Thinking Deeply about Primary Education

Social Media Links:

Doug

·       LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/douglemov

·       X: @Doug_Lemov ; https://x.com/doug_lemov?lang=en

·       Blog: https://teachlikeachampion.org/blog/

Erica

·       LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erica-woolway-44901130/

·       X: https://x.com/ericawoolway?lang=en

Colleen

·       LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/colleen-driggs-09903559/

·       X: https://x.com/colleendriggs?lang=en

TLAC guide to TSOR Links:

Buy the book: https://www.wiley.com/en-us/The+Teach+Like+a+Champion+Guide+to+the+Science+of+Reading%3A+Translating+Research+to+Reignite+Joy+and+Meaning+in+the+Classroom-p-9781394305995

Pilot the Reading Reconsidered Curriculum – available to purchase just one unit for £590 : https://teachlikeachampion.org/reading-reconsidered-curriculum/

Come to our workshops: https://teachlikeachampion.org/training/workshops/

Have us come lead training for you (in-person or remotely): https://share.hsforms.com/1w8SlL9vPRuq30hsy_6JUWgs3y4d?__hstc=65301169.251c3eb934a8f6dab79aeafc7cae4ab1.1727899617348.1757098518554.1757340098147.227&__hssc=65301169.2.1757340098147&__hsfp=3474073941

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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Episode 245: This week on TDaPE, Kieran is joined by Doug Lemov, Colleen Driggs, Erica Woolway and Chris Such for an exploration of the "Teach Like a Champion Guide to the Science of Reading."

They discuss, fluent reading as a gateway to understanding, how small, well chosen knowledge moves support demanding texts, lesson design that keeps eyes on the page and thinking on the author’s words, and much, much more...

When fluency, knowledge and text choice are aligned, comprehension accelerates, discussion deepens and planning gets lighter, lesson by lesson.

This episode is recommended listening for classroom teachers, literacy leads and senior leaders who want reading lessons that do more with less noise, and anyone reshaping curricula so students read harder texts with greater confidence.

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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Episode 244: This week on Thinking Deeply About Primary Education, Kieran is joined by Lucy Crehan, author of Cleverlands and international education consultant. Together they explore the unique features of the curriculum in the north of Ireland, the historical and political context that shaped it, and the lessons it might hold for systems elsewhere. The conversation ranges from curriculum design and teacher autonomy to international comparisons, providing both depth and practical insights for teachers and leaders seeking to understand how education systems evolve. Whether you are interested in the north of Ireland specifically or in the broader question of what makes a curriculum effective, this episode will give you plenty to think about.

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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Episode 243: This week on Thinking Deeply about Primary Education Kieran is joined by Adam Lowing to unpack the DfE’s Writing Framework. They cut through the noise to clarify what it actually says, how to transition without chaos, and why sentence-level precision and transcription fluency strengthen, rather than stifle, imagination. Across implementation, assessment pressures and subject leadership, they share a balanced, practical path to building confident writers.

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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For maths curriculum questions contact us ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or via [email protected]

Episode 242: What does it take to create classrooms where students feel safe, calm, and ready to learn every day? In this conversation, Liv Dempsey, Tom Oakley, and Charles Bankovitz join Kieran Mackle to explore the principles and practices that make behaviour systems effective and sustainable. They discuss why certainty matters more than severity, how to use language that de-escalates without lowering expectations, and the routines that prevent issues before they arise. The panel also unpick common misconceptions around trauma-informed approaches, the leadership decisions that reassure staff they will be backed, and the culture that reduces teacher stress. Packed with insights from research and lived experience, this episode is for anyone seeking behaviour approaches that work reliably in the day-to-day reality of primary classrooms.

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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For maths curriculum questions contact us ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or via [email protected]

Episode 241: This week on #TDaPE, Kieran and Chris speak with Peps Mccrea and Jen Barker about their new discussion paper with Josh Goodrich, exploring how to make classroom teaching accessible by default.

They examine the pressures in the system, why broad labels and generic interventions miss the mark, and how better core instruction reduces the need for downstream fixes.

Along the way the team touch on equity of access to provision, the Ofsted framework, and what it would take for policy, assessment, and inspection to pull in the same direction.

In this episode: teacher workload and confidence, diagnosis versus teaching quality, the limits of fidget spinners and coloured overlays, early maths learning trajectories, and why small presentational choices make a big difference to students with reading difficulties or specific needs.

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

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Click for tickets to TDaPE Conference Cymru ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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For maths curriculum questions contact us ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or via [email protected]

Episode 240: In this special episode, Kieran Mackle is joined by the Right Honourable Sir Nick Gibb to discuss his remarkable tenure as Schools Minister and the ideas behind his new book, Reforming Lessons.

Together, they explore the political and personal journey that led him to the Department for Education, the challenges of implementing reform in the face of entrenched ideologies, and the principles that have guided his approach to raising educational standards. From the battle against low expectations to the importance of evidence-informed policy, Sir Nick offers candid reflections on more than a decade of shaping England’s education system.

This is a rare opportunity to hear from one of the most influential figures in recent education history, in his own words.

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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For maths curriculum questions contact us ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or via [email protected]

Episode 239: In this episode of Thinking Deeply About Primary Education, Kieran is joined by Fin Wilson and Jane Miller of Impact Wales. Together they explore the shifting educational landscapes in England and Wales, the ongoing debates around the science of teaching reading, and the professional development needs of teachers navigating new curricula. The conversation ranges from the role of cognitive science in shaping pedagogy to the challenges of implementing reform across different national contexts. With references to key texts and experiences in the classroom, the discussion highlights both the opportunities and the frustrations that educators face when research, policy, and practice do not always align.

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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For maths curriculum questions contact us ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or via [email protected]

Episode 238: In this second part of our conversation with Ian Timbrell, Thinking Deeply about Primary Education shifts from theory to action. After laying the groundwork for meaningful inclusion in Part One, this episode explores what successful implementation looks like in schools and classrooms.

Kieran and Ian unpick the practical side of inclusive education – how to move from well-meaning intentions to tangible change. They explore:

• What makes implementation meaningful, not just performative

• The difference between school-level and classroom-level approaches

• How to support staff confidence while respecting professional boundaries

• The role of leadership and modelling in shaping inclusive cultures

If you’re wondering how to embed inclusion authentically this episode provides thoughtful, experience-based insight.

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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For curriculum questions contact us ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or via [email protected]

Support TDaPE: www.ko‑fi.com/tdape

Episode 237: What does meaningful LGBTQ+ inclusion look like in a primary school setting? In this thought-provoking episode, Kieran is joined by educator, consultant and author Ian Timbrell to unpack a topic which, if we're not careful, can often be reduced to symbolic gestures and one-off lessons. Drawing on his recent book More Than Flags and Rainbows, Ian explores how schools can move beyond superficial displays of support to embed authentic, consistent inclusion across curriculum, culture and community.

Together, they tackle the most common misconceptions about LGBTQ+ representation in education, the barriers that prevent teachers from feeling confident in this area, and the strategies schools can use to ensure every student feels seen, safe and valued. This conversation offers practical advice for teachers and leaders at all stages of their journey, and highlights the importance of visibility, curriculum integration, and ongoing reflection.

Whether your school is just starting to think about LGBTQ+ inclusion or is already embedding this work, Ian’s clarity, honesty and deep understanding will leave you better equipped to take action that makes a difference.

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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For curriculum questions contact us ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or via [email protected]

Support TDaPE: www.ko‑fi.com/tdape

Episode 236: This week on Thinking Deeply about Primary Education, Kieran Mackle is joined by Jane Considine, creator of The Write Stuff and one of the architects behind the new national writing framework. Together, they explore what the framework means for classroom practice, how teachers can navigate the shift confidently, and why Jane believes writing deserves our urgent attention.

With over 17 years of experience in teaching and leading writing improvement in thousands of schools, Jane brings passion, clarity, and practical insight to a conversation that could not be more timely. Whether you're a classroom teacher, school leader, or literacy lead, this episode offers the knowledge you need to stay ahead of the curve.

🖋️ Why the new writing framework could be a game-changer
📚 Common misconceptions about writing instruction
👩‍🏫 Practical steps to raise standards in every classroom
🔎 What Jane wishes every teacher knew about teaching writing

Don't miss this deep dive into writing pedagogy, curriculum leadership, and the future of literacy in primary schools.