Ofsted’s updated Education Inspection Framework, published in September and used for inspections from 10 November 2025, arrives at a time when many teachers and leaders feel that inspection already takes up more of their bandwidth than it should. The framework brings a new structure to the process, but much of the thinking behind it will …
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If you’ve ever tried choosing a science scheme, you’ll know it’s surprisingly hard to tell the difference between something genuinely useful and something that just looks impressive on the surface. A good scheme should help teachers teach well, help pupils understand science properly and make your life easier as a subject leader – not bury …
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Teaching science in KS2 can be incredibly rewarding, but it also comes with bigger concepts, trickier vocabulary and higher expectations for working scientifically. A good KS2 science scheme of work should make this feel manageable for teachers while helping pupils build real confidence as young scientists. Here is what I think matters most when choosing …
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Choosing a KS1 science scheme can feel like a bit of a minefield. At this age, pupils are only just getting to grips with observing, talking and making sense of the world, so a good scheme needs to do more than tick off the National Curriculum. It should help teachers feel confident, keep things practical …
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Across the country, schools are working harder than ever to fill their nursery places. With falling pupil numbers and funding linked to enrolment, headteachers and EYFS leads know how important it is to attract families early on and keep them with the school for the long term. The challenge is clear: parents have choices. From …
Year 1 is a crucial year for building strong maths foundations. Using well-designed worksheets can help pupils practise key skills and give teachers confidence that lessons are on track. But with so many resources out there, it’s important to choose worksheets that fit your curriculum, engage your pupils, and save you time on planning. In …
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What is Phase 5 phonics? Phase 5 phonics is usually taught in Year 1 and marks a shift from learning new sounds to broadening phonics knowledge. Children explore alternative ways to spell familiar sounds, encounter new graphemes, and tackle more challenging words. This phase helps develop fluency, confidence and more accurate spelling — all vital …
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What is Phase 4 phonics? Phase 4 phonics is all about strengthening the skills children have developed so far — particularly blending and segmenting. No new graphemes are introduced at this stage. Instead, children learn to read and spell words with adjacent consonants, such as trap, frog, and clamp. These blends can be tricky to …
What are the tricky words in Phase 3? As children move into Phase 3, they start to come across words that can’t be decoded using their current phonics knowledge — and that’s where tricky words come in. These are words that don’t follow the usual phonics rules or include sounds that haven’t been introduced yet. …
What is Phase 3 phonics? Phase 3 phonics builds on the knowledge children gain in Phase 2. Once they’re confident with single-letter sounds and can blend simple CVC words, Phase 3 introduces them to more complex graphemes — including digraphs and trigraphs — so they can read and spell a wider range of words. It’s …
Phase 1 sets the foundations for everything that comes next — and in my view, it’s the most important phase of phonics. Once children are confident with listening skills, sound discrimination and oral blending, they’re ready to move on to Phase 2. This is where they start learning specific letter–sound correspondences and begin reading and …
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If you’ve been teaching phonics for any length of time, you’ll know that not every word plays by the rules. That’s where tricky words come in. These are the words that can’t be sounded out, and children need to recognise them as whole words. In this post, we’re breaking down what tricky words are, how …
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Sound buttons are marks placed under letters or graphemes to show the sounds (phonemes) in a word. They help children segment and blend because the sounds are mapped clearly onto the word. They are useful in daily phonics sessions, guided reading and interventions, especially when pupils need support hearing each sound and blending them back …
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Choosing the right SPaG scheme of work can be overwhelming. With so many options available, how do you know what will work best for your school and pupils? In this guide, we’ll explore what to look for in a high-quality SPaG scheme and how our approach at Mrs Mactivity can help your school deliver consistent, …
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In May 2025, schools across the UK will be marking the 80th anniversary of VE Day – a major historical milestone and a valuable opportunity to engage pupils in learning about World War II, remembrance, and British history. At Mrs Mactivity, we’ve created a wide range of VE Day resources for KS1 and KS2, designed …
Key Findings and What You Need to Know About the Curriculum and Assessment Review The Department for Education (DfE) has published the Curriculum and Assessment Review: Interim Report (March 2025), outlining key challenges and potential changes in primary education. This review aims to ensure high standards for all pupils, improve assessment methods, and balance depth …
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British Science Week is a brilliant opportunity to celebrate science in the classroom and encourage pupils to think critically about the world around them. Running from 7-16 March 2025, with the theme “Change and Adapt”, this annual event is all about making science engaging, accessible, and exciting for children of all ages. What Is British …
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Science is fundamental to understanding the world around us, from the simplest actions, like dropping a pen, to the vast complexities of the universe. As teachers, we have the task of guiding young minds through these fascinating topics, sparking curiosity, and helping them discover how things work. At Mrs Mactivity, we are dedicated to making …
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