Articles - Teaching and Learning

There are important issues to consider regarding the children of parents who are in prison. This article gives advice as to what educational support can be put in place and the role that some SENCOs might play in coordinating this

What can and should schools do when they learn about cases of self-flagellation, as part of religious ceremonies like Ashura in the Shi'a Muslim community?

20,000 girls may be at risk of female genital mutilation in the UK. The charity Forward urges schools to watch out for the signs

Self-evaluation has an important place in improving the quality of provision in early years education. Early Years Update discusses how self-evaluation can be used for maximum benefit

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) principles are designed to celebrate the importance of play and learning, by putting the child back at the heart of early years practice. Sally Jaeckle, senior regional adviser for the EYFS, South West, discusses

A key person has special responsibilities when working with small number of early years children. They are an important part of good early years practice, for which Early Years Update offers a range of practical ideas to underpin the information in the Early Years Foundation Stage Principles into Practice cards

Building links between a child's school and home is an excellent way to approach their behaviour and emotional literacy, says Virginia Robinson

Using thinking skills across the curriculum can be an effective way to boost learning. Anne-Louise Gibbon describes her experiences of developing thinking skills activities as part of a school working party

The knowledge transfer partnership (KTP) at Bedlington Community High School aims to improve learning for staff and students at Key Stage 3. Anna Reid describes the two-year project and how it aims to develop an assessment framework for enquiry using ICT

Jo McShane examines the 'sticky' issue of the IQ and social class debate

Whilst a topic-centred approach to teaching has its advantages, we must not forget the central importance of subject-based concepts, says David Leat

What constitutes a healthy diet for babies and toddlers under five years old? Sarah Almond, a registered dietician, discusses this query with reference to examples of the nutritional standards of food served in a range of childcare settings

Supporting learning is an important part of good early years practice with babies, toddlers and three- to five-year-old children. Early Years Update offers a range of practical ideas to underpin the information in the Early Years Foundation Stage Principles into Practice cards

Current research indicates that a significantly large proportion of females from ethnic minorities, particularly South Asian communities, are failing to participate in physical activity in the UK. Samaya Farooq and Gerald Griggs share their research

Robert Sinclair offers some ideas on how to introduce climate change lessons into the primary classroom, as part of the KS2 geography curriculum

What can schools actually do about tackling self-harm at primary schools? Sue Morris discusses this in her second article on self-harm and suicidal behaviour in primary school children

Assessment for learning plays an integral part in helping children reach their sporting potential. Crispin Andrews looks at how to help primary students develop their physical literacy

Switching the classroom for the seaside can be a refreshing change for teachers and pupils when the weather is warmer. Brian Asbury suggests some ways to link the primary science curriculum to seaside lesson plans for KS2

Helping primary students engage with the key stage 2 citizenship curriculum can be challenging. One tactic is to use sport as a vehicle for understanding rules and fairness. This example looks at cricket

The performances of sporting legends can be used to engage pupils in maths lessons. Crispin Andrews looks at this cross curricular method, including easy-to-implement examples

Children live in a visual world and the ability to read visual images is becoming a vital skill. Rebecca Jenkin offers guidance on how to help key stage 2 students think critically about visual data

What are the origins of the Olympic Games? PE & Sport Today explores Dr William Penny Brookes' involvement in the first modern olympic games, the Wenlock Olympic Games

Forest Schools aim to encourage and inspire individuals of any age through positive outdoor experiences. Angela Youngman investigates the outdoor learning initiative, which originates from Scandinavia

Jenni Clarke offers some practical suggestions on how to encourage young children to think

Teaching children to pursue happiness can have real effects. Director of SEN service Dr Ruth MacConville writes about the happiness curriculum she developed in the London Borough of Ealing

The protection of older young people, particularly from the ages 16 to 18, can be overlooked. One serious case review of the suicide of a 16-year-old girl highlights the issues involved, explains Jenni Whitehead

The underperformance of, and lack of opportunity for, children in care is a cause for concern in our schools. 'Care Matters', is a government package of measures designed to redress the balance, as Suzanne O'Connell explains

Are you eager to explore new ways of learning? For six years Fallibroome High School has been trying new ideas. Deputy headteacher Francis Power describes what they've learned along the way

A reflective early years learning environment is not only conducive to achievement, but it is also required by the EYPS and the EYFS. Cathy Williamson describes how a pre-school aimed to create one as part of a school action research project

What is the role of personal and social development, or PSHE, in delivering national outcomes for children and young people? Marilyn Tew, chair of NSCoPSE discusses

A resource developed by ECPAT UK raises pupil's awareness of child trafficking and invites them to make an informed decision about joining a campaign

When teachers and students work together, they can learn a lot about learning. In a 'Learning Together' project at seven schools, students and teachers researched the link between pupil behaviour and learning

The importance of your relationship with parents of babies, toddlers and three- to five-year-old children is the focus of this article from Early Years Update. This is part of a range of practical ideas to underpin the information in the Early Years Foundation Stage Principles into Practice cards

What makes young people want to commit suicide, and, crucially, how can we prevent it? Jenni Whitehead looks at research and approaches to helping

Interactive technology can enhance teaching and learning. Tom Donohoe shares the results of a research project that boosted mental maths ability in his school

What is 'ability grouping', why is it necessary and what is its potential impact on students? Kate Wall explains

We've been collecting your stories about the inspiring and encouraging experiences you’ve had at work during 2008. Here is a collection of the teaching and learning themed responses you sent to the question, What has been your most positive experience at work this year?

This case discusses the dilemma of weighing a child's wellbeing against the need for that child to give evidence in court, in order to provide a fair trail for the defence

Penrice Community College has developed a system of empowering students and raising achievement through coaching, Barbara Green explains. This article also includes two students' perspectives on the programme

Having an in-school social worker offers informed on-hand support to children and families all year round, says headteacher Neil Wilson, who here discusses the multi-agency teams that his school uses

It's the dilemma every secondary school faces: how do you set an amount of homework that satisfies parents across the board? Roy Tarleton, headteacher of South Dartmoor Community College, thinks he's cracked it

Jenny Fox Eades describes how focusing on students' strengths is an ideal way to implement positive psychology in the classroom

Although difficult at times, it is important that schools make a stance on what counts as social behaviour, says headteacher Neil Berry

Sarah Erwin-Jones discusses the growing problem of cyberbullying towards both pupils and staff, and looks at schools' legal obligations

Graham Handscomb and John MacBeath put forward the case for teacher enquiry and benefits of research engagement for professional learning

How do you create meaningful and sustainable relationships with parents? Dr Jean de Rijke, developer of the Effective Partnerships with Parents (EPPa) strategy, shares her expertise

Early Years Update focuses on the importance of respectful relationships in environments with babies, toddlers and three- to five-year-old children. This is part of a range of practical ideas to underpin the information in the Early Years Foundation Stage Principles into Practice cards

NICE guidance advises that primary schools take a whole-school approach to children's emotional and social wellbeing. Raising Achievement Update has a look

Since April 1 2008, local authorities are no longer obliged to place children's names on a child protection register that they deem to be at risk of harm. This article explores the reasons behind this change as well as the potential consequences

Articles – Teaching and Learning