Hi to all parents. This is my third blog on the theme of mastery in education. The key question: what skills and knowledge do children need in order to achieve the grade of mastery for reading? Firstly, let’s look at what reading is – its main three aspects: – Reading the tricky words – Phonics…

Last week I introduced the idea of mastery from the standpoint that, in order to achieve mastery, children must enjoy and be fully engaged in the personal aspects of their learning. This week we ask: what is mastery and why is this a buzz word in education? Mastery has been at the centre of education…

It’s great to have our children back at school and enjoying learning. The key word is ENJOYING. It worries me when my 12 year old granddaughter tells me that her lessons are boring and she wishes the holidays could last for ever. Why? We all have to spend a minimum of eleven years at school…

Last week a five year old asked me ‘what is the biggest number?’ How do we answer such a question when there isn’t one. At this age, the smallest number is one – so the concept of numerical infinity would be hard to grasp. This particular five year old is always asking unusual questions about…

It was reported on the news (Friday last) that children as young as five are being placed in Pupil Referral Units (PRUs) following exclusion. What madness is this? The fact that PRUs have to exist at all is bad enough – but the fact that primary aged pupils are being educated in them – is…