Rewards and Stickers - Do They Work?

Rewards are a staple of many primary classrooms, but how much difference do they really make? In this episode, Emma and Chris take a closer look at everything from stickers and house points to certificates and whole-class reward systems, exploring when rewards can be a powerful tool and when they m…

Transition Days

In our second transition episode, Emma and Chris turn their attention to transition from one year group to another beyond Reception into Year 1! From changing classrooms and teachers to stepping into a new Key Stage, they discuss why transition matters and the impact it can have on children's confi…

Transition: Reception to Year 1

n the first of our two episodes all about transition, we're tackling one of the biggest milestones in primary education: the move from Reception to Year 1. Emma and Chris explore the shift from the play-based exploratory world of EYFS to the more structured demands of Year 1 and the National Curri…

School Trips

Grab your first aid kit, sick bucket and risk assessment; we're heading out on a school trip! In this episode, Chris and Emma explore one of the most memorable parts of school life, sharing their own experiences as both pupils and teachers along the way. They discuss the many benefits of learning …

Homework Part 2: Pros and Cons

It’s time to get stuck into the pros and cons of homework! After discussing the research in the last episode, Chris and Emma talk about the benefits of homework as well as the drawbacks of setting it. From building independent learning habits and reinforcing classroom content to concerns around wor…

Homework Part 1: The Evidence

It’s time to talk about all things homework in the first of our two-part discussion! In this first episode, Chris and Emma focus on the research behind homework – what is the impact, how much should be set and how often should it be set? With a discussion about the history of homework along the way…

Table Arrangements

This week, Emma and Chris tackle how to arrange tables in your classroom! They discuss the pros and cons of the three most common ways of organising tables, such as impact on pupil focus, how social interaction can be affected and how navigating around the classroom is a key consideration. With ane…

Etymology

In the final part of our three-episode deep dive into orthography, morphology and etymology as part of the writing framework, Chris and Emma talk all about excellent etymology! With an explanation of what this is, suggestions for how to teach it within your classroom and quick-win games on using et…

Morphology

In the second part of our three-episode deep dive into orthography, morphology and etymology as part of the writing framework, Chris and Emma talk all about the marvellous world of morphology! Full of information about how to teach morphology both explicitly and implicitly, strategies for embeddin…

Orthography

Chris and Emma kick off a three‑part series exploring the building blocks of spelling, starting with orthography—how children learn what “looks right” in written English.   Chris shares the roots of his love for language, why English spelling is so complex and how phonics, pattern‑spotting and aut…