What does a good one look like? Ofsted explains what they actually want for teaching and learning
A new Ofsted blog is out, explaining their findings from three months of history subject inspections at outstanding primary schools. The blog affirms the curriculum approach that TT Education has been supporting schools to implement - you can find out more in our Raising Attainment in Primary History course - but I’m excited to explore how we can apply the ideas into other subjects, and to curriculum design more widely.
A Third Win for TT Education at the Education Investor Awards
TT Education has been awarded School Improvement Provider of the Year for the third consecutive year, and here's why...
Phonics for all - In Key Stage 2?
School Improvement Partner, Marie Hirst, explores the value of continuing to develop the phonic knowledge children develop in the Early Years and Key Stage One into Key Stage Two.
The True Value of Art in Schools
There is a clear hierarchy of subjects in schools which puts literacy and maths at a much higher level than art when in fact art and creativity could be more important than ever. School Improvement Partner, Marie Hirst, investigates.
Writing - What’s the Point?
We all know how important it is for children to develop the basic skill of writing. But how do we get children to write? How do we engage them in the writing process? Marie Hirst investigates the keys to success.
Curriculum Design – Do you really need to choose?
Marie Hirst examines the choice between a knowledge-based or a skills-based curriculum, and how this can impact whether you can truly achieve a broad and balanced curriculum for your children.
INSET days to inspire and develop your team - with a twist!
We recognise that this return to school in the 'new normal' brings many new challenges for pupils and teachers, and so here at TT Education we want to do all we can to support schools during this new transition.
Leadership in 2020 and beyond
In this blogpost our Director of School Improvement, Adam Reed, outlines some essential ingredients in building and sustaining a leadership team and approach that can help you cope with – pretty much – anything that comes your way.
Key Stage 2 SATs thresholds
Have you seen the new thresholds? What do they mean for you? What do they mean for your children? Betsy Maytham asks these questions and more...
Performance Management in schools: monitoring, management or movement?
Director of School Improvement, Adam Reed, considers how best to use performance management reviews. What do we really want to get out of performance management and how do we ensure that we definitely get it?
Free Primary CPD Webinar: Getting Boys to Read & Write
It’s important, in these strange days, to try to find a bit of normality to ground us, so here is a free CPD webinar from us for teachers to continue to improve their practice in anticipation of the return to reality we are all hoping for.
Improving Behaviour and Attitudes
Is your school’s behaviour policy up to date? Does it meet the needs of your current cohort of children? Be prepared for Ofsted’s framework changes which place new significance on behaviour, development, and attitudes.
Storytelling in Maths: Making Maths Fun
Our top tips for using storytelling in maths to introduce mathematical vocabulary, concepts, and word problems, to provide the all-important excitement to boost learning.
Walking the PSHE Tightrope
How to meet the new requirements for Health and Relationships Education without alienating parents.
Success: Another Win for TT Education at the Education Investor Awards
TT Education have been awarded Schools Improvement Provider of the Year for the second consecutive year, and here's why ...
The Significance of Seven Percent: A response to the increase in the KS1 reading expected score
Addressing the hike in 'expected' scores for KS1 SATs, Betsy Maytham's blog seeks to find a way forward in the wake of the results.
Is There a Point to Grammar?
Betsy Maytham discusses the balance between creativity and understanding of grammar, considering how we use language to achieve what we are trying to achieve.
Key Stage 2 SATs Reading Tests 2017: A Response
A response to yesterday's Key Stage Two Reading SATs by one of TT Education's literacy experts. What lessons can we learn from the paper and how do we help next year's Year 6 to prepare for SATs, without making SATs preparation the be all and end all of their school lives?
The Challenges of Teaching Children with Dual Exceptionalities
Betsy Maytham explains the concept of dual exceptionalities and provides an insight into the challenges they present.
TT Education, finalists in the "Education Investor" and "Growing Business" awards 2019
TT Education is delighted to announce that we have been shortlisted as a finalists for two more upcoming awards.
A primary writing game your children will love
Try this game in your classroom to help your children understand adverbials, phrases and conjunctions.
Intent, Implementation and Impact: how does your school's curriculum score on the three ‘I’s?
James Lewis considers Ofsted’s proposals for “broad and balanced” curriculum provision. Out with the three 'Rs" and in with the three "Is" - Intent, Implementation and Impact.
OFSTED: Five things you should know about the new inspection framework
We’ve been fortunate enough to gain insight into what the new Ofsted framework could mean for your school. In readiness for this new innovation in inspection, here are some things you should know...
Learning Grammar, or Grammar for Learning?
James Lewis explores how teaching grammar contextually brings it alive, gives it purpose, and makes it much more accessible for pupils.
Celebrating the Foundations: Cross-curricular learning in the primary classroom
Cross-curricular learning has become something of an orthodoxy in the primary sector, but James Lewis wonders if it might limit our children’s life-chances when we don’t do it well.
Finalists: The Bridges Positive Impact Award 2018
We are extremely proud to be finalists for the Bridges Positive Impact Award, an award which recognises businesses that drive positive change for people.
School Leadership: 9 ideas to develop service-leadership at your school
Have you ever worked with a leader who truly serves those with whom you work? Adam Reed explores the notion of "service leadership" in schools.
Wellbeing in schools: "Wellbeing" or "Welldoing"?
Wellbeing is an issue for children, staff and for leaders across the country, and in every kind of school. We need to take control of the situation if we are going to improve wellbeing, says James Lewis, because nothing will happen without brave leadership and proactive teachers.
School Improvement Provider Of The Year 2018 - TT Education
We're thrilled to have been recognised for our outstanding work in school improvement ... TT Education have won the coveted ‘School Improvement Provider of the Year’ trophy. Find out why the judges chose us as their winner.
Getting off to a flying start in September
Read our top tips for creating a positive classroom environment. The outcome will be higher standards and a better year for everyone.
Football – Winning and Learning
Karen Thomson discusses how, through football, she helped her pupils develop finer values and the self-confidence to support them in their futures.
Complete a thirty-second survey to WIN a FREE course place!
Simply complete our thirty-second performance management survey for the chance to win a free course place of your choosing!
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Contribute to our survey to help us determine the most significant current challenges for school leaders.
Improve Wellbeing for Pupils AND Teachers in your School…
Wellbeing is so important - for pupils AND teachers - and yet can be misunderstood. In this blog David Maytham, Managing Director of TT Education, explores how we can 'be well' as well as 'do well'.
Performance Management in schools: An opportunity, not a chore?
How to get the most out of the performance management cycle, with the minimum of effort and the maximum of outcome! Betsy Maytham considers the impact of a change of mindset on teachers' professional development processes.
What’s the Problem with the School Performance Management process?
Performance management can often turn into a paper-pushing exercise, rather than the robust, strategic, developmental activity it should be. Betsy Maytham asks why this is and how we can avoid it...
TT Education joins Parkside Office Village...
Industry leading education training company, TT Education has moved onto Parkside Office Village on the University of Essex’s Knowledge Gateway research and technology park.
Competition Winners - 5 sentence story
Take a look at the winning entries from TT Education's Five Sentence Story competition.
Masters of their Universe
Julie Watson asks what it really means to achieve that elusive thing - true mastery. What does it mean, how do we do it and how do we ensure our children are engaged and inspired while we do it?
COMPETITION TIME!
IT’S COMPETITION TIME! Win £250 worth of resources for your school! Free entry and huge prizes to be won...
Personalised Assessment: A whole-school approach?
A whole-school approach to personalised formative assessment – is such a thing possible? David Maytham argues that it is
What's the Point of Performance Management?
Have you ever wondered what the aim of Performance Management is? Or perhaps what it should be? The answer lies here...
EYFS Provision: Going with the 'Flow'...
Melody Lowe talks all things EYFS and gives some fantastic advice about how to observe your children. Originally published in Headteacher Update...
Creative Outdoor Learning
TT Education's School Improvement Partner, Julie Watson, gives her unique insight into the different uses of outdoor learning and its value for different children and different purposes.
Coaching in schools: asking the right questions
Are you trying to create a coaching climate in your school? Melody Lowe discusses how to use different types of questions to achieve success in coaching in your school.
Five Ideas to Inspire Primary Scientists
Tracey Moyes gives some fantastic ideas for helping primary school children to love science. From 'magic tricks' to asking them to consider the 'big' questions of the universe, these inspirational ideas will excite, inspire and challenge you and your children!
Marking and Feedback: some thoughts and clarifications.
Director of School Improvement, Adam Reed, gives us some words of wisdom on useful marking and feedback, based on his years of experience of supporting schools. Some great ideas for you to implement in your schools.
Grouping and Differentiation – keeping the individual child at the heart of our decisions
School Improvement Partner Christina Hughes considers the delicate balance involved in planning for group differentiation while individualising children's learning experiences - and keeping it positive!
The 3 'P's of TT: my experience of working for TT Education
Our former Lead Consultant, Tracey Moyes gives us her take on the TT experience and explains why she enjoyed working for us.
Some advice and ideas about foreign language teaching in primary schools
We talk to Sue Cave, an experienced specialist Primary MFL teacher, consultant and trainer, about the importance of Foreign Language Teaching in Primary Schools and our more recent training courses: Teaching a Foreign Language in Primary School and French for Primary Teachers.
The Way Forward for Primary Maths
The key purpose behind the Maths SATs test is to allow pupils to demonstrate what they have learnt, retained and can apply during their primary education. Melody reflects on why ascertaining if we have raised standards is difficult at the moment, and explains why teaching children to investigate, test, apply, justify and evaluate concepts will lead to a greater proportion will being successful.
Key Stage 2 Reading SATs 2016: A Response
Tracey Moyes, TT Education's Lead Consultant and literacy expert, gives us her fascinating take on the controversy surrounding the 2016 Key Stage 2 Reading SATs paper.
Return of the Rocket Man!
Lead Consultant Tracey Moyes discusses the legacy of inspiration created by Tim Peake, the very first official British astronaut.
Director of School Improvement, Adam Reed, gives us his thoughts on progress across special schools
Having worked in special schools for several years, Adam has spent a long time thinking about, discussing and seeing the results of different ways to approach the measurement of progress in special schools. Here, he shares with us his considered view.
Top Educational Apps to use in the Primary Classroom
Marketing Assistant, Vicki Grattan, describes and reviews some of the top apps for use in the classroom
Speaking of maths…
David Maytham explores and explains the importance of talk in the maths classroom - especially for children with SEN
Some Initial Thoughts About the Raising Attainment in Writing Course
Our newest member of staff, Vicki Grattan, coming from a background as a TA, gives us her initial thoughts on her first attendance at our outstanding Raising Attainment in Writing course
A New Collaboration...
We, at TT Education, are pleased and proud to announce our new collaboration with the fantastic team at 1decision
Is Starting School at 5 Damaging Our Children?
Inspired by a BBC news article, TT's Betsy Maytham asks whether we should look to delay the school starting age
5 Questions To Ask To Get The Most Out Of Your INSET Days (And The Answers)!
Marketing Assistant, Vicki Grattan, provides you with five of the most important questions to ask yourself when planning your INSET days. The answers may surprise you!
What is Mastery?
Director of School Improvement, Adam Reed, asks: "what actually IS mastery?" The answer may not be what you're expecting!
TT Education Goes International!
David Maytham and Adam Reed jetted off to consult in China recently. This is an account of some of their experiences...
Best New Business Award!
In 2015, TT Education was recognized for its innovative approach to CPD in schools.
The Problem with Phonics
TT Education consultant, Julie Watson, asks how we can support children for whom a focus on synthetic phonics is not the key to reading.
Preparing for Nicky Morgan's "Modern Britain"
Betsy Maytham looks at Nicky Morgan's ideas of 'preparation' for modern Britain and asks what that looks like in a primary school classroom
TT Education’s 3rd Annual Consultant Conference
A rundown of the exciting events at the TT Education 2015 conference
Thoughts on Lesson Planning
Emma Bradshaw considers effective planning methods and how to cut down on planning time, while maximising the plan's usefulness
Talking Matters
David Maytham introduces some easy-to-use word games to improve literacy and transform the classroom environment.
Article first published in SEN magazine in 2014.
What's Your Favourite Number?
A TT Education consultant, talks numbers and their associations, both personal and cultural
Let’s talk it over...
David Maytham discusses the importance of talk in the classroom and how it can help children to succeed.
Shakespeare Workshops for Key Stage Two
Vicki Grattan talks us through Jerome Monahan's Shakespeare workshops for Key Stage Two pupils
TT Education and Inspired to Lead have combined
David Maytham celebrates the joining together of TT Education and Inspired to Lead.