Tyger, when I first read it, it hit me how important this book is for us all to read. Since sharing it with my yr 5/6 class, a copy always goes missing - a sure sign of an incredible book.

Graphic showing the covers of all 4 books by SF Said - Varjak Paw, The Outlaw Varjak Paw, Phoenix and Tyger - all illustrated by Dave McKean

BOOK GIVEAWAY!!! I'm not on social media much at the moment, working hard on my new book, which I feel sure will be my best one yet when it's done! In the meantime, I'm giving away signed copies of all my books so far. Follow & repost to enter, and say which book you'd like & why. Closes Dec 5!

Join the campaign to Trump-proof the BBC

www.libdems.org.uk/bbc

A Convenient Loophole Durham County Council’s Reform UK Deputy Leader Darren Grimes’ register of interests is remarkably sparse. So when he complained recently of having been “demonetised” by Facebook owner Meta for his rage-bait video content on the platform (Meta apparently stopped the payments after realising he is an elected official and ineligible), it got me thinking: why has he never declared that income? Under ‘employment’ on his council records, Grimes lists only his D-Dog Media Ltd firm, of which he is the director. I asked him and the council why he has not previously declared income from Facebook/Meta. Or, for that matter, his (presumably significant) income from Elon Musk’s X ‘creator revenue sharing’ programme, which bungs thousands of pounds a month to the likes of Reform Leader Nigel Farage, far-right convicted criminal Stephen Yaxley-Lennon (‘Tommy Robinson’), and likely Grimes, too. Helen Bradley, the council’s director of legal and democratic services, said: “We understand income from Cllr Grimes’ social media has been paid to a company, of which he is a director. This company is declared on his register of interests.” So if he has a company, he doesn’t have to declare any of his clients or who is paying him? A council spokesperson responded: “There is no requirement for them to declare clients or payees of any business listed on this register.” It is, to my eyes, an outrageous loophole that means any local politician trying to hide their income streams can simply run it through a company. And voters are none the wiser. ■

It's not the first time Reform UK councillors have been caught failing to properly declare their financial interests, as I covered in my On the Ground column for @bylinetimes.bsky.social this month in print...
subscribe.bylinetimes.com/edition/79/o...

Sending you strength and a glimpse of the Sussex sky through an oak tree.

Poppies made for Remembrance Day by children using one of my making ideas.

Poppies made for Remembrance Day by children using one of my making ideas.

The two different poppy making activities I have on my YouTube channel (my name)

Here's a small selection of the poppies made by children for Remembrance Day using one of my simple cardboard projects. Both methods just use recycled, paper-based materials, allowing them to be recycled too (no plastic)
Both videos are on my YouTube channel. (my name)
www.darrellwakelam.com #edusky

Photos of just a few of my Christmas art projects, reindeer, snowmen, Christmas trees, robins, and Father Christmas.

After last year's success, I'm doing more online Christmas workshops this year. So, if you want to do some festive making with your class, get in touch.
You choose what we make, I'll show you the skills, then off you go!
One-hour sessions am/pm
15th - 19th December 🙂
www.darrellwakelam.com #edusky

Autumn running, jogging, slipping and sliding has commenced. #EduRunners

I have a brand new and very exciting episode of #DrawWithRob Icons for you tomorrow, particularly if you're a fan of Studio #Ghibli. My #Totoro drawalong drops tomorrow at 10am...

📣 Teachers and school librarians, we want to hear from you! 📣

We want to know how best to support schools with our free downloadable resources. Please take a minute to complete our survey so that we can make sure our classroom materials are the best they can be!

forms.gle/yiQq3f5d366o...

Photograph of Short-snouted Seahorse with weed in background © Paul Naylor

Sussex Wildlife Trust celebrates success in legal battle to stop Marine Conservation Zone dumping as licence is quashed

sussexwildlifetrust.org.uk/news/sussex-...

Short-snouted Seahorse © Paul Naylor

Thank you so much Rachel 😊 it’s good to feel less alone in this.

We discussed this with our CDC consultant who heavily suggested we stick with the NHS pathway (we trusted her advice) and now we’re running out of time. I’ve just looked and ‘right to choose’ have a wait time of 12-18 months and we need it by May. I’m exasperated. Thank you for your advice.

Yes, I thought this would be tricky to traverse and keep to paths. Thank you for the information.

After over 3 yrs on an autism pathway with the NHS, we have now been delayed AGAIN. Son is yr 5. specialist secondary school needs a diagnosis to accept him so needs a diagnosis by June. Has an EHCP and is severely dyslexic. Feeling broken by this system and I’m a teacher! #autism

The scrubland by our river has been completely razed. Feeling a little confused as this was a haven for wildlife. @lukebmtb.bsky.social do you know anything about this area of land? Ownership etc? @ouseadurrt.bsky.social @wsccnews.bsky.social @sussexwildlife.bsky.social

Fantastic!

Someone has repurposed the recently closed Model Bakery in the nearest town as the Model Bikery (by putting an 'i' over the 'a'). Offering bike repairs, a bike loan scheme plus help with DIY repairs. Hope it goes well for them.

steyningbicyclerepair.co.uk/irepair/

The @empathylabuk.bsky.social conference on Thu 27th Nov is going to be superb. The links between reading and empathy are very powerful. Fantastic speakers, including @michaelrosenyes.bsky.social, @teresacremin.bsky.social and @amdassu.bsky.social. More info here: empathylab.uk/raising-gene...

Sights from the local beach: lesser spotted dog fish, grass hoppers and common lizards. @sussexwildlife.bsky.social

Last year, we offered Book Advent Calendars to schools. These contain 24 books, all individually wrapped & numbered. A list of books can be provided. These were really popular and we're offering again - a great way to boost libraries and classrooms. Private orders also welcome ❤️

The Ultimate Guide to Adaptive Teaching - Webinar with Sue Cowley Sue Cowley shares ideas about adaptive teaching and offers a range of practical strategies for creating an inclusive classroom

I'm running a webinar about adaptive teaching after half term with lots of practical advice on inclusive approaches to teaching. Grateful for reposts. Many thanks to everyone who has shared this already! 😘
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-ultima...

An illustration by Sandhya Prabhat of a group of children reading with a teacher on the floor of a school library. Plus the words: "Webinar: Developing a culture of reading for pleasure. Why book choice matters for children. 4pm, Thursday 20 November." And the logos for BookTrust, and The Open University Reading for Pleasure

Are you joining us for our upcoming webinar about the importance of book choice in primary schools?

We'll be joined by our Writer in Residence Matt Goodfellow and @debbiethomas.bsky.social from @openuni-rfp.bsky.social for research, practical insights and more 👇

https://bit.ly/4qvcFv8

Got kids aged 8+? Get them my latest book! It's a chaotic rollercoaster ride through the Stone Age -- it's tonnes of fun, full of the latest scientific discoveries, is cowritten with the expert archaeologist @brennawalks.bsky.social, and is illustrated by @rikinparekh.bsky.social. Cheers!

NHS trust pleads guilty after teenage girl absconded from 24-hour care and killed herself Ellame Ford-Dunn, 16, suffered with severe mental health problems and absconded from Worthing hospital in March 2022 An NHS trust has pleaded guilty to failures over the avoidable death of a teenage girl who killed herself after absconding from 24-hour supervision under its care. Ellame Ford-Dunn, 16, who suffered with severe mental health problems, died on 20 March 2022, minutes after leaving the Bluefin acute children’s ward in Worthing hospital, part of University hospitals Sussex NHS trust (UHSussex). Continue reading...

NHS trust pleads guilty after teenage girl absconded from 24-hour care and killed herself

Introducing ‘Egg Box Monsters’ . . . just in time for half-term and Halloween.
One egg box, no leftovers, totally recyclable. What I call ‘Pure Making’.
Full instructions are on the website here . . . www.darrellwakelam.com/news/egg-box...
#edusky #halloween

Important piece from @booktrust.org.uk and @openuni-rfp.bsky.social about the value of book choice for pupils and how to help promote it in the classroom. Do have a read! files.booktrust.org.uk/docs/documen... @teresacremin.bsky.social @richardruddick.bsky.social

Beautiful 5km run. Spotted two of my favourite birds, Kingfishers, along the river. I am so grateful to be able to get out and enjoy where we live.

The children’s sculpture of their school, made from cardboard, covered with paper mache, and painted.

The children’s sculpture of their school, made from cardboard, covered with paper mache, and painted.

The children’s sculpture of their school, made from cardboard, covered with paper mache, and painted.

The children’s sculpture of their school, made from cardboard, covered with paper mache, and painted.

I’ve been up to Lickey End First School in Bromsgrove this week, helping the children to rebuild their lovely little school, from cardboard! 😁😮
Every child has taken part, remember the oldest is only 7!
darrellwakelam.com
#edusky #schooldisplay