We had an actual snow day today! School was closed! We never close! It was a blessing having a day to process the term so far and get loads of jobs done that needed to be done and were cluttering my mind, but not high priority. If I was in charge, I’d give every teacher a day mid-term just for this

I’m a teacher who lives in their schools catchment area on Halloween. Send help!

I don’t profess to know much about politics, and long ago lost all faith in any party to to put ‘the people’ first, but I do feel more hopeful watching and listening to Zack Polanski of the Green Party. I wonder if this might be the change we need 🤷‍♀️

Big ask! Has anyone got a copy of the contents of the disc for the Grammar for Writing DFEE 200 materials that they would be willing share please? I still have my book but the disc is missing 😞

Just said to my dog ‘mof in baf’. And he made his way to the bathroom and lied down on the bath mat. Proper Yorkshire dog #godsowncountry

I think we need a debate in this country about what education is for. We're lost in a spiral about driving up standards whilst knowing many find school a terrible ordeal. Why is that? Learning should be joyful and a continual part of life It's not just about turning out cogs for the economy.

A little pastel practice on this beautiful evening. This is a limited palette and exactly one hundred strokes, which appeals very much to my mathematical side (although my artist side is very annoyed at having to stop)

🌟My new book, 'Disciplinary literacy in primary schools,' is now a number one #bestseller on Amazon for teacher training.🌟 I am completely overwhelmed and filled with gratitude. Thank you to everyone who has supported it. #Teamprimary I am truly grateful. 🙏🏾 Out now!

What are Clips from the Classroom? Short videos showing evidence-informed strategies in action—created by Research Schools with support from @EducEndowFoundn For intro to #ClipsFromTheClassroom see here: educationendowmentfoundation.org.uk/news/clips-f...

THIS x 1,000,000. Honestly I don’t know who this person is (this clip popped up on social media) but I would vote for them tomorrow.

This comes from engagement work with teenage girls in a park in York. And you see all those things with two dots by them. Those make up 90%+ of what we currently provide for young people in public space. Whereas the things that girls want - they just aren't there. Let's do better.

1. A story. Please read. Reposts hugely appreciated on this. You'll see why in a bit. I was born in Pakistan and lived there until I was 4. My parents worked there as doctors. While we were there we were very close to a couple called Christine and Mike Miles.

This artwork was created about a month ago, but the Head Teacher has just sent me photos of it proudly displayed in the school hall. The KS2 children from Clapham Terrace Primary in Leamington spent 4 days creating these two pieces of work. www.darrellwakelam.com #edusky

The ancient Greeks did a pilot episode for this with a live audience and it brought the house down.

The Liverpool attack wasn’t terrorism. But the far-right didn’t wait for facts – they had a script ready. This piece by The Bear cuts through the noise to show how outrage is manufactured. Read how this works ⤵️ @eastangliabylines.co.uk @bearlypolitics.co.uk

Just listening to Lightning Seed’s Jollification for the first time in ages and feeling very lucky to have had my teenage years in the 90’s. Great music. Big indie pop fan still in my 40’s. I wonder if every generation thinks the same..

Sure Start centres saved UK government £2 for every £1 spent, study finds New Labour initiative created ‘remarkably long-lasting’ health and education improvements, says report and the Tories destroyed them www.theguardian.com/education/20...

Hello 👋🏻 I’ve just taken over as reading lead and am trying to get my head around best practice in Y2 as they transition out of phonics. What does your reading structure look like in Y2? Do you read in small groups or do you move to whole class reading? Any advice will be much appreciated!

#Teaching #Teacher

Just listened to the recent podcast on Mind the Gap with @emmaturner75.bsky.social and @mrswilkinson.bsky.social about disciplinary literacy in primary. I can’t wait to take these ideas back into school this week and have preordered Shareen’s book. Would highly recommend giving this a listen 🤩

Here's the pitch: Almost every primary school I've encountered is worried about the effectiveness of their approach to teaching reading after phonics and whether it provides pupils with engaging reading experiences. My book offers a tried-and-tested alternative.

So excited for Wheel of Time season 3. I’ve read these books over and over for the last 25 years. It’s fantastic seeing them on screen #wheeloftime

Does anyone know when the curriculum and assessment review interim report will be released? #EduSky

Primary people - do you use the same text for teaching reading in reading lessons and for your class reader or two different ones? Trying to work out the best approach!

On order… arriving tomorrow 👍🏻

🌊 The person doing the work is the person doing the learning. In your classroom, who’s hoisting the sails and steering the ship? How do you ensure students are actively engaged in their own learning journey? 🚢 #EdTechCruise

tbpottery.co.uk (my OH, not me!) has been busy at Christmas Fairs, in Marazion Gallery & online but there's still some stock in his online shop - unique, handmade vases, bowls, mugs, ramekins, spoon rests & candle holders. Can still be ordered in time for 25 Dec. RPs appreciated #pottery

#EduSky check out the fabulous Research Schools who have headed over here: @norfolkrs.bsky.social @elresearchsch.bsky.social @blackpoolrs.bsky.social @mancomrs.bsky.social @bradresearchsch.bsky.social @staffordshirers.bsky.social @greenshawrs.bsky.social @townendresearch.bsky.social

✨ It’s 1st December which means… it’s time for our BIG CHRISTMAS BOOK GIVEAWAY!!!!!! ✨ If you’d like to WIN all of these festive books just: 🎄 Like 🎄 Repost by 15.12.24 🎄 UK only Good luck! And Merry Christmas!!!

As I have somehow surpassed 7k followers on here I thought it might be nice to do a giveaway: All 7 of my books to one lovely winner. Just share and like to be in with a chance! 😁📚

Primary teachers - do you teach the wider curriculum subjects as short blocks e.g. teach a history unit for two weeks then a science unit for two weeks etc or teach every subject each week (but vary history/geography or art/DT each half term)? What are the benefits? Pitfalls?

If anyone gets the chance to work with @emmaturner75.bsky.social I would highly recommend you grasp the opportunity with both hands! She’s been an absolute godsend these last two days helping us to develop a plan to improve T&L across the school. She’s also an absolute pleasure to work with 🤩

New blog, "The lost art of planning". thinkingflexibly.com/2024/10/18/t...

Is it usual for secondary schools to have a ‘passport to prom’ which specifies 95% attendance for 3xweekly P6 lessons? My daughter is doing her Duke of Edinburgh award and needs to volunteer. This takes place after school but clashes with P6. Many of her friends have jobs after school too 🤷‍♀️

bsky.app/profile/thee... Ooh, fantastic to see @theeef.bsky.social join bsky! 👏

Here's a review of England's curriculum reforms 10 years on #nzpol schoolsweek.co.uk/curriculum-r...

I’m looking for a little bit of help. Does anyone have national data for EYFS (GLD, all goals, prime, specific) for years 2022, 2023, 2024. Is this even available? I’m trying to put a headline data doc together but don’t have a decent assessment database in place at our school…yet. Thanks in advance

Wonderful to be visiting Greenwood Academy in Birmingham today as we launch the Curriculum & Assessment Review's Call for Evidence. It’s imperative that we hear perspectives and evidence from as wide a range of people as possible. I look forward to reading the responses! www.gov.uk/government/n...

*NEW POST* Writing a wrong? What’s happened to KS2 writing results pre- and post-pandemic www.insightinform.co.uk/2024/09/23/w...

Bluesky now has over 10 million users, and I was #6,121,788!

Has anyone written about approaches to appraisal following new government guidance? 🍎🎓

I sometimes get asked about the common issues I see across primary schools and the kind of support I offer as a result. This brief blog explains this stuff. This is my first new blog on Blue Sky so reposts much appreciated. primarycolour.home.blog/2024/09/08/h...

A mini holiday to Edinburgh before the start of term. Never been before. It’s a beautiful city ❤️

Six years ago, literally nobody asked me what my advice would be for new teachers starting in September. So I told them. And now, years later, still nobody has asked me. So here it is again 👇🏽 #uked #ukteaching #edusky

Hi UK teachers/schools/librarians! I’ve got ONE signed and dedicated copy of my spooky book to giveaway! No need to follow me - this isn’t Twitter, dahhlings - just share/tag some pals and I’ll choose a winner on 30.8.24! #EduSky #PrimaryEduSky #BookSky #Skybrarians #UKEd #KidLit

So I win today right…

Just posted new blog on Bluesky and not (yet) on Twitter. Be interesting to see engagement. Will I fold and put it on Twitter too? Please help me avoid the temptation by reposting here! primarytimery.com/2024/08/25/o...