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30t hJul y2021
Emai l :mel @pr epar edmedi a. co. uk|Tel :01823618283 www. pr epar edmedi a. co. uk
Fi ndus ! F acebook: /Educat i ons uppl ement|I ns t agr am: pr epar edmedi al t d Twi t t er : @Educat i onSupp
DESI GN& BUI LD PAGE ONWA 4 RDS
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Desi gn&Bui l di nSchool s
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Ear l yYear s&Chi l dcar e
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Sur veyr eveal si mpactofpandemi conyoungchi l dr en’ shandwr i t i ng Anew, nat i onals ur veyofpr i mar yt eacher shasr eveal edt heext entt hatt hepandemi chasi mpact edon chi l dr en’ shandwr i t i ng, wi t h83%oft eacher sand s eni orl eader ss ayi ngdi s r upt i ont ot hei rs choolhas hadanegat i veeffectonpupi l s ’ goodhandwr i t i ng habi t s . Ther es ear ch, conduct edbyeducat i onalpubl i s her Schofiel d&Si ms , al s oas kedwhi char easofhandwr i t i nghadbeenmos taffect ed. St ami nawasmos tcommonl yhi ghl i ght edbyKeySt age2t eacher s( 71 %)and headt eacher s( 76%) .
r educed. Asar es ul t , chi l dr enhaven’ tbeenabl et o devel opt hei rmot ormemor yi nt hes ameway, andt he under devel opmentoffinemot ors ki l l swi l li mpact cor r ectl et t erf or mat i onsaswel last hes i z eand pl acementofl et t er s . ’ Acr os sal lpr i mar yt eacher sandheadt eacher s , wr i t i ng s t ami na( 72%) , s peed( 55%) , l et t ers i z eandpos i t i on ( 53%) , fluency( 51 %)andl et t erj oi ns( 48%)wer et hefive handwr i t i ngar easofmos tconcer nhi ghl i ght edbyt he s ur vey. Handwr i t i ngs t yl e( 28%)wast hear eaofwr i t i ngt hatt eacher sf el thadbeenl eas taffect ed.
Mos tdepr i veds chool sar ehar des thi t Pr i mar ys chool swi t ht hehi ghes tl evel sofdepr i vat i on ar emos tconcer nedaboutt hei mpactt hatt hepandemi chadont hei rpupi l ’ shandwr i t i ng, wi t h31 % s t r ongl yagr eei ngwi t ht hes ent i ment , ver s us21 %of affluents chool s . Thi sechoeswi derr es ear chbyt he Educat i onPol i cyI ns t i t ut e( EPI )i nt omat hsandr eadi ng, whi chf oundpupi l sf r om di s advant agedback gr oundshavebeenamongt hebi gges tl os er sasa r es ul toft hepandemi c. Recor dl ow l evel sofwr i t i ngenj oyment
Res pondi ngt ot hefindi ngs , Mi chel l evanRooyen, an occupat i onalt her api s twi t has peci ali nt er es ti nhandwr i t i ng, s ai d: ‘ Thi sr es ear chconfir mswhatmanyeducat or sar eexper i enci ngr i ghtnow. Bei ngabl et owr i t e i ndependent l yf orext endedper i odsoft i mei sacr uci als ki l lf orchi l dr ent onur t ur e. Li ket hos ewhor es pondedt ot hi ss ur vey, Iam concer nedf orpupi l s whohavebeenoutoft hecl as s r oom dur i ngt hepandemi c. Thes hi f tt ous i ngl apt opsandt abl et s , whi ch us edi ffer entmus cl es , andawi derf r eedom t ocompl et et as kswi t houtas t r uct ur edt i met abl ewi l ll i kel y bekeyr eas onswhys t ami nai sflaggedasacaus ef or concer nbyt eacher s . ’
Goodhandwr i t i ngf r eesupment albandwi dt h Thes ur veyal s of oundt hatt wofif t hsoft eacher shave i ncr eas edt heamountoft i mef ocus edonhandwr i t i ng s i ncef ul l yr eopeni ngs chool . Comment i ngont hefindi ngs , Ni ckPl at t s , Chai r manat Schofiel d&Si mss ai d: ‘ School sunder s t andabl yhave al ott ot ackl er i ghtnow, buti ti sencour agi ngt os ee t hathandwr i t i ngi sbei ngpr i or i t i s edbys omes chool s f ort hos echi l dr enwhoneedi t . I ti si mpor t antt hat t eacher sar ef ocus i ngont her i ghtar easandget t i ng t hes uppor tt heyneed, whi chi swhatwewant edt o hi ghl i ghtt hr ought hi ss ur vey. ’
‘ Mus cl ememor y’ affect edbypandemi c ForKeySt age1andRecept i ont eacher s , t hes ur vey bySchofiel dandSi msf oundt hatl et t ers i z eandpos i t i oni st hear eaofmos tconcer n( 69%) . Mi chel l ehas al s onot i ceds i mi l arpr obl emsi nherwor kwi t hchi l dr en, s ayi ng: ‘ Bei ngabl et of ocusont hes i z eandpos i t i onofl et t er si nr el at i ont oeachot heri st hecr uci al nexts t epaf t erf or mat i on, whi chi sanar eat hatI ’ m of t ens eei ngchi l dr ens t r uggl ewi t hatt hemoment . ’ Shewentont oexpl ai n: ‘ Oppor t uni t i esf ormot ormappi ngl et t er sandj oi nsdur i ngt hepandemi chavebeen
Handwr i t i ngi saf oundat i onals ki l lt hatunl ockschi l dr en’ spot ent i aloncemas t er ed, butMi chel l evan Rooyeni sconcer nedabouthow t hedi s r upt i oni n s chool scoul dhol dbackchi l dr enf r om di s pl ayi ngi t , s ayi ng: ‘ Whenpr oducedwi t heas e, goodhandwr i t i ng f r eesupment albandwi dt hf orot heract i vi t i es , whi ch i svi t algi vent hewi dercat chuphappeni ngi ns chool s cur r ent l y. Buti fachi l di sunabl et oputt hei ri deason paper , wear el i mi t i ngt hei rabi l i t yt os har e, andt hi s wi l lhaveaknockoneffectacr os st hei rwor k. ’
Thi sdat acomesaf t ert heNat i onalLi t er acyTr us tr eveal edear l i ert hi sweekt hatj us t1i n3chi l dr enand youngpeopl es ai dt heyenj oywr i t i ng, t hel owes tl evel ofwr i t i ngenj oymentr ecor dedbyt hechar i t ys i nce 201 0. Thei rUKs ur veyof42, 502chi l dr enandyoung peopl eal s or ecor dedt hel owes tdai l ywr i t i ngr at ei n t hel as t1 1year s . Schofiel d&Si msi sal eadi ngpubl i s herofbooksf or s chool s , par ent sandt ut or s . Wr i t t enbyexper i enced t eacher s , i t sr es our cespr ovi dechi l dr enwi t ht hef undament alknowl edgeands ki l l sneededf orbot heducat i onandl at eri nl i f e. OneofSchofiel d&Si ms ’ key ar easoff ocusi shandwr i t i ng, avi t als ki l lt hatcanhave as i gni ficanti mpactonl ongt er m academi cachi eve ment . Thes ur veywasunder t akenonbehal fofSchofiel d& Si msbyTeacherTapp, adai l ys ur veyappt hatas ks ques t i onst oover8000t eacher seachdayandr ewei ght st her es ul t st omaket hem r epr es ent at i ve. Rel eas ef r om Schofiel d&Si ms
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Fur t herEducat i on
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Secondar yEducat i on
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Whyar eyout aki ngourchi l dhood? Pr i mar yheadt eachers aysweneedt obe‘ bol d’ and‘ i magi nat i ve’ i fScot l andi st oi mpl ementCf E’ s‘ devel opment al l y ageappr opr i at ecur r i cul um’ i nt os chool s , whi chwoul d‘ not onl yenhancechi l dr en’ sl ear ni ngi nl i t er acyandnumer acy , but al s obenefitheal t handwel l bei ng’ . Anew cul t ur echangedocument ar ybyawar dwi nni ngeducat i onfil mmaker , Sas ki aAnl eyMcCal l um, put saki l tont he f ocus , l ooki ngatScot l and’ sCur r i cul um f orEx cel l ence( Cf E)at Ear l yLevel . I toffer sani ns i ght f ul l ookbehi ndoneoft he younges ts chool s t ar t i ngagesi nt hewor l d. OnpaperCf Ehasapr of oundunder s t andi ngofchi l ddevel opment , encour agi ngapl aybas eds t ar tf orchi l dr enunder s even. NowWeAr eSi xget st ogr i pswi t ht hecount r ywi def ai l ur et ot ur nt hepl aybas edpr i nci pl esofCf E’ sEar l yLevel i nt o pr act i s eovert hel as tdecade. “ I wast ol dpr i vat el yf r om t eacher swor ki ngi nScot l andt hat Cf Ei svi r t ual l yi mpos s i bl et ocar r yi touti nmai ns t r eam pr i mar ys chool s , ”s aysAnl eyMcCal l um. “ Theyci t epar ent sf ear s ar oundt ar get sands af et yconcer ns( compl ai nt s ) , al ackof cons i s t ent , ongoi ngt eachert r ai ni ngandbudgetcut ss queez i ngoutr oom f orot heract i vi t i est hatar ecr i t i cal f oraheal t hy f oundat i oni nl i f e. Al ackofr es our cesi sal s oamaj orbar r i er : concr et epl aygr oundsandcl as s r oomss etupf orf or mal l ear ni ngr at hert hanpl ay . Theywoul dl i ket obeout s i demor ewi t ht hechi l dr enoffer i ng f r eepl aybuthavet oens ur et hei rpupi l s‘ l evel up’ andr each gover nmentandl ocal aut hor i t ypr os cr i beds t andar ds . They s ai dt heyar egaggedf r om s peaki ngpubl i cl yandunabl et o s har et hei rconcer ns . ”
ForP1t eacher s , t heexi s t enceofSNSAmeanst heyhavet o s pendmuchofeachdayt eachi ngs ki l l st hatneur os ci ent i s t s , educat or sandheal t hpr of es s i onal sr ecogni s ear edevel opment al l yi nappr opr i at ef oragr eatmanyf our -and fiveyear ol ds ; andt i ghts chool budget smeanheadt eacher s havet opr i or i t i s ewhati smos ti mpor t ant . “ At eacherwor ki ngi nEdi nbur ghgaveanex ampl e. Fort hel as t t enyear ss hehast aken30pr i mar ys chool pupi l st ot hel ocal par kf orPE. Thi shasnow beens t oppedf ors af et yr eas onsand t hes chool can’ taffor danas s i s t antt ogowi t ht hem t omakei t fitwi t hi nt henew s af et ypr ot ocol . Al l PEi snow l i mi t edt ot he concr et epl aygr ound. Nat ur econnect i ont i me, andt hef r ee pl aywhi chacces st ot hepar kenabl ed, hasbeens t opped. “ Thi ski ndoft hi ngl eavest het eacher sf eel i ngdi s empower ed anddi s engagedandi thasapr of oundi mpactont hequal i t yof t hechi l dr en’ seducat i on. ” Gai ni ngr ar eacces si nt oaScot t i s hP1cl as s r oom, t hefil mi nt er vi ewsWi l l i eFr ench, headt eacherofa900pupi l pr i mar yi n Haddi ngt on, Eas tLot hi an. Speaki ngpubl i cl yf ort hefir s tt i me aboutt hechangest hatcr i t i cal l yneedt ohappent obr i ng aboutas hi f ti nour‘ di s t or t ed’ cul t ur al val uesar oundeducat i on, hes ays : “ Ihavebeeni nt hegames ol ong, s oIf eel happyt o t al k. I ti snott hatchi l dr enar enotabl e, i ti st hatt heyar enot r eady . Iam nots ayi nganyt hi ngt hatt eacher swoul dfindcont r over s i al . I ’ mj us ts peaki ngcommons ens e. ” Rel eas ef r om Edi nbur ghSt ei nerSchool
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Sur veyr eveal si mpactofpandemi conyoung chi l dr en’ shandwr i t i ng Anew, nat i onal s ur veyofpr i mar yt eacher shasr eveal ed t heext entt hatt hepandemi chasi mpact edonchi l dr en’ shandwr i t i ng, wi t h83%oft eacher sands eni or l eader ss ayi ngdi s r upt i ont ot hei rs chool hashadanegat i veeffectonpupi l s ’ goodhandwr i t i nghabi t s . Ther es ear ch, conduct edbyeducat i onal publ i s her Schofiel d&Si ms , al s oas kedwhi char easofhandwr i t i ng hadbeenmos taffect ed. St ami nawasmos tcommonl y hi ghl i ght edbyKeySt age2t eacher s( 71 %)andheadt eacher s( 76%) . Res pondi ngt ot hefindi ngs , Mi chel l evanRooyen, an occupat i onal t her api s twi t has peci al i nt er es ti nhandwr i t i ng, s ai d: ‘ Thi sr es ear chconfir mswhatmanyeducat or sar eexper i enci ngr i ghtnow. Bei ngabl et owr i t ei ndependent l yf orext endedper i odsoft i mei sacr uci al s ki l l f orchi l dr ent onur t ur e. Li ket hos ewhor es ponded t ot hi ss ur vey , Iam concer nedf orpupi l swhohavebeen outoft hecl as s r oom dur i ngt hepandemi c. Thes hi f tt o us i ngl apt opsandt abl et s , whi chus edi ffer entmus cl es , andawi derf r eedom t ocompl et et as kswi t houtas t r uct ur edt i met abl ewi l l l i kel ybekeyr eas onswhys t ami nai s flaggedasacaus ef orconcer nbyt eacher s . ’ ‘ Mus cl ememor y’ affect edbypandemi c ForKeySt age1andRecept i ont eacher s , t hes ur veyby Schofiel dandSi msf oundt hatl et t ers i z eandpos i t i oni s t hear eaofmos tconcer n( 69%) . Mi chel l ehasal s onot i ceds i mi l arpr obl emsi nherwor kwi t hchi l dr en, s ayi ng: ‘ Bei ngabl et of ocusont hes i z eandpos i t i onofl et t er si n r el at i ont oeachot heri st hecr uci al nexts t epaf t erf or mat i on, whi chi sanar eat hatI ’ m of t ens eei ngchi l dr en s t r uggl ewi t hatt hemoment . ’ Shewentont oexpl ai n: ‘ Oppor t uni t i esf ormot ormappi ngl et t er sandj oi nsdur i ngt hepandemi chavebeen r educed. Asar es ul t , chi l dr enhaven’ tbeenabl et odevel opt hei rmot ormemor yi nt hes ameway , andt heunder devel opmentoffinemot ors ki l l swi l l i mpactcor r ect l et t erf or mat i onsaswel l ast hes i z eandpl acementof l et t er s . ’ Acr os sal l pr i mar yt eacher sandheadt eacher s , wr i t i ng s t ami na( 72%) , s peed( 55%) , l et t ers i z eandpos i t i on ( 53%) , fluency( 51 %)andl et t erj oi ns( 48%) wer et hefive handwr i t i ngar easofmos tconcer nhi ghl i ght edbyt he s ur vey . Handwr i t i ngs t yl e( 28%) wast hear eaofwr i t i ng t hatt eacher sf el thadbeenl eas taffect ed. Goodhandwr i t i ngf r eesupment albandwi dt h Thes ur veyal s of oundt hatt wofif t hsoft eacher shave i ncr eas edt heamountoft i mef ocus edonhandwr i t i ng s i ncef ul l yr eopeni ngs chool .
Comment i ngont hefindi ngs , Ni ckPl at t s , Chai r manat Schofiel d&Si mss ai d: ‘ School sunder s t andabl yhavea l ott ot ackl er i ghtnow, buti ti sencour agi ngt os eet hat handwr i t i ngi sbei ngpr i or i t i s edbys omes chool sf or t hos echi l dr enwhoneedi t . I ti si mpor t antt hatt eacher s ar ef ocus i ngont her i ghtar easandget t i ngt hes uppor t t heyneed, whi chi swhatwewant edt ohi ghl i ght t hr ought hi ss ur vey . ’ Handwr i t i ngi saf oundat i onal s ki l l t hatunl ockschi l dr en’ spot ent i al oncemas t er ed, butMi chel l evan Rooyeni sconcer nedabouthow t hedi s r upt i oni n s chool scoul dhol dbackchi l dr enf r om di s pl ayi ngi t , s ayi ng: ‘ Whenpr oducedwi t heas e, goodhandwr i t i ng f r eesupment al bandwi dt hf orot heract i vi t i es , whi chi s vi t al gi vent hewi dercat chuphappeni ngi ns chool s cur r ent l y . Buti fachi l di sunabl et oputt hei ri deason paper , wear el i mi t i ngt hei rabi l i t yt os har e, andt hi swi l l haveaknockoneffectacr os st hei rwor k. ’ Mos tdepr i veds chool sar ehar des thi t Pr i mar ys chool swi t ht hehi ghes tl evel sofdepr i vat i on ar emos tconcer nedaboutt hei mpactt hatt hepandemi chadont hei rpupi l ’ shandwr i t i ng, wi t h31 % s t r ongl yagr eei ngwi t ht hes ent i ment , ver s us21 %ofaf fluents chool s . Thi sechoeswi derr es ear chbyt heEducat i onPol i cyI ns t i t ut e( EPI )i nt omat hsandr eadi ng, whi chf oundpupi l sf r om di s advant agedbackgr ounds havebeenamongt hebi gges tl os er sasar es ul toft he pandemi c. Recor dl ow l evel sofwr i t i ngenj oyment Thi sdat acomesaf t ert heNat i onal Li t er acyT r us tr eveal edear l i ert hi sweekt hatj us t1i n3chi l dr enand youngpeopl es ai dt heyenj oywr i t i ng, t hel owes tl evel ofwr i t i ngenj oymentr ecor dedbyt hechar i t ys i nce 201 0. Thei rUKs ur veyof42, 502chi l dr enandyoung peopl eal s or ecor dedt hel owes tdai l ywr i t i ngr at ei n t hel as t1 1year s . Schofiel d&Si msi sal eadi ngpubl i s herofbooksf or s chool s , par ent sandt ut or s . Wr i t t enbyexper i enced t eacher s , i t sr es our cespr ovi dechi l dr enwi t ht hef undament al knowl edgeands ki l l sneededf orbot heducat i onandl at eri nl i f e. OneofSchofiel d&Si ms ’ keyar eas off ocusi shandwr i t i ng, avi t al s ki l l t hatcanhaveas i gni ficanti mpactonl ongt er m academi cachi evement . Thes ur veywasunder t akenonbehal fofSchofiel d& Si msbyT eacherT app, adai l ys ur veyappt hatas ks ques t i onst oover8000t eacher seachdayandr ewei ght st her es ul t st omaket hem r epr es ent at i ve.
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