Ms H

Yes please!

That toolkit sounds brilliant, is there a way that anyone can access it?

Great opportunity to plea for more support for KS1 with this fantastic guidance. #KS1 #play #continuousprovision

You're absolutely spoilt for choice. Anywhere on Cothom Hill and lots of options in Stokes croft.

Looking for an early writing rope diagram, thinking shoulder girdle strength, GPC, etc. I've made my own crude version but keen to see other ideas. #eyfs

British.

99.9% sure I'm going to join @greenparty.org.uk but just querying education policy. 3 brief but big idea bullet points on education on their website, plus promise of universal childcare. Anything else I'm missing?

New blog
ruthswailes.com/handwriting-readiness-and-rhythm-finding-balance-between-policy-and-practice/

Haven't tried it yet as I REFUSE to spend the first week of school doing anything other than getting to know the children. Boring, pointless and a great way to make children bored. Dreading the WiFi in our creaky Victorian school...

In our phonics planning for the first few weeks, we think about rhyming songs and games that the children would enjoy. Ofsted seemed happy with that last year. More support/training needed for newer teachers (and Ofsted?!) to understand and justify pre phonics skills?

We're playing staff cluedo for the first two weeks of term and it is disturbing how devious my lovely colleagues can be! Wanted to play it on for ages and it's going brilliantly. Highly recommended!

Nigel Farage uses private company to pay less tax on GB News earnings Exclusive: Reform leader’s use of personal services firm is a practice criticised across the political spectrum

Since this is apparently a resigning matter, I’ll just leave this here…

www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

I'm genuinely interested in rationale behind such a speedy start. Bristol positive transitions doc recommend a staggered start for all. Great document!

How do people manage the whole class all in on the first day?! 🤯 More importantly, that can't be beneficial for the children.

1/ Michael Gove reshaped English education more than any minister since 1944. His reforms continue to structure the present despite many changes of Government. A thread.

Brilliant thread on how GMS is absent when actually it should be at the forefront. Ironically this new framework making me reflect and adapt planning to push GMS even more!

The Ultimate Guide to Mark Making in the Early Years book by Sue Cowley

Since the DfE's new writing framework seriously downplays the importance of emergent writing, I'm giving away a free copy of my book on mark making because it 100% *does* matter! ☺️

Like and repost to enter. Winner announced next Thursday. #EduSky #giveaway #freebie

Exclusive: Ruth Miskin announces new handwriting programme for schools – days after government reveals new focus on handwriting, following her advice
educationuncovered.co.uk/news/ruth-mi...
Rival phonics publishers furious about what one described as “institutional capture” of DfE policymaking.

Looking at this it seems possible that the “they all forget everything over the summer holidays” mantra is a myth. Fact is, they struggle to learn anything in the second half of the summer term.

This is from the DfE writing framework about early mark making and quite frankly I think it's unevidenced nonsense.

"However, unlike babies babbling before they speak, ‘emergent writing’ is not a necessary stage that children have to go through before they can be taught to write letters and words."

The English Association also offers some scepticism/criticism of current versions of “knowledge-rich” approaches to English, despite the review having embraced this term. Both associations also critical of the phonics screening check.

Bin bags, chutney (for sandwiches and dinners designed for 10 year olds), a cafetiere and the good coffee.

Poverty is a political choice, and this Government could be making different ones.

Tax the super-rich properly. Don't punish disabled people.

Rubbish half term weather doing wonders for my report writing! So much easier when there's no temptation of a sunny garden.

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

Another study showing the positive impact of EY on lifelong outcomes. Why is it so radical to invest in something with proven impact? Big opportunity for this labour gov to be bold...

Sure Start centres saved UK government £2 for every £1 spent, study finds www.theguardian.com/education/20...

In light of some recent nonsense, I’ve written about writing.

ruthswailes.com/whats-in-a-n...

Agreed, but still important and will get people talking.

Can you be a good teacher if you don’t have kids? Yes, unequivocally. What a stupid question. Of course you can. Likewise, you can be a good school leader if you don’t have kids. But teachers who don’t have children are often treated differently i…

I wrote this last year but it’s worth sharing again. I heard a similar thing to this again today (not from colleagues in my own school) It’s so, so frustrating this viewpoint lingers. Insidious and deeply depressing.
birminghamteacher.wordpress.com/2024/06/15/c...

Sharing this as the research article on our weekly bulletin. Thank you. Think I read it last year too - over on the other place?

Some great work happening in Bristol to support Y1. Wellbeing is definitely a positive impact I've observed in play based Y1.