Everything about our classroom is a decision we have made, if the desks are set up a certain way it is either because we put them like that or we decided (consciously or unconsciously) that they were fine as we found them.
Equality and Diversity in Staff Training This is the notes form of an Equality and Diversity presentation I wrote as part of my certification as a PBS instructor. I am now a Principal Instructor for our area in Positive Behaviour Support (PBS is an area I have been putting much thought into). I must stress … Read more
Always on the lookout for computing technology that is accessible and engaging to all my students I invested in 1 Ozobot. A small programmable robot. It is, I would say the simplest device I have bought to support our computing curriculum, In less than 5 minutes I had it running around the maze supplied with … Read more
I have gained so much from following the #teacher5aday initiatives. I thought I should give something back. So below is my very short video outlining some key Makaton signs you can use with or teach your class. The benefits of using Makaton with SEN learners: Makaton is a language programme designed to provide communication skills … Read more
Quotes on inclusion Many people have written quotes on inclusion. In many of our articles, we have extensively discussed the importance of inclusion, which stands as a fundamental and central component of our overarching philosophy and beliefs. Embracing and advocating for inclusion is an integral aspect of approaching and understanding various topics, aiming to create a … Read more
Improving Inclusion Through School Leadership This post builds on the input of 30 school leaders during an SLTChat educational discussion. It also references two papers (see references section) Inclusive education has become a global priority, with countries worldwide seeking to provide quality education for all students regardless of ability, disability, language, culture, gender, or background. … Read more
Building Trust and School Leadership Clearly leading through trust is a hugely important element in the atmosphere of a school ecosystem. Given the level of vulnerability of our students the organic trust (Bryk and Schneider (2002)) within the school community is of paramount importance. However it should never be unquestioning. This would lead to complacency … Read more
School Leadership Journey What Does NPQML Mean? – NPQML Means National Professional Qualification for Middle Leadership. It is a DfE recognised qualification for school leaders. This post on becoming a middle leader is a reflection for my NPQML. Specifically a School improvement unit. In it I have tried to be honest about the struggles I … Read more
Transition and Change can be a challenge for many children. This discussion provides some strategies that may help.
After Attending the Child Internet Summit I was inspired to develop a new curriculum to replace our PHSE and Citizenship curriculums. I wanted to move the focus for online safety away from computing and ensure that whilst it is threaded throughout the curriculum there was an area we could cohesively focus on online issues. So when we … Read more
How to Run Effective Meetings as a School Leader Meetings are a fundamental aspect of effective school communication and collaboration within and between teams. Not all meetings are created equal, and poorly run meetings can be counterproductive and waste valuable time. To ensure your meetings are productive and impactful, let’s explore some insights from leadership … Read more
Leadership or Management in Schools As part of my NPQML, we had to complete the age-old difference between leadership vs management tasks. These are my thoughts. The leaders project video we watched is no longer on Youtube so I have included this Ted Talk by Seth Godin where he explains the differences between leadership and … Read more
Conversations and Middle Leadership in Schools This post was written when I was Key Stage 4 Lead, I am currently Deputy Principal so have updated it with some further thoughts. The conversations we take part in as leaders take a number of forms, informal chats in corridors, and question-and-answer sessions where you or a colleague … Read more
I think we have something in common. I work with children and young people who have special needs because I can make a difference and enrich the experiences the children under my care take part in. In times of uncertainty and change in a school there are certain principles that you cannot afford to lose … Read more
Subject Leader Reviews – Thoughts on Peer Observation Peer observations and reviews are used to make informed decisions about the quality of education in a school or subject. Can there be any more sensitive area of a teacher’s work than that of observations? It has been the bane of teachers’ lives instilling fear and anxiety … Read more
Easy and Simple Teaching Resource Design When it comes to creating materials for my classroom, I find Powerpoint to be an invaluable tool. Its versatile features allow me to design a wide range of worksheets, task boards, and other adaptive tasks that cater to the individual needs of my students. One particular approach we implement … Read more
For my first post I thought I would write a few ideas about making your classroom as accessible and inclusive as possible. Each student is of course an individual and these are just general ideas that may help you.
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