Category Archives: Children

Eyes of a Child

Posted on January 13, 2017 by suecowley

“A child of five would understand this. Send someone to fetch a child of five.” Groucho Marx You are drifting along the canals of Amsterdam, gazing out of the windows at the houseboats that line the banks. Outside the windows … Continue reading →

Posted in Children, Parenting, Schools | Leave a comment

Education For All?

Posted on November 18, 2016 by suecowley

“Schools for all – institutions which include everybody, celebrate differences, support learning, and respond to individual needs” The Salamanca Statement In 1994, not all that long after I started teaching, the UK was one of 92 governments and 25 international … Continue reading →

Posted in Behaviour, Children, Inclusion | 6 Comments

Word Up

Posted on November 11, 2016 by suecowley

“If men do not keep on speaking terms with children, they cease to be men, and become merely machines for eating and for earning money.” John Updike Earlier this week I was lucky enough to go to the House of … Continue reading →

Posted in Children, Communication, Early Years, Listening, Speaking, Talk | 3 Comments

Saving the Children

Posted on November 1, 2016 by suecowley

Today, the charity Save the Children published a report entitled “Untapped Potential” about children’s outcomes in early years settings, and the qualification levels of early years staff, focusing particularly on private, voluntary and independent (PVI) settings. While I wouldn’t disagree … Continue reading →

Posted in Children, Early Years, EYFS, Preschools | 11 Comments

Absorbed

Posted on September 22, 2016 by suecowley

Sometimes by ‘engagement’ we mean ‘busy’, although just because you’re busy, doesn’t mean you’re moving forwards. You might be busy doing the thing badly. Some skills need you to stay busy to learn them, and for a teacher to watch … Continue reading →

Posted in Children, Learning | Leave a comment

So Over That

Posted on September 17, 2016 by suecowley

The picture above is (I am reliably informed) of a Pokémon character called Oshawott. My daughter drew it for an art competition when she was eight years old. She didn’t win a prize with her picture, but she was so … Continue reading →

Posted in Children, Learning | Leave a comment

Holiday Knowledge

Posted on August 18, 2016 by suecowley

  (Festival Internacional de Jardins 2016, Ponte de Lima) “What we know is a drop, what we don’t know is an ocean.” Isaac Newton We know how to jump over a sprinkler, and we are at least Olympic standard at … Continue reading →

Posted in Children, Holidays, Knowledge, Learning | Leave a comment

Rank

Posted on July 6, 2016 by suecowley

Today I walked back up the lane with my daughter and her friend after meeting them at the school bus. Her friend had the Year 6 SATs results in hand. Her friend is bright, so there will be celebration and … Continue reading →

Posted in Children, Parenting, SATs, Testing | 2 Comments

Fragments

Posted on June 17, 2016 by suecowley

Forty years is a long time. The memories come back to me as fragments. I’m standing at the school gates with my mum. I don’t want to go in. I cling to her arm, desperate not to be separated. The … Continue reading →

Posted in Children, Mental Health | 3 Comments

Educating the Babies

Posted on June 9, 2016 by suecowley

It’s a funny thing, the Early Years Foundation Stage, because it runs from birth to five years old. It is the longest key stage of all. These are the halcyon days before the State insists that you must educate your … Continue reading →

Posted in Children, Early Years, EYFS, Parents, Play | 3 Comments