How Twinkl Parents has progressed in the last 10 months
In August 2018, Twinkl Parents was launched, a service designed to meet the needs of an increasing number of parents accessing and subscribing to the Twinkl website. The service provides resources ranging from flash-cards and activity sheets to online educational games and apps. Jay Wynn, who manages the Parents service at Twinkl, said: “We wanted to create a service to address the universal challenges parents and guardians face raising children. The team’s mantra is “made by teachers, perfect for parents” and we began by focusing on specific curriculum-based teaching resources.” As with all Twinkl resources, the materials created for parents are made in-house and approved by the current and former teachers that make up the majority of the team at Twinkl. They include resources designed to aid learning done at school and can be used at home and on the go. The amount of parents using Twinkl has grown increasingly over the past 10 months and the number of subscribers has increased by over 40% since the service was launched. As a result, the Twinkl Parents team has also grown from 3 team members based in Sheffield to over twenty located nationally, all with specific knowledge and expertise. “The team has now also started concentrating on building supportive and inclusive parenting communities,” explained Jay. “These are primarily on social media, on platforms including Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest. In the next few months, Twinkl Parents will be focusing on growing their two Youtube Channels, one Youtube channel which caters for parents and another Children’s Youtube which includes videos like how to create edible Marshmallow Slime and how to make a Lava Lamp! “Whether it be through forums, Twitter chats, or an advisor on the end of the phone, we want to support parents with more than just their educational queries and also speak to them about Health and Wellbeing, behaviour management and much more.” The materials available reflect this, with resources such as mindfulness colouring, meal ideas and wellbeing lists, to name just a few. With a full-time illustrator working within the team, there is also a selection of resources with anecdotal cartoons, which depict the highs and lows of parenthood. These show compassion towards the challenges parents face but also provide comic relief, a great example being this representation of ‘Date Night’. Twinkl Parents is always looking for new opportunities to help parents and communities. The team recently supported Sheffield’s Hospital Charity by donating over 700 Twinkl Original books and creating mindfulness colouring sheets for participants of the Jessop Super Heroes Appeal family walk, which raised money to make improvements to the Jessop Wing maternity hospital. Twinkl Parents is part of the core package from Twinkl, which is available at £4.49 a month and includes access to over half a million resources and Twinkl Originals digital storybooks. There is also an option to create a free account and a large variety of free resources to download.
How the School playground nurtures resilience and encourage physical goals
Rose Hardy, Headmistress at St Margaret’s School shares her thoughts on how the school playground plays a big part of the development of children. Play time is more than simply a part of the day for children to let off steam. While all children need to have regular breaks from the focus and challenge expected in the classroom, play actually gives them an additional way to discover, take risks and challenge themselves without the rigid structure of day to day lessons. Play is imperaive to children’s growth and development, both in body and in mind. It is only through play that children begin to learn more about who they are as a person, their strengths and weaknesses and the differences in personalities between them and their friends or peers. Out in the playground children also learn about taking responsibility for their actions, about what it means to make choices independently as also about how to use their social skills. Play time is actually much more important than it might first appear on the surface because children also enjoy a level of control over their time in the playground, something which is less likely or at least different to the traditional classroom setting. However, this new sense of freedom also has to work alongside playground rules and for many children this is the biggest lesson they must learn. School playgrounds should be designed to offer safe but enhanced opportunities for physical challenge as well as to encourage imaginative and cooperative play to help children learn about goals, perseverance and resilience. Where children are constantly pushing themselves out of their comfort zones and striving to achieve new goals, as well as being around peers who are trying out new physical challenges, also inspires others too and can often give children that extra push and determination to succeed. For many children the playground can be a place of enhanced opportunities. When we speak to children about what they think is important in their own lives, we usually find that playing and spending time with their friends is close to the top of their list. This is for good reason, playing is one of the only natural ways for children to communicate with eachother from a very young age and schools need to continue to give children the space and the freedom to play safely whilst knowing when to intervene and when to take a step back. With different boundaries to those we see in the classroom, the outdoor play environment offers a stimulating haven upon which to participate in physical challenges and also to learn more about imagination, role playing and cooperative play. Most importantly, play is what makes us human and it’s also what makes us happy. About St Margaret’s School St Margaret’s School is an independent day and boarding school for girls aged 4 to 18 years. Based in Bushey, Hertfordshire, the school is steeped in history and is among one of the oldest in the UK dating back to 1749. Offering a range of flexible boarding options for both UK and international pupils from the age of 11 years, the school is set over 60 acres of beautiful grounds and places its renowned pastoral care and proven track record of academic success at the heart of its culture and ethos. With a rich programme of extra-curricular activities, its girls are encouraged to discover their talents in a caring environment that fosters a genuine enthusiasm for learning in an evolving world filled with complex challenges and exciting new possibilities.
How to plan perfect school garden
Alana Cama, Schools and Groups Programme Manager at the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) talks you through the steps to planning the perfect school garden. Gardening is a trick up many schools’ sleeves – helping to get pupils active, boost educational attainment and promote good health and wellbeing. After twelve years working with schools we’ve seen how even the smallest of spaces can be transformed into a thriving kitchen garden or wildlife sanctuary, while also engaging and inspiring young people in the wonderful world of plants and nature. Here we share our top tips on creating a thriving plot for your school garden Designing your school garden Look at your site. How big is it? What type of soil do you have? How much of the garden is in light or shade? Are there any permanent features which you will have to work around? Establish the purpose of the garden. Is it to attract wildlife or to become an environmental area, in which case what plants are best for attracting bees and butterflies? Many pollinator friendly plants are not only beautiful but can help teach children about the importance of these insects and how they play a part in our lives. Or will it be a sensory garden that seeks to illicit a particular response from visitors? For example, plants and herbs with a lovely scent or grasses and ferns that are interesting to touch and make swishing sounds can help engage children in the environment around them. Maybe you want to create an edible garden so that pupils can enjoy the fruits of their labour or share their produce with the rest of the school by donating it to the kitchen staff. Many edible crops can be grown in pots or containers so even those with little space can have a productive kitchen garden. Children will love sowing plants from seed, watching them grow and then have the chance to taste the different crops – we find children are more likely to try fruit or veg they’ve grown themselves than produce bought in a shop. Think about any structural elements you’d like to include. Ponds are one of the most engaging additions to any school garden and even the smallest of ponds can create a thriving ecosystem, perfect for lessons on lifecycles or for a session on pond dipping. Bug hotels are also a staple in most school gardens and can be made at no cost. A pile of old pallets can make the perfect structure and children will have great fun filling the gaps with moss, leaves, bamboo canes and pine cones before waiting for visitors to arrive. The RHS Campaign for School Gardening website provides lots of resources that that will help you choose plants for different types of garden and advice on how to build structural elements in the garden. Decide on shape and position of planting beds Narrow beds (no more than 120cm in width) are good for children as they can reach the middle for planting and weeding from both sides without compacting the soil. Consider if raised beds are more suitable for your school garden. Incorporate sustainability into the garden design Try to include a compost heap and water butt to help you reduce, reuse and recycle whenever possible. Upcycled sinks, old toys or wellies can make great planters and reusing plastic bottles or pots in the garden can teach children the importance of recycling. In fact, one of our most popular online resources shows schools how to make a fully functioning greenhouse all from recycled plastic bottles! Will it be organic? Chemicals are best avoided where there is the possibility of children either attempting to eat their produce or putting fingers in their mouths. Slugs can be a pest in the garden and it can be tempting to use pellets to get rid of them but really nothing beats getting a team of children together to pick the slugs off or you could try out different natural slug barriers such as bark chips, egg shells and copper tape as a fun experiment to see which works best for you. Choose plants suitable for your site and conditions – for example if you have a shaded plot it’s unlikely that tomatoes and sunflowers will thrive – instead turn to forest favourites like ferns and forget-me-nots for variety. This may take a little more time, but it will be worth it in the long run. Consider those with special needs in your design Consider the design of entrances, outdoor paths and hard surfaces to maximise accessibility. Make the paths wide enough for wheelchairs (at least 120cm or 180cm so that two wheelchairs can pass). Materials used for the surfaces of paths need to be firm, even and nonslip – self-binding gravel is less harsh than tarmac or concrete. Implementing your plan Try to involve the children as much as possible in the garden build as this helps them form a feeling of ownership and care towards it. Children can think up the most wonderful ideas and although not everything can be implemented, it might spark a great idea that will be loved by all. Make sure labels with the names of the plants are written in a large, easy-to-read font. You could even get the children to make the labels or signs. Establish a group to progress the project and maintain the garden – people within the school community may well have gardening skills and want to help! Further information Schools can sign up for free resources and advice from the RHS Campaign for School Gardening at: schoolgardening.rhs.org.uk
CLOSED – Teach school children the importance of handwashing (competition)
A book created to actually show young school children the bacteria which lurks on their hands is helping to visually reinforce the important hygiene message of handwashing. The book, A Germ’s Journey, is the brainchild of microbiologist Dr Katie Laird and education expert Dr Sarah Younie of De Montfort University Leicester (DMU). As parents themselves they knew the importanceof handwashing in preventing disease and communicating it at a young age. Aimed at children aged three to five, A Germ’s Journeyincludes illustrations which feature special thermochromic black paint. Once the child’s hand is placed upon the paint, the microbes present appear on the hands in the book and the black paint vanishes. Dr Laird, Head of DMU’s Infectious Disease Research Group, said the idea was to introduce the concept of the ‘invisible germ’ to youngsters. She said: “Often children cannot understand that there are germs on their hands because they cannot see them. “Working through the book they can see the germs appear and it allows teachers, parents and carers to have the conversation around handwashing. It also demonstrates clean hands after washing hands. At the back of the book is information for teachers on how to interact with the book and teach pupils about germs.” The project was funded by the Society of Applied Microbiology and the book has now been taken on by Medina Publishing Ltd, while a website with games, downloads and tips for parents and teachers has been created too. All of the educational resources are free at the point of access. Copies of the book have been distributed to preschools and nurseries, toddler stay and play groups and internationally, via a charity in Kenya, and Dr Laird and Dr Younie have also partnered with teachers in India and Sierra Leone to co-create culturally relevant books for their regions. Most recently, they teamed up with Thinktank Birmingham Science Museum to provide educational resources that teach children the importance of handwashing. A Germ’s Journey forms part of the museum’s new MiniBrum gallery; a child-sized world designed for youngsters to explore their understanding of STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) through different role-play zones. Working with the DMU researchers, the Thinktank team co-ordinated and organised the creation of a handwashing song with children from Benson Community School in Birmingham and musicians from Bridge Arts and Music that will be played in the MiniBrum toilets for children to join in with. The museum will also incorporate A Germ’s Journey games and activities throughout the exhibition and offer health hygiene workshops for schoolchildren as part of its educational programme. Win a copy of A Germ’s Journey to share with your class We have 5 copies up for grabs of A Germ’s Journey! To be in with a chance of winning a copy to share with your pupils all you need to do is answer this simple question. What does handwashing prevent? A. A mucky classroom B. Disease C. Fun Enter via the Rafflecopter widget below a Rafflecopter giveaway Terms & Conditions ***The administrator of this competition is QA Education Magazine (“administrator”). By participating in the competition, each Entrant unconditionally accepts and agrees to comply with and abide by these Official Rules and the decisions of Administrator, which shall be final and binding in all respects. Administrator is responsible for the collection, submission or processing of Entries and the overall administration of the competition. Entrants should look solely to Administrator with any questions, comments or problems related to the Competition. Administrator may be reached by email at socialmedia@euromediaal.com during the Promotion Period. * This giveaway will close at 12.00am, 1st September 2019. * The prize is one in five copies of A Germ’s Journey book. The prize is non-transferable, non-refundable. There is no cash alternative. * Open to UK residents aged 18 or over, excluding employees of the Administrator, the sponsor, their families and anyone else professionally connected with this promotion. * There is one compulsory entry which requests that to enter the competition you answer a question based on the classroom books. Additional entries are available. * The prize winner will be asked to provide their email address so that contact can be made to arrange prize delivery, and their name and county be published in the next issue of the magazine * By entering the competition, you grant the Administrator permission to add your details to the mailing list, share your email address and any other personally identifiable information with the other competition Entities for the purpose of administration and prize fulfillment, including use in a publicly available Winners list. * Entries will only be accepted as instructed and any entrant that does not complete the qualifying requirements will be disqualified * The winners will be chosen using the random entry selector built into the widget. * The winners will be informed by email within 5 days of the closing date, and must respond within 5 days to claim their prize. If there is no response within the 5 days and new winner will be drawn at random. *This prize draw is governed by English law and the courts of England shall have exclusive jurisdiction over any dispute arising in connection with it. For further T&C and our privacy policy please see here Euromedia Associates Ltd: Privacy Policy https://www.iubenda.com/privacy-policy/66331438/legal**
CLOSED – Win a storage solutions bundle from Plastic Box Shop, worth £25!
We’ve teamed up with storage and accessory providers Plastic Box Shop to offer one lucky reader the chance to turn their chaotic classroom into an organisational haven with these smart storage solutions. All the containers in this prize are made from durable plastic and brightly coloured, making them the perfect storage solution for any classroom that needs streamlining. Ideal for keeping your classroom neat, tidy, and organised ready for September, the bundle contains shallow 7.5 litre capacity storage trays, handy for storing paper, crafts, and tools. It also includes some colourful cleaning caddies, each with a convenient carry handle, which are perfect for storing paints and cleaning products. You’ll also win a pack of three nestable storage baskets to store and display toys and games. Together, these containers can kick-start your organisational overhaul and transform your classroom into a fun and efficient place of learning. To be in with the chance of winning the storage solutions bundle, simply answer this question: • How many colours are there in the rainbow? a Rafflecopter giveaway Terms and conditions: Please note that this prize cannot be exchanged for cash or another product of similar value. Colours may vary. ***The administrator of this competition is QA Education Magazine (“administrator”). By participating in the competition, each Entrant unconditionally accepts and agrees to comply with and abide by these Official Rules and the decisions of Administrator, which shall be final and binding in all respects. Administrator is responsible for the collection, submission or processing of Entries and the overall administration of the competition. Entrants should look solely to Administrator with any questions, comments or problems related to the Competition. Administrator may be reached by email at socialmedia@euromediaal.com during the Promotion Period. * This giveaway will close at 12.00am, 1st September 2019. * The prize is Storage solution bundle worth £25. The prize is non-transferable, non-refundable. There is no cash alternative. * Open to UK residents aged 18 or over, excluding employees of the Administrator, the sponsor, their families and anyone else professionally connected with this promotion. * There is one compulsory entry which requests that to enter the competition you answer a question based on the classroom books. Additional entries are available. * The prize winner will be asked to provide their email address so that contact can be made to arrange prize delivery, and their name and county be published in the next issue of the magazine * By entering the competition, you grant the Administrator permission to add your details to the mailing list, share your email address and any other personally identifiable information with the other competition Entities for the purpose of administration and prize fulfillment, including use in a publicly available Winners list. * Entries will only be accepted as instructed and any entrant that does not complete the qualifying requirements will be disqualified * The winners will be chosen using the random entry selector built into the widget. * The winners will be informed by email within 5 days of the closing date, and must respond within 5 days to claim their prize. If there is no response within the 5 days and new winner will be drawn at random. *This prize draw is governed by English law and the courts of England shall have exclusive jurisdiction over any dispute arising in connection with it. For further T&C and our privacy policy please see here Euromedia Associates Ltd: Privacy Policy https://www.iubenda.com/privacy-policy/66331438/legal**
3 top organisation tips for your classroom
Classrooms are a place where imagination and education flourish. But, with so much going on, sometimes your organisation systems can get neglected. Gary Lyons, Managing Director of Plastic Box Shop, shares his ideas for maximising the efficiency of your classroom through inventive storage solutions. Sharing the organisation tips proven to help in a classroom. It can be tough finding homes for all the games, textbooks, teaching aides, and other resources that we keep in our classrooms. That’s not to mention lesson plans, handouts, permission slips, as well as various admin forms and other bits of paperwork that take up space but are too important to throw out. You’re usually too busy during the day to really think about where everything is supposed to go. And, even if you do manage to keep on top of things, the unpredictable nature of your work means it could all get messed up again at the drop of a hat. So, I’ve put together this guide to classroom organisation to help things run a bit more smoothly. It should help to keep the important stuff safe, as well as save you time. Top organisation tips for your classroom Tidy your desk Keeping a tidy desk feels nice and it sets a good example for neatness in your classroom. Aim to keep stationery in tubs or boxes rather than hidden away in draws: you’ll be able to see where everything is at a glance, which will save you time during lessons, and labelling the containers will make things even easier if you tend to dump things on your desk. Just throw your pens, stapler, and holepunch into the container with the corresponding label, so that you know where to look when you need them next. It’s a good idea to have a designated ‘daily’ tray on your desk where you can place all the paperwork you have accumulated during the course of the day, a bit like a post box. This way you can keep everything in place until just before you leave, when you can sort the papers into their proper homes. Streamline your filing system Filing systems are the best way to store and manage your paperwork long term. Your filing system will benefit from subdivisions based on urgency, so try to store things according to when they’re needed for. If you have a filing cabinet, keep the top drawer free for paperwork that needs addressing the soonest. Alternatively, colour code your storage boxes depending on when the deadline is, so you don’t lose track. Beyond that, it’s just a case of finding what works for you: an alphabetical, numerical, or subject filing system. Whatever you choose, it’s a good idea to clearly label your storage solutions so you can keep tabs on what’s where. As an added bonus, substitute teachers and classroom assistants will be able to find things more easily, too. Keep things safe Compartmentalising your classroom items into storage boxes can be quite addictive once you get into the groove of it, but always make sure you’re storing things safely. Don’t stack too many boxes on top of each other as they’ll be more likely to tip over. If your classroom has shelving, make sure you buy the right size containers to fit on the shelf with no overhang to minimise the risk of them falling off. If you will be keeping containers full of games or toys on the floor in your classroom, it’s best to go for round tubs without corners so students are less likely to injure themselves. And, as always, keep fire exits and escape routes free from mess and clutter. The tips in this guide can help you strategize your classroom organisation and storage ready for next term. Focus on keeping a tidy desk, compartmentalising, and prioritising your paperwork to keep on top of everything. If you’d like to win a storage solutions bundle, perfect for getting your classroom organised after the summer holidays, take a look over to the competition page!