"This timely book will help teachers in KS1 to implement authoritative recommendations on transition from recent reviews of primary education, and convince senior managers and parents of the value of starting from the child. Its well-grounded arguments coupled with practical guidance will foster the development of principled and confident professional judgement." Wendy Scott, President, TACTYC "Julie is an excellent writer, leading her reader through the difficult arguments about what really matters in our work with young children. She explores the tensions around the different 'drivers' in Foundation Stage and Key Stage One teaching with sensitivity but with the same clear vision she shows in her earlier books. This is an important book for students, lecturers and teachers - and a must for heads and subject co-ordinators." Nick Swarbrick, Westminster Institute of Education, Oxford Brookes University, UK "Your common-sense, authoritative, warm and inspirational words...remind me beyond all doubt of why I went into teaching." Key Stage 1 teacher This practical book offers a series of strategies for promoting learning that meets the needs and interests of Key Stage 1 pupils, ensuring that the move from the Early Years Foundation Stage to Key Stage 1 is a positive one. It includes:Suggestions for implementing the recommendations of the Rose ReviewDescriptions and case studies of good practice that stem from established principles of learning and teachingReflective practice prompts at the end of each chapter Julie Fisher considers recent evidence about how children learn and questions whether current practice in Key Stage 1 optimises these ways of learning. Challenging the reliance on teacher-directed activity, she asks whether introducing more child-initiated learning could offer children a more appropriate balance of learning opportunities. Key issues include: The place of play in Key Stage 1Organising the learning day to include child-initiated activity Observation and assessmentPlanningThe role of the teacher This essential book is indispensable reading for students and practitioners in both the Early Years Foundation Stage and Key Stage 1.

This innovative book aims to support schools in shifting teaching and learning in primary science by changing teacher perceptions of where science should be taught. The authors have not taken a traditional approach to the use of school grounds but a much bolder step in terms of a whole school approach to the science curriculum being taught outside. Key features of the book include: Practical examples from teachers in schools across England Approaches that combine science and the development of personal capabilities for teachers who want to develop a whole school approach relating to key skills in science Innovative approaches to activities in science using the school grounds Suggestions to help science leaders to develop their staff to be confident in using the school grounds across the science curriculum Development of pupil independence in choosing when and why to take their learning outside the classroom boundaries With a shift from indoors to outdoors, comes a range of practical considerations and challenges for both the school and the pupil and these are what the book tackles. It is a must read for students on ITT courses and Key Stage 2 teachers who are keen to move their settings forward and provide appropriate progression throughout the primary years.

Reviewers’ comments on the first edition: “Jane Johnston communicates a sense of effervescent enthusiasm for teaching and science, and her treatment is comprehensive.” TES “The ideas and recommendations, based on considerable classroom experience, make this book a valuable aid to students and reflective early years practitioners.” Primary Science Review “At last! A serious attempt to explore the scientific potential of infant and pre-school children… The author explains how scientific skills can be developed at an early stage, stimulating the natural inquisitive streak in children. This book…will start you thinking about science in a much more positive light.” Child Education This accessible and practical book supports good scientific practice in the early years. It helps practitioners to be creative providers, and shows them how to develop awe and wonder of the world in the children they teach. The book highlights the importance of a motivating learning environment and skilled interaction with well-trained adults. In addition, fundamental issues are explored such as the range, nature and philosophical underpinning of early years experiences and the development of emergent scientific skills, understandings and attitudes. New features for this edition include: An extended age range encompassing early learning from 0 – 8 Updated material for the Foundation Stage Curriculum for 3 – 5-year-olds and the National Curriculum 2000 for 5 – 8-year-olds A new chapter focusing on conceptual understanding and thinking skills in the early years An emphasis on the importance of informal learning and play in early development The book introduces and discusses new research and thinking in early years and science education throughout, making it relevant for current practice. This is an indispensable resource for all trainee and practising primary school teachers and early years practitioners.

This title has received an Imprimatur and has been endorsed by the Catholic Education Service for the new RED. Encourage students to engage with Catholic Religious Education at Key Stage 3 and enable them to understand, discern and respond to key concepts and ideas. This accessible Student Book has been written by experienced teachers and diocesan advisors to support the new Religious Education Directory (RED). - Easily deliver engaging lessons with in-depth content and ready-made tasks for each branch of learning within the new curriculum - Teach with confidence, whatever your level of expertise, with comprehensive and reliable guidance to support both specialists and non-specialists - Build students' knowledge with clear content coverage, including topic overviews, annotated extracts from scripture and clear explanations of key terms - Deepen understanding and help students to engage critically with the content by working through the 'Understand', 'Discern' and 'Respond' tasks throughout - Consolidate previous learning with links between topics highlighted to encourage students to revisit and recap what they have already covered

High quality interactions are recognised as fundamental to the achievement of outstanding teaching and learning in the early years. If you are working with children from six months to six years this authoritative new book from leading author Julie Fisher encourages you to reflect deeply on the quality and impact of interactions in your setting. Drawing on research undertaken in baby rooms, nurseries and classrooms over four years the book challenges prevailing orthodoxies and offers specific practical guidance on how to improve the quality of interactions on a day-to-day basis. With its illuminating examples, the book shows how you can best tune into and respond effectively to young children’s conversations. It exemplifies how interactions are most effectively sustained and how developing high quality interactions can better scaffold and support children’s learning and development. 'Interacting or Interfering?' • Identifies the key components of effective interactions and how implementing these can improve the quality of children’s learning • Contains transcripts of interactions from baby rooms through to Year 2 classes which exemplify key messages • Provides prompts you can use to analyse and improve your own practice Written in the author’s exceptionally clear and accessible style, this book is indispensable reading for all students and practitioners working and studying in the early years.

Moving On to Key Stage 1 has been highly influential in developing innovative, developmentally appropriate KS1 practice in schools across the country. This new edition offers teachers further powerful and persuasive arguments for continuing play-based learning into Year 1 and 2. This new edition contains: •Brand new research identifying the current concerns of teachers in KS1 and setting these in the context of the current ‘school readiness’ agenda •An updated chapter on how children learn most naturally age 5-7 years and how to capitalise on this •A revised chapter on play, which draws on teacher views about its benefits for KS1 children and the barriers they face in incorporating it into their practice •A new chapter offering messages from headteachers advocating a play-based approach, and providing examples of how it has raised standards •A fresh consideration of how to balance adult-led and child-led learning and the role of the teacher in supporting both The author has a deep understanding of the challenges facing teachers in developing this fusion of pedagogies, and this book offers every reader principled and inspiring ways of meeting these challenges with success. Julie Fisher is an independent Early Years Adviser and Visiting Professor of Early Childhood Education at Oxford Brookes University, UK. She has been Headteacher of two schools, a University lecturer and a Local Authority Lead Adviser for Early Years.

The book aims to support and develop creative writing activity in the primary curriculum, offering a balanced mix of both theoretical background and practical writing ideas.