagement, CPD and career progression or the potential implications of school closures on teachers and students, and regularly contributes content to the member platform MyCollege. Before joining the Chartered College of Teaching, Lisa-Maria worked as a postdoctoral research associate at the Universities of Cambridge and York on two projects relating to foreign language learning. She is a qualified teacher and has worked in secondary schools in Austria and England.

www.chartered.college

@CharteredColl

@limamue

On this podcast we discuss the themes of this article in more depth.

Jane worked as a Year 5/6 primary teacher in south Wales before specialising in early years. She then became an LEA Advisory Teacher and during this time she completed her doctorate which explored the professional identify of early years practitioners. She joined University of Wales, Newport as a lecturer in 2005 and moved to Cardiff Metropolitan University in 2012. During this time she taught on Childhood Studies and Teacher Education programmes as well as undertaking research. She is currently a Staff Tutor in the School of Education, Childhood and Sport at the Open University.

Twitter @DrJaneDorrian

For more information about the Wales curriculum https://hwb.gov.wales/curriculum-for-wales

The National Association for Primary Education speaks for young children and all who live and work with them. This includes parents, teachers, governors and all those interested in primary education. NAPE is a non-political charity and works tirelessly to support teachers in the classroom. NAPE leads the Primary Umbrella Group of thirty primary subject associations and unions and gives teachers and schools a voice at governmental level at consultative meetings with ministers for schools.

For full details of how they can support you please visit their website at nape.org.uk

'At Bryanston Square, I am combining my skills and knowledge to make a difference in education, from the facilities to what goes on in them, and it’s something I’m passionate about. I built a small organisation to work on bidding for large Government contracts under what was then the Building Schools for the Future programme. We bid for some 48 projects, all highly sought after contracts, and won 42. Later, I also assisted some Local Government procurement directors on around £1.5Bn of contracts from the private sector. 

In addition to my speaking engagements, I now work in and around schools and their students, although I still get involved in a few building or renovation projects. I fund the work we do with students around the country through commercial work for private sector clients.

My time is taken up with projects and with helping drive change. I am often asked to speak at conferences and seminars, where my main focus is on achievement and removing blockers. Some call it motivational speaking. I also get asked to speak to commercial organisations at conferences and seminars where the matters are remarkably similar. I’ve been lucky enough to have received great reviews.'

www.bryanstonsquare.co.uk

YouTube channel: inspiring resources Marcus Orlovsky

Get a FREE e-copy of our professionally produced journal Primary First.

https://nape.org.uk/

Our aim is to achieve a higher priority for the education of children from birth to 13. High quality learning in the early years of life is vitally important to the creation of an educated society. Young children are not simply preparing for the future, they are living a never to be repeated time of life and the best way to learn is to live.

We are looking to hear stories and experiences of those involved in education during the lockdown. We would like to create a vision of how education can change following these events by using the creativity and positive response from schools who enabled learning from home.

Get in touch at

https://nape.org.uk/

Twitter @N_A_P_E

The National Association for Primary Education speaks for young children in our schools and all who work with them, be part of that voice, join us.

All are welcome as members; Heads, Teachers, Teaching Assistants, Parents, School Governors. Inspectors, Administrators and entire School Communities.

• Members have an important voice exercised democratically. We influence public opinion and regular meetings are held with government ministers. The association is totally neutral politically.
• There are meetings of members both locally and nationally. NAPE encourages and supports local associations to be formed.
• Conferences and workshops are arranged both locally and nationally.
• The association is administered by an elected National Council meeting termly to review progress and discuss national issues. Detailed administration is delegated to an Executive Committee which reports to the Council.
• NAPE is a prominent member of the Primary Umbrella Group which brings together all organisations working in the primary sector including subject associations and unions. This is a new and rapidly developing field of work which is facilitating cooperation and partnership.
• All aspects of education are experienced by children in their primary schools and we have strong links with subject associations. We often engage in cooperative ventures with them.

Christian was appointed HMI in 1924 and then followed a long period of work with the schools in Liverpool where his contact with poor children and their families was a deeply formative experience. He became District Inspector and later filled this role in Worcestershire. In 1946 he became Staff Inspector for Primary Education and his influence, often in partnership with his friend Robin Tanner, HMI. Both strongly felt that as elementary schools developed into primary schools, they should have a distinctive child- centred approach. That approach means teachers drawing on children’s innate creativity so recognising the powerful learning that emerges from direct experience.

‘Christian Schiller in his own words’ was published by the Association from 1979. This invaluable book is still available price £5.00 from the National Office. The book and all its wisdom about teaching young children and how we can help them to learn should find a place on every teacher’s bookshelf.

Links to the book and YouTube Channel can be found directly from our website www.nape.org.uk

The National Association for Primary Education speaks for young children and all who live and work with them. This includes parents, teachers, governors and all those interested in primary education. NAPE is a non-political charity and works tirelessly to support teachers in the classroom. NAPE leads the Primary Umbrella Group of thirty primary subject associations and unions and gives teachers and schools a voice at governmental level at consultative meetings with ministers for schools.

Wendy has been an early years and primary inspector in London, and has worked across England as an OFSTED Registered Inspector and trainer. She led The British Association for Early Childhood Education and chaired the national Early Childhood Forum before becoming a specialist adviser to the DfES, and working abroad with the British Council and UNICEF.

She is currently President of TACTYC, the Association for Professional Development in Early Years, and has judged the Nursery World Nursery of the Year competition since 2008. She was awarded an OBE for services to education in 2015.

NAPE

The National Association for Primary Education speaks for young children and all who live and work with them. This includes parents, teachers, governors and all those interested in primary education. NAPE is a non-political charity and works tirelessly to support teachers in the classroom as expressed in their ‘Value of Membership’ Document. NAPE leads the Primary Umbrella Group of thirty primary subject associations and unions and gives teachers and schools a voice at governmental level at consultative meetings with ministers for schools.

For full details of how they can support you please visit their website at nape.org.uk 

The National Association for Primary Education are planning new handwriting workshops for primary schools. Mark Taylor talks to Jeremy Rowe about his vast experience in education and what to expect from the handwriting workshops.

Handwriting is in the National Curriculum – is it an anachronism like 12x table? – or an important skill?

It could be considered important for aesthetic reasons – visually pleasing; a rewarding skill, developing fine motor control, and leading to a strong personal style’. It’s also an art form.

Quote Buzz Aldrin “No dream is too high (2108) “In this day of text messages, email and social media communications, if you really want to make an impression on someone, write a handwritten note of thanks or encouragement.”

More important is the significant contribution to development of thinking skills. We have enough years of using keyboards, so we can now compare. Neuroscientists and psychologists are beginning to raise questions about whether handwriting has unique value. Children who learn to write by hand well, learn to read quicker, retain information better, and generate ideas easier.

Scientists have long suspected the link between handwriting and memory, thought processes, creativity; handwriting boots neural activity in sectors of the brain associated with creativity; writing things down using a pen and paper has long been a trick to help spark the memory.

“How can I tell what I think if I cannot see what I say?” (E M Forster essay “Aspects of the Novel”, written just after he’d finish Passage to India 1924).

Recent research in cognitive psychology and neuroscience: looking at how we learn:

Examples:

1. Brain scanning has demonstrated that handwriting activities help preschoolers learn their letters.
2. Writing by hand is indispensible for helping children develop a brain that reads with proficiency.
3. Handwriting is a key component in improving both spelling ability and written composition.
4. Grey matter volume and density correlates with higher handwriting quality, signalling more efficient neural processing.
5. Writing is better for the brain than keyboarding.

Professor Jane Medwell (leading academic in field of handwriting) says, “Handwriting is vital. Children who write by hand are better connected to their work and more engaged in learning.”

Joyce Rankin (USA State Board for Education) “There are direct links between developing good handwriting skills at an early age and academic achievement in both literacy and numeracy as children progress though their schooling; brain imaging has actually found that handwriting activites the brain more than keyboarding because it involves more complex motor and cognitive skills.”

By handwriting something to learn it, research says it helps to ‘etch it into the memory’. 

Handwriting is a complex skill engaging cognitive, perceptual and motor skills simultaneously.

Early years are especially crucial. Once children have formed counterproductive habits, they can be difficult to change. Ten or fifteen minutes daily will pay off. Start with large movements in the air to learn letter shapes; progress to patterns; families of letter; manuscript (letters not joined) then cursive (joined)

It must be taught carefully – “illegible handwriting can have a serious impact on a child’s self-esteem” (Lyceum School brochure)

Professor Virginia Berniger, Univ ersity of Washington investigated children in Years 2, 4 and 6. She found that they wrote more words faster and expressed more ideas when writing by hand than with a keyboard. Handwritten documents provide thoughts recorded at the speed of handwriting, a visual record of thinking, and reflective concentration (ability to think whilst writing).

The primary school is responsible – it’s very hard to change habits after about year 4, but continued practise in years 5/6 is essential to develop speed, fluency and the beginnings of a personal style.

Early years games and patterns start to ball rolling (but fine motor skills are possible only when the children is ready). Little and often – 10 minutes at the beginning of the day.

The NAPE workshops will start with a review of current research, but will be mainly focussed on technique from early years to year six.

Marion Richardson (1935) joined writing halfway between italic and copperplate (This is what Jeremy was taught in the 1950’s!)

Italic, first introduce in 1952

Basic Modern hand (Christopher Jarman 1979):

1. No loops, flourishes or conceits
2. Writing is logical and economical
3. Legible
4. Good for beginners who will later develop personal style

Develop lower case first (more easy to read than capitals); correct grip of pencil or pen; dealing with left-handers; there are many practical aspects of teaching handwriting which will be part of the workshops.

Website www.write yourfuture.com sponsored by Berol and Papermate, with excellent articles by Jane Medwell and others, and very good resources.

Jeremy D Rowe

September 2019

Rebecca Sheikh is a certified Aware Parenting Level 2 teacher, and her passion lies in helping parents find ways to discipline without the use of punishments or rewards. She taught as primary school teacher for 17 years before having her first child. She is now the mother of two children (ages 6 and 2). She completed an MA in Counselling in Education at The Tavistock Institute in London and has done a Foundation Course in Nonviolent Communication. She also has an Oncology Certified Nurse qualification in Gentle Sleep Methods. She teaches leads staff meetings in schools to help teachers look at alternatives to punishments and rewards. Rebecca leads Attachment Play workshops regularly and offers consultations to support parents with the Aware Parenting approach.

Website

www.flourishingchildhood.com

Social Media Information

https://www.instagram.com/flourishingchildhood/
https://m.facebook.com/flourishingchildhood

Stringbabies is a holistic approach to teaching bowed strings and general musicianship using a unique notation system developed by cellist Kay Tucker.
Although initially aimed at 3 to 6 year olds, Stringbabies has been embraces by students of all ages and abilities (especially special needs) and has gained a string reputation for helping to develop sight reading, aural and composition skills.
Twice a finalist in the Rhinegold Music Teacher awards for excellence and also the BBC Surrey and Sussex Community Heroes awards, Stringbabies has its own awards accredited by Victoria College Examinations and the violin and cello books are due to be published on the Charanga platform (www.charanga.com)

Website 

www.stringbabies.com

www.musicbabies.org.uk

Social Media Information 

Facebook: stringbabies
Twitter: @stringbabies

The National Association for Primary Education speaks for young children and all who live and work with them. This includes parents, teachers, governors and all those interested in primary education. NAPE is a non-political charity and works tirelessly to support teachers in the classroom as expressed in their ‘Value of Membership’ Document. NAPE leads the Primary Umbrella Group of thirty primary subject associations and unions and gives teachers and schools a voice at governmental level at consultative meetings with ministers for schools.

For full details of how they can support you please visit their website at nape.org.uk 

Robert Morgan – Editor of Primary First and NAPE National Council.

Robert has 12 years’  experience as a primary school teacher from schools in Torfaen, Southwark and Bexley. He was a mathematics, assessment and history coordinator,
a teacher governor, well-being officer and an assistant headteacher. He was appointed to the University of Greenwich in 2007 as a senior lecturer in Education & professional Studies. Robert’s doctoral (EdD) dissertation explored the perceptions of trainee teachers working with teaching assistants. Robert is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and external examiner at the University of Wolverhampton. Robert is the vice-chair of SACRE for the Royal Borough of Greenwich, chair of the Agreed Syllabus Committee for the same borough and a trustee of the Compass multi-academy set of schools, also in Greenwich.

The National Association for Primary Education speaks for young children and all who live and work with them. This includes parents, teachers, governors and all those interested in primary education. NAPE is a non-political charity and works tirelessly to support teachers in the classroom as expressed in their ‘Value of Membership’ Document. NAPE leads the Primary Umbrella Group of thirty primary subject associations and unions and gives teachers and schools a voice at governmental level at consultative meetings with ministers for schools.

For full details of how they can support you please visit their website at nape.org.uk 

We talk about some of the highlights from our first 36 episodes and give a few insights into what is coming next.

If you are new to NAPE here is some background.

The National Association for Primary Education speaks for young children and all who live and work with them. This includes parents, teachers, governors and all those interested in primary education. NAPE is a non-political charity and works tirelessly to support teachers in the classroom as expressed in their ‘Value of Membership’ Document. NAPE leads the Primary Umbrella Group of thirty primary subject associations and unions and gives teachers and schools a voice at governmental level at consultative meetings with ministers for schools.

For full details of how they can support you please visit their website at nape.org.uk

This show is part of the Education on Fire Podcast Network

Last year Essity founded and launched the School Hygiene Essentials Initiative which is a collaboration of hygiene, health and education experts who are working together to try and improve hygiene standards in school toilets and improve hygiene education for children.

Partners in the School Hygiene Essentials Initiative include the National Association for Primary Education (NAPE), the School and Public Health Nurses Association (SAPHNA), childrens’ bladder and bowel charity ERIC, the Paediatric Continence Forum (PCF), Bladder and Bowel UK, and In Kind Direct who help distribute essential products to community organisations including schools.

This is a good example of the collaborative work NAPE is able to do in supporting schools beyond policy and curriculum subjects.

For more details CLICK HERE

The National Association for Primary Education speaks for young children and all who live and work with them. This includes parents, teachers, governors and all those interested in primary education. NAPE is a non-political charity and works tirelessly to support teachers in the classroom as expressed in their ‘Value of Membership’ Document. NAPE leads the Primary Umbrella Group of thirty primary subject associations and unions and gives teachers and schools a voice at governmental level at consultative meetings with ministers for schools.

For full details of how they can support you please visit their website at nape.org.uk

Nothing epitomises this more than their Festival of Voices concert series that has been in existence for 36 years. This event at Dorchester Abbey brings around 240 school children together to perform in a beautiful venue with a live band. Not only do they do this once but due to the demand they now produce 6 concerts in one week during June.

NAPE is run by volunteers and it is a credit to their enthusiasm and dedication that such a concert series is possible.

Over the 36 years of Festival of Voices, the regional event at Dorchester Abbey – run by the Oxfordshire branch of NAPE – has been expanded to include a national concert at venues such as Wembley Conference in London and Symphony Hall in Birmingham.

This year to celebrate the 36 years of success we decided to create a behind the scenes podcast and video so you could see and hear from those involved.

The culmination of a children’s choir, supportive teachers and an audience of proud, passionate families makes for something quite special.

If you would like to see what an ‘on location’ podcast looks like to record please watch the video on the NAPE website.  nape.org.uk

The National Association for Primary Education speaks for young children and all who live and work with them. This includes parents, teachers, governors and all those interested in primary education. NAPE is a non-political charity and works tirelessly to support teachers in the classroom as expressed in their ‘Value of Membership’ Document. NAPE leads the Primary Umbrella Group of thirty primary subject associations and unions and gives teachers and schools a voice at governmental level at consultative meetings with ministers for schools.

For full details of how they can support you please visit their website at nape.org.uk

Mark Taylor talks to NAPE Information Officer Peter Cansell about their support for More Than A Score, a growing coalition of parents, teachers, heads and education experts, working together to call for change in the government’s over-testing regime.

Children are More Than A Score

www.morethanascore.org.uk

The National Association for Primary Education speaks for young children and all who live and work with them. This includes parents, teachers, governors and all those interested in primary education. NAPE is a non-political charity and works tirelessly to support teachers in the classroom as expressed in their ‘Value of Membership’ Document. NAPE leads the Primary Umbrella Group of thirty primary subject associations and unions and gives teachers and schools a voice at governmental level at consultative meetings with ministers for schools.

For full details of how they can support you please visit their website at nape.org.uk

Mark Taylor joins Dr. Tony Eaude and Professor Simon Catling in a conversation about their new project – Humanities [20:20]

To join the the conversation please leave a message in the comments below.

The National Association for Primary Education speaks for young children and all who live and work with them. This includes parents, teachers, governors and all those interested in primary education. NAPE is a non-political charity and works tirelessly to support teachers in the classroom as expressed in their ‘Value of Membership’ Document. NAPE leads the Primary Umbrella Group of thirty primary subject associations and unions and gives teachers and schools a voice at governmental level at consultative meetings with ministers for schools.

For full details of how they can support you please visit their website at nape.org.uk

Click below to listen to Tony Eaude’s previous episode based on his NAPE Christian Schiller Lecture.

What is education? – NAPE 001

To read the article written by Tony Eaude for Primary First (NAPE journal) please click here.

Issue 22 page 24

“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”

Nelson Mandela

This award is in addition to the Kellogg’s ‘Support for Breakfast Clubs’ grant that schools can apply for to help fund their own breakfast club. Each school can apply for a cash sum of up to £1000.

You can find more details about Kellogg’s ‘Support for Breakfast Clubs’ this by clicking here.

The National Association for Primary Education speaks for young children and all who live and work with them. This includes parents, teachers, governors and all those interested in primary education. NAPE is a non-political charity and works tirelessly to support teachers in the classroom as expressed in their ‘Value of Membership’ Document. NAPE leads the Primary Umbrella Group of thirty primary subject associations and unions and gives teachers and schools a voice at governmental level at consultative meetings with ministers for schools.

For full details of how they can support you please visit their website at nape.org.uk

The Mighty Zulu Nation

Curriculum enrichment

Celebrating diversity at Buckland CE Primary School March 2019

The school was awarded a Creative Learning Bursary from NAPE Oxfordshire who support members in exciting, inspiring and creative projects that extend children’s learning beyond the national curriculum and involve children in its planning.

To see full details and pictures of the event please the school website at:

http://www.bucklandprimaryschool.org.uk

To find out more information about National Association for Primary Education please visit:

www.nape.org.uk

To support you in providing music in your school you will receive a 50% discount as a NAPE member.

Full details and how to join Primary Music on Fire can be found at

Primary Music on Fire

If you are not a NAPE member you can find out more about them at www.nape.org.uk

National Association for Primary Education are pleased to support:

Join us in our campaign to restore the humanities – History, Geography, RE and Citizenship to their rightful place in the primary curriculum.

We believe the humanities play a key part in a broad and balanced school curriculum. They have a crucial role in helping children to:

• explore the purpose & meaning of their lives,
• build their sense of identity & self-worth and
• develop the values that will help them to become active, inclusive and thoughtful citizens.

One of the biggest concerns for Year 6 children now that SATs are out of the way is moving on to their next school. They will have often found themselves treated as responsible members of their current school, Leaders in many different areas, but for many it will be back to square one and certainly a big drop down the pecking order. Transition programmes and visits to the new school will help some of these worries to be confronted, but they are likely to bring new challenges which become bigger in their imaginations. Many of their concerns are addressed in the latest addition to the BBC Bitesize website here: www.bbc.co.uk/startingsecondaryschool

A lively friendly place to ask all those questions which are burning to be raised.

To find out more about National Association for Primary Education (NAPE)

Please visit www.nape.org.uk

The National Association for Primary Education (NAPE) brings together everyone who has a concern for the learning of children from birth to 13 years. Members and affiliated schools work to improve education through the Early, Primary and Middle Years.

This week I take you through the relaunch of the NAPE website and what you can expect to find.

• Join online via PayPal
• Read our journal Primary First
• Links to the NAPE podcast
• I-SPY book series available to buy from £2 per book
• The Development of Handwriting Skills by Christopher Jarman
• Blog posts & social media feeds
• Christian Schiller – In His Own Words
• Our position papers & media releases

Take a look now at www.nape.org.uk

Robert Young

General Secretary

Robert has been active in NAPE since 1986 when NAPE SE London was established as a university based branch and was elected as its first chair, remaining in post until 2013. His professional background is in initial teacher education, having been involved in higher education since 1973, retiring from full-time work in 2007. Since then he has continued to support the University of Greenwich as a part-time link-tutor in schools and doing some external examining for other universities. Semi-retirement has also enabled him to develop his interest in school governance, both as a chair of governors in a Greenwich primary school and as a national leader for governance.

For more information about National Association for Primary Education please visit

www.nape.org.uk

READING FOR PLEASURE : developing readers for life

Prof. TERESA CREMIN 

The lecture will explore the cognitive, social and emotional benefits of reading and in particular will focus on how, when teachers share their reading lives and books in common with children, new and closer relationships develop reader to reader and human to human.

The Annual Christian Schiller Lecture commemorates the work of an enlightened and inspirational figure in primary education, who was especially influential in the post-War years through to his death in 1976. It is fitting that this year the lecture is to be given by Prof. Teresa Cremin, one of the most articulate and distinguished figures in primary education, whose commitment to the creative dimension in education is very much in line with Schiller’s values. Teresa has written and edited nearly 30 books, including the forthcoming Experiencing Reading for Pleasure in the Digital Age (Sage, 2019); previous examples include Writer Identity and the Teaching and Learning of Writing, Teaching English Creatively ; Researching Literacy Lives; and Building Communities of Engaged Readers. All are welcome to this event.

You can find out more about Teresa Cremin and Reading for Pleasure on the Open University website

http://www.open.ac.uk/people/tmc242#tab1

https://researchrichpedagogies.org/research/team/reading-for-pleasure

National Association for Primary Education

Richard Gerver has been described as one of the most inspirational leaders of his generation. He is an award-winning speaker, bestselling author and world-renowned thinker.

Richard began his career in education, most notably as headmaster of the failing Grange Primary School. In just two years, famously transformed into one of the most acclaimed learning environments in the world. He was celebrated by UNESCO and the UK Government for its incredible turnaround.

Richard has since transitioned to the global stage where he uses his trademark humour and natural style to deliver passionate, provocative and authentic speeches. He draws upon the first-hand experiences and unique insights garnered from frontline education to explore the links between great leadership, human potential, change and innovation. His ability to connect experiences across many seemingly different environments helps people to expand their thinking and perception of potential. It is this authenticity and uniqueness which has helped Richard win him global acclaim and invitations to speak on the most recognised stages, including TED, the RSA and BBC radio.

The three core principles underpinning Richard’s philosophy are communication, empowerment and impact. He argues that great leadership is first and foremost about serving the needs of the people who work for you. His mantra: systems and structures change nothing; people do.

Having successfully transitioned from teacher to thought leader, Richard has had the opportunity to regularly advise governments and major corporations globally, including Google, Visa, Microsoft, Morgan Stanley, Deloitte, Harrods, Puig and Telefonica. His unique experience and insight into realising human potential also see him working in elite sport, with Olympic and Paralympic coaches, EPL Soccer coaches, England Golf and professional cricket teams. He has recently started working with the British music industry to help develop a capacity for forward, proactive and sustainable change.

Richard is also a bestselling author. His first book, Creating Tomorrow’s Schools Today (now in its second edition), has become a seminal text around the world for those engaged in the transformation of education. His other books are explorations of human potential, leadership and success. In Change and Simple Thinking, Richard explores the world beyond school, through the eyes of an educator. Both have received critical and public success; both achieving global bestseller status. All his books have been translated into a multitude of languages including Spanish, Chinese and Korean. Richard will also be publishing a new book: Education: A Manifesto for Change, to be published in April 2019, this book will explore how our school system can be made fit for purpose in our turbulent 21st-century world.

Most importantly, Richard is always humbled to be able to share his lifelong commitment to living, learning and laughing.

www.richardgerver.com

Twitter @richardgerver

We are taking a 2 week break for the Easter Holidays but will be back and revitalised in the summer term.

Remember to subscribe to the podcast on your favourite app or platform and to keep up to date with all the content sign up to the Education on Fire newsletter.

www.EducationOnFire.com

To find out more information about the Primary Music on Fire Membership Site click the link below. It is currently the cheapest price it will ever be available at so jump in now and find out more!

Primary Music on Fire

I would like to say a big thank you to NAPE for their support and sponsorship. It is because of them that Education on Fire can bring you so much FREE content and build this wonderful community, so please do join the newsletter on the link above to get all the inspiration you can.

In this episode Mark discusses his thoughts about the event and also provides an update on the Christian Schiller Lecture 2019 with guest speaker Prof. Teresa Cremin.

Christian Schiller Lecture 2019

FREE ENTRY but you are requested to register in advance by emailing name(s) and contact email addresses to nationaloffice@nape.org.uk (01604 647646)

MONDAY 29 APRIL 2019, 5.30pm – 6.45pm with registration and refreshments from 5.00pm

OXFORD BROOKES UNIVERSITY Harcourt Hill Campus, Harcourt Hill, Oxford OX2 9AT

‘The 4th Ultimate Wellbeing in Education Conference with Damian Hinds MP.

This landmark event will explore ways in which both student wellbeing and staff wellbeing can be improved in schools, colleges and universities.

Through discussions and advice from a range of leading wellbeing and education experts, delegates will leave with a thorough understanding of the need for wellbeing education and practical ideas on how to implement in their school.

Great networking opportunities will exist with IPEN members and senior leaders and teachers involved in the implementation and day to day management of wellbeing within their schools and universities.

This one-day event hosted by Sir Anthony Seldon (Vice Chancellor of the University of Buckingham, President of IPEN, and co-founder of Action for Happiness) the event will begin with a keynote address by the Secretary of State for Education, Damian Hinds MP.

https://neu.org.uk

https://www.meetwo.co.uk

Jonny Benjamin

John Perry 

It was such a delight to see one of their education projects in action and witness first hand how a yr3 class were captivated by the stories and history of such a magnificent historical landmark.

In this this episode you will hear from the teachers and children who took part in the tour around the Tower of London.

https://www.oxonheadsconf.org.uk

Below you can see the conference programme and links for those organisations who chatted to me on the podcast.

www.archoxfordshire.org.uk

https://one-eighty.org.uk

http://fabresearch.com/schoolsurveys.htm

Oxfordshire Outdoor Learning Trust

Layla Moran, MP for Oxford West & Abingdon

Layla Moran is a Physics teacher by profession, formerly working in a state secondary school, as a Head of Year in an international school and latterly with an Oxford-based Education organisation.

She read Physics at Imperial College and holds an MA in Comparative Education.  She is a school governor at a primary school in her constituency. Layla was inspired to go into politics by her passion to see that every child, no matter their background, should have a fair chance of making the best of this world. She overturned a 9,500 vote Conservative majority to win Oxford West & Abingdon in June 2017.  She is the Liberal Democrat spokesperson on Education, and sits also on the Public Accounts Select Committee.

Layla has an international background; she has lived in many countries including Belgium, Greece, Ethiopia, Jamaica and Jordan and speaks French fluently along with some Spanish, Arabic and Greek.

Baroness Floella Benjamin, OBE DL

 

 

 

 

 

National Association for Primary Education

Our aim is to achieve a higher priority for the education of children from birth to 13. High quality learning in the early years of life is vitally important to the creation of an educated society. Young children are not simply preparing for the future, they are living a never to be repeated time of life and the best way to learn is to live.

The pi-top Learning Framework has been designed by experienced teachers to offer a more effective way to situate, support and contextualise learning than traditional instructionist methods. The learning-by-making framework guides learners and de-silos subjects in a true STEAM approach, fostering the software, hardware, and fusion skills 22nd-century learners need.

Stuart joined pi-top in October 2017 where he creates learning and professional development experiences that align with his belief in student-centred, project-based Constructionist learning. Stuart qualified as a primary teacher in 1995 and holds a Bachelor of Education. During his school career, he led on music and ICT and developed a bespoke scheme of work for ICT that supported the wider curriculum through innovative, project-based learning.

In 2011, Stuart established an educational technology consultancy with a partner called IE Solutions which supported schools in the UK and abroad in the development and implementation of Computing curricula. In his role as Director, Stuart presented at global events including BETT and GESS. He also developed curriculum content and mapping for SAM Labs, KUBO and AtLab (Dubai).

Stuart is a certified trainer for LEGO Education and has regularly delivered training to teachers in both primary and secondary schools and to a diverse range of organisations. Stuart travels globally on behalf of LEGO Education, and has delivered keynotes, training and workshops in Europe, Africa, the Caribbean, and the Middle East.

www.pi-top.com

Here are the events, opportunities and details you need to keep up to date and get involved.

The 2019 Oxfordshire Headteachers’ Conference will take place at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, in Stratford-upon-Avon, on Wednesday 27 (commencing at 4pm), Thursday 28 February, and Friday 1 March (concluding at 1pm).

www.oxonheadsconf.org.uk

The 4th Ultimate Wellbeing in Education Conference.

A one-day event hosted by Sir Anthony Seldon (Vice Chancellor of the University of Buckingham, President of IPEN, and co-founder of Action for Happiness) and featuring a keynote address by the Secretary of State for Education, Damian Hinds MP.

The event will explore ways in which both student wellbeing and staff wellbeing can be improved in schools, colleges and universities. It will be of value to anyone with an interest in education, but particularly for those in the education sector or working with young people.

www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/ultimate-wellbeing-in-education-conference-tickets-55971147208

Get in touch for details about discounted tickets

nationaloffice@nape.org.uk

Primary Music on Fire

Please remember the NAPE podcast is released on a Wednesday and you can keep up to date by subscribing to the newsletter above.

National Association for Primary Education

Our aim is to achieve a higher priority for the education of children from birth to 13. High quality learning in the early years of life is vitally important to the creation of an educated society. Young children are not simply preparing for the future, they are living a never to be repeated time of life and the best way to learn is to live.

Below are some pictures of the events Mike talked about including the Dunblane Flame, Festival of Voices and our Primary First Journal.

National Association for Primary Education

Our aim is to achieve a higher priority for the education of children from birth to 13. High quality learning in the early years of life is vitally important to the creation of an educated society. Young children are not simply preparing for the future, they are living a never to be repeated time of life and the best way to learn is to live.

I am looking to share a weekly ray of sunshine for us all to enjoy that reminds us of why we are here supporting a child centred vision of learning. You might work in school, be a parent or family member. If it made your heart sing let me know.

If you would like to share it with me so I can read it out on the show in our new short feature please email:

mark@educationonfire.com

National Association for Primary Education

Our aim is to achieve a higher priority for the education of children from birth to 13. High quality learning in the early years of life is vitally important to the creation of an educated society. Young children are not simply preparing for the future, they are living a never to be repeated time of life and the best way to learn is to live.

You will have heard Mark many times on the podcast as he has discussed NAPE and interviewed guests, but today he talks about his life.

• A professional musician
• A music educator
• A creator/producer/host of the Education on Fire Podcast Network

The latest development in his life is to combine all of this experience and passion to create a membership site that supports teachers to embed music in their school.

Historic Royal Palaces is an independent charity that provides high quality cultural learning experiences for schools. At HRP our aim is to make the stories of our palaces relevant, accessible and enjoyable for all. We offer a programme of sessions across the key stages and in a range of subject areas, as well as CPD opportunities for teachers and a wealth of online learning resources for use in the classroom.

As Formal Learning Manager at Historic Royal Palaces, I manage the development and delivery of our schools provision across palaces (Tower of London; Hampton Court Palace; Kensington Palace, Kew Palace, Banqueting House Whitehall and Hillsborough Castle).

With over 16 years’ experience of teaching in schools, cultural and historic settings, I am personally driven by a passion for igniting that spark and enthusiasm for learning among young people. At the core of what I do is a desire to help empower young people to fulfil their potential, to understand the world around them and to find their place within it. I really enjoy the additional freedom you have within a heritage setting to experiment with approaches and to focus on adding a different dimension to what happens in schools. I believe heritage settings can offer a rich resource to teachers and can provide transformative experiences for pupils.

Find out more about what we offer here:

https://www.hrp.org.uk/schools/#gs.pnFbsEI

Join our Teachers Network here:

https://www.hrp.org.uk/schools/teacher-network/#gs.wbuHXVw

Find us on Twitter:

https://twitter.com/HRP_learning

Primary School children at Kensington Palace going down the stairs as part of a learning session.

http://watercitymusic.com

Steve has taken the lead in a new European project on developing independent learning – partnering with Dutch, Polish, Lithuanian and Portuguese schools.

It is called “Freedom Without Chaos”

These pictures are from the 1st transnational conference.

http://www.west-minster.kent.sch.uk/sheerness-west-federation-2/

Mark Taylor talks to founding NAPE member John Coe about his educational experiences, views and involvement with the National Association for Primary Education since 1980.

John Coe began teaching in Essex. After primary headships, first of a small rural school and then of an urban school serving an underprivileged community; he joined the West Riding of Yorkshire authority as Inspector of Schools. His second local authority appointment extended over 16 years as Senior Adviser to Oxfordshire. In 1984 he moved into Higher Education as Course Leader of the PGCE Primary Course at the London Institute of Education. A later move to Oxford Brookes University involved him in research and both initial and in-service education. He is a Fellow of the University and a founding member of NAPE.

Our aim is to achieve a higher priority for the education of children from birth to 13. High quality learning in the early years of life is vitally important to the creation of an educated society. Young children are not simply preparing for the future, they are living a never to be repeated time of life and the best way to learn is to live.

For more information click here

Today on the NAPE podcast we get some background on Information Officer – Peter Cansell.

Peter talks to Mark about his school experience, how he became a teacher and then a headteacher.

His route was less than traditional and these experiences have shaped his desire to support children to follow their passion.

Peter has been in education professionally for 35 years, teaching in middle schools in Oxford, doing advisory work, teaching higher education and as a Primary Headteacher at Harwell Primary School. He retired from that post in September 2014, but has continued as Chair of OPHTA (Oxfordshire Primary Headteachers’ Association), was elected to become Chair of the National Network of Chairs of Headteachers’ Groups in June 2014 and was delighted to have become a NAPE council member this year, serving on the editorial board for Primary First. In January of 2015 he co-founded the Oxford School of Thought, an independent education think tank. He is a trustee and chairs the management committee of another charity, Full Circle, which is well regarded for its ground breaking intergenerational work.

Our aim is to achieve a higher priority for the education of children from birth to 13. High quality learning in the early years of life is vitally important to the creation of an educated society. Young children are not simply preparing for the future, they are living a never to be repeated time of life and the best way to learn is to live.

For more information click here