Head-to-Head Podcast

Are outcomes in Writing holding your GLD back?Join Ashlie McGreavy, Director of Early Years at Carlton Academy, as she talks through how her team transformed writing outcomes by focusing on the fundamentals - systematic teaching, staff collaboration, and the right tools in the right hands. Ashlie discusses why physical development matters more than people think, how triangulating phonics, reading, and writing keeps everything joined up, and why small, deliberate changes tend to beat big overhauls. It's a practical, honest look at building a whole-school and Trust wide approach to embedding effective practice to enable early writers.An essential listen for Trust Leads, Heads, EYFS Leaders and Teachers looking to raise outcomes in writing.

From start points and narratives to informing teaching and learning - does your Reception Baseline Assessment actually tell you what you need to know? ​In this episode Emma Doran, from Whitefield Primary School, shares how she and her team rethought EYFS assessment from the ground up. Emma candidly discusses her thoughts about EExREC, through the eyes of both a leader and teacher. She reflects on the value of a using a tool centred around child development to build a holistic view of each child. Emma talks through how the team was trained, how the EExREC data reshaped provision and curriculum, the real impact on children's learning and development and the onward use of the EExREC suite to support transition to Year 1.If you're wondering whether your early years assessment is capturing what really matters, this episode is for you.

Are you considering how best to prepare children for a world that doesn't exist yet?Charlotte Smiles, Headteacher of Upland School has deeply reflected on how to support her pupils to be as prepared as possible to navigate their future life. In this episode, Charlotte shares how her school moved beyond academics to focus on the skills and attitudes children need for the evolving world. Underpinned by rich outdoor learning opportunities, real-life experiences, and a deliberate focus on character, and centralised around the thinking of a backpack analogy - the idea that every child should leave school carrying a set of skills for life's challenges. Charlotte is honest about developments, what changed, what was hard, and why early experiences matter so much. As she puts it, "we need to prepare children for a world we don't yet know," and the results speak for themselves: children's confidence and resilience have grown.If you're rethinking what a primary curriculum is really for, this is a not to be missed episode.

Are you looking to engage your KS1 children in deep, connected, purposeful learning through play in the provision?Hear from Katy Smith, Headteacher at Brookfield Primary School as she takes us through her school's journey of implementing Continuous Provision in KS1. Discover the research that shaped her thinking, consider practical changes to classrooms and timetables, and find out what provision actually looks like for children and staff. Katie is honest about the challenges, clear about the evidence, and passionate about the positive impact that the shift in the pedagogical approach has had for the children – in terms of attitudes, outcomes and attendance!If you're keen to understand more about meaningful and impactful continuous provision in KS1, then this episode is not to be missed!

Are you looking to transform your Reception Assessment systems to ensure they are manageable, meaningful and impactful?In this episode, Anna Hackett and Sally Scott from Focus-Trust share their journey of deepening understanding about child development and strengthening assessment in all of their early years settings. They talk through why this was a priority, how the strategic plan was implemented and what a difference the right tools, including the EExREC assessment suite, made to both professional learning and outcomes for the children. There's lots of reflection about the development journey, and honest insight about the impact of the EExREC tools through the echelons of leadership in their Trust, as well as the lived experiences in the classrooms with real staff and real children.If you're keen to implement principled EYFS assessment consistently in your School or Trust, ensuring it is useful and used, then this episode is for you!