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Ruth Swailes

@ruthswailes.bsky.social

7.3K followers 2.8K following 980 posts

Award winning Early Years and Primary Advisor, lead curriculum developer and author. Unashamedly child - centred EY nerd. Occasionally outspoken rebel with a cause. No unsolicited DM’s unless I know you, thanks. Ruthswailes.com

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Ruth Swailes @ruthswailes.bsky.social · 5h

Teach first (for 2 years) work for a think tank, get a gong, write the curriculum .

Ruth Swailes @ruthswailes.bsky.social · 5h

Yup. Writing a curriculum is not easy, it takes a lot of knowledge, time and thought .

Ruth Swailes @ruthswailes.bsky.social · 5h

I did wonder the same. My diary is too packed to find time to tender (not that I’d want to), I suspect most decent consultants would say the same.

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Ruth Swailes @ruthswailes.bsky.social · 8h

The timescales on this are interesting. Not being funny, any decent consultant is likely to have little or no availability between now and the deadline. I have 3 days left available in 2026, I know I’m not the only one.

Warwick Mansell @warwickmansell.bsky.social · 14h

Exclusive, I think: DfE seeks consultants for £500-a-day work to rewrite England’s national curriculum
educationuncovered.co.uk/news/dfe-see...
But would-be drafters of detailed programmes of study warned: you must not use AI.

Education Uncovered | News| DfE seeks consultants for £500-a-day work to rewrite England’s national curriculum

Invitation to tender document also reveals that ministers expect much of the detailed programmes of study work on the curriculum to be completed by next summer. But the instruction to consultants is: ...

educationuncovered.co.uk

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Ruth Swailes @ruthswailes.bsky.social · 2d

It will do- it’s a work in progress!

Ruth Swailes @ruthswailes.bsky.social · 2d

It’s a work in progress!

Ruth Swailes @ruthswailes.bsky.social · 2d

Thanks Sue!

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Ruth Swailes @ruthswailes.bsky.social · 2d

New blog
ruthswailes.com/handwriting-readiness-and-rhythm-finding-balance-between-policy-and-practice/

Handwriting, Readiness and Rhythm: Finding Balance Between Policy and Practice. - Ruth Swailes

When the DfE Writing Framework (2025) landed, many of us read the line about children in Reception being taught to “form lower-case and capital letters correctly” and felt that familiar flicker of ten...

ruthswailes.com

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Ruth Swailes @ruthswailes.bsky.social · 2d

The project is coming together !

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Ruth Swailes @ruthswailes.bsky.social · 9d

Working with teachers across Wirral, schools in Ealing, and leaders from multiple diocese across the country this week. Whatever your week has in store, I hope it’s a good one.

happy monday have a great week is written in colorful letters

ALT: happy monday have a great week is written in colorful letters

media.tenor.com

Reposted by Ruth Swailes

Natalie Bennett @nataliegreenpeer.bsky.social · 10d

Disaster for education & #MentalHealth

"Average spent on materials for a primary school child is £1.80 a year. In some schools it’s 14p... Only 12% of primary school teachers are able to provide more than an hour of art each week"

observer.co.uk/news/nationa...

Children starved of art lose their creative spark – and t...

You can’t buy a crayon with the amount spent on arts education in some schools – leaving pupils without the skills for tomorrow’s jobs

observer.co.uk

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Ruth Swailes @ruthswailes.bsky.social · 10d

It’s taken a while to pluck up courage. There’s still quite a few bits to go. In your own time is best, there’s no rush. Yesterday was definitely one of the hardest days I’ve had in a long time.

Ruth Swailes @ruthswailes.bsky.social · 11d

That must be so hard. Xx

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Ruth Swailes @ruthswailes.bsky.social · 11d

What a day it’s been. I’ve been building up to clearing out Pete’s wardrobe and bedroom cupboard. I’ve finally done 2/3 of it. Feel like I’ve done ten rounds with a boxer. Mardy blanket time .

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Ruth Swailes @ruthswailes.bsky.social · 12d

Early start.
Sunderland bound…

a cartoon of snoopy dancing with the words it 's time to do the friday dance below him

ALT: a cartoon of snoopy dancing with the words it 's time to do the friday dance below him

media.tenor.com

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Ruth Swailes @ruthswailes.bsky.social · 14d

Hi- I’ll DM you!

Ruth Swailes @ruthswailes.bsky.social · 14d

Taking bookings now for 2026/7. Do get in touch.

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Reposted by Ruth Swailes

Pam Jarvis @drpam.bsky.social · 14d

Doesn’t this tell everyone who supports Reform everything they need to know about their glorious leader? I.E. that he will follow the Trump playbook into all the circles of hell into which it leads.

Farage refuses to criticise Trump over paracetamol despite health experts dismissing autism claims

Reform UK leader says he has ‘no idea’ if US president is right to tell women to avoid drug during pregnancy

www.theguardian.com

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Ruth Swailes @ruthswailes.bsky.social · 14d

After 2 days in Cheshire schools, today I’m working with leaders in Oxfordshire this morning and teachers across the midlands this afternoon, online.

Ruth Swailes @ruthswailes.bsky.social · 18d

1.6kg of lovely fresh tomatoes !

Ruth Swailes @ruthswailes.bsky.social · 18d

Vines have been busy while I’ve been away.

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Ruth Swailes @ruthswailes.bsky.social · 18d

Teacher friends, niche request, and a long shot but does anyone have old VHS copies of Talk, Write... and Read, specifically episodes
54. Cliffhanger: Part 1 17 Jan 1995
55. Cliffhanger: Part 2 24 Jan 1995
56. Over the Edge 31 Jan 1995
if so, please say hi!

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Reposted by Ruth Swailes

Dr Debra Kidd @debrakidd.bsky.social · 19d

A week of all things early childhood...great to have @ruthswailes.bsky.social with us this week - both in and out of school!

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Ruth Swailes @ruthswailes.bsky.social · 19d

Today I’m working with parents and teachers to talk about the power of play beyond Early Years.

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Ruth Swailes @ruthswailes.bsky.social · 20d

A brilliant evening in Leuven, I’m looking forward to working with parents and colleagues in Brussels from EY to KS2 over the next 2 days, developing playful learning !

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