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Episode 266: This week sees the launch of a new monthly format on Thinking Deeply About Primary Education, as Kieran is joined by Elliot Morgan to make sense of what’s been happening across education over the past month.

Rather than chasing headlines, this episode slows things down. We look first at the stories that genuinely feel like progress, including new SEND funding signals, a national professional development programme focused on inclusive practice, the announcement of the National Year of Reading, and early conversations about the role AI might play in exam marking. Alongside optimism, there’s scepticism too, particularly around scale, delivery, and whether headline funding ever truly reaches classrooms.

The conversation then turns to a story that deserves far more attention than it’s getting: the sharp rise in elective home education. With a 15% increase in a single year, we explore what this trend might be telling us about inclusion, belonging, mental health, and the relationship between families and schools in a post-Covid system.

There’s space for lighter moments too. The introduction of new segments includes a nod to a friend of the podcast appearing on national television, and the revival of long-form educational writing. Elliot and Kieran recommend the most thought-provoking blogs and newsletters of the month, spanning cognition, leadership, autonomy, EAL provision, and the overlooked craft of running parents’ evenings well.

The episode closes with a reflection on a busy month for #TDaPE itself, including the London conference, recent podcast episodes, and what stood out most from conversations with teachers, leaders, and speakers.

A slower episode. A wider lens. And a reminder that there is still a lot worth paying attention to in education.