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Welcome to the Schofield & Sims blog, featuring news, information and advice about primary education in the UK.
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Fidelity vs. Flexibility: striking the right balance in your phonics programme
17 July 2024
As many schools move towards adopting a systematic synthetic phonics programme, we unpick the challenges of balancing fidelity to a phonics programme with the needs of a diverse classroom.
Continue reading...A four-step guide to reusing your existing phonics books
20 June 2024
Choosing a new systematic synthetic phonics (SSP) programme doesn’t mean clearing out all of your existing phonics books. More often than not, your decodable books, flashcards and other materials can be reused after an audit against your new phonics teaching progression. In this guide, we explain how you can save these resources and your budget.
Continue reading...Newly-matched readers for Red Rose Letters and Sounds schools
28 March 2024
Over 100 decodable phonics readers from the My Letters and Sounds phonics readers have been aligned to the Red Rose Letters and Sounds teaching progression, providing schools with a wide choice of fiction and non-fiction stories to use at home and in the classroom.
Continue reading...Tutor vs. home learning: how to prepare for the 11+
01 February 2024
Are you preparing your child for the 11+ exam? In this blog post, we’ll be exploring the importance of feeling ready for the 11+ and the different ways to prepare.
Continue reading...How the four P checks can help your pupils master handwriting
22 January 2024
Handwriting is a complex skill for children to learn. The physical nature of it can lead to some children taking longer to develop fine motor skills than others, making the teaching of handwriting a challenge. Problems with handwriting often stem from the physical side of writing, but these can be limited by laying secure foundations and instilling good habits early on.
Continue reading...Our short guide to understanding the 11+ exam
21 December 2023
Is your child due to take the 11+? Find out more about the process and learn how you can help your child feel confident and ready with Our short guide to understanding the 11+ exam.
Continue reading...Save time while teaching phonics with our Classroom Kits
14 December 2023
In 2022, we launched My Letters and Sounds, a systematic synthetic phonics programme to guide teachers through the challenges of teaching phonics from Reception to Year 1. Now, we’re thrilled to introduce the all-new Classroom Kits.
Continue reading...How to set impactful primary school homework
01 December 2023
In this blog post, we explore how manageable homework tasks can nurture positive mindsets, develop good habits and reinforce the practice of basic skills learnt at school.
Continue reading...SATs: making the most of the home advantage
30 November 2023
In this blog post, we delve into the connection between passionate football fans and effective parental engagement. We’ll uncover how schools can leverage a ‘home advantage’ and outline what parents need to support their children.
Continue reading...Enhance your phonics library with 10 brand-new readers
15 September 2023
Arriving this autumn, 10 new Phase Two decodable books will provide some much-needed additional coverage of GPCs in the first nine weeks of phonics teaching.
Continue reading...