The current curriculum and assessment processes place greater emphasis on the teaching of spelling, punctuation and grammar (SPaG) in the primary classroom. One of the most frequently asked questions is ‘how do I teach SPaG effectively?’ Like all new learning, the process of ‘teach, practise and apply’ applies equally to SPaG. Read more

Posture is the position in which you hold your body and limbs when standing, sitting or lying down. To have good posture means that you need to be aware of always holding yourself in a way that puts the least strain on your back, whatever you are doing. Read more

Here at Mapplewells Primary and Nursery School we have been teaching Maths using ‘Maths No Problem’ - a Singaporean approach. Singapore Maths is a problem-solving approach to maths, allowing children to relate what they have learnt in a variety of contexts. There is a big emphasis on ensuring the foundations for learning maths are in place (not just the content itself), so the children learn to think mathematically as opposed to merely reciting formulas or procedures. Read more

Valentine’s Day provides a great opportunity to celebrate friendships and to discuss why it is important to work together. It gives children the chance to talk about their feelings, and to make gifts to take home to their family or friends. With Christmas behind us, it's the perfect time to make a keepsake, a card, or decorations that the children are excited to take home. Read more

View the video above to find out more about how to use our circular light panel. Read more

The transition to school from nursery can be a stressful time for children, not to mention for parents and practitioners too. We asked almost 100 early years professionals what their top tips were to ensure their children were ‘school ready’ and how to make this transition a smooth, happy and effective one. Read more

Mother’s Day is a lovely opportunity for children of all ages to honor their mothers, thanking them for raising them well, looking after them, supporting, loving and caring for them. Handmade and personalised gifts are often a more favourable gift from children to their mothers. Read more

For many children (and adults!) Easter is about the excitement of the Easter Bunny, chocolate eggs, Easter egg hunts and Easter bonnet competitions, with not much connection to the biblical Christian festival which celebrates the time that Jesus rose from the dead – his resurrection. Not all cultures celebrate Easter, but they may still take part in the modern tradition of giving chocolate eggs as gifts, and get involved in Easter Bonnet competitions and crafts. Read more

These cross-curricular Easter themed activities are perfect for your setting. Including an Easter egg hunt combining literacy and maths, inspire story-telling and creative writing with animal track foot stampers - perfect for outdoor learning, celebrate similarities and differences with a Basket of (Easter) Bunnies and take a look at some easter facts. Read more

Is your visualiser gathering dust in the store cupboard?  We’ve seen lots of these wonderful tools lost to teaching; sitting in cupboards, closets and on shelves, and being overlooked by many. It’s time to dust yours off!  Read more

Where is your Visualiser? There is a real risk of losing some of the long standing digital tools that have enhanced the learning of millions of children over the last decade. These gems of technology are being forgotten as they are swamped by the influx of new products. Read more

Why do we teach phonics? Because we want the world to share in our joy of split digraphs? Because we have to? Because the children sit a phonics test in Year 1? Be honest. Read more

For the love of phonics. Do children still beg for ‘just one more page’, curled up before bed? Do children still sneak a torch under their duvet, to read an extra chapter after lights out? Are there still children out there who just love reading? Read more

For the love of phonics! Ever sat with a blank page in front of you, feeling a little lost and afraid? It isn’t whether or not you know how to write that holds you back, it’s actually having something you want to say. Even the urge to write isn’t enough on its own. Many people feel the creative call to write or paint, sculpt or compose, but then sit and stare at a blank, silent space not knowing where to start or what they want to communicate. Everyone will have experienced this to some degree and have a sense of how disheartening it is. Read more

A well planned outdoor classroom that is integrated into the school community will become an important part of your school and can be used for every subject, in every season. Any outdoor classroom will need to suit the grounds and needs of your school, meaning it is entirely up to you what style you go for! Read more

Take this opportunity to make something ancient relevant to your children, with these practical classroom ideas based around the Olympics, this year in Rio, Brazil that span a wide range of curriculum areas. Read more