National Association for Primary Education

Jamie Moseley-Sarsfield is the Deputy Head Academic at Fairfield Prep School, part of the Loughborough Schools Foundation. He focuses on enhancing pupil experience and academic engagement, recently leading initiatives such as adapting IAPS pupil voice surveys for younger years and implementing STEAM-based enterprise education.

https://lborofairfield.org

Full details of NAPE activities at https://nape.org.uk

Download digital copies of the Primary First Journal

https://national-association-for-primary-education-shop.fourthwall.com

https://www.educationonfire.com

Boundless Outdoors is a Worcestershire-based outdoor learning provider with centres in Malvern and Bell Heath, supporting schools, groups and young people through residentials, activity days, DofE, STEM programmes and tailored outdoor learning experiences.

A key part of Boundless Outdoors’ work is helping schools create inclusive, confidence-building experiences for all pupils, including those with SEND or additional needs. The team works closely with each school to understand its pupils, adapt activities as needed, and shape packages around the group’s needs, abilities, and learning outcomes.

With woodland settings, accessible facilities, experienced staff and a nurturing approach, Boundless Outdoors helps pupils build confidence, teamwork, communication, resilience and self-esteem in a safe, supportive environment. Safety is always a first priority, with an AALS licence and quality marks including Adventuremark, LOtC and AHOEC Gold.

https://boundlessoutdoors.co.uk

Full details of NAPE activities at https://nape.org.uk

Download digital copies of the Primary First Journal

https://national-association-for-primary-education-shop.fourthwall.com

https://www.educationonfire.com

Joshua Davidson is the creator and co‑founder of Night Zookeeper, an award-winning online learning program that helps children aged 6–12 fall in love with reading, writing, and creativity through games and storytelling.

He’s also the author of the Night Zookeeper Adventure book series, which follows Night Zookeeper Will into the magical Night Zoo filled with fantastical creatures dreamed up by children. Josh is passionate about giving kids the confidence to see themselves as writers and creators, and he speaks regularly about the power of play, stories, and co‑created worlds in education.

Get a 7 day FREE trial and 50% of a subscription with affiliate code:

http://educationonfire.com/nightzookeeper

Full details of NAPE activities at https://nape.org.uk

Download digital copies of the Primary First Journal

https://national-association-for-primary-education-shop.fourthwall.com

https://www.educationonfire.com

Trusted by over 6,500 schools worldwide, Jigsaw empowers teachers and helps every child thrive. Fully resourced, evidence-informed, and designed to build confident, resilient learners - together.

From small village primaries to large international academies, Jigsaw partner with educators to create consistent, inclusive, values-led cultures where children can thrive.

Their programmes don’t just meet statutory requirements, they embed emotional literacy, resilience, and mindfulness into everyday school life. The result? Confident teachers, engaged learners, and school communities equipped with the skills to grow happier, healthier, and kinder citizens of the future.

https://jigsaweducationgroup.com/

https://www.educationonfire.com/

Widgit Symbols are used worldwide to support people to realise their full potential, regardless of age, ability or background.

Widgit are a pioneering software company with a passion for symbols-based communication. They empower individuals to express themselves independently through symbols, aiding comprehension and understanding across any environment.

They primarily cater to individuals with communication difficulties of all ages, including autistic people, learning disabilities, and speech impairments. Their solutions are designed to support educators, therapists, and caregivers by enhancing inclusive learning environments while promoting meaningful interactions.

Widgit Online and InPrint software give users access to our entire symbol language, designed to meet the unique needs of symbol users across a multitude of settings. From flashcards to vocabulary lists to fully symbolised books, our solutions make it easy to personalise a wide range of materials – helping to facilitate communication in the everyday world.

https://www.widgit.com/

https://www.educationonfire.com

Today we bring together Prof Dr Ger Graus OBE and Cristian Fabbi, Director of the Fondazione Reggio Children, for a deeply human and intellectually rich conversation about the future of early years education.

Ger and Cristian share personal stories and the work of their friend and colleague Carla Rinaldi — one of the world’s most influential educational thinkers. They explore what it truly means to place children at the heart of learning. From the rubble of post-war Italy to classrooms in Soweto, Nairobi, and Napoli, the Reggio Emilia approach has quietly transformed how educators around the world understand childhood, creativity, community, and the very purpose of school.

This is a conversation full of warmth, courage, and genuine hope — a reminder that when we believe in children’s potential, extraordinary things happen.

https://www.frchildren.org/en

https://www.reggiochildren.it/reggio-emilia-approach/

https://www.gergraus.com

Get the book – Through a Different Lens: Lessons from a Life in Education

https://www.educationonfire.com/

Today we have a brief summary of events happening during the summer of 2026.

• The National Association for Primary Education has transitioned its professional journal, Primary First, to a digital format, enhancing accessibility.
• Mark Taylor, the Vice Chair, expresses gratitude to listeners globally, emphasizing the podcast's wide reach beyond the UK.
• A noteworthy event is the launch of the book 'John Coe : An Enlightened Voice For Primary Education,' celebrating the life of a founding member of NAPE.
• Upcoming events include the Christian Schiller Lecture, focusing on curriculum curiosity, featuring guest speaker Claire Maloney-Banks.
• The NAPE conference on Reading coincides with the national year of reading, offering workshops and keynotes related to literacy.
• Listeners are encouraged to engage with the podcast and participate in upcoming educational events and initiatives.

https://nape.org.uk/

https://www.nape.org.uk/the-schiller-lecture-2026

Digital Copies of Primary First Journal and John Coe - An Enlightened Voice for Primary Education

https://national-association-for-primary-education-shop.fourthwall.com/en-gbp

27th May - LIVE book launch on YouTube

watch at https://www.youtube.com/live/FGy-uPDR8ew?si=HwTYqih5DOhNrxpI

Conference for Reading - 8th May

https://www.trybooking.com/uk/events/landing/105006

Cerys Griffiths is the Head of BBC Bitesize, the BBC's free, online learning resource for students aged 5 to 16, their teachers and parents. Bitesize also aims to support educating the whole child through it's Careers, Study Support and media literacy offer, Other Side of the Story, as well as special educational initiatives like the Bitesize Guide to AI.

Takeaways:

• The BBC Bitesize initiative provides comprehensive educational resources tailored for students aged five to sixteen.
• The integration of AI into educational frameworks necessitates a strong emphasis on critical thinking skills for students.
• Research indicates a significant number of teenagers lack awareness regarding effective AI resource utilization and its implications.
• The Bitesize platform aims to empower students by promoting media literacy and informing them about the risks of misinformation.
• Teachers play a crucial role in navigating the complexities of AI and misinformation in educational settings.
• The BBC emphasizes trust and quality in educational content, ensuring all materials are developed with input from educational professionals.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize

Instagram: @bbcbitesize

Chapters:

• 00:03 - Introduction to BBC BiteSize
• 05:55 - Navigating the Future: AI and Education
• 09:35 - Navigating AI in Education: Challenges and Opportunities
• 17:46 - Navigating the New Digital Landscape
• 21:22 - Engaging Young Learners Through Innovative Education
• 29:00 - Empowering Young People Through Education

National Association for Primary Education (NAPE)

Primary First Journal: https://national-association-for-primary-education-shop.fourthwall.com/en-gbp

2026 Conference

Keynote : Reading for Pleasure – Dr Roger McDonald

Workshops focusing on National Year of Reading : Writing, TESOL, Oracy, Drama and Story Telling, Poetry

https://www.trybooking.com/uk/events/landing/105006

https://www.educationonfire.com

Kirsty Heap is the author of Silent Snow, a picture book without words, designed to help you create your own stories with your children. Each page is filled with beautiful illustrations to spark your imagination, making storytime fun and personal. Whether reading has always felt tricky, or you just want to try something different, Silent Snow gives you the freedom to tell stories your own way.

The idea for Silent Snow came from Kirsty’s own experiences as a dyslexic parent. She used to find reading to her children difficult, and when she stumbled over words, she felt like she was letting them down. But instead of giving up, she started making up her own stories based on their lives and the little adventures they had. Bedtime soon became one of their favourite times of the day.

https://kirstyheap.com/silentsnow/

https://nape.org.uk/

Find out more about our Primary First Journal -

https://national-association-for-primary-education-shop.fourthwall.com/en-gbp

Mashood Ahmad is the CEO and founder of Gigabit IQ, an award-winning UK broadband provider dedicated to delivering safer, smarter, and faster internet through fully managed Wi-Fi and industry-leading online safety tools. A recognised voice in digital inclusion and child online protection, Mashood is a Council Member at ISPA UK and a vocal advocate for stronger ISP accountability in protecting families online.

Under Mashood’s leadership, Gigabit IQ has pioneered services like FamilyGuard+, a network-level parental control solution designed to meet the real-world needs of modern families. He has spearheaded initiatives supporting vulnerable communities, including children in care, refugees, and low-income households, through fair access broadband and safety education.

Mashood is the author of the white paper “Beyond the Act: The Hidden Layer of Online Harm No One’s Regulating”, which challenges current UK online safety legislation and proposes a new national ISP Safety Rating System, akin to NCAP for cars or Ofsted for schools.

A frequent speaker on digital safety, Mashood is leading an Online Safety & ISP Accountability session at the UK Internet Parliament Conference with ISPA, and continues to work with regulators, MPs, and safety groups to shape a safer digital future for all.

https://www.gigabitiq.com/

https://parentline.ai/

https://nape.org.uk/

Find out more about our Primary First Journal -

https://national-association-for-primary-education-shop.fourthwall.com/en-gbp