DamsonEd
@damsoned.bsky.social
Dr Megan Dixon: teacher, leader and researcher. PhD, Psychology. All things education and research - literacy, English, research into practice, curriculum, SEND. TES writer. Based in the UK.
https://meganjanedixon.co.uk/2026/01/02/pivoting/
https://meganjanedixon.co.uk/2026/01/02/pivoting/
Pinned
DamsonEd
@damsoned.bsky.social
· May 8
What schools are doing to tackle the speech and language ‘crisis’
The number of children with speech and language challenges is soaring. And not all of these pupils have SEND. Experts tell Ellen Peirson-Hagger how in-school intervention is possible - and highly effe...
www.tes.com
On the back of this article- a thread of useful places for schools/teachers who are interested in finding out more… as I say, this has been a serious issue for a long time… it would be powerful to get a serious handle on it (with obvious impact on ed outcomes).
www.tes.com/magazine/ana...
www.tes.com/magazine/ana...
Reposted by DamsonEd
I think you know the answer to that! 😄
February 2, 2026 at 11:57 AM
I think you know the answer to that! 😄
This is so true in education. There has been no change at all- the same faces, with the same views (using a slightly different terminology), carrying on as before.
This was a chance for fresh thinking and new innovation. A wasted opportunity.
bsky.app/profile/davi...
This was a chance for fresh thinking and new innovation. A wasted opportunity.
bsky.app/profile/davi...
The continuing Mandelson story is I think just another illustration of why this government's approval fell dramatically and remains rock bottom. The change that didn't come - freebies, scandals, old faces, and no sign of understanding why these matter.
February 2, 2026 at 2:02 PM
This is so true in education. There has been no change at all- the same faces, with the same views (using a slightly different terminology), carrying on as before.
This was a chance for fresh thinking and new innovation. A wasted opportunity.
bsky.app/profile/davi...
This was a chance for fresh thinking and new innovation. A wasted opportunity.
bsky.app/profile/davi...
Reposted by DamsonEd
The continuing Mandelson story is I think just another illustration of why this government's approval fell dramatically and remains rock bottom. The change that didn't come - freebies, scandals, old faces, and no sign of understanding why these matter.
February 2, 2026 at 12:04 PM
The continuing Mandelson story is I think just another illustration of why this government's approval fell dramatically and remains rock bottom. The change that didn't come - freebies, scandals, old faces, and no sign of understanding why these matter.
Reposted by DamsonEd
Bit different from the Ofsted language review which called for phonics, words and grammar. 🤷♀️🫣🤣
So much back-tracking.
bsky.app/profile/scho...
So much back-tracking.
bsky.app/profile/scho...
'As the language-teaching community debates the new KS2 core content, let’s go beyond a word list. Let’s ensure culture and contact are at the centre – so students experience the benefits of language learning from their very first lesson'
schoolsweek.co.uk/a-ni-hao-fro...
schoolsweek.co.uk/a-ni-hao-fro...
A ‘ni hao’ from visitors was the ultimate language lesson
Anything that adds context can ignite a child’s interest
schoolsweek.co.uk
February 2, 2026 at 10:29 AM
Bit different from the Ofsted language review which called for phonics, words and grammar. 🤷♀️🫣🤣
So much back-tracking.
bsky.app/profile/scho...
So much back-tracking.
bsky.app/profile/scho...
Reposted by DamsonEd
Without addressing the SLT difficulties, the challenges for the students are compounded. They will not magically disappear with a bit of debating and presenting from a PowerPoint.
Phonics/sentence dictation won’t sort it out, either.
It is also important to highlight the link with behaviour.
Phonics/sentence dictation won’t sort it out, either.
It is also important to highlight the link with behaviour.
February 2, 2026 at 9:33 AM
Without addressing the SLT difficulties, the challenges for the students are compounded. They will not magically disappear with a bit of debating and presenting from a PowerPoint.
Phonics/sentence dictation won’t sort it out, either.
It is also important to highlight the link with behaviour.
Phonics/sentence dictation won’t sort it out, either.
It is also important to highlight the link with behaviour.
Reposted by DamsonEd
We have normalised filming people be it ring camera footage, teachers in classrooms or the filming on streets. Public education needs to handle this and make it abhorrent.
February 2, 2026 at 11:01 AM
We have normalised filming people be it ring camera footage, teachers in classrooms or the filming on streets. Public education needs to handle this and make it abhorrent.
Reposted by DamsonEd
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
I wish reporting on this would discuss the surveillance capitalism of “lives” on social media- where people have normalised walking around with selfie sticks and filming streets and bars etc. Tiktok promotes this kind of material and it has always been an issue.
I wish reporting on this would discuss the surveillance capitalism of “lives” on social media- where people have normalised walking around with selfie sticks and filming streets and bars etc. Tiktok promotes this kind of material and it has always been an issue.
Men covertly filming women at night and profiting from footage, BBC finds
The BBC went undercover to investigate an industry where women are filmed at night without their knowledge.
www.bbc.co.uk
February 2, 2026 at 11:01 AM
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
I wish reporting on this would discuss the surveillance capitalism of “lives” on social media- where people have normalised walking around with selfie sticks and filming streets and bars etc. Tiktok promotes this kind of material and it has always been an issue.
I wish reporting on this would discuss the surveillance capitalism of “lives” on social media- where people have normalised walking around with selfie sticks and filming streets and bars etc. Tiktok promotes this kind of material and it has always been an issue.
Reposted by DamsonEd
And so many who work in EY already know the issues and with a bit of encouragement and permission could come up with many of the solutions.
February 2, 2026 at 10:41 AM
And so many who work in EY already know the issues and with a bit of encouragement and permission could come up with many of the solutions.
Reposted by DamsonEd
🤓 CEPEO course alert
The @cepeo-ucl.bsky.social team of data experts is running two more admin training courses in March and April!
First, we have an online course to learn more about the Longitudinal Educational Outcomes (LEO) dataset
23 March at 9:30am GMT
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cepeo-adru...
The @cepeo-ucl.bsky.social team of data experts is running two more admin training courses in March and April!
First, we have an online course to learn more about the Longitudinal Educational Outcomes (LEO) dataset
23 March at 9:30am GMT
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cepeo-adru...
CEPEO ADRUK Introduction to Longitudinal Education Outcomes (LEO) data
Join us for this online intro to the datasets comprising LEO, including university applications and the businesses in which individuals work
www.eventbrite.co.uk
February 2, 2026 at 10:10 AM
🤓 CEPEO course alert
The @cepeo-ucl.bsky.social team of data experts is running two more admin training courses in March and April!
First, we have an online course to learn more about the Longitudinal Educational Outcomes (LEO) dataset
23 March at 9:30am GMT
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cepeo-adru...
The @cepeo-ucl.bsky.social team of data experts is running two more admin training courses in March and April!
First, we have an online course to learn more about the Longitudinal Educational Outcomes (LEO) dataset
23 March at 9:30am GMT
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cepeo-adru...
Bit different from the Ofsted language review which called for phonics, words and grammar. 🤷♀️🫣🤣
So much back-tracking.
bsky.app/profile/scho...
So much back-tracking.
bsky.app/profile/scho...
'As the language-teaching community debates the new KS2 core content, let’s go beyond a word list. Let’s ensure culture and contact are at the centre – so students experience the benefits of language learning from their very first lesson'
schoolsweek.co.uk/a-ni-hao-fro...
schoolsweek.co.uk/a-ni-hao-fro...
A ‘ni hao’ from visitors was the ultimate language lesson
Anything that adds context can ignite a child’s interest
schoolsweek.co.uk
February 2, 2026 at 10:29 AM
Bit different from the Ofsted language review which called for phonics, words and grammar. 🤷♀️🫣🤣
So much back-tracking.
bsky.app/profile/scho...
So much back-tracking.
bsky.app/profile/scho...
Reposted by DamsonEd
'As the language-teaching community debates the new KS2 core content, let’s go beyond a word list. Let’s ensure culture and contact are at the centre – so students experience the benefits of language learning from their very first lesson'
schoolsweek.co.uk/a-ni-hao-fro...
schoolsweek.co.uk/a-ni-hao-fro...
A ‘ni hao’ from visitors was the ultimate language lesson
Anything that adds context can ignite a child’s interest
schoolsweek.co.uk
February 2, 2026 at 10:20 AM
'As the language-teaching community debates the new KS2 core content, let’s go beyond a word list. Let’s ensure culture and contact are at the centre – so students experience the benefits of language learning from their very first lesson'
schoolsweek.co.uk/a-ni-hao-fro...
schoolsweek.co.uk/a-ni-hao-fro...
Reposted by DamsonEd
£600k on eight free parking spaces, six reserved for Reform politicians, whilst removing free parking for junior Council staff.
Total snouts in troughs from Reform. www.lbc.co.uk/article/refo...
Total snouts in troughs from Reform. www.lbc.co.uk/article/refo...
Reform council spends £600k on eight free parking spaces for senior councillors | LBC
The majority of staff, who will not be able to use the free parking facilities available to their senior colleagues, will still be expected to pay to park every day
www.lbc.co.uk
February 2, 2026 at 10:23 AM
£600k on eight free parking spaces, six reserved for Reform politicians, whilst removing free parking for junior Council staff.
Total snouts in troughs from Reform. www.lbc.co.uk/article/refo...
Total snouts in troughs from Reform. www.lbc.co.uk/article/refo...
Oooops. 🤷♀️
This is what happens when school improvement processes are run by secondary school colleagues with limited experience and/or interest in the education sector as a whole.
schoolsweek.co.uk/schoolboy-er...
This is what happens when school improvement processes are run by secondary school colleagues with limited experience and/or interest in the education sector as a whole.
schoolsweek.co.uk/schoolboy-er...
‘Schoolboy error’ as smaller schools escape RISE crackdown
The DfE has not contacted some primaries potentially needing support because data goes unpublished
schoolsweek.co.uk
February 2, 2026 at 10:08 AM
Oooops. 🤷♀️
This is what happens when school improvement processes are run by secondary school colleagues with limited experience and/or interest in the education sector as a whole.
schoolsweek.co.uk/schoolboy-er...
This is what happens when school improvement processes are run by secondary school colleagues with limited experience and/or interest in the education sector as a whole.
schoolsweek.co.uk/schoolboy-er...
Reposted by DamsonEd
❗️Exclusive: More than a thousand schools with poor outcomes slipped through the net of the government’s RISE low-attainment crackdown, exposing a 'significant gap' in its latest bid to boost results
Full story 🔽
Full story 🔽
‘Schoolboy error’ as smaller schools escape RISE crackdown
The DfE has not contacted some primaries potentially needing support because data goes unpublished
schoolsweek.co.uk
January 30, 2026 at 5:11 PM
❗️Exclusive: More than a thousand schools with poor outcomes slipped through the net of the government’s RISE low-attainment crackdown, exposing a 'significant gap' in its latest bid to boost results
Full story 🔽
Full story 🔽
Reposted by DamsonEd
ICYMI: Ofsted refutes claims its report cards are written using AI amid concerns over 'generic' wording, first report cards for non-voluntary school inspections give an early look at grading, and a special school has been recommended for special measures
Alarm over ‘generic’ wording in 12 Ofsted report cards
An investigation revealed the same paragraph was used in report cards for 12 different schools
schoolsweek.co.uk
February 1, 2026 at 12:00 PM
ICYMI: Ofsted refutes claims its report cards are written using AI amid concerns over 'generic' wording, first report cards for non-voluntary school inspections give an early look at grading, and a special school has been recommended for special measures
Reposted by DamsonEd
Government-funded speech and language screening initiative ELSEC found an unexpected proportion of young children have unidentified needs, an evaluation report has said.
Staff said they were 'shocked at the amount of children' found to need targeted support
Staff said they were 'shocked at the amount of children' found to need targeted support
Speech and language pilot reveals 'shocking' level of need
Analysis suggests 6 in 10 children given universal screening were found to have speech and language needs
schoolsweek.co.uk
February 1, 2026 at 3:30 PM
Government-funded speech and language screening initiative ELSEC found an unexpected proportion of young children have unidentified needs, an evaluation report has said.
Staff said they were 'shocked at the amount of children' found to need targeted support
Staff said they were 'shocked at the amount of children' found to need targeted support
Reposted by DamsonEd
Calling all primary school teachers! @poetrybyheart.bsky.social has launched a brand new Key Stage 1 timeline, packed with free-to-access poems by some brilliant children's poets, accompanied by helpful kid-friendly explanations.
poetrybyheart.org.uk/timeline/4plus
poetrybyheart.org.uk/timeline/4plus
February 1, 2026 at 2:51 PM
Calling all primary school teachers! @poetrybyheart.bsky.social has launched a brand new Key Stage 1 timeline, packed with free-to-access poems by some brilliant children's poets, accompanied by helpful kid-friendly explanations.
poetrybyheart.org.uk/timeline/4plus
poetrybyheart.org.uk/timeline/4plus
Reposted by DamsonEd
🌟The Patoss Dyslexia Charity team is at the National SENCo Conference today (Monday 2 February) at Emirates Old Trafford, and we’d love to see you!
🎤 Julie Pettitt (Deputy AAA Team Lead) will be presenting from 11:15–12:00
📍 Visit us at the Patoss Dyslexia Charity stand and say hello!
#SENCo
🎤 Julie Pettitt (Deputy AAA Team Lead) will be presenting from 11:15–12:00
📍 Visit us at the Patoss Dyslexia Charity stand and say hello!
#SENCo
February 2, 2026 at 9:28 AM
🌟The Patoss Dyslexia Charity team is at the National SENCo Conference today (Monday 2 February) at Emirates Old Trafford, and we’d love to see you!
🎤 Julie Pettitt (Deputy AAA Team Lead) will be presenting from 11:15–12:00
📍 Visit us at the Patoss Dyslexia Charity stand and say hello!
#SENCo
🎤 Julie Pettitt (Deputy AAA Team Lead) will be presenting from 11:15–12:00
📍 Visit us at the Patoss Dyslexia Charity stand and say hello!
#SENCo
Reposted by DamsonEd
SEND reform is urgent, there are a generation of children languishing without support in a dysfunctional, creaking, labyrinthine and wasteful system.
✏️ @avneem.bsky.social spoke to @theguardian.com 👇
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
✏️ @avneem.bsky.social spoke to @theguardian.com 👇
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Ministers on lobbying blitz to avoid Labour rebellion over Send changes
Government has ‘learned lesson’ of botched welfare overhauls but MPs say they will not back cost-saving measures
www.theguardian.com
February 2, 2026 at 9:45 AM
SEND reform is urgent, there are a generation of children languishing without support in a dysfunctional, creaking, labyrinthine and wasteful system.
✏️ @avneem.bsky.social spoke to @theguardian.com 👇
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
✏️ @avneem.bsky.social spoke to @theguardian.com 👇
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Reposted by DamsonEd
Prof emerita @elizabethjacobs.bsky.social,
“a founding member of Defend Public Health, said Milhoan “wants to experiment on the people of the United States by seeing what happens as vaccination coverage plummets and infectious diseases spread. This is so dangerous as to approach criminality””
“a founding member of Defend Public Health, said Milhoan “wants to experiment on the people of the United States by seeing what happens as vaccination coverage plummets and infectious diseases spread. This is so dangerous as to approach criminality””
US committee is reconsidering all vaccine recommendations
Move is dramatic departure for advisory group under Kirk Milhoan, who says he doesn’t like the term ‘established science’
www.theguardian.com
February 1, 2026 at 1:38 PM
Prof emerita @elizabethjacobs.bsky.social,
“a founding member of Defend Public Health, said Milhoan “wants to experiment on the people of the United States by seeing what happens as vaccination coverage plummets and infectious diseases spread. This is so dangerous as to approach criminality””
“a founding member of Defend Public Health, said Milhoan “wants to experiment on the people of the United States by seeing what happens as vaccination coverage plummets and infectious diseases spread. This is so dangerous as to approach criminality””
Reposted by DamsonEd
📝 An under-pressure academy trust broke rules over a £15,000 payment to a former school leader
schoolsweek.co.uk/struggling-t...
schoolsweek.co.uk/struggling-t...
Trust failed to clear payment to outgoing ‘senior executive’
MAT also did not conduct internal audit as reserves tumbled due to 'rising costs', accounts show
schoolsweek.co.uk
February 2, 2026 at 9:12 AM
📝 An under-pressure academy trust broke rules over a £15,000 payment to a former school leader
schoolsweek.co.uk/struggling-t...
schoolsweek.co.uk/struggling-t...
Reposted by DamsonEd
Exclusive: The government appears to lack a clear picture of which schools are defying its expectation that they should operate a 32.5-hour week, with dozens of leaders crying foul over national data which suggests one in six is not compliant
schoolsweek.co.uk/dodgy-dfe-da...
schoolsweek.co.uk/dodgy-dfe-da...
Schools suggest DfE data on 32.5 hour week is 'inaccurate'
The government appears to lack a clear picture of which schools are defying its expectation that they should operate a 32.5-hour week.
schoolsweek.co.uk
February 2, 2026 at 9:14 AM
Exclusive: The government appears to lack a clear picture of which schools are defying its expectation that they should operate a 32.5-hour week, with dozens of leaders crying foul over national data which suggests one in six is not compliant
schoolsweek.co.uk/dodgy-dfe-da...
schoolsweek.co.uk/dodgy-dfe-da...
Reposted by DamsonEd
Bellingcat founder @eliothiggins.bsky.social and Cornell University’s @cward1e.bsky.social unpack how disinformation evolved, why trust in institutions is collapsing, and what tools we all need to stay sharp in a world of misinformation. Listen back to last week's Stage Talk: rss.com/podcasts/bel...
"How We Got Here: The Rise, Backlash and Future Of Counter-Disinformation" with Eliot Higgins and Dr Claire Wardle | Podcast Episode on RSS.com
In our first Stage Talk of 2026, we were joined by Bellingcat founder Eliot Higgins and Cornell University's Dr. Claire Wardle sharing their expertise on the formation of fact checking and verificatio...
rss.com
February 2, 2026 at 8:50 AM
Bellingcat founder @eliothiggins.bsky.social and Cornell University’s @cward1e.bsky.social unpack how disinformation evolved, why trust in institutions is collapsing, and what tools we all need to stay sharp in a world of misinformation. Listen back to last week's Stage Talk: rss.com/podcasts/bel...
Reposted by DamsonEd
'Supporters commonly told the BBC that issues with organisation and the authorities occurred more often than risks posed by rival fans.'
www.bbc.co.uk/sport/footba...
www.bbc.co.uk/sport/footba...
Champions League draw: How safe are fans at Uefa European fixtures?
BBC Sport explores the safety issues fans face when following their team across Europe.
www.bbc.co.uk
January 30, 2026 at 8:51 AM
'Supporters commonly told the BBC that issues with organisation and the authorities occurred more often than risks posed by rival fans.'
www.bbc.co.uk/sport/footba...
www.bbc.co.uk/sport/footba...