How to release the potential of your best teaching support staff to transform your pastoral offer to pupils…at zero cost!

Posted by Josh Cronin
On 16th July 2018

You probably have an excellent teaching assistant or learning mentor who is an amazing role model for your more challenging pupils. BUT… Is this person trained sufficiently? Have you clearly mapped out their career progression at your school? Do you worry about losing this key member of staff? Evidence suggests that the relationships of one […]

Posted by Josh Cronin
On 16th July 2018

I know mental health issues are in the news a lot at the moment so what can I do about this and is it really at no cost? Step 1 – Read this leaflet Step 2 – Share it with teaching support staff Step 3 – Ask them to confirm interest asap before the opportunity […]

Posted by Josh Cronin
On 16th July 2018

As a school governor, I know that school budgets are very tight and so implementing anything in school that requires extra cash can be difficult. I also know that it has never been more important for schools to get the maximum return from all of their resources, including teaching support staff who are often overlooked […]

Do levels of academic achievement correlate with hand-eye coordination?

Posted by Chris Lincoln
On 11th July 2018

On the week when schools were nervously awaiting the results from Key Stage 2 SATs tests, new research suggests that hand-eye coordination can affect pupils’ academic ability in reading, writing and maths. A study for the journal Psychological Science assessed the abilities of 300 pupils at Lilycroft Primary School in Bradford, as reported by The […]

An average of five children per class face risks to their wellbeing

Posted by Chris Lincoln
On 6th July 2018

The second annual Vulnerability Report, collated and published by children’s commissioner Anne Longfield, has revealed startling statistics about the welfare of children in England. As reported by SecEd, it is believed that 2.1 million of England’s children are living around serious risks, such as domestic violence, alcohol abuse and mental health problems, that require intervention […]

Prevention over reaction should be the priority for mental health support

Posted by Chris Lincoln
On 3rd July 2018

A series of recommendations have been made by the Mental Health Policy Commission in their Investing in a Resilient Generation document. Within this paperwork is an overwhelming call for more funding and priority to be directed towards preventative measures rather than reactive support for mental health problems. The documentation leads with a series of startling […]

Posted by Josh Cronin
On 29th June 2018

You will very soon be able to put your apprenticeship levy to good use. A distinct lack of relevant apprenticeship standards for schools means that most schools have been frustrated about the funds been taken from the already tight budgets. However, I have some very good news. From September, you will be able to use […]

Exclusions of children with autism have increased by 60% over the past five years

Posted by Chris Lincoln
On 27th June 2018

The charity Ambitious about Autism have released startling figures about children with autism. Their statistics show that ‘exclusions of children with autism have increased by 60 per cent over the past five years – rising to nearly 4,500 pupils being excluded in one year,’ as reported by Tes. With tight financial budgets and the omnipresent […]

What changes can you expect to see in the fight against obesity?

Posted by Chris Lincoln
On 26th June 2018

The government has launched what has been described as the “most ambitious plans yet” in the national fight against obesity with Jeremy Hunt, Secretary of State for Health, claiming, “the new measures will halve childhood obesity by 2030.” Building upon measures that have already been put in place to try and halt the downward spiral […]

Are schools in deprived areas falling as ‘far behind’ as Ofsted suggest?

Posted by Chris Lincoln
On 22nd June 2018

A recent review from Tes has found that there is a clear correlation between Ofsted ratings and the socio-economic position of an area. It perhaps comes as no surprise that pupils living in the more affluent areas are more likely to go to an outstanding school as rated by Ofsted. Figures obtained and presented by […]

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