Primary CPD

As we know, the threat to our planet and to the human race posed by climate change is all too real. With the government's promise at COP26 to have a model science curriculum including sustainability and climate change in place by 2023, we all have a duty to help children understand what we mean by the term 'climate change', how we have caused it to happen, and, most importantly, how we can contribute to the solution. As Emmanuel Macron put it, 'Let us face it, there is no Planet B.'

25% of children left primary school last year without being able to read properly. Without this essential skill, children's life chances are severely hampered, but fostering a reading for pleasure habit in children is the greatest way of improving their literacy skills. 

In the words of David Waugh, '... punctuation can be a very powerful tool when we write, enabling us to express ideas in different ways and often substituting for the tone, volume and expression we are able to use in speech.' (David Waugh, Practical approaches to teaching punctuation in the primary school, 2022)

Whether you're a punctuation pedant or a grudging grammarian, GPS is a major part of the curriculum. So love it or loathe it, here I'm featuring brand new punctuation and grammar resources for every year group. 

Those of us in education do not need to be reminded of the wonder of books and the benefits of reading for pleasure.

Sadly, not all children embrace the joy of reading and so World Book Day (which, this year, takes place on 2 March) can be a great opportunity to increase their engagement and get them sharing books.

Head of Geography and Fawcett Fellow Fiona Sheriff shares suggestions for marking World Environment Day 2025 in the classroom and outdoors, across the subjects and key stages.

Classroom management is crucial to learning. We can plan a brilliant curriculum, utilise evidence-informed teaching strategies and have the most in-depth subject knowledge, but if pupil behaviour is poor, learning is unlikely to occur. Here we discuss aspects of classroom management that can help teachers ensure effective learning in their classrooms.