Episode 230:

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In this episode of Thinking Deeply about Primary Education, Stuart Welsh is joined by Sana Syed, an experienced Early Years educator and school leader, for a conversation that explores the journey from classroom practitioner to influential team leader.

With over a decade of experience, including more than ten years at NGS and a formative stint teaching seven-year-olds, Sana shares the pivotal moments that shaped her approach to teaching and leadership. We delve into what inspired her to step into leadership, the values that guide her practice, and the importance of creating a reflective, supportive school culture where mistakes are seen as opportunities to grow.

We also discuss:

• How school leaders can cultivate trust and collaboration within their teams

• The role of ongoing professional learning in sustaining motivation and joy

• Advice for emerging leaders ready to make a broader impact

Whether you’re an aspiring leader, a seasoned practitioner, or someone passionate about the Early Years, this episode offers rich insights into what it means to lead with purpose, curiosity, and care.

If you enjoy this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, or consider supporting the podcast via www.ko-fi.com/tdape. You can also join the conversation in our Discord community, where educators from around the world share ideas and questions.

Episode 229:

For show notes, links, and a summary episode, sign up for the ⁠⁠Hey! What You Reading For ⁠⁠newsletter. Mondays at 7am BST - https://tdape.beehiiv.com/subscribe

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In this instalment of Thinking Deeply about Primary Education, I welcome Rachel Ball and Alex Fairlamb back to the podcast to explore scaffolding in reading, writing and oracy. Drawing on insights from their forthcoming book The Scaffolding Effect: Supporting All Students to Succeed (Routledge, July 2025) Routledge, the conversation unpicks how purposeful, time-limited support can elevate both oracy and literacy. We delve into:

• why structured talk is the gateway to high-quality writing

• practical routines that fade, rather than fossilise, support

• aligning scaffolds with cognitive load theory and adaptive teaching

• avoiding common misconceptions such as over-prompts and dependency traps

• actionable takeaways that busy teachers can try on Monday morning

Whether you are refining sentence-level work or nurturing whole-class dialogue, this episode offers a research-informed blueprint for helping every pupil find their voice on the page and in the room.

Episode 228: Three Lessons Learned from Three Years in Deputy Headship

For show notes, links, and a summary episode, sign up for the ⁠Hey! What You Reading For ⁠newsletter. Mondays at 7am BST - https://tdape.beehiiv.com/subscribe

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In this episode of Thinking Deeply about Primary Education, I’m joined by Tom Oakley as he reflects on three years in deputy headship and the lessons that have shaped his thinking as a school leader.

Across the episode, Tom explores what it means to support teachers through sustained change, manage growth in a dynamic school environment, and address the real (rather than ideal) needs of a school community. From navigating an Ofsted inspection to leading a growing school through difficult data and complex transitions, Tom shares the leadership insights forged in the realities of everyday school life.

We discuss:

• The power of coaching in supporting teacher development

• Designing and implementing a Wellbeing Curriculum from the ground up

• Lessons learned about leadership, change management, and meeting context-specific challenges

• The gap between what leaders want to happen and what actually needs to happen

Whether you’re an aspiring leader, new to senior leadership, or supporting leaders within your school, this is an honest, reflective conversation that bridges theory and the lived experience of leadership in primary schools.

If you enjoy the episode, don’t forget to leave a review, subscribe to the YouTube channel, or join the conversation on our Discord server.

Archive 011+2: In this archive edition of Thinking Deeply about Primary Education, primary mathematics expert, Lisa Coe returns to share the lessons she learned by taking a break from the classroom to work for a company supporting schools and teachers with their mathematics professional development.

Whether you’re new to teaching or a seasoned professional, this conversation offers a gateway into the kind of learning that can take place on an education sabbatical.

Enjoying the podcast? Leave us a rating and review to help fellow educators discover the show. We'd love to hear your thoughts—share your reflections wherever you listen.

#PrimaryEducation #EducationalResearch #TeacherDevelopment #EvidenceInformedPractice #EducationPodcast #ElementaryEducation

Episode 227: In this episode of Thinking Deeply about Primary Education, I’m joined by mathematics educator and doctoral researcher Will Mcloughlin to explore the complex and vital theme of conceptual understanding in mathematics education. Drawing on his teaching experience in the UAE and his academic research into how conceptual understanding develops, particularly through the use of animations, Will shares insights that challenge surface-level thinking and encourage educators to think more deeply about the knowledge their students are building.

We discuss:
– What conceptual understanding really means and why definitions matter
– How Will developed his own definition through doctoral research
– The challenges of developing conceptual understanding in the classroom
– The potential role of visual tools and animations in fostering deeper comprehension
– Practical implications for classroom teachers and curriculum designers

If you’ve ever wondered whether your students are truly making connections or simply memorising procedures, this episode will offer food for thought and practical guidance to support your professional thinking.

If you enjoy this episode, please consider subscribing to our YouTube channel, leaving a review on Apple Podcasts, or making a donation via www.ko-fi.com/tdape. You can also join our community on Discord, where conversations like this continue throughout the week.

For show notes, links, and a summary episode, sign up for the What You Reading For newsletter. Mondays at 7am BST - https://tdape.beehiiv.com/subscribe

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Archive 012: In this archive edition of Thinking Deeply about Primary Education, primary mathematics expert, Lisa Coe returns to share her thoughts on implementing change on a school-wide level.

Whether you’re new to teaching or a seasoned professional, this conversation offers a gateway into the kind of thinking that shapes high-quality classroom practice across the globe.

Enjoying the podcast? Leave us a rating and review to help fellow educators discover the show. We'd love to hear your thoughts—share your reflections wherever you listen.

#PrimaryEducation #EducationalResearch #TeacherDevelopment #EvidenceInformedPractice #EducationPodcast #TeachingTips #ElementaryEducation

In this special episode of Thinking Deeply about Primary Education, Chris Such returns to tackle three brilliant questions from our listeners, exploring the intersection of pedagogy, leadership, and literacy development. Drawing on years of research and classroom experience, we dive into some of the most commonly debated areas of primary practice:

Should we go through test papers with the whole class a few days after the assessment?
How might we support a new literacy lead during their first twelve weeks, ensuring fidelity to new reading structures while maintaining teacher ownership?
What routines support disciplinary reading once decoding is fluent, and how can we embed these without narrowing the curriculum?

If you're a classroom teacher, subject leader, or school leader with an interest in making reading instruction as effective and inclusive as possible, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.

If you enjoy this episode, please consider subscribing on your favourite platform, leaving a review, or supporting us via ⁠ko-fi.com/tdape⁠. Join the conversation on our Discord server and never miss an unseen question submission!

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Archive Episode 011:

In this archive edition of Thinking Deeply about Primary Education, expert leader and education research enjoyer, Lloyd Williams-Jones returns to share the research paper he believes every primary teacher should read. More than just a recommendation, Lloyd breaks down why this paper matters, how it connects to everyday classroom practice, and what makes it so transformative for teachers at all stages of their careers.

In this episode, you'll find out:

• Which research paper Lloyd believes is essential reading for all primary educators.

• How the ideas within it translate to real-world classroom impact.

• Why engaging with educational research is vital for professional growth in the UK, the US, and internationally.

Whether you’re new to teaching or a seasoned professional, this conversation offers a gateway into the kind of research that shapes high-quality classroom practice across the globe.

Enjoying the podcast? Leave us a rating and review to help fellow educators discover the show. We'd love to hear your thoughts—share your reflections wherever you listen.

#PrimaryEducation #EducationalResearch #TeacherDevelopment #EvidenceInformedPractice #EducationPodcast #TeachingTips #ElementaryEducation

Episode 225: In this episode of Thinking Deeply about Primary Education, I’m joined by Stuart Welsh to explore what it takes to design effective professional development sessions that truly make an impact.

We discuss the thought processes behind planning professional development episodes, the models that can scaffold effective session design, common mistakes to avoid, and the essential ingredients for creating professional development that resonates with teachers and leads to lasting change.

Whether you're a school leader, professional development facilitator, or teacher interested in improving how professional learning is delivered, this conversation is packed with practical insights and reflections from Stuart’s experience.

If you enjoy this episode, please consider subscribing on your favourite platform, leaving a review, or supporting us via ko-fi.com/tdape. Join the conversation on our Discord server and never miss an unseen question submission!

Archive 010:

In this archive episode of Thinking Deeply about Primary Education, we revisit a powerful response to a question about school-wide change with education leader Lloyd Williams-Jones. Lloyd explores exactly what it means - and takes - to successfully instigate and sustain meaningful change across an entire school community. Drawing from extensive leadership experience, Lloyd provides practical insights into managing school-wide improvements effectively.

Whether you're an educator or school leader in the UK, US, or beyond, this episode offers invaluable guidance for creating lasting improvements in your educational environment.

Enjoying the podcast? Leave a rating and review - it helps educators worldwide discover our content. Share your feedback wherever you listen!

#PrimaryEducation #SchoolLeadership #ChangeManagement #EducationPodcast #TeachingTips #InternationalSchools #ElementaryEducation