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Secondary Assembly: ‘Patrick, come back!'

This assembly, timed to coincide with St. Patrick’s Day on March 17th, takes the form of a Time Travel Interview with Ireland’s Patron Saint. It disentangles fact from legend and shows that Patrick’s story is relevant today, giving opportunity for discussion at key stages 3, 4 and 5

How nurture relationships with early years parents

All early years practitioners are aware of the importance of establishing good relationships with the parents of the children who attend their setting. This week’s Early Year Focus suggests practical ways that you might develop this partnership

Helping students 'learn for transfer' - activities for developing an ‘inner voice’ to monitor thinking

This e-bulletin and the next will be looking at the crucial role of metacognitive plenaries in helping our students 'learn for transfer'

Easter Holiday programmes for Year 6 and Year 11 Pupils – which pay for themselves

Extended Schools Update is a new e-bulletin which hopes to provide educational professionals with some practical insights and advice to support them with emerging practice at their schools

Primary Assembly: Lloyd Coleman

This assembly asks children to think about the challenges faced by deaf musicians and mentions both Beethoven and Dame Evelyn Glennie

Secondary Assembly: Cheap at half the price

In this assembly, students are invited to consider the cost of bringing up a child in the UK, and to think about whether they personally are offering good value for the money that has been spent on them

Primary Assembly: Treo wins a medal

This assembly tells the story of a bomb-sniffing dog called Treo, an Army dog who did work in Afghanistan, became the 63rd animal to be awarded the ’Animals’ VC‘ – the Dickin Medal.

Secondary Assembly: Through alien eyes

In this week’s assembly, Joe Walker challenges listeners to look at themselves and the wider exploits of humanity from a different perspective… prompted by the arrival of aliens

Primary Assembly: New Potatoes

This assembly examines these first signs of spring and also discusses why new potatoes in the UK are now grown under swathes of plastic. It asks children to consider where their food comes from – and the price the countryside pays for it

Effective debriefing: making thinking and learning skills visible

This bulletin provides an overview of what is meant by effective ‘debriefing’ – an essential skill for any practitioner who wishes to generate conversations about learning in their classroom

Taking maths outdoors for early years

As the weather improves and opportunities for being out of doors for most of the day increase, it is time for practitioners in early years settings to consider the many different ways in which children’s mathematical development can be enhanced by ‘taking maths outdoors’

Secondary Assembly: Cheats never prosper?

This assembly considers attitudes to cheating in the light of the news that more pupils are using new ‘technological’ methods in order to cheat in examinations. It considers the pressures that may drive us to cheat and asks questions about the role of conscience

Primary Assembly: He felt he might be needed

Reginald Earnshaw, killed at 14 years and 152 days, was belatedly recognised recently as the youngest serving casualty of World War Two

Secondary Assembly: Sceptical at a cost?

On the general subject of climate change, this assembly invites students to consider how easily we become sceptical, and the effect this might have on the world’s poorest people

Primary Assembly: The Greensboro Four

Fifty years ago this month, the Greensboro Four sat down for a coffee in Woolworths. This assembly explores the lessons their act of bravery teaches us

How to be a reflective early years practitioner

All early years practitioners have a role to play in quality improvement by developing their personal and professional skills as reflective practitioners. Linda Thornton and Pat Brunton discuss what you can do

Reflective learners: helping learners make sense of their learning

This week begins a series on how to help young people develop as ‘Reflective Learners’

Secondary Assembly: Hope

This assembly reflects on the idea of hope, challenging listeners to engage in hopeful thinking for the future. It refers to the recent events in Haiti, as well as the memorial services recently held to remember the victims of the Holocaust

Primary Assembly: Fund raising and the widow’s mite

This assembly discusses seven year old Charlie’s remarkable fundraising effort for Haiti, highlighting the concerns and efforts of all young fundraisers. It contains a Christian message and a short story from the Bible

Secondary Assembly: Groundhog Day

This assembly for secondary school pupils looks at the tradition of Groundhog Day, considers why we get bored of routine, and why we should think twice about it

Primary Assembly: Haiti Earthquake

The Haitian earthquake of 12th January has been a highly featured issue on every news channel and in every newspaper. This assembly helps teachers explain to children what has happened, why it won’t happen in Britain, and that there are things that are being done to help

Secondary Assembly: When your chewing gum’s lost its flavour

In this assembly Brian Radcliffe invites students to consider an imaginative way to recycle an unsightly and invasive type of litter

The value of play in early years

Early Years Update looks at the benefits of using play as a developmental tool with young children, particularly focusing on the added value of parental support and involvement

Exploring emotional resourcefulness: activities for developing empathy

This issue we continue to look at practical activities that can be used to help young people explore the idea of 'emotional resourcefulness', focusing on helping students to become increasingly sensitive to other people’s feelings and perceptions

Primary assembly: Miep Gies

Miep Gies died this week aged 100. She helped shelter Anne Frank’s family during the Second World War and saved Anne’s diaries which were published to great acclaim

Primary Assembly: Hard winters and reminiscences

Gerald Haigh looks at the effect of hard winters - not only on people, but on the wildlife of our country

Secondary Assembly: We are all ‘Time Lords’

In this assembly, Joe Walker considers the extent to which we are all masters of our own destiny, as we begin another decade. The assembly challenges listeners to consider not how the next year might turn out, but how they might shape 2010

Exploring light and dark with early years

Linda Thornton and Pat Brunton discuss the benefits of playing with light and dark with early years children, offering thinking skills activity ideas

Secondary Assembly: We are all 'Time Lords'

In this assembly, Joe Walker considers the extent to which we are all masters of our own destiny, as we begin another decade. The assembly challenges listeners to consider not how the next year might turn out, but how they might shape 2010

Primary Assembly: The Turner Art Prize

Identifying your role within an early years team

In order for your team to provide quality early years provision, each individual should be aware of the part they play in helping it to function effectively. Below are some descriptions of the roles typically adopted by different team members that will help you to define your contribution

Secondary Assembly: What’s the point of advent calendars?

This assembly uses the popularity of advent calendars to consider what our values should be as we prepare for the season of goodwill

Primary Assembly: Is it the thought that counts?

This primary assembly centres around presents, helping children think about the purpose of present-buying, and their own feelings about both giving and receiving

Building a self-concept: positive reframing

The activities shared this week are designed to help students become more aware of the blocks and limiting beliefs that get in the way of that potential, and how these are often reflected and reinforced by the language we use

Building a positive self-concept: emotional resourcefulness

We continue to look at practical activities that can be used to help young people explore the idea of 'emotional resourcefulness', that is, the capacity for self-knowledge and understanding – and the ability to make the best use of that understanding

Secondary Assembly: Violence amongst teenagers

In this assembly, Brian Radcliffe invites students to consider the rise in incidents of violence between teenagers, even in apparently safe relationships

Primary Assembly: Red Arrows

This assembly looks at the history of the Red Arrows, Kirsty’s historic achievement, and, briefly, the changing role of women in the military

Festive celebrations with early years

In many cultures there are celebrations at this time of year involving light. Below are some suggestions for how you might use the themes of light and celebrations as the basis for activities in your setting

Secondary Assembly: Speaking out against injustice

Joe Walker explores the idea of being prepared to speak out against injustice – even when it could have negative consequences for you

Secondary Assembly: Darwin’s Book

This assembly marks the 150th anniversary of the publication of ‘The Origin of Species’ by Charles Darwin on November 24th 1859. It tells the story of a book which has greatly influenced the development of science and provides opportunity for further discussion

Child-initiated learning

As an early years practitioner you will be familiar with the importance of creating the right balance between adult-led and child-initiated learning so that all children have the best opportunities to learn and develop

Primary Assembly: Cheat!

This assembly looks at what happens when somebody cheats, with reference to a recent football match

Secondary Assembly: Which side of the wall?

In this assembly Brian Radcliffe invites students to consider the 20th anniversary of the demolition of the Berlin Wall that began in November 1989

Primary Assembly: Fast man adopts fast cat

This primary assembly discusses the gold medalist sprinter Usain Bolt and his recent adoption of a cheetah, and explores the idea of celebrities using their fame for good causes

Early years outdoor play in autumn and winter

Outdoor play is important for early years development, so Linda Thornton and Pat Brunton discuss ways that you can encourage playing outdoors even in the colder seasons

Primary Assembly: Fred’s cufflinks

This SEAL assembly for primary school children examines the feeling of loss when a loved on dies, and the idea of having keepsakes to remind us of them

Secondary Assembly: You’re worth it

In this assembly Brian Radcliffe invites students to consider how and why we give awards. Students are encouraged to consider what awards they might give within their school

Primary Assembly: Halloween and All Saints

The primary assembly takes a lighthearted look at the tradition of Halloween, with a reference to the Halloween scene in ‘Meet me in St Louis’, and also explains the meaning of All Saints Day

Listening to babies

Early Years Focus discusses the importance of listening to babies when they cry

Secondary Assembly: The show must go on

This secondary SEAL assembly looks at the personal qualities of determination and perseverance

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