THREAD. A collection of photographs of excellent trees I have met on walks. You will find the all-important captions to each photo in the alt text.

I adore Jessie Buckley so I'm desperate to watch the film adaptation of Hamnet. But I also love Maggie O'Farrell as an author & don't know how Hamnet escaped me. However, I read it eventually, spurred on by the film. It's a stunning, emotional book. I fell for Agnes so much. Much recommended.

📣 READ IT FORWARD! 📣 10% of ALL children’s book sales through Bookshop.org UK go to reading charities @booktrust.org.uk and @scottishbooktrust.bsky.social in February 2026, and EVERY sale supports independent bookshops 📚https://uk.bookshop.org/lists/read-it-forward-with-bookshop-org

Morning all! I’m supporting #ReadItForward! Pre-order my book, the Street Art Mystery, (out next week, eeek) and @bookshop.org will donate 10% to @booktrust.org.uk and @scottishbooktrust.bsky.social - uk.bookshop.org/p/books/the-... << thank you xx

A lack of diversity, primary specialists (esp KS1 and EYs), SEND and a lack of experience working in the north of England. This was the chance for fresh eyes. But, instead we have the same people who have worked on all of this before. A missed opportunity. bsky.app/profile/scho...

**UPDATED POST** Sunday morning spent reading Tree Thing. What a well spent morning too. Such a beautifully illustrated book. Kiran Millwood Hargreave says on the front 'an exquisite fable' and there is no better description. Can't wait to take this into class.

Thorough, excellent guidance for all English Subject Leaders. And it works! Thanks Megan 👏

Just read Dream Count. The writing itself is beautiful but I found it a struggle at times. I wanted more of the story of the four characters than their romantic relationships. These women are so much more. The middle section with Kadiatou is however gut-wrenching and a story endlessly repeated irl.

Sky News: Danish PM Mette Freideriksen’s note in the visitors book when she visited UK today

This is excellent 👌

Looks very useful across the curriculum, particularly for new subject leaders.

Book delivery! Looking forward to reading Tree Thing, new from Piers Torday. It looks superbly illustrated. #readingforpleasure

This is not far enough. BBC News - Elon Musk's Grok AI image editing limited to paid users after deepfakes www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

🎉📢Voice 21 hopes that all UK teachers are settling into the new term! 😅Still struggling to find your classroom voice in the new year? Then check out these five top tips for new oracy leads and practitioners👇 voice21.org/five-top-tip...

Adore this! First day back Tuesday sorted. I have a number of not publishable personal resolutions in the manner of these 🫣😉. I want some fun in the classroom to usher in 2026 so this is a great help & prompt from Brian.

I am writing. Part 1. The tragedy of hidden schools, in hidden communities meganjanedixon.co.uk/2026/01/03/p...

A colleague recommended this on a recent course where the impact of technology on young minds was discussed. This is worth reading from a social media viewpoint. Many UK schools have already adopted phone in pouches etc but parents need to feel able to do more (I do!) supported by big tech & gov.

I am writing - here is my first blog of 2026. This year will be the year where I write all those things I promised myself I would write, when I had the time. Now I have the time. meganjanedixon.co.uk/2026/01/02/p...

Very much looking forward to the National Year of Reading in 2026! I mean, every year is a year of reading for me but anything that gives me the platform to bang on about the importance of reading in schools is always welcome. #nationalyearofreading share.google/Z1zERzIfZiFm...

This from @markgoodrich.bsky.social, is one of the only reasons I've found where I wish I were still on twitter - so I could share it to encourage others to leave open.substack.com/pub/markgood...

Holidays have allowed me time to really get into this novel. It's a weighty tome and being able to be lost in it has been well worth it. The scope and complexity is mesmerising. It is an absolute standout read of the year.

Our Boxing Day Book Swap tradition continues thanks to the book elf (me 😆). For Dad: Buckeye by Patrick Ryan For Mum: Dream Count by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie Eldest daughter: Girl (in real life) by Tamsin Winter Youngest daughter: Hotel Flamingo by Alex Milway. I'm sure I'll read them all!

Loving sharing this with my little one 💕 #advent #littlepeoplebigdreams #readerteacher #readingforpleasure

‘Schools can contribute, but they cannot carry this alone’: Luke Ramsden of the Schools Consent Project warns about the expectations placed on schools under the government’s new strategy to tackle violence against women and girls

This profit comes from schools. Ofsted and the DFE insist that schools pay vast sums for these products. Yet- schools budgets are decimated. The DFE has the moral and ethical responsibility to produce a product for schools that they do not have to pay for. bsky.app/profile/warw...

I've been reading Blue Sisters by Coco Mellors and I really enjoyed it. I'm a sucker for a front cover and I love the portrait on the front! The book is captivating as it says underneath though, a story of sisters, addiction, grief and difficult family relationships.

Afternoon reading as recommend by Ruth Swailes on her Wirral Early Years sessions #eyfs #readerteacher

The curriculum and assessment review marks a shift in how we understand the term ‘knowledge-rich’ that could have big implications for schools, writes @damsoned.bsky.social

I recently finished Jakub's Otter. Just gorgeous. Lovely story of a young carer learning to carry just a little less on his young shoulders. Wonderful book for building empathy. #readingforpleasure

I've been reading A Mind of My Own by Kathy Burke. It's great when you read a book and hear it in your head in the writer's voice. This book was a like a memory trip round my old stomping ground, Angel. Despite living literally round the corner I never seemed to make it to the Old Red, shame.

A great way to celebrate poetry in schools! The Young Poet Laureate Programme kicks off with the first Young Poets Week during the week of 24th Nov. Free online sessions for KS2/KS3 pupils plus free resources. Thank you @literacy-trust.bsky.social. Info here: literacytrust.org.uk/programmes/y...

Orbital has been sat in my TBR for a while. I bought it for my husband and it just didn't click for him so I didn't rush to read it. But for me, it clicked. I thought it was heavenly, ethereal and intensely calming.

These would make such a brilliant writing stimulus for a story setting. Detailed images of the insides of musical instruments. #writingforpleasure www.instagram.com/p/DQT-IMGiE9...

The last four weeks have been a shocking and often infuriating insight into how Government failed so many children during a national time of crisis. www.centreforyounglives.org.uk/news-centre/...

🚨 NEW POST 🚨 ‘What do we mean by high expectations?’ “If we don't break down high expectations into things we think and do (often as a relentless habit), then it becomes an empty platitude.” alexquigley.co.uk/what-do-we-m...

One of my TAs is enjoying reading the books I have in my room. In return she loaned me The Lotterys Plus One. I enjoyed it so much & loved this diverse family. Families aren't perfect but we can learn a lot about each other's differences from The Lotterys. I'd like to live in their house please!

The two most amazing people have joined my class on supply working as TAs.They painted this brilliant bookshelf for the bottom of our new reading display. I can't begin to describe how transformative they've been with their 1:1 children. Some people are golden. I hope we can keep them in school 🙏

This is fairly simple & easy to grasp. Children develop at different rates. They also go through physical, cognitive & emotional developmental stages at particular ages.Not all children in a school year group are at the same stage at the same time. Why does the DfE & government not understand this?

I've been enjoying Anzu and the Realm of Darkness. It has gone straight to the top spot of most in-demand books in class! #readingforpleasure

I've been dying to get my hands on a copy of How Was That Built? Trying to have a push on reading across the curriculum and this week we are looking at pulleys so the perfect opportunity to delve into this. Can't wait to read more and see what else this book has to offer #readingacrossthecurriculum

Thought-provoking and fascinating. Early years teachers are utterly inspiring. Taking so much from today back to the KS2 bubble I currently reside in. We can learn a lot from our colleagues. Thanks @ruthswailes.bsky.social!

Piers visited my daughter's school today! Currently trying to figure out how I can manage to wait until she has finished reading before I can get my mitts on her copy Midnight Treasure! She has informed me the visit was REALLY interesting 😊

This week, I've been reading Small Wonder by Ross Montgomery. I might have been ever so slightly late to work finishing it as I couldn't put it down and my class were desperate to get their hands on it! I loved it. #readingforpleasure

When poetry and information texts meet, the outcome is superb! Fantastic book from @brianbilston.bsky.social and Joe Berger. This is going to be very much enjoyed in school and across the curriculum 😊 Thoroughly recommend adding this to your school library. #poetryforpleasure

Wholeheartedly agree!

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 Heads in Wales are now not to be contacted at weekends or in the holidays – could other parts of the UK bring in the same policy?

Your 2026 UKLA Book Awards Longlists are here - the only national children’s book awards judged by teachers! This year they feature books in translation, past winners, exciting debuts and a huge range of genres and themes. Click here to see the full Longlists: ukla.org/ukla-book-aw...

Sounds like another must-read from Tom Percival!

This also seems like a good time to share that we have changed how we are recording reading this year to use The Reading Journey. One week in and impressed so far. The children are able to build their online bookshelves that we discuss in book club time, as well as the teacher's own shelf.