skip to main content
Free UK delivery on all orders over £20

Blog

Welcome to the Schofield & Sims blog, featuring news, information and advice about primary education in the UK.

Filter by category

Searching by category: Guest Post

Working with parents and carers on phonics

08 June 2023

Working with parents and carers on phonics

Parents and carers play a crucial role in supporting a child’s learning, and evidence from the EEF suggests that effective engagement can make up to three months of positive difference in a child’s learning. In this blog post, phonics trainer Jacqueline Harris discusses ways that schools can leverage this by involving parents and other adults in their children’s phonics learning.

Continue reading...

How to get reading back on track

13 May 2023

How to get reading back on track

In this blog post, Complete Comprehension authors Laura Lodge and Jo Gray share their advice on identifying pupil literacy gaps and provide strategies to help children become stronger readers.

Continue reading...

Using technical phonics terms with young children

10 February 2023

Using technical phonics terms with young children

In this blog post, phonics trainer Jacqueline Harris explains when and why teachers should use technical language when teaching phonics.

Continue reading...

What should a reading recovery curriculum look like?

18 June 2021

What should a reading recovery curriculum look like?

Complete Comprehension author Jane Sowerby shares her advice on building a broad and balanced curriculum and explains why reading should be at the heart of it.

Continue reading...

Start right, write well: laying sufficient foundations for handwriting

17 April 2019

Start right, write well: laying sufficient foundations for handwriting

Occupational therapist and handwriting specialist Michelle van Rooyen explains the importance of laying secure foundations for each child’s writing.

Continue reading...

What is Phonics? Essential phonics knowledge and understanding.

11 February 2018

What is Phonics? Essential phonics knowledge and understanding.

Literacy expert Alexandra Charalambous from charity The Children's Literacy Charity offers a useful introduction for parents into the world of phonics.

Continue reading...

Grammar beyond English: six ways to reinforce grammar and punctuation across the curriculum

08 March 2017

Grammar beyond English: six ways to reinforce grammar and punctuation across the curriculum

Schofield & Sims author Carol Matchett provides six strategies for extending teaching of grammar and punctuation skills across the curriculum.

Continue reading...

Discover a hidden world where caterpillars are hairy cats and bouquets are made of wood

23 May 2016

Discover a hidden world where caterpillars are hairy cats and bouquets are made of wood

Schofield & Sims author Michael Janes offers some useful tips on how you can use word origins to help build vocabulary and spelling skills, while also giving children a valuable insight into the different influences that have shaped the English language.

Continue reading...

The benefits of handwriting

30 April 2015

The benefits of handwriting

Guest blogger Alex Charalambous highlights the importance of handwriting skills, even in today's technology dominated world.

Continue reading...

How to choose the right tutor

01 September 2014

How to choose the right tutor

Schofield & Sims author and independent tutor Sian Goodspeed highlights some of the key considerations to think about when searching for a private tutor for your child.

Continue reading...

Becoming spelling conscious

29 May 2014

Becoming spelling conscious

Schofield & Sims author Carol Matchett looks at some of the different ways to help raise spelling awareness in your school.

Continue reading...

Poetry is for life, not just for school

02 April 2014

Poetry is for life, not just for school

Schofield & Sims author Celia Warren explains why children should learn poetry by heart.

Continue reading...