Visualisation serves as a highly effective memory aid as our brains tend to prefer visualising over verbalising.  Moreover, anchoring new material to something familiar through visualisation is particularly beneficial as it can compensate for weaknesses in working memory. This makes these tools especially useful for children with dyslexia and ADHD. While mind maps, like graphic organisers, sequence charts and concept maps, are useful visual tools for structuring and organising information, there are many other engaging methods proven to bolster memory. Here are our top five! Take a mem ..read more

Unlock Learning Potential with Metacognition Did you know that teaching children metacognition can help them manage their learning, self-regulate and problem-solve?  What is Metacognition? Metacognition is the ability to reflect and monitor your own learning. It involves being aware of how you think and understanding how you learn best.  Teaching metacognition involves sharing strategies which support children to set goals, plan, monitor and evaluate their learning, while also empowering them to select the most suitable strategy for a given task for themselves. Metacognition in ch ..read more

With so much discussion about knowledge-rich curricula and explicit instruction, it’s important not to forget about other elements that contribute to an effective learning environment. Physical movement is one such critical ingredient.  As humans, we are hardwired to move our bodies. So it makes sense that physical and multi-sensory activities instantly appeal to young learners, boosting their engagement and helping them to learn effectively. In this blog, we'll look at why embodied learning is important and explore how it works. We’ll also offer some fuss-free tips to help you integrat ..read more

In primary education, where literacy and numeracy so often claim the spotlight, it's easy to overlook oracy—the development of speaking and listening skills. However, over the past year, oracy has gained significant attention. The ‘Cracks in our Foundations’ report by The Centre for Social Justice, published in February, highlighted the widening attainment gap and stressed the importance of implementing high-quality oracy provision to address this disparity. Moreover, Keir Starmer has stated that oracy teaching would form a central part of Labour’s education policy, if elected. So, it’s fair t ..read more

Black History Month may be over, but does that mean we stop learning about black history? When will black history become British history? Some argue that Black History Month is too often a ‘tick box’ exercise that many organisations support for a moment, and then is just as quickly forgotten.  So what about in education? How do our teachers feel about Black History Month? Over 200 teachers took part in our survey, answering questions about the positives and negatives of Black History Month.  Explore our Decolonising the Curriculum Collection!   Did your school take part in Black ..read more

A report published by the DfE recently has addressed the ongoing problems with attendance in schools since the beginning of the pandemic. The report lists some of the challenges schools are facing, including increased anxiety from both parents and children, higher than average absence due to pupils with Covid 19 and a disengagement from education. With this in mind, it begs the question - is it time to rethink attendance in schools? Check out our FREE Mental Health Activity Pack for Children! It is no surprise that attendance has taken a hit during a global pandemic, especially when guidance ..read more

  Many teachers would agree that some subjects are easier to embed in the classroom than others. Walking into a classroom, you are likely to see evidence of literacy and Maths learning, Science and foundation subjects. But some, such as Religious Education, can be tricker to embed in the same way.  We have put together some top tips and ideas on how you can effectively embed RE in your classroom with some simple changes.  Explore our RE resources!   Classroom displays and practices  Firstly, create an RE display. This could be using a display board, or even on a tabl ..read more

Inclusion is a word that gets thrown around a lot in education, particularly in England and Wales, where the National Curriculum dictates that schools and teachers ensure all pupils are included in effective learning, regardless of their individual needs. But what does inclusion actually mean, in the context of schools and education? What does inclusion look like in the classroom? And most importantly, how can teachers create an inclusive classroom that benefits all students, no matter what their individual needs?   Inclusive regular schools combat discrimination and create welcoming soci ..read more

Change happens a little at a time and the word ‘decolonise’ has continued to make an appearance in the headlines over the past year. Here at PlanBee we have pledged to continue to improve and create new resources that are both representative and diverse. What do we mean by decolonise the curriculum? To decolonise the curriculum means to rethink and reframe the way we teach and learn about the world and its people, by picking apart the bias and looking through a different lens… one that isn’t British- or Europe-centered. Read more about the importance of decolonising the curriculum in our  ..read more

PlanBee: The Zulu Kingdom It's here! Check out our first scheme with a decolonising focus: The Zulu Kingdom There was once a teacher who was passionate about challenging our perspective of British and world history. A teacher whose mission was to decolonise the curriculum. Then one day, a small education company, dedicated to supporting schools and teachers with their awesome (if we do say so ourselves) planning and resources, started chatting to the passionate teacher. They agreed to tackle this mission together to bring about change and to make sure children are able to see themselves in h ..read more