Lift Lessons

As the NHS struggles to cope with the surging flu outbreak, some suggest shutting schools as a fire break. But as Covid taught us, this would have huge ramifications for both children & families. That decision should only ever be taken if it has become impossible to staff a school safely.

Economic growth no longer linked to carbon emissions in most of the world, study finds Analysis marking 10 years since Paris climate agreement underscores effectiveness of strong government policies

In the last decade 21 countries have
been able to grow economically while reducing emissions including Australia, Colombia, Egypt, Mexico & South Africa.

US, Japan, Canada and most EU countries consistently achieved decoupling in the decades before & after 2015
www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Does your school have a great #PastoralCare idea that deserves recognition?

ENTER/NOMINATE NOW! 'Pastoral Development of the Year' Award🏆

Enter the National Awards for Pastoral Care in Education 2026 here: https://www.napce.org.uk/national-awards-for-pastoral-care-in-education-2026-entry-now-open

I also had a positive experience in A&E recently. 4 hours, a CT scan to check for brain bleed and stroke, loads of tests. Sent home with - Labyrinthitis, which was awful but not as bad as they initially thought.
All for free.
Privatising the NHS would be tragic.

Video shows moment skydiver cuts himself free from tangled parachute Australia's transport safety investigator has released video footage of a skydiver cutting himself free from his parachute after it became snagged on a plane wing in mid-air.

Amazing story, but needs to come with a health warning for anyone with a fear of heights 😦
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-12...

‘Rigid’ behaviour policies under fire in safeguarding review ‘Zero-tolerance’ discipline risks harming vulnerable students at London academy, finds independent report

This is unacceptable.

We already know children with speech and language challenges are being unfairly punished at school.
Two million children are facing this – children need support, not sanctions.

✍️ Sign our petition and change this today!
https://bit.ly/3KoEm97

A flyer about the new book called "A way with words" about the development of speech therapy in Vietnam

Excited to promote this new book from Sue Woodward and Janella Christie of the Trinh Foundation Australia. "A way with words" chronicles the development of the #slp #SLT profession in Vietnam. #bskyspeechies

Brilliant to see. We always knew Concept Cat was good.
Well done to you and @lang4think.bsky.social

Wow! When an experienced teacher writes a summary of our work (without any input from us) and it is so spot on we know we are getting it right.
Thank you to Claire Stanley from Goodway Nursery School and @midlandssph.bsky.social.
Concept Cat is now one of @theeef.bsky.social's promising programmes!

I read 80 books this year! Check out my entire reading list and some ideas on how to read more books here:
incidentalcomics.substack.com/p/my-year-in...

Labour’s holiday homework: solve the problem of special needs education | The Observer

I wrote for @theobserveruk.bsky.social on the special needs problem highlighted by the budget and the big political battle over it coming next year.

share.google/kTTENR1gX4Y4...

Such a brilliant idea

Part of our 2025 Advent Calendar, a black and white line drawing showing my version of Bigfoots wearing wintery clothes and bearing various wrapped Christmas presents.

Every year we make a free-to-download-and-print-off-yourself colouring-in Advent Calendar. This year’s heavily features Bigfoots. Please share!
Download it for free here… www.worldofmoose.com/pages/2025-b...

#SEND need to be a little higher up the government's agenda. Time for a little activism!
Read the report: speechandlanguage.org.uk/how-to-spend...
Sign up to send the report to Rachel Reeves.
speechandlanguage.eaction.org.uk/fight-for-or...

A screenshot of the article title, highlights, and other information.

Excited to share a new paper by my grad student and myself, highlighting how classroom experiences such as positive classroom climate relate to changes in STEM motivational beliefs across the semester 🤸‍♀️🎉https://authors.elsevier.com/a/1m8Px,8E16MF-A

One week to go until next week's Word Aware whole school vocabulary course. Suitable for teachers of all types as well as SaLT. Tried and tested, so you know it will impact on children!
Online and good value.
thinkingtalking.co.uk/finding-a-wo...

💡Don’t forget to join tomorrow’s Wednesday webinar!

⏰4-5pm

📲Register here: tinyurl.com/2p9jd8my

#earlyyears #education #abrighterstart #teaching #nursery #practitioners #ShREC #teachers

Well, with the best advisers ever!

Vocabulary is crucial to accessing science, but it is abstract and challenging for many. Lift Lessons resources make all of the difference. Check them out today. Free 7 day trial too.
www.naplic.org.uk/membership/

Poetry Comics Month, Day 15

💜What does it mean if your sibling has DLD?
This books explains a diagnosis & gives them words to explain it to others.
💛 Looks at skills they have as a sibling & how to look after themselves.
💜 Available via online retailers.
My brother has DLD amzn.eu/d/8Hyb20V
My sister has DLD amzn.eu/d/dbF0oIT

At a rugby club in small-town Leicestershire. This was on the window ledge in the toilet. Fearing the worst, I scanned the QR & opened it in an incognito window…

It’s a link to Amnesty International’s explainer on asylum & refugees 😍

List of countries by renewable electricity production - Wikipedia

This is a pleasant surprise.
10 countries have 100% renewable electricity. Including 4 in Africa.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...

Parents! Carers! Anyone looking after children this half-term! If, like, me, you're looking for some easy, fun, educational activities to do, let me remind you of this thread of FREE videos of TOYS you can make, all of which work using some sort of scientific principle and involve some ENGINEERING

🚨 Wide gaps in waiting times for a SEND diagnosis by socio-economic background 🚨

Our new research shows that middle-class parents have shorter waiting times for formal SEND diagnoses than working-class parents.

More from our work on the SEND system 👇

www.suttontrust.com/our-research...

Guest Blog: Developmental Language Disorder: what it is, how to identify it and how it is linked to dyslexia. - Louise Selby Dyslexia Specialist Developmental Language Disorder (DLD) is one of the most common yet least known neurodevelopmental conditions, affecting around two children in every classroom. Like dyslexia, it runs in families, has...

Last week we celebrated DLD (developmental language disorder) awareness day which was much needed.
Huge thanks to Stephen Parsons for writing a guest blog on this subject. Please share!
#DLD #dyslexia #neurodiversity

louiseselbydyslexia.com/guest-blog-d...

Already starting to think about next year! #DLDday 2026! 💛The post by @official_jfhasselbaink & @laurenmayoakley feels like something major has happened this year.💜 I’m sure he has been inundated with requests already!! (Both welcome to join us in Brum next year!!) #devlangdis #birmingham

#DLDday is wonderful!
But we need to keep raising awareness of Developmental Language Disorder (DLD) so we can have a far bigger impact.
Sign up to become a RADLD ambassador.
radld.org/get-involved...
#DevLangDis

It's crucial that the Government gets the schools white paper right. We need more thinking around solutions for children with different types of speech and language challenges so every child can thrive.

Share our alternative white paper with your MP⬇️ bit.ly/4gEPhXQ

These are a joy