Life Based Learning ™
Delivering subject content through nine life themes
Category: Communication, Literacy & Oracy
More evidence of why schools need to focus on oracy skills
The BBC this week highlighted two reports which add to the mounting evidence of the damage that prolonged periods of lockdown have done to children and young people’s development, often exacerbating existing concerns, problems and inequalities. These particular reports are concerned with children’s speech… Continue Reading “More evidence of why schools need to focus on oracy skills”
Why we must do more to promote reading for pleasure
Hurray! At last, some good news about the impact of lockdown on children! Apparently, they have not only been reading more during lockdown but also tackling more challenging texts as well. Alas, the positive headlines masked what is actually a rather less encouraging situation.… Continue Reading “Why we must do more to promote reading for pleasure”
Call for £13.5bn education recovery plan indicates the challenges ahead
We already know that the Covid pandemic has damaged children’s educational progress and their wider physical and mental wellbeing. Research published today by the Education Policy Institute gives an idea of the cost of repairing some of that damage: it is calling for £13.5… Continue Reading “Call for £13.5bn education recovery plan indicates the challenges ahead”
Footballer and social justice champion Marcus Rashford tackles book poverty
The Manchester United footballer Marcus Rashford was awarded an MBE in 2020 in recognition of his services to vulnerable children during the pandemic, having twice forced the government to make spectacular U-turns in its free school meals policy. His stark warning in October that… Continue Reading “Footballer and social justice champion Marcus Rashford tackles book poverty”
Music education is far too valuable to be allowed to disappear
There is nothing quite like music. The ancient philosopher Confucius supposedly said that ‘music produces a kind of pleasure which human nature cannot do without’. Jane Austen that ‘without music, life would be a blank to me’. Music is somehow able to express beauty… Continue Reading “Music education is far too valuable to be allowed to disappear”
A Summer of Reading alongside a Summer of Play will enhance children’s wellbeing
My earliest reading memory is The Weirdstone of Brisingamen by Alan Garner, read to us by our teacher Mrs Holmes in what would now be called year 4. It sparked an abiding interest in tales of witches, wizards and sorcery and in the eternal… Continue Reading “A Summer of Reading alongside a Summer of Play will enhance children’s wellbeing”
Ofsted subject review confirms the importance of music education
A newly published Ofsted research review into music education contains some stirring phrases about the value and importance of music, not least in its opening sentence: “Music touches the very heart of our humanity and a sense of the wonder of music has touched… Continue Reading “Ofsted subject review confirms the importance of music education”
Igniting children’s creative spark and promoting literacy
As you might expect, there is no shortage of great quotes about writing. There’s funny: “I love deadlines. I love the whooshing noise they make as they go by.” (Douglas Adams) There’s the tortured genius, suffering for their art: “There is nothing to writing.… Continue Reading “Igniting children’s creative spark and promoting literacy”
Poetry is perfect for helping children to appreciate words and language
‘You campaign in poetry; you govern in prose’. So said the American politician Mario Cuomo. It is one of my favourite quotes — and not just about politics. Perhaps it is because I am someone who loves words and language (and politics) and yet… Continue Reading “Poetry is perfect for helping children to appreciate words and language”