BBC Countryfile films the impact of new accessible Wheelyboat with North Wales Sailability at the Conway Centre, Anglesey. Dedicated to providing mobility impaired individuals with opportunities to participate in waterborne activities, The Wheelyboat Trust assist...
Chester Zoo have today officially announced Chester is now the World’s First Sustainable Palm Oil City. Seven years of hard work, educating and supporting restaurants, schools, hotels and cafes, in the use of sustainable palm...
Two local school chefs have been invited to spend the day working with Michelin Star Executive Chef Simon Radley and his brigade in the kitchens of the 5-star Chester Grosvenor Hotel on Thursday 21st February....
Last year, Molly Robinson, 15, was struggling to cope with the symptoms caused by an undiagnosed health condition. The unexplained pain, plus the worry about what was wrong, caused her to feel increasingly anxious and...
The physical and learning benefits of teaching outside mean you should wrap up warm and get on with it. Midwinter, post-Christmas, cold, dark and damp mornings and evenings. Probably the last thing a lot...
Given that we are a nation surrounded by water and have so many bodies of water inland within the UK, it is vital that all children can swim to a standard that will keep them...
We’ve been Nominated for the #MoreThanSailing award at the Royal Yachting Association Sailability Annual Awards For further details, click here
We at Edsential Community Interest Company are committed to participating in the Sustainable Palm Oil City Project in Chester. By April 2019 we will have worked with our suppliers to ensure that any palm oil present in...
The focus needs to shift from high-achieving students in their final years of education, to primary school pupils in underrepresented areas Last week the Sutton Trust released figures showing that eight elite schools sent more students...
The Cheshire Youth MFL Jazz Orchestra, fresh from their electric performance with Alex Bone (winner BBC Young Musician of the Year) at this year’s Manchester Jazz festival, are looking for trumpet and trombone players to...
Come along to an evening of festive magic at the NSPCC Carols By Candlelight Event on Tuesday 5th December. Entertaining you on the night will be Liberty X singer & winner of 2016’s The Voice; Kevin...
Research finds three-quarters of schools do not currently monitor their teachers’ mental wellbeing Three-quarters of teachers say their mental health is not being monitored at work, according to new research that highlights the growing need...
Research suggests that greeting students at the door leads to calmer classrooms The class jostle at the door, and then melt into a line as the teacher approaches. A pile of books under her arm,...
This workshop has been speci?cally designed for health professionals, social care professionals and carers plus those working with charities concerned with ageing and mental health, artists of all kinds as well as health and performing...
Lengthy school reports are “incredibly burdensome” for teachers and should be replaced with shorter versions, a Government advisory panel has concluded. A review commissioned by Damian Hinds, the Education Secretary, found “limited evidence” for the...
Projects launched to improve children’s early language and literacy, and boost parents’ confidence with home learning Disadvantaged families will benefit from extra support to nurture their child’s early development at home, thanks to multi-million pound...
We need to move beyond generalisations and bust some of the myths around autism “Being autistic is not necessarily disabling,” explains Dr Luke Beardon. “Instead, it is a disadvantage. And is that disadvantage a result of...
Welcome to the school which has ditched traditional classrooms in favour of open-plan learning. It’s part of a wider schools refurbishment programme in Finland that’s set to take place over the next 10 years, in...
The transition from early years foundation stage needs much closer attention Remember those wild-eyed, untamed children you saw skipping out of their Reception classroom for the last time in July? Shrieking, laughing children, they were...
Unions have set chancellor Philip Hammond six tests but few expect a cash bonanza for schools The chancellor Philip Hammond will today unveil his Autumn Budget. This key moment in the political calendar has been...
Edsential Musical Routes welcomes a new singing tutor to our music centres. Imogen Garner is a mezzo soprano who has worked with English National Opera, Scottish Opera and the Buxton International Festival. “We selected Imogen...
Some 50 influential organisations and people in Scotland sign up to national commitment on outdoor learning Playing and learning outdoors is to become “a fundamental part of growing up in Scotland”, after 50 influential organisations...
Y3C is a non-auditioned, mixed voice youth choir for students aged 11 to 18 An opportunity to meet like-minded students, work with top choral directors/voice coaches + perform at prestigious venues Join us...
Move reflects fears for half of British children unable to swim 25 metres by the age of 11 A new drive to encourage private schools to share their swimming pools is being launched by the...
SecEd’s resident wellbeing expert Dr Pooky Knightsmith offers 10 tips for teaching about mental health safely and sensitively Teaching pupils about mental health and illness is a great way to promote understanding, help seeking and...
Nomination for Best Residential Experience at the School Travel Awards We are delighted to announce Edsential Conway Centres have been nominated for Best Residential Experience at the School Travel Awards. The School Travel Awards shines...
Conway Centres: Anglesey have enjoyed a successful summer having been determined to find a way If you’re a multisport provider, why would you run sailing? Well, having got up to 66 sailors along to their...
If we don’t give pupils the chance to learn about risks – and their own limitations – we put them at a disadvantage Last year, 38 organisations from 16 countries and six continents signed the International...
Pupils have stressed the importance of the arts – ministers must take action before it’s too late. Whatever our background or heritage, art forms move and inspire us, enrich our lives and teach us what...
Currently, A levels provide nothing more than a piece of paper – they can (and should) be built into a coherent and worthwhile programme. If you doubt just how deep is the shadow cast by...
The Snowman Tour are bringing something magical to Hanley this December! “The most amazing concert ever. Everyone was enjoying it, even the orchestra. You could tell because every single person had a big smile on...
Heads warn that they are teaching in buildings with leaks, crumbling wall, asbestos issues and damp More than two-thirds of England’s schools have buildings that are “not fit for purpose”, the results of a new...
School leaders in remote areas across England are taking on the work of cleaners, bus drivers, caretakers and canteen staff in a bid to reduce costs in the face of shrinking budgets. More than two-fifths...
When a young person opens up about a mental health issue, responding in the right way is crucial. Caroline Hounsell from MHFA England offers five tips for school staff Let’s start with the statistics. One...
Exam results and grades will no longer be the key focus of Ofsted inspections in England, under new plans. Ofsted chief inspector Amanda Spielman says the focus on performance data has narrowed what is taught...
Governor boards for reviewing exclusions should be scrapped and replaced with independent “tribunals” of experts, the leading organisation for governance has told ministers. Governors can feel the pressure not to overturn the headteacher’s decision, particularly...
A lack of school spending data on mental health means it is not possible to plan support for pupils in need across the country, the government’s spending watchdog has warned. The National Audit Office found...
The number of schools offering GCSE and A-level music courses to pupils is in decline, prompting concerns that the subject is “disappearing”. Research by the University of Sussex found that 18 per cent of schools...
Pupils referred to mental health services by their schools are being turned away if they don’t exhibit the same problems at home, a think tank has warned. In a new report by the Education Policy...
The inspectorate’s deputy director of early education blames iPhones for inhibiting shy staff Phones have made nursery school staff too “embarrassed” to sing to young children, Ofsted’s deputy director of early education has warned. Gill Jones also...
Useful Resources to support Mental Health in Schools. at http://www.moodjuice.scot.nhs.uk/mildmoderate/entry.asp
Ministers will take action to get more pupils to play competitive sports in school, Damian Hinds has announced. The education secretary has set out proposals for a new “school sport action plan”, which will...
From growing their own fruit and veg to mucking out on a farm, it’s crucial to encourage pupils to learn about the great outdoors The purpose of education should be rooted in the notion that...
Does the peculiar magic of Roald Dahl hold the key to getting children to read? “Words,” said The BFG, “Is oh such a twitch-tickling problem to me all my life.” Roald Dahl’s much-loved creation has an exotic...
Children who are less engaged with reading and writing are more likely to struggle with their mental health, a new report has found. School pupils who enjoy reading and writing are three times as likely to have higher levels of...
You are cordially invited to explore and celebrate the numerous creative and cultural programmes running in our region, offering the public, particularly for those who are concerned with education, or work with children and young...
Puddings should be banned from school meals if the Scottish government wants children to be healthier, say dentists. The Faculty of Dental Surgery of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow wants excess...
The creative arts should be immovable parts of a child’s school day, something cherished and valued, says actor Sir Lenny Henry. Sir Lenny George Henry, CBE, is a British stand-up comedian, actor, singer, writer, and...
‘It is not surprising that so many teachers are leaving the profession when morale is this low’ Teachers in England have lowest job satisfaction of all English-speaking countries, new study finds. Of 22 comparable countries, none have...
School inspectors in England have put too much weight on tests and exam results when rating schools, Ofsted boss Amanda Spielman has admitted. This has added pressure for schools to “deliver test scores above...
As a Living Wage recognised service provider, who offers a plethora of different services to a multitude of different business and organisations, we are delighted to be included in their Business to Business Online Directory....
A new National Plan is needed to stop cultural subjects being squeezed out of the curriculum. Last month the talented young cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason became the first artist to receive a BRIT Certified Breakthrough Award for his...
School leaders call on Ofsted to put on hold the implementation of a radical overhaul of school inspection Headteachers are calling for Ofsted to put plans for a new inspection framework on hold as they...
New GDPR rules around data protection came into effect earlier this year, but how much has your school done to comply? The GDPR deadline (25 May 2018), scaremongering and prophecies of doom have come and gone with...
There is ‘huge value’ in giving children under 5 more chances to experience music and culture, says Darren Henley Early years should no longer be overlooked when it comes to music education, arts chief Darren...
Every school wants to do its best by all learners – including those deemed more able – but often a wake-up call is needed to put such learners in the spotlight of school improvement planning… ...
Attachment-aware and trauma-informed practice can help to support some of the most vulnerable pupils in our schools, including those who are looked after. Virtual school head Darren Martindale advises As a virtual school head for...
Creative arts can’t be an ‘optional extra’ – they equip pupils to be successful post-school. Today, HRH the Prince of Wales convenes a star-studded gathering of the great and the good from drama, music, art, dance,...
Watchdog responds to ‘alarming’ Progress 8 data suggesting schools are entering pupils for inappropriate qualifications Ofsted inspectors will examine whether schools are attempting to game their Progress 8 scores amid concerns about why some pupils...
Special school teacher Siobhan Barnett shares what working with autistic students has taught her about autism Every student starting teacher training should expect to learn about autism in their course, following the publication of the...
Just 14 per cent of the early years and primary workforce are male – we must take urgent action to increase this figure Just 14 per cent of the nursery and primary teaching workforce in state-maintained...
The six-week summer break sees low-income families struggling to pay for outings and even extra food For well over a century, schoolchildren have greeted the dawning of the summer break with joy. Many aspects...
Exam malpractice commission will call on tech giants to protect exam system from technology-enabled cheating Google and Facebook will be asked to contribute to a new commission aiming to crack down on cheating in public...
Low take-up of Stem subjects down to low confidence and boys’ dominance, study finds Girls achieving top grades in science and maths at GCSE are deterred from continuing to a higher level with such subjects,...
In recent years, there has been a clear shift away from the arts, modern languages and a handful of social sciences at both GCSEs and A-levels. Since 2013, the number of A-level entries in arts...
Ofsted chief inspector ‘deeply worried’ by schools teaching children narrowly to the test from age 11 Eleven-year-olds are being drilled for their GCSEs five years in advance by being made to sit specially-designed tests modelled on the...
Survey shows the longer a teacher has been in the profession, the less likely they are to think Ofsted is reliable More than half of teachers do not accept that Ofsted is a “reliable and trusted”...
Traumatic experiences early in life can have a ‘huge impact’ on learning and mental health, children’s charity says A children’s charity has called for teachers to receive more training in how to support children who have experienced...
Kids’ clubs are stepping in to fill the gap and stop children going hungry during the school holidays, as families struggle with austerity As the summer holidays begin, many families look forward to breaks...
The majority of teachers in England are unsure of the benefits of working for a Multi-Academy Trust (MAT) and two thirds (68 per cent) would choose a role in a standalone school over a job...
JK Rowling’s Hogwarts ‘symbolises the community we are all a part of in education’. I never expected to love Harry Potter. I’d wrinkled my nose at Father Christmas turning up in CS Lewis’ Narnia, because I wanted...
My first day in the school playground was terrifying. Everyone else seemed to know each other. Chatting, laughing clusters of comfortable, relaxed people made connections and bonded. I decided – out of sheer defensiveness – that...
Young Musician Emily undetook some work expereince with our Music Team last week. Here is her account of it and all she was involved in: During my week with Edsential I was given multiple opportunities...
This academic year, we ran four catering competitions for all our schools. These were: 1. National Roast Dinner Day 2. Around the World Day 3. Crown Biscuits (for the Royal Wedding) 4. Easter Buscuits After...
Edsential Competitions & Events have ended for the academic year of 2017/2018 and once again they have proved to be very successful. Throughout the year, the emphasis of participation has been at the forefront of...
A couple of years ago, I met Adam (not his real name) at a farm in Dorset. Adam was 14 and had been excluded from mainstream education due to behavioural difficulties and a disruptive home...
If the teacher lets go of the tug of war rope and ignores the bad behaviour then it will just stop Teachers should ignore low-level disruptive behaviour in the classroom to reduce it, a new study suggests. It...
Ofsted has released a report on obesity, healthy eating and physical activity in primary school Lobby groups should not see schools as a ‘silver bullet’ to tackle childhood obesity, a new report from Ofsted says....
Are you aware of all the services we provide? For #WorldEmojiDaywe’ve mixed things up a bit! Catering Cleaning Swimming PE Creative & Performing Arts DofE Governors SEND Music Early Years Residential Visits LOtC Mental...
We must teach children to understand the risks of the Internet and keep themselves safe I can clearly remember getting my first mobile phone. It was back in the Nineties, I was in my twenties, and...
If you’re desperate to escape the classroom heat for the breezy school field, here’s the evidence you need to make your case. Forest bathing. That is what our screen-addled, short-attention-spanned teenagers need. No, I don’t...
Year after year, students come back to school in September having lost learning ground during the long vacation – but it doesn’t have to be that way… Mention the ‘summer slide’ and non-teachers’ thoughts will...
Edsential Musical Routes has continued the tradition established 4 years ago of presenting ensembles/music groups from across Wirral and Cheshire West and Chester in concert throughout the day at the National Waterways Museum commonly known...
Having harboured a passion for both music and marine science, a Bangor University student has graduated with pride, scooping up prizes and accolades along the way. Samuel Hartharn-Evans, 21, from Bebington, Wirral has not only...
Take advantage of this offer, available only until 20th July. Get ahead and buy your singing resources for the new school year now! Have you thought about your Harvest singing? Or new assembly songbooks? Maybe...
Can teachers be fully autonomous? If not, how can they be truly creative in their lessons? With around one-third of teachers leaving the classroom within five years of qualifying, it is time to ask: what...
Taken from https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/07/11/children-cant-catch-lag-behind-reading-writing-maths-study-claims/ Clumsy children who struggle to catch a ball are less likely to perform well in reading, writing and maths exams, a study has found. The research raises the possibility that schools could provide extra...
Shared from: https://www.tes.com/news/what-gareth-southgate-can-teach-us-about-leading England’s manager leads with class, honesty, consistency and a strong plan – school leaders can learn a lot from him. If the World Cup is not your thing, then look away now. But if you...
A wonderful opportunity to attend the opening night of our ‘A Window on the World’ exhibition at the Williamson Art Gallery & Museum last night. The project itself enables pupils and teachers to work collaboratively with artists...
In our diverse, growing digital world, it is difficult to know if you’re still as safe as you can be online: either for internet banking, social media, making purchases or if you’re browsing. There are...
Did You Know… In 2017, 255 people died as a result of accidental drowning across the UK, nearly 1 in 4 were children and young adults. National statistics show that nearly 50% of all children...
We have been investigating a sysstem bug on our app this week where our Pupil’s Voice app has been unable to connect to our server and submit data when not connected to wifi. We have...
Guardian Readers responding to proposed changes in the New English baccalaureate. I wholeheartedly agree with your letter writers (British artists: Ebacc will damage creativity and self-expression, 9 May) and feel very disillusioned that, as a...
INSPIRATION, INNOVATION AND PARTICIPATION! To register go to: https://getcreative6july.eventbrite.co.uk
Data Protection laws are changing on the 25th of May 2018 and we have updated our policy to comply with these new EU Laws and Regulations. When you use our services, you are trusting us...
During my time in education, the biggest change to have happened was the 2014 switch to the new curriculum. As educators, we all have our opinions on the new curriculum and often like to share...
In association with http://www.rya.org.uk/ Tuesday 24th saw 34 people attend our Sailability session at the Conway Centre, North Wales. Amongst the attendees was a group from Mencap Cymru. Mencap Cymru is the voice of learning disability in...
Results for the Spring Term 2018 competition are as follows, congratulations to all who took part! Title Winner School Overall Girl Holly P (Year 6) Upton Westlea Overall Boy Joshua (Year 4) Heygarth...
In August 2017, The Guardian published an article stating, “Children who exercise become healthier adults.” While this to most of us seems common sense; if you develop a love of sport as a child you...
As you are aware obesity levels are at an all-time high and mental health is at an all-time low. Studies show that: Children that are physically active perform better academically The mind can’tf unction properly...
Edsential’s Music Service are looking for musicians and vocalists for bands, ensembles and choirs from Cheshire West and Chester and Wirral Schools to perform on the Bandstand 19th June at the Royal Cheshire Show 2018....
Article written by Sarah Knapton from ‘The Telegraph’ https://goo.gl/r86X1d (24th November, 2017) Physical education should be taught every day at school because exercise boosts brain size and improves academic performance, a study has...
The importance of high quality P.E; Early Years to Key Stage 2 By Martin McGovern – Edsential Lead for Whole School Improvement through PE and Sport In the last few years, with the introduction of...
Joseph Venning is a contemporary painter who specialises in large scale, wall mural commissions for businesses, schools and public spaces. Joseph’s murals often include familiar local landmarks, reconfigured into eye catching, surreal compositions. Stylistically his...
The Greatest Showman is one of the latest big blockbuster movies from Hollywood. However, the song ‘This is Me’, sung by Keala Settle has be touted as “an anthem for outcasts”. This song ultimately portray’s...
The start of the year has started as the autumn term finished with 4 competitions delivered within a short spring half term! The events have had 4 different venues; St Paul’s, St Anne’s and Rock...
Duncan Ross is an Edsential music tutor who uses the online music sharing tool: SoundCloud, to enhance his lessons. Here’s what Duncan has to say about his use of SoundCloud in lessons: I’ve always recorded...
Personal Best Programme The programme aims to have lasting benefits for the mental wellbeing of young people through physical activity. Promoting positive mental health in children through supporting them in both identifying and achieving...
Competition Results This term we had 14 schools take part with over 2200 pupils. Results for the Winter Term 2017 competition are as follows, congratulations to all who took part! Title Winner School Overall...
For the second time, Edsential are holding the annual ‘Young Artists in Tuscany’ exhibition at the prestigious Williamson Art Gallery & Museum in Birkenhead. The exhibition open to the public up to the 21st December,...
In late November, Vale Royal Schools Concert Band were awarded a Silver medal in the National Concert Band Festival – a fantastic achievement after months of hard work. You can view the examiners report here. Next...
“There are a variety of different approaches available to support low-attaining year 7 pupils to catch up in literacy, with robust evidence to show if they work or not. Writing interventions appear to show consistently...
“The measure of intelligence is the ability to change.” Albert Einstein It is claimed by some that disadvantaged children lag behind their peers because they have lower intelligence or cognitive abilities. It is even been...
Achievements so far: Conway Centre is now a RYA Sailability Centre with the highest level of accreditation. 17 members of staff have attended and been accredited for RYA Disability Awareness Training. A Sailablity day that...
Thursday 2nd November, 11am & 2pm Ellesmere Port Civic Hall Meet Catapluf, a cheeky character whose imagination travels to places where everything is music: saucepans, water, drums and even your body. It’s a magical musical...
In the last few years, with the introduction of the PE Premium, and the Government statements regarding health and well-being (“Well-being, why it matters to Health Policy”, Govt. report 2014), Physical Education as a subject...
The Reviews Are In… “…edgy…” “…totally ‘inappropriate’…” “…merciless bullying…” Extracted from a recent feedback from the commissioner of a full days Storytelling in a Primary School. Reception to Year 6. (For the full response...
At the beginning of the summer break I followed a Twitter conversation on the things we used to get up to on holiday when we were children. There was a fair amount of comment about...
We have come across an interesting case study on The Guardian Newspaper’s Education segment, which suggests that Music could make an enormous difference in children’s performance at school. Take a read of the article yourself...
By Mike Smethurst – Edsential Lead for Competitions and Events There has been much written about competitive sport in primary schools. Some people argue that a negative experience in competitive sport at a young age...
Reflection after listening to Neil Mackay delivering: ‘Engaging Dyslexic boys in reading and writing’. Having listened to Neil Mackay give common sense and simple strategies to support Dyslexic pupils I thought it may be useful...
We have designed a new Ukelele/Guitar Ensemble which is will be run by Emma Johnson at Wirral Centre for Young Musicians. The ensemble will run from 0930-1030 It is aimed at pupils who have...
1. Early music education exposure helps develop brain areas involved in language and reasoning – our first example of the twelve benefits of music education. It is thought that brain development continues for many years after...
A series of templates allowing schools to prepare and log the necessary data and files for an Ofstead Inspection can be found here courtesy of TheSchoolBus.net
We are excited to be launching two new art projects for the academic year 2017-2018, both ending in exhibitions at Chester Cathedral and the Williamson Art Gallery and Museum. These are fantastic opportunities for children...
How a child feels when they start nursery, pre-school or school is a bit like how adults feel on their first day in a new job. The thoughts children will have in their head will...
Last week Anne Longfield, the Children’s Commissioner, hit the headlines in respect to the length of time that children spend on social media. As she launched a campaign to help parents manage their children’s internet...
Rationale This year has been the first year that Edsential has delivered competitions within primary schools. All the events have been delivered and organised on Monday’s throughout the year. The word competition is used lightly...
Training courses & CPD are now available to book online for the academic year 2017-18. Our offer is strongly focussed around our holistic approach to improving the health and wellbeing of children and young people. All...
In January 2016, a group of KS4 students from Ysgol Jessie Hughes as part of Canolfan Menai Key stage 4 PRU on Anglesey engaged in building an electric go-kart to race in the Greenpower IET...
We are pleased to present our first Impact Report. The Impact Report showcases the work we have undertaken in our mission to improve outcomes for children and young people. We are immensely proud of the work...
Andrew Allmark was appointed as the Head of Edsential’s Cleaning & Facilities Management Service in February 2017. In work…. Andrew worked for Sodexo who provide total facilities management services for 4 years. Andrew had oversight of all...
Edsential are pleased to welcome Neil MacKay, the freelance consultant and trainer who created the concept of Dyslexia Friendly Schools. Neil will be leading a conference on the 27th September at the Holiday Inn Ellesmere Port,...
Making a meal together as a family Our Family Cooking Schools are a joint venture between our Health and Wellbeing team and Catering team. Utilising the skills of both teams the cooking schools have been...
First Ever Clarinet Day! Members of the Edsential Clarinet team led a series of workshops on Saturday 9th July to a group of 25 students ranging from beginner level to Grade 6, at the Ellesmere Port Music...
Auditions for Cheshire Youth Orchestra – Saturday 23rd September 2017 Mid Cheshire College. The Cheshire Youth Orchestras* comprise some of the most talented young musicians from all over Cheshire. The three orchestras provide a fun and...
Over 1700 Young Musicians from 40 schools took part in Come and play with the Hallé at the Bridgewater Hall in Manchester on the 14th and 15th June and they were extraordinary! Presented by Tom Redmond and...
Edsential in Partnership with Manchester Metropolitan University The National Award for SEN Coordination remains a mandatory requirement for newly appointed SENCos since 2008. Experienced SENCos and aspirant SENCos with appropriate experience and access to working...
Walliams at the Williamson is now on display at the Williamson Art Gallery and Museum An amazing 426 children, parents, teachers and Headteacher’s arrived to celebrate the opening of the exhibition on the 5th July...
On the 12th and 13th of July Edsential and Queen’s Park High School welcomed 800 pupils and 350 family members to ‘Without the Walls’. Without the Walls was a showcase of extraordinary art, performances of...
Edsential has recently become a Recognised Service Provider to work with the Living Wage. The Living Wage is an hourly rate set independently and updated annually, based on the cost living in the UK. The...
