There is less than three months before GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) comes into force. From my experience of working with schools and academies, a high proportion of them will not fully comply by the 25th May when GDPR, (encompassed in the new Data Protection Bill), becomes law. Progress towards compliance is good in schools and academies because there is a strong understanding and commitment towards safeguarding, meeting policies, procedures and standards that are reviewed by OFSTED / ISI Inspections. Read more

The ability to tell a great story is a wonderful skill to have. We all know people who can make us laugh or cry by relating their tales of joy, woe or even something seemingly mundane! Read more

Is there anything more interesting than playing with light? As adults, we use light to create a mood, a sense of comfort and cosiness; is it any wonder that light is so appealing and calming for young children too? In this post, I want to share with you some ways we use light up learning in our setting. Read more

Despite the digital age we are in, most writing tasks in primary schools are performed on paper, with a pen or pencil. Handwriting still forms an integral part of our education system, which means children who are unable to write quickly and legibly are at a disadvantage. Alfie, age 10, talks about how he struggles with handwriting but also, how he is improving his skills. Read more

When I first suggested that we should get a school dog, it was a throw away comment at the end of a staff meeting.  It was met with a laugh and a general feeling that the suggestion, although lovely, would never come about.  Still, as the weeks passed, I couldn’t shake it.  I found myself saying, whenever a situation involving wellbeing arose, that a school dog would be perfect for soothing a frustrated teacher, or comforting an upset child. Chetwynd Primary Academy shares their story. Read more

Chinese New Year is a very important and exciting holiday in China. It is celebrated by getting together with family and friends, eating lovely food, giving gifts and the setting off of fireworks. The next Chinese New Year begins on the 16th February 2018 and is the Year of the Dog. Read more

It’s easy to forget how simple materials can be used for such a variety of different effects. We equipped a small group of A level students with plastic aprons, brushes and some equipment to get them started. Find out what they created and how below. Read more

At TTS we love nothing more than to unearth hidden talents. Do you have the next Barbara Hepworth or Banksy in your school just waiting for a little recognition? Well why not enter them into our Pisces art competition and show off their work to our 9000 followers! Read more

Have you heard of Skwooshi? It is a mess-free mouldable compound with a difference. Penny Watts, director of the Association for professional nannies (BAPN) very kindly tested it out and gave us her thoughts…. Read more

In need of some ideas for free school trips? In the present climate, teachers are tending to organise fewer trips and visits for their classes than in years gone by. This may be for several reasons, firstly the cost - budgets are tight and each pound spent has to be seen to be worthwhile and secondly, they are time-consuming - they need to be carefully planned, have to be linked to learning and objectives (not simply to have a nice time – heaven forbid!) and must be assessed for every possible risk. Read more

Knowing and understanding the nature of times tables is an essential skill in mathematics and is an important part of mastery. Not having quick recall can impede progress in many other mathematical processes as children progress through school. Read more

Anyone involved in teaching young children knows how important it is to develop skills for independence, but it can be a tricky balance. How much risk-taking is acceptable? How much time can we allow for trial and error? As someone once said, "It's okay not to know, but it's not okay to not try". Sometimes our desire to help can actually hinder children's progress in this regard. Liz Boffey looks back on her experiences, considering how independence can be encouraged and the differences small changes can make. Read more

At the recent Nursery World Show in Liverpool, we had some fantastic conversations about how our resources are used. We would like to share one practitioner's idea here - a lovely use of the Talking Number Turtles that children will really enjoy! Read more

Even the most reluctant writers will want to try out our magical illuminated writing boards. Read on for the chance to win a set of 4 boards, including pens, worth over £115! Read more

During recent years, many research projects have been carried out to examine the use of the weighted vest. Research shows that most individuals do benefit from wearing a weighted vest at least some of the time. Although there is no conclusive evidence for using weighted equipment that has been measurable in research projects, it is reported that many research participants elect to continue using weighted equipment after investigative projects finish. Read more

May 21st is the World Day for Cultural Diversity. There are so many ‘world days’ now they can easily be overlooked. Schools choose the ones to celebrate carefully – some grow in significance (such as World Book Day) and others are all but ignored; there simply isn’t enough time or energy to think about and plan them, even if some of them seem like good ideas. Read more