Primary

Monday

4th Aug 2025

Teaching primary literacy: a recommended reading list
Ahead of curriculum changes and a new writing framework, Megan Dixon shares her recommended reading to support primary literacy teaching
Children on bench reading

Friday

11th Jul 2025

Why we teach mobile phone safety in KS1
With even the youngest primary learners increasingly likely to have their own mobile phones, teaching online safety can’t start too soon, explains Daniela Grasso

Thursday

10th Jul 2025

The over-simplified writing framework sidelines the key message
While there is much to applaud in the new primary writing framework, it deals with the most critical part of writing as an afterthought, argues Megan Dixon
Child handwriting

Wednesday

9th Jul 2025

What primaries in poor communities need from Labour
The government has pledged to break the link between a child’s background and their future success, but what do headteachers in England’s poorest communities need to help make this a reality? We speak to several to find out
Missing book

Tuesday

17th Jun 2025

How to boost children’s spatial skills - and their maths performance
Training children’s spatial abilities improves maths performance, studies show – and new research from the University of Surrey identifies practical teaching methods to do just that
spatial skills dinosaur

Monday

16th Jun 2025

How do you know if an intervention is worth doing?
A reading intervention doesn’t have to deliver improved progress to be worthwhile – if it tells us more about the pupil’s needs, it’s helpful, says Megan Dixon
Child in diagonal library

Tuesday

10th Jun 2025

5 ways to help children transition to Year 1
Effective transition from Reception should create a bridge between two worlds, says early years specialist Michelle Windridge, who sets out how to do this well
5 ways to help children transition to Year 1

Tuesday

3rd Jun 2025

Why phonics hasn’t won the reading wars - yet
While phonics is now universal in England’s schools, in other English-speaking countries the battle over the best way to teach reading is far from won. Holly Korbey investigates why
Reading wars phonics

Friday

30th May 2025

20 children’s books set in flats
In the move to diversify bookshelves, schools shouldn’t forget about representing different types of homes, writes Becka White, as she shares her list of recommendations
20 children’s books set in flats

Monday

12th May 2025

Why Sats aren’t a true reflection of achievement
Helping children to feel a sense of achievement is crucial, but Sats aren’t the means to this end, writes Megan Dixon
Child doing a forward roll

Thursday

24th Apr 2025

5 ways to develop revision skills in primary
It’s never too early to start developing independent learning, and simple strategies can help primary pupils to feel more confident about assessments, says this deputy head
How to teach revision skills in primary schools

Sunday

30th Mar 2025

3 research-backed tips to improve concentration in primary
The concept of building a ‘mental muscle’ in pupils has been challenged by recent research – so what are the best approaches for improving focus in the classroom?
Child concentrating while writing