Love this- wish I’d read it at 13!

Poetry is the key to unlocking creativity in thought and language! 26th November ⬇️ with my wonderful colleague @lauraspargo.bsky.social

Unmissable with @lauraspargo.bsky.social presenting! @thinktalkleah.bsky.social @juliesargent.bsky.social @englishassociation.bsky.social @justimaginecentre.bsky.social @uklitassociation.bsky.social @natefeed.bsky.social 👇👇👇👇👇

What a joy to present the @openingdoors.bsky.social approach to ambitious English at Worcestershire’s ‘Write to Inspire’ conference alongside one of my heroes, Debra Myhill. Huge thanks to Jessica Blakeman and all attendees who kept thinking, reading, writing with me up to 4pm! 🙏🏼

This is a good round up. Anyone who tries to say ‘teachers work so hard we can’t reform the system’ isn’t speaking for me. I’ve been working within but railing against the system for most of my career!

'But pleasure — true pleasure — is a multitudinous and ferocious thing.' Katherine Rundell, wise and ferocious on reading for pleasure. So worth reading. www.thetimes.com/uk/get-brita...

Amazing event! Thankyou 🙏🏼

The #ReconstructingReading online festival takes place during the week of 17th November. @literacy-trust.bsky.social have put together a line-up of outstanding speakers. Tickets are available for individual sessions or the entire week. More info here: literacytrust.org.uk/training-and...

How amazing is this! Live online masterclass and free teaching and learning materials. @openingdoors.bsky.social schools should lap this up! literacytrust.org.uk/programmes/y...

Bloody brilliant 👇

Comments and pictures from the superb @englishassociation.bsky.social ‘Opening Doors’ conference. Scroll to autumn term news. www.searchingforexcellence.co.uk

Looking for routes to ambitious English? Rich, cost-effective resources? Case studies from our UK network? Do contact me😃 Pictured is last week’s @englishassociation.bsky.social conference searchingforexcellence.co.uk

Thanks! ⬇️🎃

Dropped in my inbox courtesy of Poetry by Heart. What a voice of playful disturbance. poetrybyheart.org.uk/poems/we-rea...

Spot on as ever ☺️

💡Poetry, prose & penny dreadfuls. A wonderful way to end the afternoon, hearing how @ipatedu.bsky.social have created exciting writing opportunities using the Opening Doors strategies. The OD team are feeling inspired! @openingdoors.bsky.social @thinktalkleah.bsky.social @juliesargent.bsky.social

📚❤️ Could there be a better end to the day than taking the "blue book" (i.e. everything you need to know about Opening Doors) to the @britishlibrary.bsky.social? @openingdoors.bsky.social @thinktalkleah.bsky.social @juliesargent.bsky.social #edusky #primaryenglish #reading #writing

Do scroll down my feed today to see so many examples of teachers passionately presenting their routes to excellence for all, with a bit of help from the ‘Opening Doors’ team. Big thanks to Dr Becky Fisher @englishassociation.bsky.social for backing our work.

Poetry as the master key to unlocking creative thinking through language at Blackfield Primary @openingdoors.bsky.social @englishassociation.bsky.social What a metaphor!

A journey of innovation for pupils and teachers @openingdoors.bsky.social from Inspire Partnership @englishassociation.bsky.social conference ☺️

Penn Wood sharing their journey of Opening Doors through high quality texts - inspiring! @openingdoors.bsky.social #Openingdoors

The pitch of Year 6 Reading into writing at Mulgrave Primary @openingdoors.bsky.social @englishassociation.bsky.social conference ☺️

Mulgrave Primary kick off! High pitch global English 🌍 @openingdoors.bsky.social @englishassociation.bsky.social

We are off! @openingdoors.bsky.social conference thanks to @englishassociation.bsky.social All presentations by creative, critical practitioners in schools

*NEW* @openingdoors.bsky.social writing hub opened at Richmond Hill Primary near Doncaster. High pitch, inclusive teaching seen live in classrooms and rich professional exploration of texts and ideas. A wonderful group of teachers and leaders ☺️🙏🏼

@marymyatt.bsky.social @mradamkohlbeck.bsky.social @nicolamansfield.bsky.social @teresacremin.bsky.social @justimaginecentre.bsky.social @lauraspargo.bsky.social @thinktalkleah.bsky.social @juliesargent.bsky.social @piecorbett.bsky.social @raesnape.bsky.social

I know this is obvious when you think about it but we don’t think about it enough: fascists have to cow & persecute decent journalists to prevent them from reporting exactly what they, the fascists, are doing. Fascist-adjacent ‘journalists’ help by insisting that we shouldn’t call fascists facsists.

😳What an incredible resource!!

My article from the Sept issue of online children's books mag Books for Keeps: "Shirley Hughes once talked to me about depth in children’s illustration. She was a great admirer of Edward Ardizzone because you could ‘walk into’ his pictures in your imagination..." booksforkeeps.co.uk/article/pict...

@bphillipsonmp.bsky.social Dear Ms Phillipson, I have no idea who you are getting your advice on literacy from. But can I suggest you speak to some of the internationally respected reading researchers we have in the UK. They will be much better informed. @rickettslara.bsky.social

A sensitive way to explore migration through reading and writing poetry. Beautiful poem by Nicola Davies, learning journey by me, courtesy of the wonderful @crownhousepub.bsky.social

Opening Doors event in Newham! 🤩⬇️

www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025... Channel 4 are my public service broadcaster. Hard to stay sane without them at the moment

See home page for two new hubs welcoming bookings, one in Yorkshire and one in Buckinghamshire. Contact me for support for excellence for all:principles and strategies www.searchingforexcellence.co.uk

Sounds brilliant!

Very proud to have ‘Opening Doors’ on this list amidst many great titles. 👇👇👇

*NEW* Raising Standards in Writing at KS2 @openingdoors.bsky.social Hub at Richmond Hill School Doncaster starts Oct 3rd. "I have rediscovered a passion and joy for teaching writing," "Children are more motivated to write and outcomes for all have improved - especially lower attainers." Join us...

Last call for Oct 7th London conference - @openingdoors.bsky.social Opening Doors to Excellence for All: new routes to Exciting English, enabled by @englishassociation.bsky.social . Less than 10 places available. Great value - all workshops presented by schools www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/opening-do...

*NEW* Opening Doors CPD Hub at Burford School nr Marlow Buckinghamshire launches Nov 5th with yours truly. How do we include all children in a rich and ambitious English curriculum? It's where the Becky Francis CAR will take us...join us for face to face creativity and collaboration.

The finest response I've seen so far.

Wonderful whimsical fun! @openingdoors.bsky.social - remind you of an Opening Doors unit??

Fans of the Oracy Commission Podcasts? For MORE on really raising standards through talk, visit our Let's Think Through Education Podcast. Secondary English - try Matthew Hamblin. Primary-Tom Leigh or Louise Trim. Inclusive acceleration of reading through talk - yours truly. Feedback welcome!

Thanks for sharing 🙏🏼 How not to ignore the flags

Any bright ideas what to do when the flags spread in your community? I’m thinking of investing in Amnesty international stickers to emphasise the British spirit that I identify with. More peaceful than taking a pair of scissors to them?

Superbly useful review of DfE writing framework from Debra Myhill. We are nurturing writers, not pieces of writing

Great way to start Year 11 or 13 - return to set texts already taught and write a poetic monologue from a character’s perspective 🤩

THIS, everyone, THIS. For pupil learning, teacher learning, teacher planning for learning to happen…

A deeply rational and reasonable man. When an autocrat raises a loyal militia…

Megan Dixon, Associate Lecturer at @sheffieldhallamuni.bsky.social, shares her suggestions in @tesmagazine.bsky.social: tes.com/magazine/tea... 2/2

"If you are looking to refresh your thinking on teaching primary literacy, ready for the promised curriculum changes, the renewed focus on EYFS the next version of the writing framework, here are a selection of reads that I have found both enjoyable & thought-provoking..." Megan Dixon 1/2