There are so many benefits to transient art! Today I wanted to outline some of these and share a few of the pieces that have been created in my learning environment. Read more

A construction site makes a fabulously engaging role play area with so many possibilities for learning and collaboration. Children will love dressing up, designing, mixing, building and getting messy! There are endless opportunities to follow their own interests - what will they choose to create? Read more

Since the introduction of the use of sketchbooks in the KS2 National Curriculum, we have incorporated them into our creative curriculum at Gomersal Primary School. Every child from Year 1 to Year 6 has a sketchbook which is kept close to hand whenever we are creating, learning and developing new ideas, both in the art room and within classrooms. The sketchbook does not follow the school's presentation or marking policy; we feel very strongly that it belongs to the child. It's not just a book - it is a space where children can freely express, create, develop and learn, often with limited guidance from the teacher. The sketchbook should be at the centre of their creativity. Read more

Children in Years 5 and 6 will enjoy practising and extending their knowledge of electrical circuitry and switches by making this wonderfully colourful merry-go-round. Just follow the step-by-step guide to make this exciting, pulley-driven fairground ride. Read more

The Forest School ethos encourages a spirit of exploration and risk-taking in the natural environment. Nicola Cargill from 'Little Learners' explains how this concept is fully embraced in what they do, and how a chance comment led to a great deal of investigative opportunities and fantastic 'hands-on' experiences for the children they work with. Read more

A fast and furious challenge that pushes students to explore paint and, dare I say it, make a mess. Read more

Gel printing is a simple and brilliantly effective form of monoprinting with no press required. Despite her initial reservations, Vega Brennan tried it out and loved the flexibility it offered her students. Here, with the help of a couple of art teacher friends, she gives her opinions, instructions and practical tips on getting started. Read more

Mike Barrett creates stunning works of art using traditional methods teamed with digital techniques. Here he shares how, despite initial reservations, his passion for this type of media developed and also how he uses it to inspire creativity in people of all ages. The results are truly amazing! Read more

The most significant classroom strategy is to reduce the potential for memory overload in what we ask of the children. One reason many children find the transition from play-based learning to more formal learning is that suddenly the memory load, for both curriculum information and classroom management, is significantly increased. Read more

Papier mache is an inexpensive and hugely enjoyable way for children to be creative and make something to play with again and again. There are so many crafty possibilities for papier mache - these simple caves are a great idea and can be adapted for different small world scenarios to suit a variety of interests. Read more

Children with Dyscalculia may have difficulty understanding number concepts, lack an intuitive grasp of numbers, and have problems learning number facts and procedures. In this blog, Judy Hornigold shares with us practical strategies that can help children with their learning. Read more

Delve into these top hints and tips from teachers on their favourite methods to inspire creative writing in the classroom. Read more

How to Batik in 5 easy steps! Sometimes unfamiliar tools and techniques can seem daunting to teach primary school children. We aim to dispel these fears by giving you simple step by step instructions to inspire and get you creating simple Batik! Read more

Do you leave school at the end of the day in a hot, sweaty mess? Staying cool in a classroom in the summer months can be difficult, especially with temperatures soaring to 30 degrees or more. It can be so hard for anyone to concentrate in these circumstances and any sort of work can be a trial. Most of us can only dream of an air conditioned classroom so we have gathered together some top tips for keeping cool. Read more

ICT plays an integral part in all our lives. Today’s children are growing up surrounded by and becoming familiar with digital technology. Through play opportunities children can experience a range of resources that support their ICT knowledge and understanding as well as enhancing other key skills. A programmable toy has control technology but it may also support literacy and numeracy skills. The following ideas, written by Carol Allen and Claire Graham, provide insights and practical suggestions for practitioners. We have picked out 10 resources that will help you make the most of ICT learning opportunities in your setting. Read more

Teaching can be a stressful occupation and it is so important to feel supported. Simply feeling appreciated by colleagues and school leaders can make a big difference to wellbeing and even the smallest gestures might help. We have gathered together a few suggestions as food for thought (some involving chocolate, but surprisingly, no reference to alcohol!) Let's look after each other and share the love and appreciation! Read more