Edition #2: January 2025
Tom Parkinson
?? Researching how tech can assist Primary school teachers in assessing Writing. ?? I love playing and listening to music. ?? I live in York, UK. Favourite city in the World is NYC. ? Everton FC & Prescot Cables.
Hello and welcome to the first Primary Literacy Spotlight of 2025!
This newsletter is your go-to for practical insights, free resources, and the latest updates in primary literacy. Basically, I do the legwork, scanning the web for you, to bring together what’s relevant and useful for the month ahead.
Spotlight on Current Trends
The Impact of Phonics Screening
The Education Policy Institute’s recent report has stirred up some important questions about the phonics screening check. The findings suggest it hasn’t led to improvements in Key Stage 1 or Key Stage 2 reading results or helped narrow attainment gaps. This raises a challenge: if phonics screening isn’t hitting its mark, what’s next for early reading development? Your Thoughts?: Have you seen the impact of phonics screening in your classrooms? Feel free to reply and share your insights—it'd be great to hear from you.
New Tools & Initiatives
Wicked Writers: Be the Change Starting January 13th, this competition invites pupils aged 9 to 14 to explore the power of their words. A fantastic way to engage pupils and develop their writing skills—why not get involved? Find out more here.
We Wonder: Our Blue Planet This STEM-meets-literacy challenge launches this month, offering a creative way to weave reading into science lessons. Great for bringing cross-curricular links to life. You can read more and get involved here.
Free Resources to Download
Get ready for key events this term with these free resources:
领英推荐
Holocaust Memorial Day (Jan 27): Thought-provoking activities and events to spark meaningful discussions.
National Storytelling Week (Feb 1-9): Resources to encourage pupils to tell and share their stories.
Children’s Mental Health Week (Feb 3-9): Materials to support emotional well-being through literacy.
Safer Internet Day (Feb 11): Digital literacy resources to help pupils navigate the online world.
Closing Reflection
As we step into 2025, one theme stands out: collaboration. Whether it’s sharing ideas, finding the best tools, or tackling challenges, we’re all stronger together. Let’s make this year about supporting each other to nurture a love for reading and writing in every pupil. Small steps can lead to big change.
Thanks for reading, and as always, I’d love to hear your feedback or ideas for future editions. Send me a message if you have any ideas!
Have a great month, and I'll 'see' you again in February! ??
I am the very proud Deputy CEO at the Create Trust where success for children is achieved through collaboration and entrusting HT's to lead. Best selling author of Parklands: A School Built on Love. @chrisdysonHT
2 个月Great share Tom