This week I chat with Jane James, the founder of Little Voices, about mental health, children’s activities and performing arts. In this episode, Jane shares: Why she is so passionate about performing arts being taught in schools. The benefits and skills children will get from learning performing arts and how they will be useful in the future. Tips to help teachers who may not have the confidence to teach the performing arts. If you’d like to learn more about Jane and Little Voices, you can...

In this episode, I talk with Alice Westbury about bringing coaching tools and strategies into the classroom. Alice is an education coach who works primarily with young people but a lot of what she shares in this episode is so valuable to those who teach in primary settings. In this episode, Alice shares: Why she believes using coaching tools can help pupils in the classroom and beyond. Why now is the time to start thinking about using coaching tools with pupils. Real actionable tips teachers...

In this episode I am joined by Annabel Jeffcoate, the founder of Balance for Teachers. Balance for Teacher aims to reduce the amount of stress related illness in the education sector and one of their strategies for doing so is empowering their clients to say ‘no’.   In this episode, Annabel shares: Why curiosity and asking questions can be a powerful tool in changing perceptions of how other teachers/colleagues work. Why breaking down the reasons why you’re feeling a certain way in your job...

In this episode, I talk with Dr Keith Watson, an educational consultant and personal development coach who has over 30 years of experience working in education. Keith chats about creating cognitively challenging classrooms and how teachers can provide a challenge for all pupils. In this episode, Keith shares: What a cognitively challenging classroom can look like. Why he is so passionate about creating classrooms that challenge all pupils. Some tips on how to create this challenge culture in...

This week, I chat with Kim Griffin, an occupational therapist who is currently based in Australia. Kim has been working with pupils with SEN for almost 20 years and is on a mission to help teachers and educators understand the ‘why’ behind the way children behave when they have sensory processing difficulties. In this episode, Kim shares: How choice can have an impact on the way children with sensory processing issues behave. Why it is important educators understand how sensory processing...

In this episode, I speak with Will Bennett. Will is the founder of GrooveLine Music Education and he is so passionate about ensuring all pupils have access to a good, holistic musical education. In this episode, Will shares: Why music education is not just about learning an instrument. Why he is so passionate about music and music education. Tips for teachers who want to raise the standards of music education in schools without needing to be specialist musicians. If you’d like to find out...

This week, I chat to Samantha Hornsby, who is the co-founder of the new careers app ERIC. Along with her best friend, Sam created this app after receiving poor careers advice in her formative years and landing job after job she disliked. In this episode, Sam shares: Why she is so passionate about careers education. Ideas for inspiring pupils from primary age to think about their future careers. Why she feels careers guidance can often be poor. If you’d like to find out more about Samantha...

This week, I chat with Karen Massey, who is a child speech therapist with over 14 years of experience working with children. She is also an author with books on Autism and Apraxia of Speech as well as communication in Down Syndrome at Primary School.   In this episode, Karen shares: How sensory input can help with developing speech and language. Why she is so passionate about helping teachers understand how to support pupils who are struggling with speech and language. Tips for responding to...

This week, I chat with Emma Cann, who is a personal development coach specialising in supporting teachers, about my favourite topic - personal development!  In this episode, Emma shares: - What coaching is in her own view and the benefits of coaching. - Why teachers can benefit from engaging with personal development. - The journey personal development can take you on. If you’d like to find out more about Emma and where you can get in touch with her, you can go to: -...

In this episode I chat with Ed Kirwan, the founder of Empathy Week. Empathy is such an important skill, but it is one even adults can struggle with, Ed shares how Empathy Week can help pupils develop empathy through learning about the experiences of others. In this episode, Ed shares: - What Empathy Week can look like in schools. - Why it is so important the children develop their ability to empathise with others. - Why he is passionate about ensuring children leave school with empathy as...

In this episode I chat with Dan Parker, the chief executive at Veg Power, about the upcoming Eat Them to Defeat Them campaign. Veg Power aim to get more children eating vegetables as a staggering 80% of children are not getting enough vegetables in their diets. In this episode, Dan shares: - What Veg Power and Eat Them to Defeat Them is. - How the programme works in schools and the results he has seen from it. - How schools can get involved. If you’d like to find out more about Veg Power...

In this episode I chat to Brett Wigdortz. Brett is the founder of Teach First but in this episode, he chats to me about his latest venture, Tiney. Tiney is working to create  better opportunities for early years educators to work in the sector where they can earn professional salaries while working from home and fitting it in to their family obligations. In this episode, Brett shares: The inspiration behind starting Tiney. The reasons why he believes there's not enough early years...

In this episode, I talk with Andrew Lochery about the effects of global warming and climate change and how we can teach this to younger pupils. Andrew and I are both very passionate about tackling climate change and it really shows in this episode. In this episode, Andrew shares: - How we can explain global warming to young children and ensure the use of the correct terminology. - The things we can do as individuals and things teachers can do to encourage pupils to make small changes. -...

In this episode, I chat with Jenny Mills, a qualified cognitive behavioural hypnotherapist and teacher. Jenny has worked in schools for 18 years now and knows the common symptoms teachers experience due to stress all too well. After experiencing burnout herself, Jenny now works to help teachers build their resilience and avoid burning out.   In this episode, Jenny shares: - What cognitive behavioural hypnotherapy is and how it can help teachers. - Where SLT can start in helping their staff...

This episode is our 100th episode! This week I chat with Jessica Nash, an education wellbeing coach. In this episode, we chat about stress and the impact it can have on your body. Jess is someone who knows all too well the physical effects and the consequences stress can have on your health, so now she works to help teachers recognise the signs and act before it’s too late. In this episode, Jessica shares: - Her own personal story of burnout.  -What SLT and other leaders can do to help...

In this episode I chat to Rosa Legeno-Bell, founder of Diverse History UK. A passionate historian, Rosa has worked in the education sector for 10 years, mainly in inner-city London comprehensives, as a history teacher, head of history and an assistant head.  In this episode, Rosa shares: Why she feels it is important children receive a diverse history curriculum. What inspired her to start Diverse History UK. Why it is important to flip the narrative when teaching and celebrate at the...

In this episode I chat to Lesley Berrington, author of the Hattie and Friends series of books. Lesley wrote the series after realising there was not enough story books out there featuring children with disabilities where their condition wasn’t the main feature of the story. In this episode, Lesley shares: - What inspired her to create the Hattie and Friends series. - Why representation matters in story books. - Why the language we use with children is important. If you’d like to find out...

In this episode I chat to Louise Fetigan, founder of the charity Little Troopers. The Little Troopers ‘At School’ project aims to support to the 70,000 military children in England by providing schools with information and resources. In this episode, Louise shares: - The reality of being a military family. - The pros and cons some older children feel coming from a military background. - What we can provide military children in schools. - Why she is so passionate about helping children...

This week, I chat with Katherine Muncaster, an educational consultant, headteacher and author of Growth Mindset: Every Child a Learner and Thinking Classrooms: Metacognition Lessons for Primary Schools. Katherine is all about creating a culture where pupils and members of staff all feel they are learners and have the confidence to make and learn from their mistakes. In this episode, Katherine shares: The different types of feedback that can be given. Why creating an effective learning...

In this episode I talk with Eileen Adamson. Eileen is one busy woman! As well as being a part-time PE teacher, she hosts her own podcast, co-hosts the BBC podcast Clever About Cash and runs her own business which offers teachers help and advice when it comes to money. In this episode, Eileen shares: Why it’s important for teachers to get to know their pension. How to quickly go through your finances to see where you can make small changes now. Some ideas for preparing for retirement. Why she...

This week I chat with Gemma Drinkall, an education wellbeing coach. Gemma talks to me about the importance of creating and protecting boundaries as a teacher. We also discuss tokenistic wellbeing practices and attitudes towards teachers and their wellbeing. In this episode, Gemma shares: - What an education wellbeing coach is and what they do. - Why she is so passionate about the wellbeing of teachers. - Tips for creating those boundaries and sticking to your non-negotiables.   If you’d...

In this episode I talk with Andy Taylor. Andy is a teacher himself, who has worked with the DfE, Chartered College and TES to support NQTs/ECTs. His Twitter page (Mr Ts NQTs) is full of advice for teachers starting their career. Andy talks with me about when he took on the role of NQT mentor and how he came across a lot of NQTs and RQTs who had experienced a patchy induction. He also shares his thoughts on the Early Careers Framework and the role out of training for ECT mentors and induction...

Education on Fire: Mark Taylor, presenter of Education on Fire podcast This week, I chat with Mark Taylor, presenter of Education on Fire podcast. Mark has taught music in multiple schools and has seen for himself the wonderful things teachers for their pupils. Realising that the teaching profession needed a lift in the media, he launched his podcast in order to allow educators to share their knowledge far and wide. In this episode, Mark shares: - What he believes the foundations for...

The 5 Steps to Wellbeing and How to Implement Them: Karen Gibb, director of Mind Marvels This week I chat with Karen Gibb, founder and director of Mind Marvels, a company that supports young people with their mental health in schools, nurseries and online. Karen talks to me about the NHS 5 Steps to Wellbeing, what they mean to her, and how they can be implemented within the classroom. In this episode, Karen shares: - What the NHS 5 Steps to Wellbeing are. - Why she is so passionate about...