Naylor's Natter

The vinyl suite is an opportunity for guests to share with listeners how music has influenced them and their career.

Ideal for a run, walk or just a rest!

Featuring:

Nimish Lad

Nikki Cunningham-Smith

Halil Tamgumus 

One of the most intractable problems in modern education is how to close the widening gap in attainment between the haves and the have-nots. Unfortunately, successive governments both in the UK and abroad have gone about solving it the wrong way.

Independent Thinking founder Ian Gilbert's increasing frustration with educational policies that favour no excuses and compliance , and that ignore the broader issues of poverty and inequality, is shared by many others across the sphere of education and this widespread disaffection has led to the assembly of a diverse cast of teachers, school leaders, academics and poets who unite in this book to challenge the status quo. Their thought-provoking commentary, ideas and impassioned anecdotal insights are presented in the form of essays, think pieces and poems that draw together a wealth of research on the issue and probe and discredit the current view on what is best for children from poorer socio-economic backgrounds. Exploring themes such as inclusion, aspiration, pedagogy and opportunity, the contributions collectively lift the veil of feigned equality of opportunity for all to reveal the bigger picture of poverty and to articulate the hidden truth that there is always another way.

This book is not about giving you all the answers, however. The contributors are not telling teachers or school leaders how to run their schools, their classroom or their relationships the field is too massive, too complex, too open to debate and to discussion to propose off-the-shelf solutions. Furthermore, the research referred to in this book is not presented in order to tell educators what to think, but rather to inform their own thinking and to challenge some of the dominant narratives about educating the feckless poor. This book is about helping educators to ask the right questions, and its starting question is quite simple: how can we approach the education of young people from disadvantaged backgrounds in a way that actually makes a difference for all concerned?

Written for policy makers and activists as well as school leaders and educators, 'The Working Class' is both a timely survey of the impact of current policies and an invaluable source of practical advice on what can be done to better support disadvantaged children in the school system.

Edited by Ian Gilbert with contributions from Nina Jackson, Tim Taylor, Dr Steven Watson, Rhythmical Mike, Dr Ceri Brown, Dr Brian Male, Julia Hancock, Paul Dix, Chris Kilkenny, Daryn Egan-Simon, Paul Bateson, Sarah Pavey, Dr Matthew McFall, Jamie Thrasivoulou, Hywel Roberts, Dr Kevin Ming, Leah Stewart, (Real) David Cameron, Sir Al Aynsley-Green, Shona Crichton, Floyd Woodrow, Jonathan Lear, Dr Debra Kidd, Will Ryan, Andrew Morrish, Phil Beadle, Jaz Ampaw-Farr, Darren Chetty, Sameena Choudry, Tait Coles, Professor Terry Wrigley, Brian Walton, Dave Whitaker, Gill Kelly, Roy Leighton, Jane Hewitt, Jarlath O Brien, Crista Hazell, Louise Riley, Mark Creasy, Martin Illingworth, Ian Loynd, David Rogers, Professor Mick Waters and Professor Paul Clarke.

Here is the Spotify link I mentioned. Some crackers on there.

This is the ITPress link to the book if it helps.

This resource might be useful too from the ITL site.

When bad behaviour threatens to derail lessons and undermine teaching, it’s easy to feel like you’ve run out of solutions. Enter: Nikki Cunningham-Smith. With her comforting sense of humour, wealth of experience and ability to see positives in even the most nightmarish of classroom scenarios, Nikki encourages early career teachers to reflect on their practice, take care of their mental health and implement behaviour management strategies that really work.

Feel Free to Smile draws on anecdotes from Nikki's time as a teacher in alternative provision settings, as well as contributions from fellow professionals and current NQTs such as Ross Morrison McGill, Vivienne Porritt, Kemi Oloyede and Sarah Mullin. It provides practical strategies, tips and quick fixes for dealing with difficult behaviour and keeping your cool in testing situations. With advice on all aspects of behaviour, as well as reflective questions and space to jot down your thoughts, this book is the perfect companion if you’re feeling daunted by challenging behaviour and looking for an experienced voice to help lead the way.

.

Prof Guy Claxton is Emeritus Professor at Winchester University and Visiting Professor of Education at King's College London. He has previously taught and researched at Oxford University, Bristol University and the University of London Institute of Education. An internationally renowned cognitive scientist, Guy s books include Hare Brain, Tortoise Mind; Wise Up: The Challenge of Lifelong Learning; The Wayward Mind; and Intelligence in the Flesh. Recent books in education include What's the Point of School?; Building Learning Power; and with Bill Lucas and others, New Kinds of Smart, The Learning Powered School; and Educating Ruby. Guy's Building Learning Power approach to teaching is widely used in all kinds of schools across the UK, as well as in Poland, Dubai, Indonesia, India, China, New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, Brazil and Argentina.

The Naylor's Natter review:

Guy Claxton speaks here with the authentic voice of a teacher and the knowledge of an esteemed academic. In this book , he presents the case for nuance and against the simple mindedness that is holding back education. As an avid reader of education books, I have noted the drift towards surface understanding and selective application of educational research. I have witnessed a cavalier attitude towards certain academic research being accepted as received wisdom ,whilst other types dismissed as folk tales produced by snake oil purveyors. The research and evidence movement risks becoming a parody of itself. Sweeping away edu myths whilst simultaneously creating its own through lethal mutations of Direct Instruction, cognitive load theory, retrieval practice and knowledge rich curriculum. Claxton presents a balanced , well-researched and up to date vision for the future of teaching . The middle ground may not be popular , nuance may well not sell out conferences but this pragmatic and accurate model of the future of education is well worth your time and money

The Kindness Principle: Making relational behaviour management work in schools advocates a behaviour management approach rooted in values, acceptance and a genuine understanding of children’s behaviour.

In an education system that too often reaches for the carrot-and-stick approach to dealing with poor pupil behaviour, an approach built on kindness and compassion might just provide the cure.

The Kindness Principle begins with the idea that relationships should be at the heart of behaviour management and culture, and sets out the ways in which the adoption of relational approaches can help create safer and happier schools. Schools where all staff and learners are valued and understood, where expectations and standards are high, and where kindness and acceptance matter.

Dave Whitaker explores why it is so important to understand children – offering techniques and advice on how to work effectively with all children (even the most challenging and troubled ones) without resorting to zero-tolerance, no-excuses and consequence-driven practices.

Dave also shares a wealth of real-life experiences from some of the most challenging schools in the country, along with research-informed insights that will help teachers understand children’s behaviour in a new light. To this end he provides a wealth of guidance to help develop effective practice and learn from people who have actually walked the walk and don’t just talk the talk.

Furthermore, the topics covered in the book include: restorative approaches, unconditional positive regard, building personal resilience, structures and routines, and the ins and outs of rewards and sanctions.

Suitable for teachers, school leaders and anyone working with children.

Independent Thinking on Restorative Practice: Building relationships, improving behaviour and creating stronger communities, Mark Finnis shares a practical and inspiring introduction to the use of restorative practice in educational settings.

For those educators who are uncomfortable with the punitive world of zero tolerance, isolation booths and school exclusions, Mark Finnis – one of the UK’s leading restorative practice experts – is here to show you that there is another way.

Drawing on his many years’ experience working with schools, social services and local governments across the country, Mark shares all you need to know about what restorative practice is, how it works, where to start and the many benefits of embedding a relational approach into any educational organisation that genuinely has people at its heart.

Covering coaching circles and the power of doing things with (and not to) children and young people, to moving your values off lanyards and posters and into the lived experience of every member of the school community, this book sets out how restorative practice – when done well – can transform every aspect of school life.

The book shares advice on how to put behaviour right when it goes wrong in a more positive, less punitive way, and, more importantly, on how to get it right and keep it right in the first place. Furthermore, it advocates an approach that is collaborative, empowering and positive – and ultimately geared to improve motivation, engagement and independent learning in even the hardest-to-reach young people.

Suitable for school leaders, educators and anyone working with young people.

Independent Thinking on Restorative Practice is one of a number of books in the Independent Thinking On … series from the award-winning Independent Thinking Press.

Naylor’s Natter TDT Takeover Show Notes

In this month’s TDT Takeover of Naylor’s Natter, we’re talking leadership, communication, and wellbeing with TDT CEO, David Weston @informed_edu, Barham Primary School Headteacher, Karen Giles @MsKarenGiles and MalCPD Director, Mal Krishnasamy @MalCPD

We are also delighted to announce that TDT have been appointed by the Department for Education in England to be a new Lead provider for the new suite of National Professional Qualifications (NPQs) for school leadership. Find out more and sign up to get more information about delivering or participating in the new TDT National Professional Qualifications: https://bit.ly/3u3zCIn

Download our working paper 'A Culture of improvement': https://tdtrust.org/coi/

Find out more about our Pedagogical Coaching Programme: https://tdtrust.org/pedagogical-coaching/

Sign up to our monthly newsletter to stay up to date with all things CPD: https://tdtrust.org/newsletter/