Bill Laar

Bill Laar and Jackie Holderness’ Reclaiming the Curriculum examines the nature of a broad-ranging, content-rich primary school curriculum and presents case studies that exemplify how it can be effectively delivered. Many schools believe that the value of their work is undermined by a test-driven agenda that limits the breadth of the education they provide – and who can blame them? In Reclaiming the Curriculum Bill and Jackie inspire teachers to escape such narrow confines by unearthing a rich seam of case study examples from schools who are broadening their provision with specialist content that transcends the core curriculum: taking pupils into the realms of exploration and enquiry while also providing for higher attainment in the core subjects. Featuring a variety of exciting initiatives, ranging from the development of an IT-enabled collaborative learning space to the artful application of storytelling across the curriculum, this book will embolden primary schools to identify and enhance their own creative practice and more effectively prepare pupils for the tests of life, not a life of tests. The 18 case studies – written by a diverse line-up of contributors including school leaders, teachers and special-ist coaches – are sourced from a mixture of different settings and offer detailed descriptions of the initiatives’ unique backgrounds: their genesis and inspiration, their underpinning aims and objectives, and the ways in which they were resourced, realised and, eventually, evaluated. At the beginning of each chapter, Bill and Jackie briefly summarise the educa-tional value of each example of curriculum development, the significance of specific aspects and the ways in which they are likely to help maintain full and relevant learning. Each case study then presents the contributors’ first-hand perspectives as they: describe in detail the structure that underpins the provision – including the number of staff involved and the time and resources allocated share interesting insights into the level of pupil involvement and, where relevant, the extent of parental and community participation paint a vivid picture of how the initiatives have been made compatible with their school’s wider educational programme provide practical guidance, useful links and relevant resources to aid readers’ own pursuit of curriculum development. Suitable for primary school teachers and leaders.

Primary Heads contains lessons on leadership from a group of highly successful primary head teachers. The book starts with an overview of current thinking on good leadership practice and then takes the reader through the personal stories of 11 head teachers who have, sometimes in the face of extraordinary adversity, transformed their schools. Each has a very personal view on what it has taken for them to succeed and what successful leadership in primary schools should look like. Bill then draws out the key elements from their accounts and details how primary schools and primary heads can create the best possible environment for learning by concentrating on the identified aspects of exceptional leadership. This detailed translation of theories into notably successful practice, presented through the personal accounts of a group of outstanding head teachers, will have a particular resonance for practitioners engaged in the challenging business of education today. Stories of achievement by the successful are not always a source of inspiration or comfort for other teachers, who may search in vain for evidence of the difficulties and adversity they encounter in their own work or possible solutions to them. These clear and honest accounts, however, explore the subject of effective leadership in a way that makes them essential reading for all those, from head teacher to the least experienced staff, who bear responsibility, in varying degrees, for the management and direction of primary schools. The book is essential reading for anyone interested in primary education, adding value and developing effective partnerships with parents. These stories will be a source of motivation for any one striving for success in their school. For all primary school leaders. The book will be relevant, too, for administrators, school governors and those involved in teacher training and continuing professional development.

Give your young children the best start to learning English with Jamboree Storytime’s interactive, play-based approach!Jamboree Storytime is an exciting new series designed to introduce the English language to children aged 3–5. It nurtures and extends their developing awareness of stories and integrates this with language learning, through songs, rhymes, puppets and play-based activities. The series has been specifically developed to encourage a love of stories and reading in young children, and to begin to introduce the English language in an accessible and enjoyable way.There are ten beautifully illustrated Readers in the series, each with a matching Activity Book with Stickers. The Activity Books with Stickers contain engaging activities such as matching and categorising, drawing and colouring, joining the dots, making things and listening.Each Activity Book contains two pages of coloured stickers that can be used with the activities themselves or to help children consolidate their vocabulary.To make the most of the Activity Books with Stickers, you will need the Activity Guides for Teachers and Parents that you can download for free from: www.pearsonglobalschools.com/JamboreeStorytime. The Activity Guides for Teachers and Parents contain a range of fun, play-based activities and will help you get the most out of your Jamboree Storytime resources.

Give your young children the best start to learning English with Jamboree Storytime’s interactive, play-based approach! Jamboree Storytime is an exciting new series designed to introduce the English language to children aged 3–5. It nurtures and extends their developing awareness of stories and integrates this with language learning, through songs, rhymes, puppets and play-based activities. The series has been specifically developed to encourage a love of stories and reading in young children, and to begin to introduce the English language in an accessible and enjoyable way. There are ten beautifully illustrated Readers in the series, each with a matching Activity Book with Stickers. The Activity Books with Stickers contain engaging activities such as matching and categorising, drawing and colouring, joining the dots, making things and listening. Each Activity Book contains two pages of coloured stickers that can be used with the activities themselves or to help children consolidate their vocabulary. To make the most of the Activity Books with Stickers, you will need the Activity Guides for Teachers and Parents that you can download for free from: www.pearsonglobalschools.com/JamboreeStorytime. The Activity Guides for Teachers and Parents contain a range of fun, play-based activities and will help you get the most out of your Jamboree Storytime resources.

In September 2005 school inspections changed drastically. The onus is now on the school to highlight its own strengths and weaknesses; to document them convincingly and to show action plans for improvement. This book, written by an Ofsted Inspector, shows you exactly what to do, and how best to present your Self-Evaluation. It also tells you how to prepare for the two day inspection so that everything goes as well as possible.