Reception to Year One
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Improving Transition from Reception to Year One

While many teachers will insist that the transition from Year 6 to Year 7 is the big one, it is often at the other end of the school where problems occur.

The EYFS curriculum offers far more freedom than in year one, and the jump can be stressful for children and their parents. It is not uncommon for year one teachers to struggle with settling children into a year one routine.

So what can schools do about the issue of transition?

This article will explore ideas to transform the transition from reception into year one into something more positive.

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Staff Induction – How to Welcome New staff to Your School

September is the time of year when many schools welcome new teachers and support staff to their settings. Getting your induction process right is critical in ensuring new staff feel valued and confident.

We all know that first impressions count. In many ways, induction is about making a positive impact and setting up new staff to succeed.

The difficulty is that there is often far too much time spent on delivering information compared to building relationships and making people feel part of a team.

Think about who is responsible for induction at your school. One person having ownership can make a big difference in how well it is carried out.

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School holidays
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How to prepare for the end of the school year

At this time of year, most teachers daydream about a cocktail at the beach while wading through endless tasks with exhaustion and maybe a hint of hysteria.

It is easy to become overwhelmed as the end of the summer term approaches, and it can help if you draw up a list of things that will make your time go smoothly. Some tasks may even save you time next year.

Here is a handy guide for teachers to ensure you are fully prepared for the end of the school year and ready to relax over the summer.

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Sport's Day
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Teacher’s Survival Guide to Sports Day

Almost every primary school teacher dreads a sports day. Not because they don’t like having fun with the children or because they don’t appreciate the benefits of sport but simply because it is so stressful.

Sports day means carrying out all the most challenging aspects of your job, such as behaviour management, risk assessment, and safeguarding in a goldfish bowl surrounded by parents.

This lighthearted guide will give you some handy hints and tips to help you get through even the most stressful sports day.

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Parents and Schools Working Together
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Parents and Schools Working Together

Schools working in partnership with parents is nothing new. It was a major focus of the Early Years framework from around 2012, when it was identified as a key factor in improving children’s learning and development.

As children get older, parents often take a step back from engaging with schools. Home based learning during COVID lockdowns certainly alerted many parents to the difficulties in supporting their children’s education.

While schools often focus on parental involvement, it can be challenging for parents to identify how they can support their children effectively with their education. They may fear that their lack of knowledge hinders them or worry they don’t have the time to make a difference.

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School Transitions
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How to Support Pupils with School Transitions

Whether pupils are moving between year groups, key stages, or primary to secondary school, the transition can be stressful and upsetting. No matter how old we are, change is unsettling, and support will be needed to try and mitigate the effects.

For vulnerable pupils such as those with SEN or those who have other needs, it can be even more challenging, and they will require extra support and planning to help them through the process.

STARS (The School Transition and Adjustment Research Study) gathered a wealth of information to provide practical strategies that help support children through school transitions.

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Reduce Low Level Disruption
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How to Reduce Low-Level Disruption at Exam Time

Exam time can be stressful for students, often leading to a deterioration in the expected levels of behaviour in the classroom.

It is no surprise that emotions are often heightened due to the pressure, with many students finding it difficult to express their feelings. Teachers can make a real difference if they introduce some simple strategies to minimise low-level disruption.

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Teacher Stress
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Teachers in England Suffering from Stress

There is a growing view that teachers in England are more stressed than other teachers worldwide. This view is backed up by some recent research and appears to be due to several factors.

Indeed, teachers who leave cite work-life balance and pressure as critical factors in their decision to leave the profession.

Let’s look at what the research has found to be the crucial issues that negatively affect our teachers and cause them stress.

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Sky Arts Week
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Bringing the Arts into your Classroom

Creativity and art are often neglected parts of the curriculum. Yet, their importance in promoting confidence and improving health and wellbeing in young people is backed up by research.

During COVID, there were long periods of school closures and restricted access to all aspects of art. Sky Arts have decided to promote the arts by introducing Access All Arts week.

This project celebrates everything art-related and will help teachers bring the arts into their classrooms in 2022.

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