EDDIE’s LAUNCHPADS

We’ve reached the final episode of Season 6 of the Dogsthorpe Infant School podcast.  This episode is a live special Christmas show with Eddie Edster, the school’s well-being dog, our headteacher Mrs Waters and their pilot for their flight home for Christmas is ‘Cap’n Dave’.  With special messages for Dogsthorpe children, families, carers and our amazing Dogsthorpe Infant School staff, and with live festive music from Captain Dave and ‘Johnnie Dee’ it’s a great way to end this series of podcasts.   A big thank you to all of our guests this season. See you all again soon! 

Today we welcome the Deputy Headteacher of Dogsthorpe Infant School to our podcast. Miss Gattuso works so hard supporting classroom learning, teaching resources, and teachers’ well-being.  In this episode MisscGattuso shares her latest projects to improve school pupil behaviour and aid classroom learning. 2026 is going to be exciting for everyone at Dogsthorpe Infant School. This being our 76th year teaching Peterborough children in Dogsthorpe Infant School.   

In this episode of the Dogsthorpe Infant School podcast, (Eddie’s Launchpads) we talk to Karen Woodcock who leads the work of Family Action Peterborough Pre-Schools.  Family Action Peterborough Pre-schools offer high quality early years education and childcare during term-time. Well qualified staff teams welcome children from the age of 2 onwards and work with them, in partnership with parents and carers, to build key skills ready for school. Family Action’s exciting environments include regular access to outdoor learning experiences and the local community. They encourage children to be curious learners, through careful selection of resources, and support every child individually to progress their development.   And.... Dogsthorpe Infant School is the new location of the Family Action Birchtree Pre-School in Dogsthorpe.  For more info and to make contact with Karen, our Birchtree Pre School, and other Family Action activity details, please visit their website address below.  https://family-action.org.uk/services/peterborough-pre-schools/   or email Karen at karen.woodcock@family-action.org.uk

We continue our phonics discussion with the fantastic Monster Phonics and hear how these amazing learning resources are being used across the U.K. and the world to assist schools and change children’s lives for the better.  https://monsterphonics.com This is the Dogsthorpe Infant School podcast for parents, teachers and schools. An EdStar Production for Hampton Academies Trust.  https://www.dogsthorpeinfants.co.uk  

Monster Phonics has accelerated learning and greatly improved phonics results at Dogsthorpe Infant School  Monster Phonics award-winning programmes use a multi-sensory approach that dramatically enhances learning and engagement.   From nursery to year 6, our comprehensive phonics and spelling scheme guides children on an exciting learning journey.   Explore their programmes, inclusive training, books, and resources designed for every step of the way. https://monsterphonics.com

It’s time for another Festive Launchpad podcast from Dogsthorpe Infant School. Ever wonder what happens to our children after they leave Dogsthorpe Infant School?  Well known pop stars, top London lawyers, teachers, politicians and sports stars all started their learning journey  at Dogsthorpe Infant School over the past 75 years. Today we catch up with Dom Paling - another ex-pupil of our school who ten years ago was performing in our Nativity productions but is now breaking into the world of sports journalism.  It’s only just a matter of time before his match reports and football photos will be making big headlines.   What will the children attending Dogsthorpe Infant School now be doing in ten years time?  Every child at Dogsthorpe Infants get the chance to dream, believe, and shine. Whether that’s performing hit pop music or reporting on the next exciting football match on radio or TV. It has all started at Dogsthorpe Infant School since 1950.  https://www.dogsthorpeinfants.co.uk    

The first of seven special Festive Launchpads that are each very much connected with children attending Dogsthorpe Infant School. On this edition, we hear about a fantastic way to help Peterborough children who are facing a Christmas without a gift to unwrap and enjoy.  Face book page:  https://www.facebook.com/share/1BqUQk8Wgj/?mibextid=wwXIfr   Amazon wishlist to directly send a gift:  https://www.facebook.com/share/17cjMvr6pm/?mibextid=wwXIfr   Money donations: https://nwahc.enthuse.com/cf/christmas-giving-tree

Our conversation with poet and creative writer educator, Hilary Elder continues….  Please listen to Part One of the interview before listening to this episode and see the links in the text of that episode to contact Hilary. 

Part 1 of a two-part adventure as Eddie and his pilot Captain Dave fly north to meet poet and creative writing teacher, Hilary Elder. Hilary was born and raised in Carlisle which is so near to Scotland and sounds so Welsh that she spends a lot of time explaining that she’s English. Carlisle sometimes seems far away from anywhere but it is near the Lake District. When she was growing up her family had a back yard with no grass (and no lakes) in it she now thinks the Lake District as her personal garden and have visits it regularly even though she now live far away in Northumberland. She teaches English but spends a lot of time in schools.  More info here: https://hilaryelder.com/schools/    

Eddie and Captain Dave talk about well-being and mental health with Vie Portland. Vie Portland helps people Find Their Fabulous! She uses her work and academic experience and, for her, most importantly, her life experience to create environments where everyone feels valued, heard, and appreciated. She does this through her award-winning workshops and training, her best selling books, her one to one work, and her public speaking. Vie is an accredited trauma informed trainer, offering training to schools and wraparound care providers, giving them tools and guidance to create happier, kinder, more confident, more representative, environments for staff and students to thrive in.  She offers training in organisations, to give them guidance in creating environments where everyone feels valued and encouraged. She runs confidence and self-esteem workshops in schools and groups. She works with teenagers and women one to one, and with families. She also writes inclusive children's picture books and positive growth books for adults, as well as workbooks for physically disabled teenagers and women (so far!), and she has compiled and contributed to a book where people share their stories of living with the rare disability she was born with.   She is a motivational/inspirational speaker, with keynotes in her story of ugly duckling to swan, in living with disabilities, in creating confident and inclusive environments, and more. You can find out more here: https://www.VIPempowerment.co.uk   Vie's books can be bought from any online book store, and her workbooks can be found on Amazon.

In this Dogsthorpe Infant School podcast, hear the amazing story of Brian Abram, his young grandson and the series of books that feature them.  This is the incredible story of ‘GRANDAD WHEELS’.  Social media links linked to this episode are are : Website www.grandadwheels.com Facebook: @grandadwheels X: @GrandadWheels https://www.dogsthorpeinfants.co.uk

Richard Fenwick studied horticulture at Askham Bryan College qualifying at level 5 and specializing in micropropagation and plant science. Richard has worked in horticulture for over 20 years in a range of sectors including; commercial nursery work, garden maintenance, retail and design. In 2012 Richard became a tutor at Bishop Burton Collegeteaching a range of subjects at  levels 1 to 6.  He has been a STEM Ambassador for 18 years promoting the STEM subjects in schools and colleges in partnership with NYBEP. Richard provides plants in test tubes. All grown in a colourful nutrient rich gel  Kits available for Schools, Colleges, Science & STEM Clubs or for homes or as ‘favours’ at weddings etc.    Bean, Chilli, Courgette, Pea, Pumpkin, Sunflower. Great fun!  https://www.plantletculture.com/shop    

Eddie and Captain Dave meet the children’s author Ramya Julian on this week’s Dogsthorpe Infant School podcast.  Here's the link to my website - www.ramyajulian.com   And there are amazing free teaching resources to go with every book, which can be obtained by visiting….    .www.ramyajulian.com/teachingresources   All of the books featured in today’s show are available on Ramya’s website, most bookshops and on Amazon.   If anyone wants signed copies, they can be ordered through her website.

Eddie and Cap’n Dave continue their exploration on the Great Central Railway.   The Great Central Railway exists today because a group of determined volunteers in 1969 saved the line following its closure by British Rail to recreate the experience of a main line steam railway for  many generations to come.   Today the staff and volunteers of the GCR proudly cherish and develop their legacy as a contemporary visitor attraction that’s open all year.   The GCR run steam and heritage diesel locomotives, as well as heritage railcars to educate children and college students and entertain families whilst preserving the fantastic story of this railway. The railway also supports primary schools with lessons and experiences for  EYFS, KS1 and KS2. The GCR is now making links with secondary schools and colleges.  Alongside their apprentices, they host week-long work experiences, (up to 10 a year) and T-level work placements where a student is with them for one day a week for a year.  Their new Education programmes for secondary schools and colleges are particularly concentrating on employability skills and offer students the opportunity to undertake problem solving and technical challenges, working with mentors from the railway workforce and partner companies from the wider rail industry  Each session will include a visit to our newly re-clad loco shed. They can also cater for SEND students.  Useful links  Website: https://www.gcrailway.co.uk   Education : education@gcrailway.co.uk  DIS Website: https://www.dogsthorpeinfants.co.uk   GCR Reunification : https://www.gcrailway.co.uk/about/reunification/            

A two-part adventure (part 2 next week) for Eddie, the well-being dog and his pilot, Cap’n Dave.   This week Captain Dave and Eddie visit the UK’s only double track, main line heritage railway.   The Great Central Railway exists today because a group of determined volunteers in 1969 saved the line following its closure by British Rail to recreate the experience of a main line steam railway for  many generations to come.   Today the staff and volunteers of the GCR proudly cherish and develop their legacy as a contemporary visitor attraction that’s open all year.   The GCR run steam and heritage diesel locomotives, as well as heritage railcars to educate children and college students and entertain families whilst preserving the fantastic story of this railway. The railway also supports primary schools with lessons and experiences for  EYFS, KS1 and KS2. The GCR is now making links with secondary schools and colleges.  Alongside their apprentices, they host week-long work experiences, (up to 10 a year) and T-level work placements where a student is with them for one day a week for a year.  Their new Education programmes for secondary schools and colleges are particularly concentrating on employability skills and offer students the opportunity to undertake problem solving and technical challenges, working with mentors from the railway workforce and partner companies from the wider rail industry  Each session will include a visit to our newly re-clad loco shed. They can also cater for SEND students.  Useful links  Website: https://www.gcrailway.co.uk   Education : education@gcrailway.co.uk  DIS Website: https://www.dogsthorpeinfants.co.uk   GCR Reunification : https://www.gcrailway.co.uk/about/reunification/            

Our guest author on Eddie’s Launchpads today is Helen Heraldsen. Helen grew up and still lives in Cumbria, on the edge of the Lake District. She's also known as The Writer in Wellies due to the fact that whenever she's not writing, she's outside with her horses and dogs in the Cumbrian rain! Helen has always loved reading and animals, so, as an author, she combines the two by writing books about the ponies and pooches in her own life. Helen describes this as her dream job.  For more information about Helen and her books please visit https://www.helenharaldsen.co.uk   Eddie’s Launchpads is the Dogsthorpe Infant School  podcast for parents, teachers and schools. It is an EdStar production for Hampton Academies Trust.  https://www.dogsthorpeinfants.co.uk  

Nadia Hewstone is a former Headteacher who now works full-time as a professional coach. Through Destino Coaching Nadia supports school leaders with coaching programmes and personal development work. She is also a neurodiversity advocate and champions the need to adjust curriculum and approaches to teaching which consider the strengths and needs of young people with autism, ADHD and other neurodiversity challenges. Nadia’s book ‘ The Unhappy Headteacher’ is a guide for headteachers, who what to uncover the joy in the role and learn some tools to support them through some of the big challenges in headship.  Nadia lives in Norfolk with her husband and two teenage children. Destino Website destinocoaching.co.uk    Socials https://www.instagram.com/destino.coaching_nadia Nadia Hewstone ACC | LinkedIn   Facebook   Landing page for LEAP https://nadia-jarana.mykajabi.com/leap   Affiliate link to book http://amzn.to/3QEXikE   Headteacher SOS Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/5144922005628650/?mibextid=oMANbw

Season 6 of the Dogsthorpe Infant School podcast continues with another visit to Liverpool. This time to meet the children’s author, Lisa J. Allen and her black cat called Charlie. In her past life, Lisa was an award-winning regional business journalist, but more recently she enjoyed a brief stint as a college librarian. Her middle grade fiction and poetry usually features baked goods, comedy and mythical, magical mayhem but she has a new book out which she tells us about in this episode. The story is called ‘Undercover Angel - Crash Landing.’  After listening to this podcast, visit Lisa’s website at  https://lisajallen.com

In this edition of the Dogsthorpe School podcast, Eddie and Cap'n Dave talk to the author and poet, Paul Jenkins. 10 years of teaching, 7 poetry books and 1 novel have all perfectly prepared Paul for a life dedicated to educating kids through fun and creativity. He loves nothing more than taking his workshops from school to school, making smallish humans giggle for a day and giving them the confidence to work together to create their own brand new written pieces. Whilst he's playful on stage he's serious in intent and is regularly called upon to write teaching resources and has worked with EmpathyLab, The National Literacy Trust, The Shakespeare Schools Festival and BBC Learning so you can rest assured there's a sensible head underneath the silly hat.​ When not nurturing the seeds of creativity in young minds or writing new works he can be found elbow deep in popcorn watching movies with his sons or running like a maniac with Ramsbottom Running Club. He's also Poet in Residence at Springhill Hospice in Rochdale. On Launchpad 156 we hear Paul talking about his books, his work and his vision plus he shares his poetry with us. So sit back, and enjoy the show.  More here: https://www.pauljenkinspoet.co.uk/    

In Podcast 155, Eddie the well-being dog and his pilot, Cap’n Dave meet the children’s author, Lexi Rees.  Lexi writes fun activity books and action-packed adventures for children. As well as writing, Lexi makes regular author visits to primary schools and other events, teaches creative writing, and runs a book club. Lexi is passionate about developing a love of reading and writing in children and guests on this podcast to share what inspires her in her work and share with our listeners her incredible resources.  You can see more by visiting her website at  https://lexirees.co.uk Eddie then shares his theme song written and sang by Cambridgeshire musician, John Devine. https://captdavidwaters.podbean.com/e/festive-launchpad-3/