CONTENTS Dear Reader,


Welcome to the latest issue of Education Today. As we head into the summer holidays, we lead off with our Focus on Suppliers feature. We know it’s the time of year when many schools are reflecting on their suppliers or thinking about refurbishment activity while students are away - and we also know the importance of finding a reliable, reputable school supplier. We’ve put together this feature with this in mind, covering everything from stationery to safety systems. Our Feature Focus for this issue is on the topic of summer learning loss. It’s a disputed topic; some will argue that too much is made of the issue, while others see it as a very real concern. Either way, most will agree there are definitely some great ways to ensure students sustain their learning while still enjoying their summer break. Access Education’s Emma Slater shares her ideas with us and explores how technology can help. This issue also sees us examining spending in early education. In the wake of YPO’s recent whitepaper, written in conjunction with Education Insight, Martin Armytage takes us through the findings of the report which explores the pain points and priorities for early years educators. Meanwhile, our final feature focuses on how school design must reflect the social and technological changes we are seeing, as Deanestor’s William Tonkinson tells us about the importance of modern, optimised learning environments.


Elsewhere in the issue, you’ll find our usual news, views and expert contributors, plus our View from the Classroom with Sacred Heart Catholic School’s history teacher, Richard Price. We hope you enjoy the magazine - and just as importantly - we hope you enjoy the summer break! You can reach us in the meantime via X @EdTodayMag, phone, or email. See you in September!


Charlotte Westwood Managing Editor On the cover...


Publication Manager: Carl Hearnden Publishing Director: Paul Ryder Managing Editor: Charlotte Westwood Artwork Editor: Kirsty Hood Secretary: Tracey Ballard Published by:


Datateam Business Media Limited, London Road, Maidstone, Kent ME16 8LY Tel: 01622 699128 (Advertising) Tel: 07969 141997 (Editorial) Fax: 01622 757646 Email: education@datateam.co.uk Circulation: Curwood CMS Ltd datateam@c-cms.com Tel: 01580 883844 Fax: 01580 883849 Subscription Prices 2020 Number of editions per year: 11 UK: £52 Overseas: £132


The Publishers cannot accept responsibility for any discrepancies either in copy or between products and/or services listed. Nor can they be responsible for illustrations and/or copy for products which lead to infringement of copyright


STAEDTLER is one of the world’s leading manufacturers and suppliers of writing, colouring, and drawing instruments, applying centuries of experience in the development of innovative stationery. From children drawing and writing for the first time, to teachers who are after high- quality stationery, STAEDTLER has something for everyone.


 www.staedtler.co.uk In this issue...


4-11 FOCUS ON: SUPPLIERS 12-18 NEWS


Selected stories from the UK education scene this month


20 WELLBEING


With Mark Solomons, Founder of Welbee 22 BESA CORNER


With BESA members Juniper Education and Tassomai


23 VIEWS


With BESA’s Head of Partnerships and Events; and Alex Harris from BBC Teach


24-25 VIEW FROM THE CLASSROOM


We hear from Richard Price, history teacher at Sacred Heart Catholic School 26-27 SEND


With SEND Network’s Izzy Felton; Ann-Marie Oliver; and Emma Sanderson


28-29 CONTRIBUTORS


With Edge Hill University students Ella Sanders and Zara Postlethwaite; Class


People’s Naomi Howells; and the Teacher Development Trusts’ Gareth Conyard


30-31 VIEWS & OPINION


Featuring comment and insight from the UK education sector 32 FEATURE: SPENDING IN EARLY YEARS EDUCATION


We hear from YPO’s Head of Education Business, Martin Armytage 34-35 FEATURE FOCUS: SUMMER LEARNING LOSS


With Emma Slater, Head of Education at Access Education 36-38 FEATURE: BUILDINGS, MAINTENANCE & REFURBISHMENT


With Deanestor CEO William Tonkinson


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