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 A quick audio overview of our Summer 2025 AI and EdTech newsletter, featuring key updates, tools, and training opportunities for educators and leaders.

In our first episode Shammi and Rachel about how vital RE is. Now listen to them discuss the Child Q case, race equity and advice to young people and headteachers.

Listen to Shammi Rahman, HFL Education’s Race Equality Adviser and Rachel de Souza, Children’s Commissioner for England discuss the importance of RE for young people and bringing communities together in our special 2-parter podcast episode.

For our first podcast episode of the 2022/23 academic year, HFL Primary English Advisers, Kathy Roe and Juliet McCullion discuss all things Reading Fluency with special guests from the renowned Education Endowment Foundation (EEF).   Sarah Green is the former EEF Content Specialist for Literacy. She leads literacy in her Trust and works as Assistant Headteacher across mainstream and special secondary schools within The Prospere Learning Trust, South Manchester. She is also a Voice21 National Oracy Leader and an Evidence Lead in Education with Manchester Communication Research School. During her seventeen years in education, Sarah has taught English across a range of schools with a particular focus on improving literacy, oracy and SEND provision.  Alex leads the development and quality assurance of EEF tools, resources and training. He manages the coordination of multiple campaigns to ensure engagement with EEF evidence. Prior to joining the EEF in 2018, he worked as an English teacher for 15 years. He was director of the Huntington research school in York. You may well be familiar with his celebrated books such as ‘Closing the Vocabulary Gap’ and ‘Closing the Writing Gap’.  Find out more about HFL’s Reading Fluency Project.  The EEF Fluency tools, some of which were designed in collaboration with HFL, can be found here : https://educationendowmentfoundation.org.uk/education-evidence/guidance-reports/literacy-ks2  

At Herts for Learning we are committed to supporting and welcoming individuals from all backgrounds and lived experiences to feel connected, authentic and have a sense of belonging within our diverse community while supporting our core purpose. In this podcast we discuss  LGBTQ+ issues in schools and settings, including how teachers can implement a framework and what resources are available. We examine concerns raised around teaching children and young  people the topic of LGBTQ+, and the let 'children be children' debate; also, the recent 'Don't say gay' bill being implemented across the USA, and what the impact similar legislation would have on UK LGBTQ+ pupils. This episode was presented by Charlie Firmin, Content Marketing Assistant at Herts for Learning (HfL), who identifies as a gay woman and uses the pronouns she/her. Charlie was joined by Karin Hutchinson, Lead Wellbeing Advisor for HFL. Karin identifies as heterosexual and uses the pronouns, she/her. She began her working life as a teacher but left the classroom when the Thatcher government established Section 28 prohibiting the "promotion of homosexuality" by local authorities. She was instructed by her employers at the time to discontinue her pastoral support for a sixth former who was beginning their journey in identifying  as gay. Since 1997, she has worked in a range of roles involving a focus on equality in education and has led significant work on LGBT diversity and inclusion in Hertfordshire schools since 2003. Also joining Charlie was Michael Gray, who identifies as a gay man and uses the pronouns he/him. Michael has been working in primary education for over ten years including a time as a Primary  English Adviser at HfL. He is now working at Gamlingay Village Primary School (GVP) in Cambridgeshire where he is the soon to be assistant head . He is also the diversity lead for the Cam Academy Trust, of which GVP is a part of. For more information about Herts for Learning’s services towards supporting LGBQT education and other Wellbeing services, visit: https://www.hertsforlearning.co.uk/teaching-andlearning/pupil-wellbeing or contact [email protected].  To read more about Charlie and her experiences, read our latest blog, “Proud to be part of something more” visit https://www.hertsforlearning.co.uk/blog/proud-be-part-something-more To read blogs from Michael Gray and others from our company on topics that support equality,  diversity and inclusion, visit https://hfl.mobi/HfLPride

In a very special episode released to commemorate Stephen Lawrence Day on Friday 22nd April, Herts for Learning welcomes the Hon Stuart Lawrence to Ed Talks UK.  Stuart is the younger brother of Stephen Lawrence, who was murdered in an unprovoked racist attack in 1993 at the age of 18. Stuart who was 16 at the time when the incident took place, now works as an educator and motivational speaker, dedicated to helping to transform the life chances of young people.  Joining presenter Jaysica Marvell, was Herts for Learning’s Head of Customer Services/EDI Officer, Andrew Brown, along with newly appointed Race Equality Adviser, Toks Olusamokun who talked to Stuart about the importance of developing anti-racism strategies and tools for schools. They also talked about the impact of the Black Lives Matter movement, his work on The Black Curriculum, and finally his book, "Silence is Not An Option: Find Your Voice and Be Your Best Self” which was released on paperback on 7th April this year.  For more information about Herts for Learning and other organisations, please find the following helpful information.  Our upcoming 2022 Wellbeing Conference, “Building Futures: Growing pupil empowerment and agency”, takes place on Wednesday 15th June 2022. Amongst other esteemed guests and speakers, also features, Eugene Ellis, Director of The Black, African and Asian Therapy Network and Psychotherapist who will be giving his talk on: “Meeting the challenge of the race conversation”. For more information visit: https://www.hertsforlearning.co.uk/events/2022-wellbeing-conference-building-futures-growing-pupil-empowerment-and-agency  For details of the support and services for schools available from our Wellbeing Team including support on Equalities and Anti-bullying, anti-prejudice and anti-abuse: https://www.hertsforlearning.co.uk/teaching-and-learning/pupil-wellbeing  Read our blogs on Diversity and Equality: https://www.hertsforlearning.co.uk/blog?keywords=&sort_bef_combine=search_api_relevance_DESC&blog%5B0%5D=additional_tags%3A427 For more information about Stephen Lawrence Day, please visit: https://stephenlawrenceday.org/ Stuart’s latest book available on Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Silence-Not-Option-Find-Voice/dp/0702316911/ For more information on The Black Curriculum visit: https://theblackcurriculum.com

June O’Sullivan MBE , CEO, London Early Years Foundation joins Mireille MacRaild, Education Services Director - Early Years at HfL to discuss the impact of the pandemic on children’s learning and development in the EYFS and some of the innovative pedagogy used to counteract this.   June will be providing the keynote address at the HfL National Early Years Conference, Childhood development: a fresh look at the curriculum on Wednesday 3rd March 2022 with her talk entitled "Keeping children at the heart of pedagogy” Find out more at hertsforlearning.co.uk/national-early-years-conference  

Lucky Khera, HfL Lead Early Years Adviser talks with Ben Kingston Hughes to gain an insight into what experiences have shaped his pedagogical thinking and what should be considered within the curriculum that enable all children to have a really positive start to their educational journey. Ben will be delivering a thought provoking workshop, ‘Expressions of Joy and Nurture: Creating Enriched Environments for Communication and Language’ at our online national early years conference, "Child development; A fresh look at the curriculum” on Wednesday 2nd March 2022.  Find out more at hertsforlearning.co.uk/national-early-years-conference

Rebecca Collins, HfL Senior Early Years Adviser talks with Shaddai Tembo, Lecturer in early childhood studies, about creating an inclusive curriculum, pedagogy and practice in early years settings and classes, ensuring both adults and children have access to psychologically safe spaces in which they can learn and develop. They discuss how understanding and celebrating difference can support staff, children and parents to ensure inclusion for all and challenge unconscious.  Shaddai will be joining us to explore ‘Boys and Girls Unlimited: Promoting a gender diverse curriculum in the early years’ at our National Early Years Conference, "Child development; A fresh look at the curriculum' on Wednesday 2nd March 2022. Find out more at hertsforlearning.co.uk/national-early-years-conference

Michael Gray, HfL Teaching and Learning adviser (primary) talks about the importance of diverse literature in the primary classroom - especially LGBTQ+ literature - reflecting on his own experiences and the impact of section 28. Hear Michael's talk, What does diversity look like in schools?  Outcomes and impact from our Explore & Engage unit: And Tango makes three at the HfL Primary English conference, "'That's me!': Ensuring diverse representation across the Primary English curriculum" https://www.hertsforlearning.co.uk/national-primary-english-conference

Martin Galway, HfL Teaching and Learning adviser English (primary) talks about the importance of developing empathy and its benefits for the child, society and educational outcomes in advance of our Primary English conference, "'That's me!': Ensuring diverse representation across the Primary English curriculum" Find out more: hertsforlearning.co.uk/national-primary-english-conference

In this episode of Ed Talks UK, we speak with Rachel Macfarlane & Mireille MacRaild about assessment within schools & early years settings. 

We speak to Kate Mouncey, Associate Assistant Head Teacher & Director of Sixth Form at Sandringham School, about schools and environmental sustainability. This episode talks about the work Kate is doing and provides tips and advice for schools who are looking to go green. Take a look at some more resources to help your school tackle climate change by visiting hertsforlearning.co.uk/climate-action-schools.

In this episode of EdTalksUK we speak with Charlotte Jackson about the benefits of exploring the great outdoors & what schools can do to ensure children maintain a healthy connection with nature. 

We speak with Lead Wellbeing Advisor Karin Hutchinson about the rhythms we all have in our lives & how COVID-19 has forced us to rethink these patterns.