Category Archives: Primary

Primary

Mending pupils’ minds – reducing the risk

The majority of pupils’ minds are ready for learning but overall 20% have behaviour and other emotional problems that pose risks to a school.  This minority take up a disproportionate amount of staff’s time. They:

  • Cause stress to teaching staff
  • Lower the school’s overall teaching results
  • Disturb other pupils’ learning and emotional well-being
  • May cause physical harm to pupils and staff and damage to property

But there’s also the risk that untrained, unqualified staff can cause further damage. A proven, safe and cost effective solution is to train your staff in Play Therapy as registrants on the ‘Register of Play and Creative Arts Therapists’ accredited by the Professional Standards Authority.  When delivered to Play Therapy UK (PTUK) standards, it results in a 77% to 84% positive change, as observed by teaching staff and parents based on over 12,000 cases.

Our registrants, many of whom are school staff, already work in over 1500 primary schools in the UK

Experience how play therapy works and how we train – 13 venues throughout the UK: http://www.playtherapy.org.uk/Training/TrainCrseAPACIntrod1day

Or have a chat with Monika 01825 761143 Email: mokijep@majemail.com

More information:

www.playtherapy.org.uk    Play Therapy Register

Have a good summer break!

Jeff Thomas – Registrar Play Therapy UK

Numeracy, Primary

When a really clever question asked at the start of the lesson didn’t quite work as intended.

“What would happen,” I asked, “if we didn’t have numbers?”

The answers from the class were rather predictable.  A few puzzled looks and then the notion that we wouldn’t have clocks so playtime could be longer – which met with approval.

“But would we have any problems if we didn’t have numbers?” I asked.

And another answer emerged: I wouldn’t be able to count the class to make sure everyone was here.

“But I could ask everyone to sit at a desk, and then see if there were any empty desks,” I replied.  And yes, they agreed that would work.

There was puzzlement. Until the suddenly excited answer came, “Money.”  And we agreed we wouldn’t know how much we had, and how much anything cost without numbers.

But still I wanted more, so I gave a hint.  “You are all in this room and you can all sit down, and I know this room can take 35 children.  And we have ten classes in the school.   Which means we have…”

They got that of course – 350 children in the school.  There were surprised looks – they had no idea there were that many.

“But supposing we couldn’t count – lots of children might turn up and we wouldn’t have enough spaces.”

“You’d have to say that the first ones in would have a desk,” said the class’s official Bright Spark.

And that’s when my carefully evolved lesson plan fell apart.  Because the next voice added, “And everyone else could go home,” came the call.  And thus the fact that a lack of numbers would be a jolly good idea was born.  Because turning up late would mean the school was full, and late comers could go home.

Maybe instead I should have stuck with the Sum Fun Maths Assessment series pack of Maths Assessment Puzzles.  You will find more information on our website.

You can order

  • by visiting the website
  • by phone on 01449 766629
  • by fax on 01449 768047
  • by email to orders@tradecounter.co.uk
  • or by post to Brilliant Publications, Mendlesham Industrial Estate, Norwich Road, Mendlesham, Suffolk, IP14 5ND.

Brilliant Publications,
Mendlesham Industrial Estate,
Norwich Road,
Mendlesham,
Suffolk,
IP14 5ND.

website: www.brilliantpublications.co.uk
email: orders@tradecounter.co.uk

phone: 01449 766629
fax: 01449 768047

Primary

What is the single most effective way of teaching everything, from history to creative writing, from diversity to science?

It is a fact, often forgotten, that everything that we know and everything that we learn ultimately is learned as a story.

How people in different parts of the world live.  How people in different countries have different ways of celebrating Christmas.

How they have their own stories associated with their past.  How England is actually just coming up to its 1000th birthday.   How our understanding of the world has changed across time.

How Galileo Galilei (then professor of mathematics at the University of Pisa) is said to have dropped two spheres of different masses from the Leaning Tower of Pisa.

Everything comes back to stories.  And this is why, as part of their learning, it is vital that children listen to stories told by expert professional storytellers.

We have stories covering almost every aspect of the primary school curriculum and childhood development.

You can find out more about a few of our story themes at www.snailtales.org/stories, but please do remember that there are many more available.  If you have a story that you would like to see explored, please do drop us a line and let us know, and we’ll come back to you and tell you what we can do.

There’s no obligation – we are happy to share our ideas with you. And if you are looking for a theme that we have not explored before, we would be delighted to see if we could develop a storytelling day or half day in your school on that particular theme.

You can select from one of our existing themes by clicking here, or ask us to pencil you into our diary by completing our online booking form.

Or, if you want to explore a different theme – without any obligation please do:

We look forward to hearing from you

Primary

From Hans Christen Anderson to the Little Princess

From Hans Christen Anderson to the Little Princess,
from The Secret Garden to the Little Prince…
at just £1.87 each.

 Or come to that from Little Women to Moonfleet, from What Katy Did to the Wind in the Willows, all at just £1.87 each (after discount) with free delivery when ordered directly from us.

I could go further, of course, and add, The Railway Children, Beatrix Potter, Kidnapped, Treasure Island…

In fact, we have a list of over 50 children’s classics, all available at this special price.

There is even a box set collection of eight titles available for just £19.99 – less a 25% discount when ordered directly from ourselves.

In fact Wordsworth Editions has over 400 titles in print, and not only does each volume naturally have the full text but with all of our classics there is also a set of exclusive introductions and notes.

And don’t forget, you get a 25% discount on all of the prices shown, not just on the classics.

Plus there’s a free book offer.   Because it might well be that you are thinking this all this seems far too good to be true, so we really do have an offer of a free book, with free delivery.

We offer the free book because if you have not ordered from us before we’d like to assure you of the quality of our publications, and second because we know that when teachers do see the quality of our books they do tend to place an order.

There’s no pressure to buy – we let you make the decision, whenever you wish.

So, if you would like a free sample of one of our books, just email education@wordsworth-editions.com with your name and the school address, and we’ll put it in the post to you, with our compliments.

But just before you do that, please do have a look at our list of children’s classics.  I know you will be rather surprised at the range of titles we have.

We look forward to hearing from you.

Literacy, Primary

From Hans Christen Anderson to the Little Princess, from The Secret Garden to the Little Prince… at just £1.87 each.

Or come to that from Little Women to Moonfleet, from What Katy Did to the Wind in the Willows, all at just £1.87 each (after discount) with free delivery when ordered directly from us.

I could go further, of course, and add, The Railway Children, Beatrix Potter, Kidnapped, Treasure Island…

In fact, we have a list of over 50 children’s classics, all available at this special price.

There is even a box set collection of eight titles available for just £19.99 – less a 25% discount when ordered directly from ourselves.

In fact Wordsworth Editions has over 400 titles in print, and not only does each volume naturally have the full text but with all of our classics there is also a set of exclusive introductions and notes.

And don’t forget, you get a 25% discount on all of the prices shown, not just on the classics.

Plus there’s a free book offer.   Because it might well be that you are thinking this all this seems far too good to be true, so we really do have an offer of a free book, with free delivery.

We offer the free book because if you have not ordered from us before we’d like to assure you of the quality of our publications, and second because we know that when teachers do see the quality of our books they do tend to place an order.

There’s no pressure to buy – we let you make the decision, whenever you wish.

So, if you would like a free sample of one of our books, just email education@wordsworth-editions.com with your name and the school address, and we’ll put it in the post to you, with our compliments.

But just before you do that, please do have a look at our list of children’s classics.  I know you will be rather surprised at the range of titles we have.

We look forward to hearing from you.

Literacy, Primary

What is the most important thing to do now, in order to improve literacy results in September?

Averages have a most annoying effect.  Because for every child who is above average, it means you’ve got one who is below average.

But there is an upside to this, because the children who are struggling with literacy are the ones who can make the most substantial and sustained progress and attainment.

Which means when they make their leap forwards in literacy, that change improves the ranking of the whole year group.

And this is what we offer: an approach using one to one tuition for the children who are slipping behind in literacy achievement, at a very affordable price, whenever needed.

Naturally with such claims the first thing you will want to do is have a trial – and we can arrange this at once.   Even better, if you arrange a trial now and then want to proceed, we can have everything in place for September.

Through our program every misunderstanding and every concept not understood is instantly spotted, and results in the pupil being taken back a step for remedial work. After this, progress and advancement resumes.

Each individual’s literacy needs are analysed and then the pupil is directed to an engaging set of activities which remedy any deficits, before advancing through to the next set of skills.

And because the level of instruction is so accurately reflective of the child’s current abilities, the pupil then gets a feeling of success and progress, which of itself is highly motivational.

At the same time, your colleagues will be free to work with others in the group.  Indeed, they can rotate the children, with some receiving directed help online while others engage with offline paper-based activities which are generated automatically by the system.

Of course you’ll want to see this in action before making any decisions, and you can do that this term, without any cost or commitment.  First you can read more about Core 5 which achieves these extraordinary results here.

You can also read a variety of case studies here. You will then also find on the top right of the page the link to gain full access to the program for 30 days without any payment or commitment.

If you want to know more about the program, please do call 0191 482 1939 or email info@lexiauk.co.uk

Rob Kay

LexiaUK Software Consultant.

Assemblies, Primary

What is the single biggest problem that comes from the need to deliver a new assembly every day?

During the course of their primary school lives, most children will take part in over 1000 assemblies.

Which provides a significant challenge. How can one ensure that each day’s assembly has an immediate impact on each child and then additionally ensure that some of these assemblies have such an impact that they will be remembered for months (and sometimes even years) to come?

This is the issue that schools face every day through the school year, and it is the issue we looked to solve when we created Assembly Box.

The aim has been to create a series of 350 outstanding assemblies that really engage the pupils and which they will remember over time.

Each assembly is fully scripted, and the collection comes with a complete index so that you can choose your assembly by topics as diverse as community and citizenship, saints’ days, black history, social and emotional stories, and so on.

What’s more, each assembly comes with its own supporting presentation material and a set of ready-to-use key word cards. The assemblies can be downloaded and printed out, thus making them immediately usable without further preparation.

You can see a complete list of the 12 main categories our assemblies are divided into on our website, and from there you can go into each category and see the details of all the assemblies on offer. Just visit http://www.assemblybox.co.uk/

You can also read a full example of one of our assemblies by following this link

The complete set of all of our assemblies costs £149 (+ VAT). Order on line at www.assemblybox.co.uk

If you have any questions please email enquiries@assemblybox.co.uk

Primary

Do you need your own ‘bespoke’ Primary School assessment system?

You know best what your school needs, so why put up with an off the shelf assessment system?

With support from our Primary Progress toolkit it’s easy to create your own ‘bespoke’ system. Here’s what you need to do.

Pick a manageable set of subjects, statements/objectives, which will let your teachers know what their pupils have to know and be able to do (the toolkit can import these for you or provide a default set which you can edit).

Agree a set of assessment grades, which define pupils’ steps on the way to mastering the curriculum (the toolkit can cope with any set of assessment grades).

Have a quick and easy way for teachers to record their assessments (the toolkit provides this).

Set Age Related expectations for each term (the toolkit has a simple way for you to set these).

Analyse which pupils are making expected progress and which need support to get them on track (the toolkit provides multiple reports – subject attainment, combined subjects, statements achieved, ARE, individual pupil, whole school overview, with group filters).

If you need reports in a format which the toolkit doesn’t provide, we can extract the data from the database and present it in a special Excel report, at no extra charge!

Our Online Primary Progress toolkit has been built with flexibility as its main aim. We believe it can support any school’s assessment needs.  It’s also a modern online database system, professionally programmed, so you don’t have to worry about maintaining it. It’s not expensive and training and support are free.

So, if you aren´t 100% satisfied with your current assessment tracking system, why not check out our Online Primary Progress toolkit at primaryprogresstoolkit.co.uk?

If you need more information, or would like to discuss your specific needs, email me at statsed@gmail.com or ring me on 01279 652183.

We can give you free access to a demo site, where you can try out the toolkit for yourself.

Roger Watson

Statistics for Education Ltd, 5 Bridge Street, Bishop’s Stortford, Herts, CM23 2JU
Tel: 01279 652183; Email: statsed@gmail.com

Primary

Disruptive pupils – reducing the risk

Pupils with behaviour and other emotional problems pose risks to a school:

  • Cause stress to teaching staff
  • Lower the school’s overall teaching results
  • Disturb other pupils’ learning and emotional well-being
  • May cause physical harm to pupils and staff and damage to property

A proven solution is Play Therapy.  When delivered to Play Therapy UK (PTUK) standards, it results in a 77% to 84% positive change, as observed by teaching staff and parents based on over 12,000 cases.

Experience how play therapy works and how we train – 13 venues throughout the UK: http://www.playtherapy.org.uk/Training/TrainCrseAPACIntrod1day

More information:

www.playtherapy.org.uk    Play Therapy Register

Email: mokijep@majemail.com    Phone: 01825 761143

Primary

What is the most empowering event that can happen to your school leavers?

An end of year assembly which is produced and performed by year 6 pupils on their last day at primary school can not only leave a significant impression on those who take part, but also on the rest of the school.

The result is that the children who create the end of year event feel motivated through knowing their ideas are valued, and feel confident that they will be appreciated by others.

And it is possible to expand the feelings of self-worth and confidence that can arise from such an event when the children know they’re getting expert advice and support as they work on their presentation – and that’s what Snail Tales storytellers can give.

As published authors and professional performers who have entertained young audiences all over the world, our storytellers will be able to guide your children towards putting their best into their final moments at your school.

And since all five of our national theatre tours have been developed through KS2 workshops, you can feel sure that the final assembly will be 100% your year 6 – we’ll take and develop their ideas, not impose on own.

Over the course of a single day, your storyteller will run immersive, interactive, and engaging workshops with your year 6s on the four elements of producing a great show: pre-production (ideas and role setting); development (writing and designing); performance; and promotion.

The whole day includes a resource pack to help your year 6 teacher direct and mentor your year 6s towards their assembly.

The total cost inclusive of travel to your schools is £350 for up to 35 year 6 children. We can also work over two or three days and thus take in larger groups.

For more information please call 0203 287 6245 or visit our website at www.snailtales.org/leavers

Primary

Questions that no one knows the answers to

There are closed questions, open questions, rhetorical questions, leading questions and then there are questions that no one knows the answer to, such as: How many planets are actually in our Solar System? What is Time? Why are we here, what is our purpose? And why do we dream?

But perhaps the most difficult questions to answer are those from your pupils about what we might consider as ‘grown-up’ topics, including those about terrorism, such as: What do terrorists want? How does terrorism start? When will terrorism end? Why do they hate us? And so on…

Which is precisely why we have produced the resource:
Talking about Terrorism: Responding to Children’s Questions

Talking about Terrorism: Responding to Children’s Questions is a resource for you, the teacher. It answers questions that children may ask in clear, easy-to-understand language – providing simple, objective explanations and reassurance where possible, while being careful not to raise expectations.

In addition, the text is interspersed with classroom activities aimed at your KS2 pupils to stimulate critical thinking, including brain storming, group discussions, responding to visual stimuli, and evaluation.

What’s more, not only will this resource help your school to create ‘safe spaces’ for the discussion of controversial issues in response to the Prevent Strategy, but it will also help you to demonstrate to Ofsted that you are addressing this difficult area.

Don’t just take our word for it. “Highly recommended – really great resource for teachers” says Abigail Clay, an expert on Safeguarding and the Prevent Strategy.

You can order Talking about Terrorism: Responding to Children’s Questions on our website either in PDF for £13.99 or as a hardcopy book for £19.99. There is also the option to buy both the hardcopy and PDF together at a discounted price of £24.19.

For more information and to see sample pages, visit www.brilliantpublications.co.uk/book/talking-about-terrorism-740. Alternatively, you can contact us by phone on 01449 766629 or by email at orders@tradecounter.co.uk.

Literacy, Primary

Yjod od s [orvr pg vtrsyobr qeurubf

Now I don’t want to put you to any stress in working that headline out, and I know it looks like gibberish – but in its own way it makes sense.  And being a kind sort of person, I’m not going to keep you guessing.

What I did was shift my fingers one place to the right on the keyboard as I typed “This is a piece of…” well you can work out the rest.  Same with the last word of the subject line.  Although I may have made some mistakes somewhere.   It got a bit confusing…

So is my headline creative writing?  Well, if a child was writing a story about meeting people with a different language, the piece would have a little more sparkle in it if what these foreigners spoke had some basis to it, rather than just being a collection of random letters.

Which leads to my question: “What is the fastest way to make children more creative, inventive, expressive, and experimental in their writing?”  In short, what makes them better writers?

Turns out that after years of study the answer is… you ask them to be more creative.

Yet there is still a problem here, because there is no universal agreement on what a creative action is.   Is it something not previously done, even if that thing is meaningless, or even harmful? Possibly not.

If I swim a length underwater for the first time (which I am not going to do since it would mess up my computer and make my clothes wet) would that be a creative act?

It’s hard to say.  But I can tell you this.  Telling children that you want them to be creative AND interesting, really is a good place to start.  Because although Yjod od s etc etc is not very interesting of itself, it becomes of interest because it has an underlying logic.

As does the subject line.

Our series of books on creative writing gives children starters for their writing – there is more about the books via this link and you can find samples of the activities by clicking on any of the titles.

And then once they have started, if you want them really to explore their creativity each time you give them another exercise, just ask them to be a little more creative.

Curiously, it works.

You can contact us by phone on 01449 766629 or by email at orders@tradecounter.co.uk.

You can order any of our Creative Writing Resources on our website

Brilliant Publications,
Mendlesham Industrial Estate,
Norwich Road,
Mendlesham,
Suffolk,
IP14 5ND.

website: www.brilliantpublications.co.uk
email: orders@tradecounter.co.uk

phone: 01449 766629
fax: 01449 768047

Primary

Why Every Classroom Needs a BabbleGuard

Don’t you just love it when you see a simple idea and you think to yourself – ‘why didn’t I think of that?’ That’s what teachers and education professionals have told us when they see the new BabbleGuard from Connevans.

BabbleGuard is a beautifully simple solution to encourage all students to keep the classroom noise at a comfortable level, promoting concentration, listening and learning.

Using an attractive LED bar which fits neatly on top of an interactive whiteboard and a sophisticated sound sensor, BabbleGuard changes colour depending on the level of sound in the Classroom. Using the traffic light pattern of green, amber and red it is simple for even the youngest children to understand.

BabbleGuard can be used in a wide range of learning environments, is quick to set up and easy to use. The teacher doesn’t need to do anything, the students can see for themselves.

More information on the brand new BabbleGuard is available here … http://www.connevans.co.uk/product/14457645/

To arrange a free trial, either phone me on 01737 247571 or email to phil@connevans.com  and leave the rest to us!  (Please don’t delay, early indications show that BabbleGuard is going to be very popular!)

We look forward to hearing from you.

Phil Boswell

Director – Connevans Limited – supplying schools since 1961

PS: My wife is a Primary School Teacher and being my wife she tells me what she really thinks and she loves the BabbleGuard 🙂

As of 2016 we are very proud to be … by Appointment to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II Manufacturer and Supplier of Audio Equipment https://www.royalwarrant.org/directory?query=connevans

Primary

How can you encourage your pupils to adopt a positive attitude to learning Times Tables?

Mighty Fun Activities for Practising Times Tables is a three-book series which uses superheroes to motivate children to practise the skills needed to solve multiplication, division and word based times table problems.

And we all know that practice makes perfect!

Superheroes appeal to even the most reluctant of learners and will instil a positive and competitive attitude towards learning. Your pupils will be excited and motivated to want to learn and practise times tables.

These enjoyable worksheets will help children to:

  • recall and apply times tables rapidly
  • increase mathematical fluency
  • understand and use a variety of mathematical language
  • make connections between times tables
  • understand the relationship between multiplication and division
  • and develop mathematical reasoning.

The books contain reproducible sheets of practical and written activities, which are designed to be used as flexible teaching aids. Teachers can dip in and out of the book in any order to support the learning of any times table. The activities work equally well as stand alone 5 to 20 minute lesson reinforcements or as regular times table learning.

For more information or to order the three-book series for just £40, visit Mighty Fun Activities for Practising Times Tables.

If you need your maths lesson saved now you can buy ebook versions for instant access to your superheroes on the links below:

Book 1 – 2, 5 and 10 times tables (£11.99)

Book 2 – 3, 4, 6 and 8 times tables (£11.99)

Book 3 – 7, 9, 11 and 12 times tables (£11.99)

Alternatively, you can order

• by phone on 01449 766629

• by fax on 01449 768047

• by email to orders@tradecounter.co.uk

• or by post to Brilliant Publications, Mendlesham Industrial Estate, Norwich Road, Mendlesham, Suffolk, IP14 5ND.

 

Literacy, Primary

The best way to improve literacy in a struggling child is with 1 to 1 tuition. And now that is possible.

Indeed if the child really gets on well with the tutor and doesn’t feel pressured or intimidated in any way by having one to one tuition, progress will always be beyond anything that can be achieved in a classroom.

Of course at this point you might be expecting me to say, “Sadly we can’t offer that ideal…”  But in fact we can, in an approach that allows not only one to one tuition but one to one tuition at a very affordable price, whenever needed.

Every misunderstanding and every concept not understood is instantly spotted, and results in the pupil being taken back a step for remedial work, after which progress and advancement resumes, with appropriate activities to hand for every eventuality.

This approach is available through a program that locates each individual’s literacy needs, directing the pupil to an engaging set of activities which remedy any deficits, before advancing through to the next set of skills.

And because the level of instruction is so accurately reflective of the child’s current abilities, the pupil then gets a feeling of success and progress, which of itself is highly motivational.

At the same time your colleagues are now free to work with others in the group.  Indeed, they can rotate the children, with some receiving directed help online while others engage with offline paper-based activities which are generated automatically by the system.

Of course you’ll want to see this in action before making any decisions, and you can do that this term, without any cost or commitment.

You can read more about Core 5 which achieves these extraordinary results here,

You can read a variety of case studies here. You will then also find on the top right of the page the link to gain full access to the program for 30 days without any payment or commitment.

If you want to know more about the program, please do call 0191 482 1939 or email info@lexiauk.co.uk

Rob Kay

LexiaUK Software Consultant.

Primary

Pineapples and computers aren’t the only things that are difficult to grasp

While the French sometimes have their own way of doing things… just as the English…

English

German

Polish

Spanish

French

=

=

=

=

=

 Computer

Computer

Komputer

Computadora

Ordinateur

 French

German

Polish

Spanish

English

=

=

=

=

=

 Ananas

Ananas

Ananas

Ananas

Pineapple

 … it is French grammar that is perhaps the most difficult of concepts for children to grasp –  not least due to the gender classification of words. But despite this, there is very little guidance in the Programmes of Study about how grammar should be taught:

“Pupils should be taught to understand basic grammar appropriate to the language being studied, including (where relevant): feminine, masculine and neuter forms and the conjugation of high-frequency verbs; key features and patterns of language; how to apply these, for instance, to build sentences; and how these differ from or are similar to English.”

Which is why we have picked apart this statement to produce the resource
‘Getting to Grips with French Grammar’.

Getting to Grips with French Grammar provides a model of progression for each key element (gender, verbs, sentence building and forming questions) by breaking them down into four progressive stages which teachers can build into their planning and teaching.

The resource also provides a number of assessment exemplification tasks which demonstrate how grammar can be taught and assessed alongside other elements of language, rather than in isolation.

For more information and to see sample pages, visit www.brilliantpublications.co.uk/book/getting-to-grips-with-french-grammar-at-key-stage-2-745. Alternatively, you can contact us by phone on 01449 766629 or by email at orders@tradecounter.co.uk.

You can order Getting to Grips with French Grammar on our website either in PDF for £10.99 or as a hardcopy book for £15.99. There is also the option to buy both the hardcopy and PDF together at a discounted price of £19.29.
Brilliant Publications,
Mendlesham Industrial Estate,
Norwich Road,
Mendlesham,
Suffolk,
IP14 5ND.

website: www.brilliantpublications.co.uk
email: orders@tradecounter.co.uk

phone: 01449 766629
fax: 01449 768047

Literacy, Primary

Free activity: A world without mobile phones?

Develop your KS2 pupils’ speaking and listening skills with a free activity from Brilliant Activities for Speaking and Listening

Mobile phones image

Download a pdf copy to print for your pupils.

You can find more activities like this one in Brilliant Activities for Speaking and Listening.

Brilliant Activities for Speaking and Listening contains activities designed to develop the spoken language skills of KS2 children while providing full coverage of the National Curriculum requirements for Spoken Language.

The reproducible activities include: interpreting facts and figures, working out the correct order in which instructions should be given, discussing and debating issues (bullying, junk foods…), role-play, thought tracking, hot seating, retelling stories and responding to and interpreting poems.

For more information or to order Brilliant Activities for Speaking and Listening for £17.99, please visit www.brilliantpublications.co.uk/book/brilliant-activities-for-speaking-and-listening-ks2-713. Alternatively, you can contact us by phone on 01449 766629 or by email at orders@tradecounter.co.uk.

Primary

What can your school do to help the children celebrate 1000 years of England?

Most countries have a national day, celebrating the founding of the nation.  Unfortunately our nearest equivalent (St George’s day) suffers from the fact that little is known of St George, although we do know he wasn’t English and the dragon story isn’t true.

What’s more, it is curious that the oldest dates most people remember from English history are dates when the country was invaded – 55BC and 1066 – rather than dates which commemorate our coming together as one nation.

But next January will be the moment in which we can celebrate 1000 years of England, as the country became united under one ruler: the start of the long journey ultimately to the United Kingdom and what we now call “British Values”.

For 7 January 1018 was the date on which King Knut consolidated his power across the whole country, and England was effectively born.

And so to celebrate this date we have developed a programme that sensitively highlights the issues of today by exploring them through stories within the context of the very beginning of England, 1,000 years ago.

Through the stories we tell, children can invest their imagination in creating the story world with their mind’s eye.

And since it is quite possible that most children’s parents don’t know about the creation of England in 1018, the power of the story will be ever greater. For children love nothing more than educating their parents!

Storytellers from Snail Tales are travelling the country sharing the legends of the Anglo-Viking period, from Alfred’s burnt cakes to Knut’s wet feet – tales which reveal how England was forged by the great Anglo-Saxon and Viking leaders.

The storytellers will also run workshops on life in Anglo-Viking England to help your children understand how Knut united the various tribes that made up the country.

We’ll also supply an activities pack marking England’s 1,000th, including: recommended music; Who Made England? book from The History Press; a special commemorative coin from the Royal Mint; and a special discount on tickets to your nearest performance of our theatre tour celebrating Knut, The First King of England in a Dress.

If you would like one of our storytellers to come to your school to engage in the activities above, please do click here to find out more.  Alternatively you can email us at stories@snailtales.org or phone us at 020 328 76245.

Primary

General Election FREE Worksheets

Download our series of free work and discussion sheets to get your pupils ready for the General Election. Topics covered include democracy, what happens in a general election, the main jobs of Parliament and much more.

The worksheets are ideal for English and History lessons and will help promote British Values.

Worksheets

Download your worksheets HERE

The Team
Gresham Books
www.gresham-books.co.uk

Primary

What is the most effective way of giving rapid help to those who struggled with this year’s tests?

The end of the early summer testing season can often be something of a relief, and at such a moment looking forwards to future tests might not be what’s on your mind.

But when it comes to preparing for tests and exams if you have any children who have particularly modest levels of achievement in literacy, they are the ones who obviously suffer.  The question arises, what is the most effective way of supporting them?

In discussing this with many teachers we found three issues that were on almost everyone’s list of desires for the future.

First there is the wish to find an approach to improving literacy skills that works quickly and which is geared to each child’s individual levels of attainment and specific needs.

Second it should be an approach which can be utilised both at home and at school, and finally it should be enjoyable for the child, for if the child enjoys the work that will be the greatest motivational factor of all.

Now I appreciate that delivering on these three wishes might well sound like a dream.  And yet in a study in 2016, at-risk pupils across nearly 3,000 schools made substantial and rapid progress using our approach.

During this time, the percentage of pupils working two or more years below their expected level was reduced by almost half.  (These results are taken from the Lexia Core5 Half Year Progress Report 2016.)

To achieve such success, our approach starts with a highly accurate and rapid system of placing pupils according to their current literacy ability.

Then, through giving the pupil one-to-one tuition in a way that is utterly engaging and responsive to her or his immediate literacy needs and within the school’s budget, the literacy issues are resolved and the child’s attitude towards reading changes.

The analysis, the comparisons with other pupils, the progress, the remedial work – each and every element of each pupil’s learning journey is tracked and evaluated by the Core5 program from Lexia UK.

If you would like to read the case studies involving UK schools which are already using the system please click here. You will then also find on the right of the page the route to having access to the full program for 30 days without any payment or commitment.

If you want to know more about the program, we have all the information you’ll need available here. Alternatively, if you would like to talk first, call 0191 482 1939, or email info@lexiauk.co.uk.

Rob Kay; LexiaUK Software Consultant

Primary

Your trial of a portable outdoor PA system, perfect for School Sports Days & Summer Fayres

Have you got an outdoor event coming up this summer? Will everyone hear everything that is being said?

With an easy to use SoundRanger portable PA system – everyone across the school field, children, parents, helpers and staff will hear everything easily and clearly.

Your special event will take on a really professional atmosphere as everyone will hear all of your results, information and announcements.

Built-in rechargeable batteries give you all the power you need, without mains leads trailing across the playground or field.

When you are not speaking, you can play music from your phone, that’s easy too!

Karen from Aldershot said … “Sports Day with a megaphone days are GONE! It was used today for the PTA Summer Fayre …………… oh my wow, the difference is amazing!!’

But don’t take Karen’s word for it – try the system for yourself with no charge.

Simply tell us about your event and we will put together the best SoundRanger system for you and arrange for you to try it on a 30 day Free Trial.

Set up takes just 15 minutes and then you can use it straight away.  After your event, you can of course use the SoundRanger system in your school hall as well!

There is more information about the SoundRanger systems on our website here:  www.connevans.co.uk/catalogue/3215538/

To hear what Karen heard and arrange a free 30 day trial simply call or email and leave the rest to us!

The SoundRanger Compact 4 is so reliable and robust, it has been used by the British Army to play battlefield sound effects to their recruits on assault courses!

Please reply quickly as these systems are understandably very popular during the summer!

We look forward to hearing from you soon.

Best wishes

Phil Boswell
Director

As of 2016 we are very proud to be … by Appointment to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II Manufacturer and Supplier of Audio Equipment  https://www.royalwarrant.org/directory?query=connevans

 

Primary

A great way to teach the days of the months

Rob, from Easy Peasy Plays here, with something you may find really helpful for teaching children about the days of the months –

30 Dyas has September free song

It’s a completely free set of 3 songs, to use in your school on most devices that can access the internet – just click here! Hope you enjoy using it!

Kind Wishes

Rob

For, and on behalf of, Easy Peasy Plays.
Easy Peasy Plays is a trading name of Popcorn School Ltd, a limited company registered in England and Wales under number 8534985 and whose registered offices are located at 20-22 Wenlock Road, London, N1 7GU.

CPD, Primary

What is the best way to discover the very latest thinking on dyscalculia, dyslexia and ADHD in schools?

If you are thinking about  CPD to boost your SpLD support this term, do give  SpLD Central on June 29th some consideration. Hosted by Crossbow Education at Yarnfield Park in Staffordshire, this CPD accredited conference lines up some of the best speakers in three major areas of SpLD.

The focus in the morning will be on Dyscalculia, with two keynotes from Prof Steve Chinn, recognised by many as the leading expert on dyscalculia in schools. After lunch Fintan O’Regan will consider a range of systems and strategies to address successful learning, behaviour and socialisation outcomes for children on the ADHD spectrum; Rachel Ingham, Judy Capener, and Sue Francis will give you some insights into different aspects of literacy that are particularly relevant for dyslexic learners; Dominic Griffiths, senior lecturer at MMU, will talk about embedding reasonable adjustments at post-16, and SEN advisory team leader Beccie Hawes (Author of “Getting it Right for Dyslexic Learners”) will give you a roadmap for helping SpLD students navigate that difficult journey from Y6 to Y7. For an overview of the conference programme, click the following link or paste it into your browser: http://www.spldcentral.com/workshop-details.aspx

We have a reputation for Excellence at Crossbow (4 prestigious awards in the last five years – 3 national and one international), and our conference is no exception. We also have a reputation for providing good value, and at £139.95 + VAT for a day with speakers of this calibre it’s a lot less than you would pay Forum, or Capita, or other providers. And here’s the best bit: if you and your partner schools can put together a group booking, you get one free place for every three you book. The conference website is www.spldcentral.com – have a look now and make up your own mind. You can book online, and you can pay by card or we can invoice your school.

What do you get on the day?

  • Two keynotes in the morning (1 hr 10 mins each)
  • Two afternoon presentations (1 hr each) from a choice of six – each session is repeated after the break
  • An excellent 3-course sit-down lunch, coffee at registration, two refreshment breaks, and pastries
  • A marketplace of top specialist SpLD suppliers (not just Crossbow!) and plenty of time to spend looking at their resources: 1hr 20 mins at lunch, two 30 min refreshment breaks, plus time at registration.
  • A bound conference book to keep with all the handouts and room for your notes
  • Your CPD certificate.
  • Free transport to and from Stafford station, and plenty of parking if you come by car.

The date for your diary again: Thursday June 29th.
The venue (Google it – it’s super): Yarnfield Park Conference Centre, Stone, Staffordhire  ST15 0NL.

Email: bookings@spldcentral.com

Or if you want to speak to speak to someone ring 0845 269 7272 and ask for Bob or Ionë

The mission of SpLD Central is to give school leaders, SENCOs, SEND advisory teams and SpLD  professionals a memorable day of CPD that will really change lives. “It was the best CPD event I have ever been to and one of the highlights of my professional career” (2016 delegate).

Primary

Get a free travel first aid kit from Quick First Aid

From field trips to sports days, staff and pupils will be outside and active for the next couple of months. Make sure that your first aid kits and medical supplies are fully stocked and ready for the term ahead and take advantage of our free travel kit offer with every order over £75*.

Quick outdoor kit

If your order is over £125* we will pop in a box of chocolates too!

Our service includes FREE next day delivery on all orders placed before 3pm.

We’ve got some great deals on cold packs and plasters, cleansing wipes and sick bags so order online or call our friendly sales team on 01482 488488.

Bring on the sunshine!

Regards,

Emma

QuickFirstAid.co.uk

emma@quickfirstaid.co.uk

Facebook.com/quickaid

Literacy, Primary

Was King Aethelstan the first king of England, or has the National Curriculum got it wrong?

And come to that, does it really matter?

Certainly accuracy in history  matters in the sense that it is important that 1000 years ago England became united under one ruler: the start of the long journey ultimately to the United Kingdom and what we now call “British Values”.

But when the National Curriculum speaks at KS2 of “King Aethelstan, the first king of England” one might start to ask: is this really right?

Aethelstan ruled the whole of Britain for a brief period, but usage of the name “England” wouldn’t appear for another 100 years – and, before then, the land would again be split up amongst several Saxon/Viking kings.

Not only that, but Aethelstan wasn’t the first king to rule the entirety of the land now called England either – that accolade goes to the Saxon King Egbert, Aethelstan’s great-great-grandfather.

So when the National Curriculum is being a little less than fulsome with the story, one is forced to ask, do the exact details of the story matter?

When working with children, the answer is generally yes, because most of us find that children care a lot more about details and issues when they encounter them through engaging in stories – and the foundation of England is indeed an engaging story.

So it is generally a good idea to get the stories right – such as with the creation of a unified England in 1017.  What’s more, where it is quite possibly a story that the child’s parents don’t know, then the power of the story will be ever greater. For children love nothing more than educating their parents!

This is why we have developed a programme that sensitively highlights the issues of today by exploring them in the context of the very beginning of England, 1,000 years ago.

Storytellers from Snail Tales are travelling the country sharing the legends of the Anglo-Viking period, from Alfred’s burnt cakes to Knut’s wet feet – tales which reveal how England was forged by the great Anglo-Saxon and Viking leaders.

The storytellers will also run workshops on life in Anglo-Viking England to help your children understand how Knut united the various tribes that made up the country.

We’ll also supply an activities pack to help you run a birthday party marking England’s 1,000th, including: recommended music; Who Made England? book from The History Press; a special commemorative coin from the Royal Mint; and a special discount on tickets to your nearest performance of our theatre tour celebrating Knut, The First King of England in a Dress.

If you would like one of our storytellers to come to your school to engage in the activities above, please do click here to find out more.  Alternatively you can email us at stories@snailtales.org or phone us at 020 328 76245.

Primary

Stimulating the intellect

What is the most effective way of enhancing children’s intellectual development without cost?

There is no doubt that children who are encouraged to use their imaginations develop intellectually at a faster rate than those who simply receive information alone.

Our imaginations allow us to hypothesize, to hold the concept of number, to solve problems without actually doing them, and to think what might be alongside what actually is.

Indeed children whose imaginations are stretched tend to achieve far more intellectually than might otherwise be expected.

For example, when children listen to a story, ​they can become enthralled not just by the words but by what their imaginations do to the story.  The imagination provides extra details to make their own personal vision of story.​

From listening to stories a lot it is but a tiny step to reading stories and so the process continues. The child’s intelligence is enhanced as the child becomes more able to engage in the world around them.

Which only leaves one question: how can we develop this skill?

The answer turns out to be quite simple and it doesn’t have to cost the school anything.

It involves a two-part activity in which children learn to tell stories to each other in small groups, and which then also encourages parents to take part in the activity at home.

We have set out the whole project in a free report explaining how the project can work, step by step, without any need to spend anything on equipment or other resources.

For a free copy of the report, “Enhancing reading, problem solving and writing through storytelling at school and at home” please email stories@snailtales.org. If you could write “Enhancing reading report” in the subject line that would be helpful.

If you would like to know more about what we do, there are details on our website or you can call us on 020 328 76245.

Primary

Literacy and the summer

When children are most likely to slip back in terms of literacy – what can be done about it?

It is something that can often be observed: children who are already struggling somewhat in terms of literacy can slip back even further during the school holidays.

Unfortunately this “slippage” can have an even greater impact on some children when it occurs during the Easter break, as the arrival of better weather in the summer term can encourage more time to be spent outdoors, leaving less time for doing any literacy support work at home.

In such cases the best solution is one that is totally geared around each individual child’s specific needs; an approach which can be utilised both at home and at school.

Being an approach based totally around the child’s current literacy level, our solution means that the gaining of literacy changes from being a struggle into something that is enjoyable.  Enjoyable both because of the nature of the materials and because the progress can be witnessed by the child every day.

In study between March and summer 2016, at-risk pupils across nearly 3,000 schools made substantial progress using our approach. During this time, the percentage of pupils working two or more years below their expected level was reduced by almost half (54% to 28%).

To achieve such success, our approach starts with a highly accurate and rapid system of placing pupils according to their current literacy ability, and which precisely notes the progress they are making day to day.

This auto-placement approach analyses individual ability levels and reveals exactly what each pupil needs to be focussing on in order to ensure progress is achieved.

Then, if the pupil can have one-to-one tuition in a way that is utterly engaging and responsive to her or his immediate literacy needs and within the school’s budget, the issue is resolved.

All of this can be done using Core5 from Lexia.  The analysis, the comparisons with other pupils, the progress, the remedial work – each and every element of a student’s learning journey is tracked and evaluated by Core5.

If you would like to read the case studies involving UK schools which are already using the system please click here. You will then also find on the right of the page the route to having access to the full program for 30 days without any payment or commitment.

If you want to know more about the program, we have all the information you’ll need available here. Alternatively, if you would like to talk first, call 0191 482 1939, or email info@lexiauk.co.uk.

Primary

Making sure it’s not Pantomonium this Christmas

A unique educational entertainment event direct to your school, completely hassle free.

Why book a pantomime play?

  • A perfect way to celebrate towards the end of the winter term
  • Brand new pantomime performances based on key educational themes.
  • Enhance your students learning and wellbeing with interactive pantomime performances that link to the curriculum.
  • Teacher resource pack full of classroom activities free with every show.

Entertainment & Education

By incorporating aspects from the curriculum (literacy to PSHE) in each magical story you get to treat your students and at the same time justify it within the school budget. Your pupils get to experience a one-of-a-kind pantomime that both entertains and educates.  (Exact curriculum links are available on request).

For all ages

The shows are fast paced, funny and visually exciting for all ages. Older years are kept involved by the adventures, tasks and plots, whilst the physical comedy and colourful characters and costumes appeal to the younger years. The educational elements in the shows cover both KS1 and KS2 topics.

A performance to suit you

The whole school will get involved as there is constant audience interaction and the pupils even get to take part in the performance.  We are happy to perform up to 3 performances a day for up to 240 pupils per show.

Informing, Involving, Inspiring.

Pantomimeplay.co.uk is part of Tip of the Iceberg Theatre Company who have been delivering award winning theatre in education for over 10 years.  We take great pride in creating productions of the highest quality whilst ensuring a memorable educational experience.

Take a look at our website here:

https://www.pantomimeplay.co.uk/shows

You will find a price guide on the teachers’ page along with further information.

Please don’t hesitate to get in touch for an exact quote. We look forward to hearing from you.

Lisa Schulberg (Creative Director)

Email tourbooker@tipoftheiceberg.biz or info@pantomimeplay.co.uk

Tel: 01707 527140 or 07519593711

Primary

Britain’s Best Story-Telling Show

http://www.stratfordfestivalofsalonarts.co.uk/

Top Traditional Story-Teller Jim MacCool is on tour throughout this Summer Term. He’ll be performing in Primary Schools all over Britain.
Bards in the true sense, Celtic Yarn-Spinners enrich and entertain all ages with interactive stories, poems and songs.
If you’d like to have Jim MacCool and his Traditional Story-Telling Shows come to your school, please telephone me, Joy Atkins, on 020 8688 6951, or you may prefer to email:
The Stratford Festival of Salon Arts organises
The National Tour of Traditional Celtic Story-Tellers
running now till Friday 21st July 2017
http://www.stratfordfestivalofsalonarts.co.uk/
Dates of Interest
National Poetry Day Thurs. 28th Sept 2017
October is National Poetry Month
Joy Atkins
Stratford Festival of Salon Arts
15 Warwick Road Stratford-upon-Avon CV37 6YW
Tel. 0208 688 6951
celticyarnspinner@yahoo.co.uk
http://www.stratfordfestivalofsalonarts.co.uk
Primary

Improving pupils’ learning through gamification

The number of young people becoming involved in gaming is ever increasing. This is often concerning for educators, who see games as distracting pupils from their studies, when this is not necessarily the case.

Our aim at EDArcade is to promote and support pupils’ learning through fun and engaging games. Rather than trying to cut down pupils’ gaming hours, we instead harness its educational potential.

Our platform provides 85 educational games, each featuring a range of puzzles and questions that have been designed based on criteria from any National Curriculum. We cover a range of core and non-core subjects including English, maths, science and internet safety.

Read more

We can help your establishment in promoting and supporting learning through our platform by enabling:

• Instant tracking of pupils’ answers, understanding and progress, allowing you to easily identify their strengths and weaknesses and plan lessons accordingly.

• Customisable multiple choice questions, giving you the ability to quiz individuals on specific topics, match our content with your lesson plans, or edit a game’s difficulty levels based on pupils’ needs.

• Social elements to encourage interaction between pupils and creating an incentive for learning to beat the class’s high score.

All of our games are available in additional languages on request

For more information about how EDArcade can help students through game based learning, please contact us on 01909 776 915 or by email at mail@edarcade.com.

Sam Warnes
Creator of EDArcade
T: 01909 568 338
F: 01909 568 350
E: mail@edarcade.com
W: www.edarcade.com

Primary

Assessment ‘without levels’

Another review of Primary assessment? Maybe it’s time to devise your own system?

Last year, like most schools, you were probably feeling your way into the new curriculum and assessment without levels.

Now you probably have enough experience to set up an assessment system which will meet your school’s precise needs.

With support from our Primary Progress toolkit it’s perfectly possible. Here’s what you will probably need to do.

Adopt a manageable set of statements, which will help your teachers to know what their pupils need to know and be able to do.

Devise a set of grades, which define pupils’ steps on the way to mastering the curriculum.

Have a quick and easy way for teachers to record their assessments.

Agree Age Related expectations for each term.

Analyse which pupils are making expected progress and which need support to get them on track.

When Ofsted come won’t they be impressed when you show them how you are managing all this?

Our Online Primary Progress toolkit has been built with flexibility as its main aim. We believe it can support any school’s assessment needs.  It’s also a modern online database system, professionally programmed, so you don’t have to worry about maintaining it.

So, if you aren´t 100% satisfied with your current assessment tracking system, why not check out our Online Primary Progress toolkit at primaryprogresstoolkit.co.uk?

If you need more information, or would like to discuss your specific needs, email me at statsed@gmail.com or ring me on 01279 652183.

We can also give you free access to a demo site, where you can try out the toolkit for yourself.

Roger Watson

Statistics for Education, 5 Bridge Street, Bishop’s Stortford, Herts, CM23 2JU
Tel: 01279 652183; Email: statsed@gmail.com

Primary

Is your school ready for the General Election on 8th June?

Lets vote on it front cover

Introduce your pupils to the ideas of democracy with these products from Gresham Books

Let’s Vote On It! book – written for KS2 Let’s Vote On It! is an introduction to democracy and the workings of Parliament explaining how citizens can influence decision making through the democratic process.

Democracy in Britain class poster – a bright and lively British Values poster for your classroom. The poster picks out the key elements of our British democracy.

Aiming High book – a critical thinking guide written for parents and teachers explaining how the techniques of critical thinking can help pupils learn to evaluate evidence and make up their own minds.

For more details visit our WEBSITE

Music, Primary

Key Stage 2 Composing for Non-Specialists

KEY STAGE 2 COMPOSING is an exciting classroom resource for teachers delivering composition lessons in the primary school. This detailed and easy-to-understand book was written by a well-known composer who has researched and piloted new methods designed particularly for non-specialists. However, Music Co-Coordinators will also welcome the background information, practical advice and project ideas in the book.

A complete primary school composing resource

KEY STAGE 2 COMPOSING presents a creative course covering the entire KS2 composing curriculum in a way which is easy for non-specialist teachers to understand and use, and fun to deliver in the classroom. Detailed and timed lesson plans are complemented by thorough explanatory notes; no previous music knowledge is required. The book can form a complete year’s work, or be a resource for all the composing elements in KS2 music lessons.  It could also form the basis for an entire Key Stage 2 music syllabus.  It is based on the methods David Stoll developed when asked by the DfES to look into helping non-specialist teachers deliver composing lessons.

Suitable for music coordinators

The Introduction discusses music lessons and composing, and gives links to the primary school music curriculum.  This is followed by a term’s worth of timed and very comprehensive composing lessons, described in full detail with background notes.   There are then four projects which are likely to take a half-term each to complete, and six one-off short workshop projects for occasional lessons.  All necessary worksheets are included and copyable.

The book concludes with further guidance on inventing new projects, using rooms and equipment, giving performances, and answers to common questions from non-specialist music teachers.

The download price for KEY STAGE 2 COMPOSING is £17.40, including VAT.  This includes a licence for printing, copying and using the product in a non-commercial way within schools.

For more information, or to purchase the book as a download, please go to: https://www.davidstoll.co.uk/product/educational-key-stage-2-composing

ICT, Primary

Why Change to an Interactive Touchscreen (ITS)?

 

There comes a time with all technology when more modern equipment supersedes it. Years ago we used blackboards with chalk. Several generations later we were using Interactive whiteboards (IWB) with projectors. Believe it or not these have been in circulation in schools for around twenty years.  However time moves on and schools are now moving over to Interactive Touchscreens. These have all the benefits of IWBs plus many more:

  • Use up to 75% less power
  • Crystal clear viewing in any light conditions
  • Useable in any rooms and are not wall dependent
  • No shadows
  • No need for unsightly projector fittings

There are several brands of ITS on the market but only one is so confident of its product that it offers a warranty of up to Seven Years. GeneeWorld offers a warranty on all its touchscreens of between five and seven years.

Genee is already a world renowned  brand in the education market as the leader in visualiser technology. They have used this knowledge of classroom technology and interactivity to design a board that can not only interact with legacy software, but has its own bespoke Spark software for giving you the very best results. To watch a 12 minute video of these products go to http://www.arkel.co.uk/genee.

Arkel Computer Services is a specialist Geneeworld partner and can offer you best prices for all Genee products. If you have a requirement for an ITS, visualiser or any other Genee product please call Arkel on 01858 432495 or contact sales@arkel.co.uk

For orders placed during April, prices of Interactive Touch Screens start from: £1217

However, for your guidance we have listed the price of some of the more popular products below:

G-Touch Slim 55” De Luxe with built in Android: £1217 (Special Offer Price while stocks last)

G-Touch Slim 65” Classic: £1773

Larger Screens are also available from 70” up to 86”. Prices on application.

We also offer a full installation and fitting service in your area. Please call 01858 432495 for prices which will vary according to quantity and size of the boards.

Genee Visualisers From £128

All prices are subject to delivery charges and VAT.

Arkel also offer all other forms of IT hardware and technical support. For a better idea of the scope of how we can help, go to: www.arkel.co.uk or call us on 01858 432495 or email sales@arkel.co.uk

Arkel Computer Services Ltd, 38 Granville St, Market Harborough, Leics. LE16 9EX

Nursery, Primary

Quality and affordable teaching supplies to support the curriculum

Early Years Resources is a reputable supplier of cutting edge educational resources for Nurseries and Primary Schools throughout the UK and worldwide for 25 years.

Our team consists of experienced teachers and specialists buyers who have sourced innovative and “hard to find” products designed to aid in the delivering of the curriculum and the development of pupils’ skills in the classroom.

Our extensive range of curriculum based resources includes:

  • English – focusing on communication; equipping pupils with a strong command of spoken and written language and nurturing a love of literature
  • Mathematics – teach the key mathematical aims; problem solving, fluency and reasoning in a fun and exciting way
  • Science – broaden pupils’ scientific view of the world through exploring, asking, analysing and observing

To view our range of products visit our website or view our digital catalogue .

Great reasons to shop with us

  • Over 6000 resources to choose from including Art and Craft, Furniture and Outdoor Equipment
  • Resources selected by our team of experienced teachers and specialist buyers
  • 25 years of supplying educational resources to primary schools and early years settings
  • Educational establishments in Ireland can now order directly through our website.
  • Easy ways to order – online, phone, email, fax and post

For further information, feel free to contact us on (+44) 161 865 3355 or email sales@earlyyearsresources.co.uk.

Primary

Thank you soooooo much!

We just wanted to say an enormous thank you to all the primary schools who are putting on our new production ‘Superstar School’ – we’ve been overwhelmed by the response!

We’re so excited about our brand new musical for end of year/leavers and we’re delighted that so many schools are too!

If your school would also like to have an end-of-year celebration like no other, don’t forget – for a limited time, all summer shows include a £10.00 Amazon voucher! But time’s running out, so don’t delay! Full details here.

Need to ask us something?  Don’t hesitate – we’re always happy to help!
Rob
T: 0333 014 5855

PS: Books and CDs will be posted out shortly, but in the meantime, you can get the children practising the songs with these karaoke videos on our website!

Literacy, Primary

Why do we teach children how to read?

Why do we teach children how to read? And how can we use this knowledge to improve our pupils’ level of reading?

Too often it is thought that a fluent reader is a good reader but if your pupils have no or very little understanding of what they are reading, their ability to read (fluently or not) is essentially useless.

Which is why Topical Resources has produced the Comprehension Series – to help your pupils to comprehend the texts that they can read but not necessarily understand.

Each activity book in the Comprehension Series includes fiction, non-fiction and poetry texts based on a range of themes with missing word activities, open ended questions and open ended written challenges for more able pupils.

What’s more, pages are displayed with a landscape orientation to make maximum use of the space on an interactive whiteboard.

For more information and to see sample pages, please  go to   www.topical-resources.co.uk/category/comprehension  and click on the individual resource links.  Alternatively, you can email sales@topical-resources.co.uk.

You can download The Comprehension Series for just £70+Vat (£10+VAT per PDF workbook) by visiting:
www.topical-resources.co.uk/category/comprehension
Primary, School News

A secret, fun, and effective maths teacher at every meal?

Times Table Plates image

This is what Times Table Plates provide at a one off cost of less than £2 per item.

There is much interaction between the children, even those with no previous interest in their tables, and instant recall is  very strong both in the classroom afterwards and for the rest of their lives.

Why not look at the website www.timestableplates.co.uk  and email or phone  to ask questions or request a sample.

With best regards

Bob Norfolk
Times Table Plates

01273 960950
rnorfolk@hotmail.com

Primary

Bringing PSHE off the page and into real life.

Coping with change. Banter vs Bullying. Connected Britain. We’ve got it covered.

With 10 million children heading back to school after the holiday break and recent reports announcing 3 children in every classroom have a mental health problem is it possible to cover sensitive topics in a fun, nurturing and exciting format?

Tip of the Iceberg Theatre company have spent the last 15 years developing shows and interactive workshop experiences alongside schools, teachers and pupils to improve well being and promote positive behaviour and relationships.

The projects are involving, informing and inspiring as they entertain and engage the audience and our follow up sessions make the full experience relevant and memorable.

Our productions encompass a range of characters so that every audience member can find someone or a storyline to connect with and our follow up activity based workshops continue to actively encourage the pupils to explore their own lives, thoughts and actions.

Empowering pupils to find their own solutions and supporting them to consider all aspects of an issue gives them a foundation to develop healthy approaches to manage their mental health and behaviour, especially as they grow, mature and take on more personal responsibility.

Tackling sensitive issues can be difficult to bring to life in the classroom.

We have 3 productions on tour in the coming months, all of which look at the risks and the rewards, the realities, the influences and the feelings that young people experience.  Examining the heart and soul of topics and not just the nuts and bolts. The projects include performances and follow up workshops. The delivery is adapted to suit your group sizes and timetables.

Changing Britain – On tour throughout June and again in the autumn 2017. Exploring physical, emotional and life changes. Suitable for year 6.

Bullied Britain – On tour during the autumn and supporting Anti-Bullying Month in November. Bullying vs Banter. Understanding the different forms that bullying takes and getting to the root of where it may come from and therefore creating real change.  Different options available for years 3-6.

Connected Britain – On tour through June and again in the autumn 2017.  Delving into the many networks we have in our lives, accepting the reality and benefits that being connected brings whilst being aware of the dangers and risks. Promoting positive e-citizenship and developing healthy relationships with and through technology. Different options available for years 3-6.

You can take a look at some more details on our website:

http://www.tipoftheiceberg.biz/work/inside.html

Prices start at £550 + VAT for a half  day and £750 + VAT for a full day.

For more information on a bespoke delivery and an exact quote for your school please get in touch.

Email tourbooker@tipoftheiceberg.biz or lisa@tipoftheiceberg.biz

Tel 01707527140 or 07519593711

Literacy, Primary

“Since Tom started using Education Quizzes, he has really started to sparkle.”

We have made Education Quizzes free for a whole year so that students like Tom can sparkle too

Despite all the revision tips, tricks and techniques, the best way to help your pupils to retain the knowledge that they have learned in their literacy lessons is by presenting them with the opportunity to use this knowledge on a regular basis.

However, since there is more than one topic area to cover in the English Programmes of Study, it can sometimes be a long period of time until a topic is revisited, by which time your pupils will have forgotten much of what they had previously learned.

Which is why we have produced an extensive library of literacy quizzes and made them free to use for a whole year, so that your pupils can test and revise their knowledge as frequently as they need and want to.

What’s more, Education Quizzes is ideal to set as homework tasks as it involves little to no PPA time – giving you more time to focus on planning and preparing future lessons and assessing the work of your pupils from lessons which have gone before.

To get a better idea of what Education Quizzes is all about, simply visit www.educationquizzes.com. And to sign your school up for Education Quizzes for free for a whole year, go to www.educationquizzes.com/schools-uk-registrations/.

If you have any queries, you can easily contact us by sending an email to admin@educationquizzes.com.

Primary

What is the most effective way of approaching Multi Faith issues in school?

Of course children can read about and indeed watch films about different faiths.

But there is no doubt that an inspirational speaker, who is an active member of a faith and used to working with primary school children, can in one session transform the children’s understanding of a particular faith.

And there can also be no doubt that such an event can be of great long-term value.  For time and again one can see that even a modest amount of personal knowledge can dispel ignorance and assumption, and instead encourage respect, leading to a more harmonious society.

With this in mind, Rabbi Douglas Charing, Director of the Leeds-based Jewish Education Bureau, has been visiting schools throughout the country for many years.

He offers lively and informative presentations on many aspects of Judaism, including Festivals such as Passover and Chanukah, and life-cycle events. Story and song are also included.

Your pupils will be engaged and stimulated and enjoy a lasting experience by an inspiring educator.

To make a booking or for further details of cost and availability, phone our hotline on 0345 567 4071 or email rabbi@jewisheducationbureau.co.uk

Rabbi Charing is also available for school-based Inset.

www.jewisheducationbureau.co.uk

Primary

What are you doing about the effects of domestic abuse?

It’s most probable that some of your pupils are suffering from seeing abuse at home.  Their learning capability is impaired.

A minimum of 750,000 British children and young people a year are witnesses to domestic abuse.  Also 62% of children living with domestic abuse are directly harmed by the perpetrator of the abuse, in addition to the harm caused by witnessing the abuse of others.

Every case of domestic abuse is different and children are affected in lots of different ways, depending on their circumstances, personality, the severity of the situation and availability of appropriate support. It is recognised that some children are resilient enough to recover quickly from exposure to domestic abuse; while others may react adversely and require therapeutic intervention to help deal with the trauma and prevent any long-term negative effects.

Children learn from what they experience. They may learn that it is acceptable to use violence or other forms of controlling behaviours.  Children’s immediate reactions include overall anxiety and worry, separation anxiety,  excessive worry about their safety and that of the non-abusive parent/ carer, sleep problems, nightmares, difficulty with concentration, increased hyperactivity, increased anger/aggression, withdrawal, low self-esteem, and confidence.

Play therapy helps to alleviate these conditions.  Between 77% and 84% of children receiving therapy from a Play Therapy UK registrant show a positive change.

If you want to know more about how play therapy works, the training required for a member of  your staff to become a registered Play Therapist, please email Monika at mokijep@majemail.com

www.playtherapy.org.uk  and www.playtherapyregister.org.uk

Primary

What is Fake News?

Recently Andreas Schleicher OECD’s Director of Education and Skills and leading international education expert said children should be taught in schools how to recognise fake news, “Distinguishing what is true from what is not true is a critical skill today”.

Use our What is Fake News? Poster to show your students what to look out for and how to distinguish between fake and real news.

Fake News poster

 Order any Gresham Books poster or poster bundle and get 10% off! Enter coupon code poster10 on the checkout page to claim the discount.

To read more about the posters and to place an order visit our website here, you can also place an order by calling 01983 761389.

Assemblies, Primary

Are Jesus’ teachings relevant today?

What is the single most effective way to engage your pupils in assemblies that are explicitly Christian in nature?

It can be difficult for children to understand the relevance of Jesus’ teachings in their daily lives.

Children may struggle interpreting stories from the Holy Bible and their deeper meanings – which form the core of Christianity as a religion – as the stories are not set in a society to which the children can relate.

It is for this reason that we have produced Modern Christian Assembly Stories.

This resource contains 50 modern Christian assembly stories with characters, scenarios, themes, and everyday dilemmas which your pupils will be able to relate to. Children will come to realise that Jesus’ teachings are still relevant today and will understand how Christian beliefs and values play a part in their lives.

Some of the stories will make them, and you, laugh, whilst others will prompt you all to reflect deeply.

For example, in one story your pupils will meet Billy who loses his trunks whilst swimming at school – how embarrassing! What will he do? And in another story your pupils will meet David who is missing his best friend who has left school. Then he meets Arthur, the new boy. Arthur is different. He is autistic: he canʼt speak. How can David make friends with him?

Furthermore, accompanying teacher’s notes will enable you to make the most of each story, providing information on the background, story and theme, as well as a brief summary of what Christians believe and a short prayer related to the story.

For more information about Modern Christian Assembly Stories for £17.99 simply visit: http://www.brilliantpublications.co.uk/book/modern-christian-assembly-stories-710

As always, you can order this resource in a variety of ways, such as:

• by visiting the website

• by phone on 01449 766629

• by fax on 01449 768047

• by email to orders@tradecounter.co.uk

• or by post to Brilliant Publications, Mendlesham Industrial Estate, Norwich Road, Mendlesham, Suffolk, IP14 5ND.

Primary

Would a £10 Amazon voucher be useful…?

When it comes to Year 6, the challenge is coming up with new ways to give your students the most memorable send-off ever. It’s not easy, is it?

We passionately believe our brand new “End Of Year” musicals are the answer!  Meticulously written with teachers and children in mind, they offer the perfect blend of contemporary songs and scripts that are guaranteed to be easy to teach.

If you haven’t tried us before, you’re in for a treat. And, for a limited time, all summer shows include a choice of a £10.00 Amazon voucher or £10.00 discount! Full details here.

Any questions? Just contact us – we’re always happy to help!
Rob
T: 0333 014 5855

Click here to see the full “Amazon Voucher” Summer Collection.

That’s summer sorted!

 

Full terms and conditions apply. Click here for details.

For, and on behalf of, Easy Peasy Plays.
Easy Peasy Plays is a trading name of Popcorn School Ltd, a limited company registered in England and Wales under number 8534985 and whose registered offices are located at 20-22 Wenlock Road, London, N1 7GU.

Primary

Support English and Maths through game-based learning
Support English and Maths through
Game Based Learning
Dear Colleague,

Computers and consoles are becoming a central part of pupils’ lives, and so game based learning – the integration of gaming into learning – has never been more popular in schools.

Our platform features 85 educational games, each featuring a range of puzzles and questions that have been designed based on criteria from the National Curriculum.

Our content covers a range of core and non-core subjects, including:
• English – covering spelling, grammar and sentence structure.
• Maths – including topics such as addition, subtraction, time tables, shapes and angles.
• Science – explaining the basics of the solar system, speed, time and elements.
• Internet Safety – internet security, viruses and staying safe online.
Game based learning encourages active engagement from pupils through interactive learning and instant gratification. The large selection of games allows pupils to learn at their own pace and in their own way.
Read more
We can help your establishment in promoting and supporting learning through our platform by enabling:
• Instant tracking of pupils’ answers, understanding and progress, allowing you to easily identify their strengths and weaknesses and plan lessons accordingly.
• Customisable multiple choice questions, giving you the ability to quiz individuals on specific topics, match our content with your lesson plans, or edit difficulty levels based on pupils’ needs.
• Social elements to encourage interaction between students and creating an incentive for learning to beat the class’s high score.
For more information about how EDArcade can help students through game based learning, please contact us on 01909 776 915 or by email at mail@edarcade.com.

Kind regards,
Sam's signature
Sam Warnes
Creator of EDArcade
T: 01909 776 915
F: 01909 568 350
E: mail@edarcade.com
W: www.edarcade.com
Email EDArcade    Follow @ED_Arcade on Twitter
Literacy, Primary

What is the single most effective way of utilising pupil premium funding?

There is of course one fundamental issue that affects every other aspect of every child’s education: the child’s level of literacy.

The problem is that once a child at primary school starts to slip behind it can be difficult to tailor instruction towards individuals within a group.  What each child then needs is help and support in his/her specific areas of difficulty.

At this point a highly accurate and rapid system of placing pupils according to their current literacy ability is required, which precisely notes the progress they are making day by day.

But every school needs this analysis, without it taking up more of that most precious resource: time.

One particularly effective solution to this problem is to implement an auto-placement approach which analyses individual ability level and reveals exactly what each student needs to be focussing on in order to ensure literacy progress is achieved.

Then, if the pupil can have one-to-one tuition in a way that is utterly engaging and responsive to her or his immediate literacy needs and within the school’s budget, the issue is resolved.

All of this can be done using Core5 from Lexia.  The analysis, the comparisons with other pupils, the progress, the remedial work – each and every element of a student’s learning journey is tracked and evaluated by Core5.

If you would like to read the case studies involving UK schools which are already using the system please click here. You will then also find on the right of the page the route to having access to the full program for 30 days without any payment or commitment.

If you want to know more about the program, we have all the information you’ll need available here. Alternatively, if you would like to talk first, call 0191 482 1939, or email info@lexiauk.co.uk.

Rob Kay

LexiaUK Software Consultant

Primary

Have you got your activity days and summer fete sorted?

With the summer term approaching fast our circus fun days are extremely popular as well as our drop in workshops at fetes and fairs. Fantastiko circus skills sessions are brilliant fun for all ages and abilities and offer an excellent educational experience, whether exploring the “circus topic”, exploring forces in science, as an activity day, a reward, or part of your school fete or fair.

Looking for something fun, educational, and inclusive?

Fantastiko’s workshops are designed to help pupils, teachers and parents feel energised and positive as they work together and learn new things, we also offer personalised certificates to add to a sense of achievement.

Skills range from simple feather balancing and bucket stilts to the more advanced tight wire and unicycle, we even have a trapeze rig that we can bring along.

Want something tailor made without a lot of fuss and hassle?

We adapt our workshops to suit different settings and events for reception all the way up to year 6 – and adults love in joining too.  Fantastiko provide a complete circus package and our offers include everything from; a one hour visit, circus days, ongoing schemes of work, circus science sessions and even a range of themed entertainment.

Prices start from £210+Vat for a half day.

The founders and facilitators at Fantastiko Circus Workshops have been sharing their skills for over 15 years and pride themselves on delivering the best circus package to suit each school and their pupils.

If you would like to bring the magic of circus straight in to your school (or our circus tent marquee) then take a look at our website:

www.circusworkshops.biz

Contact us for more details about the different workshops and entertainment we offer.

We look forward to hearing from you.

Drew Hewett  (Creative Director)

E: drew@circusworkshops.biz

T: 01707 527160 or 07539229256

Literacy, Primary

Interactive Story-Telling and Song Workshops for Primary Schools

http://www.stratfordfestivalofsalonarts.co.uk/

Top Traditional Story-Teller Jim MacCool is visiting Primary Schools throughout the Summer Term 2017.

Bards in the true sense, Celtic Yarn-Spinners enrich and entertain all ages with interactive stories, poems and songs.

Mr MacCool’s tried and tested workshops are a wonderful cross curriculum activity mixing music, literacy, speaking and listening skills in a fun learning experience for pupils and staff.

Should you be interested in having Jim MacCool and his Traditional Story-Telling Workshops come to your school, please telephone me, Joy Atkins, on 020 8688 6951, or you may prefer to email: celticyarnspinner@yahoo.co.uk  for more information.

The Stratford Festival of Salon Arts
organises
The National Tour of Traditional Celtic Story-Tellers
running from
Mon. 20th March through to Friday 21st July 2017
http://www.stratfordfestivalofsalonarts.co.uk/

DATES OF INTEREST
National  Poetry Day Thursday 28 Sept. 2017
October is National Poetry Month
National Story Telling Week 27 Jan.- 3 Feb.2018

Joy Atkins
Stratford Festival of Salon Arts
15 Warwick Road Stratford-upon-Avon CV37 6YW
Tel. 0208 688 6951
celticyarnspinner@yahoo.co.uk
http://www.stratfordfestivalofsalonarts.co.uk
October is National Poetry Month

Primary

What is the most effective way of inspiring outdoor play in a world filled with gadgets?

A recent survey of 12,000 parents showed that around 75% felt that their children preferred playing digital games as opposed to active outdoor play.

Many parents agree this is not ideal: which raises the question, what is the most effective way of encouraging children to engage in more active play before school, during breaks from class work, and after school? And indeed what approach is most likely to be seen and appreciated by parents?

“With so much focus on academic attainment, there can be pressure on teachers to stay in the classroom which means children are missing out on so many experiences that will benefit them through their lives.” – BBC environmental report.

“There is a clear play imbalance emerging… children need to be exposed to varied stimulus. Allow a child to be free outside with no structure and no gadgets and you will marvel at what they can achieve.” (Educationalist, Sir Ken Robinson).

This imbalance is a problem we have faced head on, and as a result we have designed a variety of resources and play equipment to inspire active play for pupils in KS1 and KS2.

With a variety of imagination play resources, strategy games, playground and after school activities, our range supports schools in the challenge to inspire active play.

By encouraging activity outside the classroom, PE and games are not relied upon as the sole source of active play.

Imagination play resources, including dens and playhouses, offer enchanting and comfortable spaces for children to play together in boundless make-believe worlds. Team games bring exciting strategy to the playground, promoting motor skills and improving communication.

Play is a wonderful revitaliser, helping pupils to feel more eager and ready to learn.

Big Game Hunters‘ selection of high quality outdoor games and equipment includes Giant Chess and Draughts, Giant Tower games, Giant Snakes and Ladders and unique wooden playground games.

If you would like to learn more or view the range, visit us at biggamehunters.co.uk.

Ordering for your school is quick and simple; simply sign up, log-in and you’ll have the option to checkout and pay later on invoice. You can also email purchase orders to sales@biggamehunters.co.uk

For guidance on choosing play equipment for your school, contact Big Game Hunters at: sales@biggamehunters.co.uk

Hannah Hemsley
Big Game Hunters
t:  +44 1865 392 439   dl: +44 1865 392 439
a:  Chadwick Farm, Garford, OX13 5PD

w: biggamehunters.co.uk

e:  sales@biggamehunters.co.uk

w: sportsballshop.co.uk