CLOSED – Poio reading app and phonics book!
The new phonics-based app, designed to teach children to read through play With September now upon us, both parents and teachers alike are on the lookout for new and innovative learning tools. Once which has recently caught our eye, and is designed to help children learn to read in a fun and engaging way, is Norwegian app, Poio. As such, QA Education is giving away an access code (worth £18.99) and the accompanying physical storybook to one lucky winner! Poio is an app that provides a compelling, gamified alternative to traditional learning methods, helping children learn to read through play. Created by teacher and father, Daniel Senn, and his four-year-old son, Leon, the Poio app (and accompanying physical storybook), provides an immersive learning experience for children aged between 3 and 8. You can read about our own experiences with Poio here: Phonics app review Whether your child is just learning to read, or struggled with reading in their first year at school, the Poio app will help them immerse themselves in the activity, and transform them into life-long readers. The app allows children to learn at their own pace, without the need for adult supervision, which makes the learning experience much more relaxing and enjoyable. Reading is made even more fun with the reward of a physical storybook, given to the child upon completion of the game, and is included in QA Education’s competition! To be in with a chance of winning the Poio reading app and accompanying phonics book, worth a total of £27.99, click on the Rafflecpter link below: a Rafflecopter giveaway ***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, 12th November 2019. * The prize is the Poio reading app and phonics 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 Poio reading app and phonics book. 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**
Being a Primary Deputy Head, This Much I Know…
Laura Knight When I was 11 years old I knew that I wanted to be a primary school teacher. It wasn’t just the influence of having parents as teachers (they didn’t put me off!) I just knew that I liked doing pretty much everything. I loved learning and I loved the day-to-day variety of being busy doing different things at school. It’s this sense of being into ‘everything’ that has seen me progress from class teaching into my current role as a Deputy Headteacher. Being a Deputy Head is an ‘everything’ job. Teaching commitments aside, not that this is in any way a small part, the sheer range of tasks that a Deputy may be required to perform means that the role is a very unique one indeed. Spinning Plates The job title signposts that on some occasions, when the Headteacher is out, you have to do all of the things they do. And then some. I have worked with a number of Heads who say that the Deputy Head role is harder than their own. Whether this is accurate or not, it is certainly true that as a Deputy you have your fingers in a great many pies. First and foremost most Deputies teach! Teaching children and the reward you gain from watching them learn is central to why we do what we do. It’s what stands teaching apart from so many other run of the mill jobs. I no longer have a whole class teaching commitment. Instead I continue to interact with the children through cover, intervention groups and mentoring. Now the highlight of my day can follow a tentative knock on my office door, when a small person brings me their best work to celebrate. I know that when you are a Deputy, balancing fuller teaching responsibilities alongside your leadership role can be a demanding and challenging task. Maintaining high quality planning, preparation and marking whilst ensuring you fulfil other strategic and supporting roles as well as the day to day business of helping to lead the school can require skill, organisation and a persistent drive. In many schools it can be the Deputy Head who is on the ground, involved in developing effective practice, focussed on improving teaching and learning. As such, much of a Deputy’s time can be taken up with coaching, support and discussion. Working with staff can be as rewarding – and frustrating! – as working with the children. After the children the school’s greatest resource is the teaching staff and the relationship you develop with them is fundamental to the success and happiness of the school. I know that a crucial part of a Deputy, or any Senior Leader’s role, is nurturing the staff, training them and facilitating development opportunities and trusting people to do a great job. Taking the time to reflect upon and appreciate the positive impact you make as a Deputy is important whether that be with the progress children or other teachers make. “Have you got a minute?” ….And the answer, although sometimes I dearly wish to say ‘no, sorry’, is always ‘yes, of course.’ As a Deputy you find yourself in the middle of everything, the go-between, bridging the ‘gap’ between the teaching staff and the Head. This can be quite an interesting place to be to say the least. At times, in any school, hard questions have to be asked and you can find yourself having challenging conversations. Finding the best way to deliver a difficult message takes diplomacy and sensitivity, the more constructive you can be the better. Remembering to temper tough issues by reinforcing the positive and using praise can make the difference when trying to support others. Sometimes this can make you popular and sometimes, well, not so! You have to resolve yourself to the idea that you cannot always get everything right for all people but I know that you always need to have an open door, a box of tissues and a listening ear. I once worked with a Head who explained to me the 80:20 rule. In schools this translates to the way in which you spend 80% of your time focussed on 20% of children, staff or parents. For example I spend 80% of my time supporting 20% of our teachers, specifically the NQTs. Sometimes it means that I don’t always get to see all staff regularly and out of the classroom this can be quite isolating. Popping into classes, getting into the staffroom and being a presence around school or the playground can be important to ensure that you are accessible and approachable for all. The one person you can probably spend more time working with and have a far greater understanding of than anyone else in the building is the Headteacher. Now I have worked with many, many Heads in my career and they have all had their special foibles, talents and quirks. The reciprocal relationship between Head and Deputy is a distinctive partnership in any school. With a great Head you can learn what can make a really great school and be cultivated into a great senior leader yourself. The place of a Deputy Head to support and challenge the Head can also be an exceptional position to be in. And whilst you can be the buffer for the staff to share their worries with, it’s important that you and the Head are there to back each other up too. Relieving tension by having the occasional moan can be supportive, as can be finding things to laugh about. As a Deputy I know that from listening to woes, to answering questions, to sharing jokes and relaying tricky messages being a good communicator really helps. To do or not to do? Like many teachers I love a good to-do list – I have long handwritten ones, colour coded ones with deadlines on my iPad, collections of scribbled Post-it notes and even a bedside notebook or two. In truth, at my school, my Girl Scout preparedness and slightly OCD organisation is a cause for
The benefits of having canopies in schools
Opting to install a canopy in a school would bring with it a number of benefits. The children would be able to play and learn outside in an environment that would not be affected by the wind or the rain. This makes it possible to spend time outdoors all year round but it also means that the children are protected from the sun during the summer as it blocks up to 99% of harmful UV rays. From a safety perspective, the children will know that they have to remain within the canopy and this makes life easier for teachers. The following reasons will show exactly why canopies are a great addition to any school. Improved learning Having the ability to learn outdoors means that lessons can take a different approach. Children have more space and can take part in messier activities. They can exercise and also interact with their surroundings while exploring nature. Protection from the sun Spending time outside without a canopy means that the children and the teachers have to be aware of the sun and the damage it can cause. A canopy will offer protection from the sun which means children can spend more time outside during the summer months. Increased space A canopy will instantly offer more space and is a cheaper alternative to extending the building. The children can use the outside space any time of year and they won’t have to worry about furniture cluttering up their space. Better play The weather in the UK means that children spend a lot of time stuck indoors. Even if it is raining the children can still go outside and play and this offers them even more freedom. Safer temperatures and less energy used Having a canopy fitted over a window will provide shade and this will lower the temperature in the classroom. This will mean that air conditioning will not have to be used and this will reduce the energy used as well as lower costs. Extra storage If you chose to add roller shutters to your canopy you can instantly create extra storage space that is secured. This is ideal for storing outdoor equipment which in turn will mean time saved as there is no longer a requirement to return the equipment indoors Waterproof waiting areas Often parents have to spend time waiting for their child in the rain but a canopy will offer them a place to wait in all weather. It also gives the children somewhere to stand while they wait for their transport giving providing safety. Protected Walkways Sometimes pupils and teachers have to move between buildings and this means that they can get wet. A walkway or canopy will stop all people within the school but it will also mean that pupils no longer have to run to get out of the rain which will mean that there are fewer accidents. They look good A canopy can really lift the way in which the school looks. Bespoke designs and a vast array of colours means that canopies can fit in with the colour of the school and the design of the building. Author Bio Andy Swain is the Managing Director of SAS Shelters, who are a family run business with over 50 years of experience in the design, manufacture and installation of school building products such as school canopies, sail shades and shelters.