The American author, Mark Twain famously said, “When I was a boy of 14, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around. But when…
Mind matters
What is the difference between the brain and the mind? The brain is an organ and a vessel in which the electronic impulses that create thought are contained. With the…
ADHD: Less about the label, more about supporting the traits
During the work, I have done in training in schools with teaching staff and with families on the subject of ADHD always talk about children with ADHD and not ADHD…
Exclusion Illusion and Confusion
The figures for school exclusion in England during the year 2018/19 were recently released by the DfES at the start of the Sept 2020 term. The figures show that Permanent…
“Firm, Fair and Funny”: The skills of a teacher
As the former Head Teacher of Centre Academy, a specialist school for children with learning and behaviour issues, I found that many of the new students joining us came with…
“I need you to get back to that Video game”
Not normally a statement you might hear from a parent of a child with ADHD however a paper published by the Psychiatry and Behavioural learning network on the 23rd of June…
Going to the Dogs
There have been a number of significant heroes and heroines throughout this pandemic, certainly those working in the health and other public sectors but also let’s remember the dogs. Walked…
The dead frog in the car park
When my twin boys were 5 years old and my daughter was 7 years old, my mother in law paid for the whole family for a trip of a lifetime…
Getting back to school: Behaviour for learning in the new normal
Adjusting back into the school life in September will be both a challenge but also an opportunity for school staff to revise and review teaching and learning practices and procedures…
The Art of Boredom: Part 1 of 3
We don’t like talking about boredom. I’m not sure why? Maybe because it’s boring, however I find boredom fascinating. Teachers in schools often are defensive about boredom and mostly place…