Teachwire

21/11/2025

Hear the real-life story of Judy the dog, and explore the impact of conflict and loyalty with Tom Palmer’s moving historical novel, War Dog.

This PDF contains a range of cross-curricular activities for KS1 and KS2, all based on the book.

🐶 What is War Dog about? 🐶

War Dog was written by master of children’s historical fiction, Tom Palmer, and illustrated by the incredibly talented Carolina Rabei. It’s a beautiful account of the true story of Judy the dog.

Published just ahead of the 80th anniversary of VJ Day, it shares this exceptional canine’s bravery during the Second World War.

Serving aboard naval ships, Judy was able to warn crews of incoming enemy aircraft. Eventually captured alongside the crew, she became the only animal to ever be officially registered as a Japanese prisoner of war.

Through her love, devotion and courage, she kept up morale and encouraged resilience for the entirety of her 14 years.

Awarded the Dickin Medal (the animal equivalent of the Victoria Cross), Judy has become an extraordinary story of war.

🐶 Why teach this book? 🐶

This stunning picture book is honest and extremely powerful. Judy is lovely, but she faces a horrific reality of enemy attacks, hunger, hiding from unfriendly soldiers, long marches and shipwreck.

Through it all, she remains devoted to the soldiers with whom she serves.

War Dog celebrates the intelligence and loyalty of all animals who work alongside service men and women in the midst of war.

Each gorgeously illustrated double-page spread contains so much to discuss. Teachers will be able to go as deep into the details as they wish – a more surface-level story for younger children or greater analysis and meaning for older learners.

As to be expected in a story of war, there are moments of real peril and heartbreak. Judy’s life is at risk, but her devotion and resilience in helping her crew saves her life again and again.

https://bit.ly/4oHSaKq

Hear the real-life story of Judy the dog, and explore the impact of conflict and loyalty with Tom Palmer’s moving historical novel, War Dog. This PDF contains a range of cross-curricular activities for KS1 and KS2, all based on the book. What is War Dog about? War Dog was written by master of chil...

20/11/2025

Make Shakespeare’s plays come alive in your classroom with new teaching resources site Teach Shakespeare by Shakespeare’s Globe. Register today and access hundreds of new curriculum-based resources to help you build lesson plans or enhance your existing lessons. Free for UK state schools, by subscription for independent and international schools.

Register today: https://bit.ly/4o9v0Mb

19/11/2025

In a speech delivered at a private Christian college in the American state of Michigan, Nigel Farage made a prediction that the entire UK teaching profession would go on strike should he ever become Prime Minister.

Speaking in October 2025, he claimed that this was largely because education in the UK is under the control of the ‘Marxist left’. He said teachers were ‘poisoning our kids’ – particularly on race issues.

The speech made clear that should Reform ever win a Parliamentary majority, as the polls (currently) predict it might, the party would overhaul UK education in some dramatic ways.

And yet, as in so many other areas, there remains remarkably little detail on the substance of Reform’s education policies.

💬 By Melissa Benn, author of Life Lessons: The Case for a National Education Service

👀 👇 Read the full article

https://bit.ly/4o1uQGz

Reform UK has been a fixture of the news headlines recently, but what do we know about their policies with regards to education?

18/11/2025

We chat to author Alexandra Benedict about the enduring joy of Charles Dickens, the power in neurodivergence, and why we just can’t say no to a cosy Christmas murder mystery…

Teachwire: What was primary school like for you?

Alexandra Benedict: Primary school was very difficult for me. Whilst I absolutely loved learning new things, and received high grades, I found school a sensory nightmare – the bright, flickering lights; the playground sounds; the smells of school dinners and lost property socks that stalked the corridors. Lunch and break times were the worst. I was okay if everyone was playing sport and games as there were clear rules, but otherwise I didn’t understand how others seemed to instinctively know how to interact. I’d watch other children running around and laughing together and wonder how they could be so happy. I often ended up walking around the lines in the playground or hiding in the toilets and under the mobile classrooms.

TW: What's your favourite classic Christmas story?

AB: I absolutely adore A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. I first read it when I was six. I love its beautiful language and astute characterisation; its entwining of both the light and darkness of the season; its continuing relevance in warning against greed and exploitation... I can’t wait to reread it this Christmas Eve.

TW: What would you like teachers to know about using The Merry Christmas Murders in the classroom?

AB: I’d love it if teachers used my book as a way to discuss neurodivergence; the idea that autism, ADHD, dyslexia, dyspraxia, dyscalculia, OCD, etc are not disorders to be fixed, but differences in experience and processing that can lead to unique challenges and strengths. This is also a great way to help students identify their own strengths (such as creativity, innovation, and hyperfocus), and how to lean into and celebrate them.

The Merry Christmas Murders by Alexandra Benedict (£7.99, Simon Kids UK) is out now.

17/11/2025

Get spelling sorted with our games, revision toolkits, display materials and other creative ways to help children learn and master spelling patterns, rules and exceptions ✏️

https://bit.ly/3LIzFHu

14/11/2025

When it comes to crisis communications, it’s impossible to know the nature of the next problem that might hit your school. However, certain types of incidents are certainly on the rise.

The digital landscape has become increasingly harmful. Weather events have grown alarmingly severe. It’s likely not a question of if a crisis will occur at some point, but rather when.

Schools now also face additional media scrutiny with regards to cases of misconduct. The 24/7 news cycle means that journalists can be unforgiving at times of pressure, and quick to pounce on stressed, unprepared spokespeople working for stretched in-house teams.

I’m aware of one recent crisis at a school that attracted more than 200 phone calls over a single weekend. It’s unmanageable.

Added to that is the rapid amplification of social media misinformation. Anyone can now get involved in any story, and instantly share false information about it that gets picked up by platforms’ algorithms and disseminated virally at terrifying speed.

So what’s your crisis communication plan?

👀 👇 Read the full article

https://bit.ly/49NF9uj

The steps school leaders should take when preparing and planning their communications in the event of an unforeseen crisis

13/11/2025

The Harris Federation took over what is now called Harris Science Academy East London (then called East London Science School) in 2021. It was a free school that had been placed into special measures by Ofsted.

The school’s situation at the time was very poor. Ofsted judged safeguarding as ‘ineffective’, behaviour as ‘inadequate’, and teaching and learning as ‘requires improvement’.

Students only get one chance at their secondary education. Therefore, we had to work quickly to improve the position the school was in.

Harris Science Academy East London has since changed beyond recognition. In April 2025, Ofsted visited. It judged us Outstanding in ‘leadership and management’, ‘behaviour and attitudes’, ‘personal development’ and ‘quality of teaching’.

We’ve gone from being a school where children said they didn’t feel safe, to one that’s now thriving, growing and really delivering for the children.

👀 👇 Read the full article

https://bit.ly/4p786pv

How the leadership, staff and students of Harris Science Academy East London were able to enact a dramatic turnaround...

12/11/2025

Every child is an artist, and inspiring children to truly believe in themselves is so rewarding. Hello Lighthouse by Sophie Blackall is the inspiration for this project.

After initially researching artwork by modern illustrators, children will explore techniques used to paint skies and seascapes, draw lighthouse cross-sections, and experiment with collage.

Pupils will then create a lighthouse and its surroundings step by step. During the process, they’ll curate their own artist’s sketchbook showing their development and experimentation.

https://bit.ly/47JYhrX

Use book Hello Lighthouse to explore techniques for painting skies and seascapes, creating cross-sections and experimenting with collage...

11/11/2025

🎄 Have fun during the festive season by getting children writing instructions based around how to look after a Christmas elf. This download contains two original model texts from Pie Corbett, with accompanying teacher notes…

https://bit.ly/4qRrbNZ Talk for Writing

Have fun during the festive season by getting children writing instructions based around how to look after a Christmas elf...

11/11/2025

🏆 We’re super excited to share that National Geographic Little Kids has been awarded Highly Commended in the Teach Early Years Awards 2025 for Early Exploration! 🎉

Praised for its innovation, educational value and eco-conscious approach, a judge said, “I really enjoyed these magazines and I love the idea of children in the early years having a nature and science publication designed specifically for them… They’re sustainable, inclusive, and great value for money.”
— Teach Early Years Awards 2025 Judge

The Teach Early Years Awards, by Teachwire, are a celebration of the quality educational and professional development resources in the early years sector, with winners and highly commended products chosen by an expert panel of early years leaders, consultants and educators.

The highly commended status reflects the educational value of our magazines, validated by our readers and now by an expert panel of judges. Way to go, team!

We’re so proud to inspire young adventurers and their grown-ups to explore and learn together! 💛

Little Kids makes for an ideal Christmas gift, and right now, you can subscribe from just £3.23 per issue (13 issues per year) and receive a free book worth £6.99 📚✨

Subscribe now ➡️ https://loom.ly/sb4hlj4. ⏰ Offer ends 26th December! Order by 19th December to make sure you receive the free gift for Christmas day!

11/11/2025