Visual perception is the ability to recognise, interpret and organise visual images. The activities listed here will help develop visual perception skills and can be incorporated into lessons to benefit all pupils
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Researchers based at the University of Bristol are examining the support for children with complex communication needs – in both mainstream and special schools – to express their views and make decisions for themselves. read more
Visual comprehension is the ability to listen to information that has been given orally, then remember it, understand it and use the information across a range of tasks. These activities can help develop skills in this area, and can be incorporated into lessons for the benefit of all pupils
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The Special Educational Needs Regional Partnerships (SEN RPs) have made a substantial and marked contribution to the government’s agenda regarding provision for pupils with SEN, according to a report* from the National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER). read more
Recently published research by a team based at the University of Cambridge highlights the efforts of teachers and other staff in schools to develop inclusive educational practice. At the same time, it provides evidence that these efforts are unsustainable in the long term, and that a national review of policy and practice is required. read more
The government’s 10-year strategy for childcare, Choice for parents, the best start for children, promised to establish a single coherent development and learning framework for all young children from birth to the age of five. The DfES is currently consulting on the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), which provides that framework. read more
Dr Graham Haydon asks whether tolerance has become an easy option, which allows us to continue with an underlying disapproval of others because they are different
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UNICEF UK's whole school change initiative the 'Rights Respecting School Award', has been informed by the Developing Citizenship project, as Heather Jarvis from UNICEF UK explains
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Citizenship education is being integrated into curriculum planning across the UK. The following 'steps to success' come from Norfolk LEA, which worked with Norfolk and Suffolk schools on the Developing Citizenship project. read more
The Trading Game is part of a proactive approach towards Citizenship, including a new Citizenship department and a Human Rights group.
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A summary from the Everyone Wants to Learn conference (Feb 2007) of the elements that participants considered should be part of any strategy to shape a school community where everyone wants to learn read more
When taking part in the Developing Citizenship project,everyone from the youngest Year 7 student to the most experienced members of staff at Altrincham Grammar School for Girls was involved in different global focus activities, ranging from Human Rights Week to an Earth Summit
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Angela Youngman finds out about a scheme to improve communication in early years settings through the use of sign language
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This seasonal assembly for infants looks at the carol service or carol concert – an annual fixture in many schools
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What happens when a porcupine moves in with a load of moles? Using a hypothetical dilemma from the animal world, Dr Graham Haydon explores the perspectives adopted by female and male students. read more
Kato Cruwys Harris explains how teachers can make geography more relevant to society and young people by incorporating lessons on citizenship
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Use all the openings possible to encourage your children to express themselves through the written word, says Lynn Cousins. read more
More and more schools throughout the country are realising that children with specific reading difficulties can be helped by the use of colour, either in the form of coloured overlays or as individually prescribed coloured spectacle lenses. By Tim Noakes. read more
Recent Government advice suggests that schools should aim to achieve flexibility in their approaches to pupils by:
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IQ (Intelligence Quotient) has long been the standard by which we have judged people. Although technically we only use it to judge a person's 'intelligence', their IQ score tends to carry a lot of other potential judgement, prejudice and discrimination along with it. read more
Top tips for surviving your first year at a new school, from teacher Ben Vessey read more
Writing frames undoubtedly have their uses, but they can also limit the creative talents of the more able, writes Frank Bruce read more
From a selection of teaching tips by Clinton Lamprecht. read more
The human brain learns best when it has a variety of ways to take in new information. The key is to provide children with a smorgasbord of methods to sample new information, because the brain searches for novelty.
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The environment around you can have a profound effect on how you feel and function and whether you feel creative, focused and relaxed. Creating an energetic environment around you can have positive effects on your health,efficiency, enjoyment and speed of completing certain tasks. read more
The 5 Whys (or however many you need to ask) is a great technique for generating common understanding, and can be used in two particular modes. read more
Barbara Prashnig, author of 'The Power of Diversity', describes in this new series how important it is to consider the role of learning styles in ICT. read more
I have had the pleasure and honour of visiting a few schools where creativity in all forms flourishes. These schools are run by Heads who have a very strong vision of what educating children is all about, who are rebels and who do what they profoundly believe is right for children, despite the system.
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There are many techniques to develop self-awareness, self-appreciation, self-esteem, but what would be useful to use with sixth formers? Life Coach Lunette Allen discusses some of the exercises she works with, which can be tailored to suit most age groups
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Schools are becoming increasingly aware of the importance of frequent intake of water to enhance learning and many schools now have formal school hydration policies
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Traditionally, teaching used to primarily teach pupils and then test them. The 'chalk and talk' methods and 'auditory modes' of instruction have now been widely discredited. In fact, one of the main reasons why some schools fail their OFSTED reports is because the conventional teaching methods they adopt do not meet pupils' learning needs.
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Is Your Teaching Meeting Children's Learning Needs? read more
"I have come to see that the real and pressing issue underpinning an effective school system is the recognition that learning is learnable. In this article, I want to persuade you that you can actually teach pupils how to learn (and watch their performance and confidence levels soar as a consequence)". read more
For ten years I co-ordinated a school peer counselling scheme. In my experience, the simplest way to describe the above is 'a body of students who have volunteered to undertake training in order that they may offer support to other students experiencing particular problems, alongside an overall aim of reducing the amount of bullying in school'. read more
Why not pass the buck and let someone else do the work? But, to mix metaphors, when the buck stops, all your chickens come home to roost. read more
Many people have discovered for themselves the benefits of meditation and relaxation as a way of releasing stress and tension. More and more people are using short meditations as a way of getting pupils into a good state for learning. If you haven't tried it yet, the following are simple techniques, which can be done at pretty much any age. You might like to try them yourself before you start using them with pupils so that you feel how quickly or slowly you might want to speak ... and then practise leading each meditation in a calm, confident voice. read more
Build a sense of community responsibility and belonging, supported by reconciliation and the identification of positive ways of resolving difficulties and tensions. read more
Reg Revans, often referred to as the father of action learning, said 'action learning takes so long to describe because it is so simple'. While we agree that ALS is a simple and elegant process that is better experienced than explained, we believe we can give you a flavour of the process in this article. read more
An alternative approach to behaviour management
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Susan Norman explains non-conscious learning. Do you know what's going on in your classroom when your back's turned? Or even when it isn't? read more
Restorative Justice (RJ) is an alternative approach to behaviour and relationship management in schools
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Wouldn't we love to know, to really know, what our students think of their lessons? Yet it's so hard for us to ask, and so hard for them to answer, that we often don't try. Thoughtboards are a quick and highly effective way to make feedback fun. read more
If students are to be expected to develop independent learning skills and critical thinking facilities in geography, we need to instill and practise questioning skills. Phil Wood and Colin Patterson explain how students in their school are being encouraged to ask questions of their own
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Jo Dixon reflects on the progress of her 'great expectations', set in September 2004. She can see just how those expectations have made a difference to her teaching and more importantly, to her rapport with those classes. read more
This article outlines an approach to teaching and learning called LogoVisual Thinking (LVT), which was first introduced into schools in 2000. Although the methods and tools are relatively new to teachers, they are already having a profound influence on those who have been introduced to them. We believe that the approach represents an important advance in the teaching of thinking skills and has broader potential for designing effective learning experiences. read more
Andy Bowman reflects upon some of the learning preferences he has observed in his class, and discusses the steps he and his colleagues have taken to begin to support these
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Jo Lewis describes some active games and motivational techniques.
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