Your Teacher Village and Friends

The conversation delves into the experiences and challenges of teaching year six, covering topics such as behavior management, SATs, and parental involvement. Megan Ford shares insights on teaching year six, including the importance of building relationships, managing behavior, and preparing for SATs. The conversation covers various aspects of year six, including SATs week, the year six show, and residential trips. Megan provides insights and tips for managing these key events, emphasizing the importance of communication, planning, and parental involvement.

Takeaways

• Year six teaching involves building strong relationships with students and understanding their individual needs.
• Behavior management in year six requires a firm but fair approach, along with a focus on building positive relationships with students.
• SATs in year six cover grammar, reading, and math, with a focus on preparing students for the assessments throughout the year.
• Parental involvement in year six varies, with some parents placing high pressure on students, while others are more relaxed and less aware of the significance of SATs. Communication is key
• Planning is essential for successful events

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction and Sponsorship
• 01:28 Preparing for Year Six
• 02:32 Understanding Year Six
• 03:16 Challenges of Year Six
• 05:25 Behavior Management in Year Six
• 08:05 Teaching and Supporting Year Six Students
• 10:01 Understanding SATs in Year Six
• 15:00 Planning and Preparation for SATs
• 22:32 Challenges of Writing in Year Six
• 26:49 Parental Involvement in Year Six
• 31:27 Preparing for SATs Week
• 34:01 Organizing the Year Six Show
• 42:05 Planning Residential Trips

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The episode features a conversation with Elle Hull, who has launched a campaign calling for greater recognition and investment in the Early Years Workforce. Elle shares her journey into early years education, the realities of working in the sector, and the importance of the campaign. The episode also highlights the need for support and recognition for early years professionals.

Takeaways

• Early years professionals play a crucial role in child development and education.
• The campaign for greater recognition and investment in the Early Years Workforce is essential for the profession's advancement.

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The conversation explores the importance of creating a reading for pleasure culture in schools and classrooms. It delves into the process of choosing books for the classroom, setting up a book area in early years and key stage 1, reading outside, supporting reading at home, and working with parents. The episode concludes with a final tip on the teacher's role as a reading role model.

Takeaways

• Reading for Pleasure Culture
• Engaging Reluctant Readers

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction and Sponsorship
• 01:22 Creating a Reading for Pleasure Culture
• 04:21 Choosing Books for the Classroom
• 17:08 Book Setup in Early Years and Key Stage 1
• 21:50 Reading Outside and Managing Weather
• 33:25 Supporting Reading at Home and Working with Parents
• 41:25 Final Tips and Conclusion

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Emma-Lee Reddacliff shares her journey from teaching in Australia to becoming a supply teacher in the UK. She discusses the challenges, rewards, and strategies for success in supply teaching, offering valuable insights and advice for educators.

Takeaways

• Supply teaching offers opportunities for growth and learning in a new environment.
• Building connections with students and staff is essential for a positive supply teaching experience.

Chapters

• 00:00 Transition from Full-Time Teaching to Supply Teaching
• 02:20 Challenges and Learning Opportunities in Supply Teaching
• 11:17 Managing Behavior and Classroom Dynamics
• 16:35 Essentials for Supply Teaching and School Preferences
• 28:31 Flexibility and Positive Impact in Supply Teaching

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Rachel Turner, the managing director of the Positive Teacher Company, shares the story behind the company, the challenges she faced, and the community she has built. She emphasizes the importance of real-world networking and support within the teaching community.

Takeaways

• Entrepreneurial spirit in teaching
• Real-world networking and support within the teaching community

Chapters

• 00:00 The Birth of the Positive Teacher Company
• 04:39 From Handmade Planners to a Full-Time Business
• 20:16 Building a Supportive Community

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The Positive Teacher Company

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The podcast episode features a conversation with Gina Smith, the founder of Create Visual Aids, discussing the impact and importance of visual communication in education. The discussion covers the journey of Create Visual Aids, the impact of visual communication, the role of visuals in education, visuals for older children, and preparing for September. Key takeaways include the benefits of visual communication for all children and the importance of consistency when using visuals.

Takeaways

• Visual communication benefits all children
• Consistency is key when using visuals

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What does it really look like to balance a full-time Reception teaching role with creating content for thousands of teachers online?

In this week's episode of the Your Teacher Village & Friends Podcast, Vicki is joined by Georgia Lucas (@misslucas.eyfs) to talk about life as both a Reception teacher and an education content creator.

Georgia shares her journey from posting simple classroom ideas online to building a thriving social media community, while teaching in a brand-new school and helping to establish a brand-new EYFS environment from scratch.

Together, they discuss the reality behind sharing your classroom online, overcoming self-doubt, managing criticism and comparison, and why social media can be such a powerful tool for connecting and inspiring educators.

Whether you've thought about sharing your own classroom online or you're simply curious about what happens behind the scenes, this episode offers an honest, encouraging conversation full of practical advice.

00:00 Introduction & Starting Strong Workshop
01:32 Meet Georgia Lucas & Teaching in a Brand-New School
03:10 Building an EYFS Department from Scratch
05:08 How Georgia Started Sharing Content Online
06:09 Balancing Teaching & Social Media
08:01 Criticism, Comparison & Online Confidence
11:18 Finding the Confidence to Share Your Practice
14:36 The Reality of Being an Education Content Creator
20:23 Collaborations & Opportunities Through Social Media
22:47 Creating an Incredible Outdoor Space & Parents' Reactions
24:54 Final Advice for Aspiring Content Creators

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Join our upcoming workshop Starting Strong: Planning a Calm and Connected First Week in EYFS

Sponsored by Is it Time to Play

What if Key Stage 1 didn't have to mean rows of tables, worksheets and children sitting still for long periods of the day?

In this inspiring episode of the Your Teacher Village & Friends Podcast, Vicki is joined by Charlotte and Karina, who share their incredible journey of transforming their Key Stage 1 classrooms into play-based, provision-led environments over the past five years.

Together, they explore why they decided to rethink KS1, the practical changes they made, the challenges they faced along the way and the remarkable impact it has had on both children and staff.

Whether you're simply curious about play-based learning in KS1 or you're already beginning your own journey, this episode is packed with honest reflections, practical advice and reassurance that meaningful change is possible.

• A successful transition to play-based KS1 starts with a clear vision and strong leadership.
• Change doesn't happen overnight—it requires careful planning, reflection and gradual implementation.
• High-quality provision can successfully deliver National Curriculum objectives while maintaining children's curiosity and engagement.
• Purposeful play is carefully planned, intentional and underpinned by excellent teaching.
• Every school's journey will look different, so it's important to start where you are and build from there.

00:00 – Introduction & Sponsor
06:08 – Misconceptions About a Play-Based Approach
12:07 – What Does a Typical Day in Year 1 Look Like?
20:22 – Challenges and Barriers to Implementation
25:46 – Tips for Schools Beginning Their Journey
33:02 – Final Advice & Closing Thoughts

Join our upcoming webinar Rethinking KS1 on 14th July.

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With Louise Abslom

Teaching is so much more than lesson plans, marking and data. Behind every classroom door is a teacher balancing the pressures of the job with the demands of everyday life.

In this episode, I sit down with wellbeing expert, Assistant Headteacher and Cognitive Hypnotherapist Louise Abslom to have an honest conversation about protecting your wellbeing while working in education. We explore why so many teachers put themselves last, the signs that stress is beginning to take its toll, and practical strategies to help you feel calmer, more resilient and better equipped to look after yourself.

Whether you're feeling overwhelmed, running on empty, or simply want to be more intentional about your own wellbeing, this episode is full of realistic advice and gentle reminders that you matter too.

• Why teacher wellbeing is about more than self-care
• Recognising the early signs of stress and burnout
• Setting healthy boundaries without feeling guilty
• Practical strategies to reduce overwhelm
• Supporting your own mental health alongside supporting children
• Small changes that can make a big difference to your wellbeing
• Why looking after yourself ultimately benefits your pupils too

This episode is proudly sponsored by Is it Time to Play?—the membership supporting EYFS and KS1 teachers with practical planning, engaging enhancements, assessment tools and a wonderfully supportive community.

If you're looking to save time while creating meaningful, play-based learning experiences, you'll find everything you need inside the membership.

Find out more using the link in the show notes.

If you enjoyed this episode, we'd love it if you could leave a rating or review on your favourite podcast platform—it really helps more teachers discover the podcast.

Don't forget to follow Your Teacher Village & Friends so you never miss a future episode.

You can also connect with us:

• Your Teacher Village – practical, realistic and research-backed CPD for primary teachers.
• Louise Abslom (New Future Me) – for more wellbeing advice, coaching and support for educators.

Because behind every great teacher is a person who deserves to thrive too.

The podcast episode features a solo conversation with Vicki Yadav, an Early Years Leader, sharing insights and tips for new and experienced Early Years Leaders. The discussion covers key areas for Early Years Leaders, understanding the early years framework, transition plans, implementing changes, managing challenges, and creating a shared pedagogical vision. Vicki also provides valuable advice for preparing for September and offers support for Early Years Leaders through a membership program.

Takeaways

• Early Years Leadership
• Preparing for September

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction and Sponsorship
• 05:13 Tips for New Early Years Leaders
• 10:26 Staffing and CPD Needs
• 15:41 Managing Challenges in Implementing Changes
• 21:35 Monitoring and Reflecting on Changes

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