Bleak:

I agree with the principle of 'needs attention' being a catalyst for support. But, as long as parents rely on grades to judge and inform choices & estate agents use grades to market homes, they will continue to name/shame schools rather than support. Grade wording needed more thought at the outset.

"There is something truly magical about reading to a child…However busy family life can be, making time for shared reading is an investment parents just have to make." Here's my blog about how 10 minutes a day can change a child's life school-matters.org/2026/03/27/o... #parenting #edusky #education

I think you might be the only person reading them!

Phones at School: Less Learning, More Loneliness A new analysis shows the twin impacts of the leisure use of devices during the school day: declines in test scores and increases in feelings of loneliness at school.

There is nobody more informed, knowledgeable and clear on the issues surrounding smartphone use than the excellent Jean Twenge.

This short article on the damage phones do to our pupils’ social skills and learning is essential reading today.

www.afterbabel.com/p/phones-at-...

Lots of students in our school are reading #TheAmazingGeneration by @jonathanhaidt.bsky.social and @catherine-price.bsky.social . Grace (11 today) has written a lovely review for our school newsletter on Page 2 of this link www.kingham.oxon.sch.uk/wp-content/u... #edusky #teaching #education

The Disadvantage Gap explained - The Sutton Trust We have long called for action to close the attainment gap, but what is it?

💬 "Children from less well-off homes start school already behind their classmates, and gaps in their attainment widen further through primary and secondary school."

We have long pushed for action to close the attainment gap - but what is it?

Our explainer ⬇️

#NAPCE #PastoralCare #Education #Schools #Wellbeing #Teaching #Teacher #mentalhealth #Sleep @napce.bsky.social

Schools White Paper – Cautiously Welcomed! The Schools White Paper, Every Child Achieving and Thriving, was published last week after months of speculation. The Education Secretary, sets out a bold, long-term plan to raise standards in scho…

"The idea that an EHCP is the ‘golden chalice’ for all but the most complex cases is misguided" My latest blog cautiously welcoming the Schools White Paper proposals: school-matters.org/2026/03/02/s... #edusky @bphillipsonmp.bsky.social
#schools #SEND

Uta Frith: ‘Autism is not a spectrum’ The autism spectrum has widened to the point of collapse, affecting how teachers should support autistic pupils in the classroom, researcher Uta Frith tells Helen Amass

‘I’ve been swept up by the autism spectrum idea, and it’s only in the past 10 years that I have felt things have gone too far. Very slowly, I have come to say, “No, this is not right”’: Autism expert professor Uta Frith talks to @helen-amass.bsky.social

Schools White Paper – Cautiously Welcomed! The Schools White Paper, Every Child Achieving and Thriving, was published last week after months of speculation. The Education Secretary, sets out a bold, long-term plan to raise standards in scho…

"The idea that an EHCP is the ‘golden chalice’ for all but the most complex cases is misguided" My latest blog cautiously welcoming the Schools White Paper proposals: school-matters.org/2026/03/02/s... #edusky @bphillipsonmp.bsky.social
#schools #SEND

Just bought it. Loved his book on Curiosity

Building Children’s Resilience As parents, we all want the very best for our children and in the future ifwe want to imagine our children being happy and capable of handling life when we are not there to hold their hand.  M…

Resilience is like a muscle that strengthens through manageable challenge. When children face difficulty and experience small frustrations their capacity to cope grows. Here's my latest blog on resilience: school-matters.org/2026/03/01/b... #Parenting
#Education #MentalHealth
#Anxiety #edusky

Good teaching is not a special measure Why the principles that support children with special educational needs are the foundations of effective teaching for all

All children deserve good teaching. Some need it more than most. If support replaces thinking, it isn’t support.
Our aim must be independence.
open.substack.com/pub/daviddid...

Keeping Curiosity Alive Humans have long had a cultural suspicion of curiosity. We warn children that ‘Curiosity killed the cat!’ We tell stories like those of Adam and Eve or Pandora’s Box, where curiosity leads to disas…

As artificial intelligence grows more powerful, I wonder if curiosity will become one of the most valuable human qualities left. Here's my latest blog about 'curiosity': school-matters.org/2026/02/13/k... #education #edusky #teachers

Are We Over Labelling Our Children? It is vital that young people who are neurodiverse, or who are experiencing significant mental health difficulties, receive the support, treatment and diagnoses they need. In our school, we work ha…

"Is our system’s growing reliance on labels and diagnoses holding children back?" Read my latest blog here: school-matters.org/2026/02/06/a... #edusky #eduteach #parenting

"every time we do something for our children, we stop them from learning to do it for themselves. " Here's my latest blog about helping our children to be independent: school-matters.org/2026/01/30/i... #edusky #edteach #parenting

Why rest is as important as reading Over the years, I have often reflected on what matters most in a child’s education. While skilled teachers, a stimulating environment, early reading skills, and a well-resourced and rich curriculum…

My latest blog about how sleep is as important as reading for children to be successful is here: school-matters.org/2026/01/23/w... #parenting #edusky

The number of children with additional needs is rising faster than the system can manage, leaving schools and families to navigate the consequences on their own.

Explore real stories of the SEND crisis from schools across the UK and NAHT's view on what needs to change.

🔗 https://bit.ly/4pqEXFB

Crikey! #schools #educsky

Thank you @tesmagazine.bsky.social for your support.

Our 5th Annual Headteacher Wellbeing Report is an important read.

Published on our website next week.

Grateful to President Macron for an engaging conversation at #Davos on how to protect kids from predatory #socialmedia algorithms. I appreciate the President and his cabinet working toward an Australia-like policy.

This feels like an important moment in the long journey to recapture and reshape childhood…news.sky.com/story/logging-off-kids-s... #edusky #parenting #socialmediaban

I was a hostage negotiator for 10 years - this is what it taught me about parenting Nicky Perfect shares three practical tricks she learnt which will help you handle daily parenting battles.

This is such good advice for parents from a perhaps unlikely source
: www.bbc.co.uk/news/article... #edusky #parenting

Yesterday, we launched a snap poll to understand school leaders’ views on Ofsted’s revised approach to inspection.

More than 1,400 leaders responded in less than 24 hours, overwhelmingly rejecting the inspectorate’s plans.

Ofsted should pause and rethink its plans.

Thread 👇

Such an important piece, that articulates exactly what I’m increasingly trying to express to parents. Compassion for suffering matters deeply. But when everyday uncertainty and effort are framed as harm, and diagnosis becomes the default response, the long-term consequences for children feel bleak.

Schools are doing more with less: juggling rising costs, expanding expectations and tight budgets while still delivering great outcomes for pupils. A must-read for anyone who cares about education - school-matters.org/2026/01/17/h... #edusky #edteach @bphillipsonmp.bsky.social

I understand why extracts are used, but I can’t help feeling a sense of loss. The technicalities of reading are important, yet a love of reading is even more so.

Its all about relationships!