What Actually Improves Writing?

Deliver an inspiring virtual author experience through an engaging episode of the Author in Your Classroom podcast featuring Michael Rosen. Centred on his anthology On the Move, the session explores themes of migration and identity. Rosen explains how daydreaming can unlock ideas and voice, encouraging young writers to “make it personal” a principle that underpins the entire unit. Pupils study Rosen’s poem The Migrants in Me, responding both emotionally and analytically to its themes. Carefully chosen podcast extracts introduce each stage of learning, while supporting resources, including planning sheets, idea cards and working wall materials, promote independent writing. Teaching overview This four-part unit develops pupils’ poetic skills progressively. The first session introduces daydreaming as a creative strategy, allowing pupils to generate ideas by following their thoughts and linking them to personal experiences, inspired by Rosen’s approach. In the second session, pupils focus on imagery and figurative language. They explore similes, metaphors, personification and idioms, examining how Rosen creates vivid and memorable images. The third session centres on drafting original poetry. Pupils select their preferred form and shape their writing carefully, drawing on personal memories and emotions. The final session focuses on refinement and sharing. Pupils perform their poems, offer feedback and improve selected lines. A class recital provides an opportunity to celebrate their work and build confidence. By the end of the unit, pupils will understand how Michael Rosen crafts authentic, personal poetry. They will recognise the value of daydreaming in the creative process and feel ready to write poems with meaning and purpose.

Watch this session to discover everything our subject excellence programme has to offer: dedicated school support, subject-specific CPD, assessment, and comprehensive teaching and learning resources. Download sample resources: https://bit.ly/4pcNnl1 Book a call with our Partnerships team: https://bit.ly/4lR3ovd

Introduce a fresh approach to storytelling in your classroom with this engaging creative writing unit, where KS2 pupils reimagine classic fairy tales for a modern audience. Across the sequence, children examine how well-known characters and narratives can be updated, helping traditional stories feel meaningful and exciting for today’s readers. This fully resourced unit includes carefully selected clips from the Author in Your Classroom podcast featuring Konnie Huq. These extracts support each stage of learning, offering insight into the creative process of a professional author and illustrator while encouraging pupils to develop their own storytelling voice. Teaching overview Structured over four linked sessions, the unit takes pupils from exploring familiar tales through to crafting their own original narratives. Children begin by revisiting traditional fairy tales, identifying core elements such as character, setting and theme. Using podcast clips, they consider how writers adapt these features for contemporary audiences, introducing humour, unexpected twists and diverse representation. Pupils then plan their own updated versions of fairy tales, aiming to surprise the reader while retaining recognisable story foundations. The sequence concludes with drafting, editing and refining a complete piece of writing, supported by peer discussion and reflection. By the end of the unit, pupils will feel more confident as writers and gain a clearer understanding of how stories can be reshaped while still respecting their origins.

Discover the art of creative writing with a virtual author visit from Louie Stowell, creator of Loki: A Bad God’s Guide to Being Good. This unit connects directly with the Author In Your Classroom podcast, bringing storytelling and mythological themes straight into English lessons. Pupils will explore the world through the eyes of a mischievous god living on Earth, developing their descriptive and narrative skills while gaining insight into how professional authors work. The sequence guides children in exploring character, setting, and voice, combining discussion, planning and creative writing as they produce their own myth-inspired diaries. Throughout, podcast clips from Louie Stowell provide inspiration and a behind-the-scenes look at how writers craft their stories. Teaching overview Over five sessions, pupils will: Listen to podcast excerpts and explore mythological language and ideas Examine Loki’s view of the modern world, noticing contrasts between the ordinary and the unexpected Choose a mythological figure and plan a diary from their perspective on Earth Draft, revise and illustrate their own diary entries using the planning resources provided Share their work with classmates and celebrate their creativity This unit promotes confidence in writing through humour, imagination and a strong narrative voice. It works particularly well alongside a class reading of Loki: A Bad God’s Guide to Being Good, enhancing engagement and understanding of the story.

British Red Cross

Learn how to teach first aid to young people using the British Red Cross's Everyday First Aid approach, and using free medically approved, educationally sound resources.  Learning outcomes By completing this course, you will: Understand the Everyday First Aid approach and how to use it to effectively teach first aid to your young people. Understand how to navigate and utilise our resources and activities on the First Aid Champions website to effectively teach first aid skills to young people. Be able to use our teaching resources to engage with your young people on the topic of first aid. Be able to use our first aid skill videos, which use the Everyday First Aid approach, to enhance your confidence and knowledge in first aid. Masterclasses are available for groups of five or more and can be delivered online or face-to-face, subject to facilitator availability. To book a group masterclass, email redcrosseducation@redcross.org.uk  with your group size, preferred dates, location and delivery method.

British Red Cross

This course covers an introduction to teaching about migration using a trauma-informed approach, including the tools, knowledge and resources you need to feel confident teaching about migration, even if you have young people with lived experience of migration in the room. Learning outcomes By completing this course, you will: Understand the experiences of people with refugee status or people seeking asylum, whilst defining key terminology. Understand the impact of trauma on learners and apply six trauma-informed principles to teaching about migration. Use our teacher resources to engage and support your students. Masterclasses are available for groups of five or more and can be delivered online or face-to-face, subject to facilitator availability. To book a group masterclass, email redcrosseducation@redcross.org.uk  with your group size, preferred dates, location and delivery method.

In this comprehensive teaching sequence, Joseph Coelho introduces KS2 pupils to poetry, showing how simple prompts can spark ideas and lead to powerful performances. Built around an episode of the Author in Your Classroom podcast, the unit supports children in exploring what poetry is and how it works. Pupils read, listen, write and refine their own pieces, guided by insights from the Children’s Laureate and equipped with techniques they can use straight away. Teaching overview The sequence begins by looking at Coelho’s journey as a poet and his belief that poetry belongs to everyone. Pupils listen to a performance of This Bear, discuss their responses and consider how delivery shapes meaning. They then experiment with performing poetry themselves, making notes and sharing with peers. Next, pupils explore a ‘poetry toolbox’, identifying figurative language and key techniques within the text. By annotating and discussing Coelho’s choices, they begin to understand how poets create impact. The focus then shifts to idea generation. Using short video prompts, pupils gather words, images and phrases, recording their thoughts on planning sheets. These ideas form the foundation for their own writing as they begin drafting with increasing confidence. Attention then turns to editing and improvement. Pupils revisit their work, enhancing vocabulary, adding detail and refining techniques to better achieve their intended effect. The unit concludes with performance and publication. Pupils share their poems, celebrate each other’s work and leave with a strong sense of themselves as poets.

British Red Cross

This course covers an introduction to teaching about global conflicts through the rules of war. It also includes handling the challenging conversations that can arise from this topic. Learning outcomes By completing this course, you will:  Demonstrate an understanding of the principle of neutrality and the rules of war. Apply a five-step method to confidently facilitate challenging classroom discussions. Use our teaching resources to engage and support your students. Masterclasses are available for groups of five or more and can be delivered online or face-to-face, subject to facilitator availability. To book a group masterclass, email redcrosseducation@redcross.org.uk  with your group size, preferred dates, location and delivery method.

This webinar explores how schools can adapt quickly, support students at different starting points, and maintain meaningful progress through disruption.   Join Lee Dabagia , Principal at Summit International School , Dr. Tim Hughes , Director of Academic Quality Assurance & School Improvement at Bloom Education , Gemma Thornley , Principal at The Arbor School , and other leading practitioners, for a practical discussion on supporting learning continuity, helping students catch up, accelerating progress, and preparing students for a confident transition into the next academic year.   In this session, you'll gain insights to:    Identify unfinished learning and priority skill gaps Use structured and independent learning to accelerate progress Support students at different starting points across flexible learning models Strengthen visibility of progress for teachers, leaders and families Maintain learning continuity without increasing teacher workload Prepare students for a confident academic transition

British Red Cross

Welcome to Teaching Climate Preparedness, a comprehensive course designed to empower you with the confidence and skills to effectively teach climate preparedness using a holistic framework, developed by the British Red Cross. This course equips you with the resources, skills and training needed to successfully implement the holistic framework when teaching climate preparedness with your young people.  Learning outcomes By completing this course, you will: Demonstrated an understanding of a holistic approach to climate education and why this is appropriate given the topic. Have gained an understanding of what extreme weather and eco-anxiety are, how they affect young people, and how to support emotional wellbeing through climate education. Identified key benefits of using the Weather Together toolkit to teach climate preparedness. Gained practical skills to use the Weather Together toolkit with young people. Masterclasses are available for groups of five or more and can be delivered online or face-to-face, subject to facilitator availability. To book a group masterclass, email redcrosseducation@redcross.org.uk  with your group size, preferred dates, location and delivery method.

British Red Cross

This course will cover an introduction to teaching resilience using a practical learning approach. Young people are faced with many different challenges each day. As educators, it is important that we help young people develop the skills that can help them to grow their resilience in order to help them cope with adversities they may be faced with. Learning outcomes By the end of this course, you will: Understand what personal resilience is and the challenges facing young people today. Understand the social and emotional skills needed to build resilience and how to teach these in a practical way. Use our teaching resources to engage with the topic of resilience with your students. Masterclasses are available for groups of five or more and can be delivered online or face-to-face, subject to facilitator availability. To book a group masterclass, email redcrosseducation@redcross.org.uk  with your group size, preferred dates, location and delivery method.

Invite a professional children’s author into your classroom with this dynamic action-writing unit inspired by Jason Rohan’s S.T.E.A.L.T.H: Access Denied. Linked to the Author In Your Classroom podcast, this resource guides KS2 pupils through creating high-energy action stories with engaging characters and fast-paced plots. Rohan shares how his Marvel Comics internship in New York and experiences living in Japan influenced his storytelling and shaped his creative process. Short podcast clips accompany each stage of the teaching sequence, offering pupils a behind-the-scenes look at how authors plan and craft their stories. Teaching overview Across the structured sessions, pupils will: Find story inspiration – Explore how Rohan discovers ideas and use visual prompts to generate their own “jumping-off points.” Plan story arcs – Map beginnings and endings to maintain pace using comic-style planning sheets. Create contrasting characters – Analyse traits and apply “role-on-the-wall” templates to develop richer characters. Craft gripping openings – Understand why strong openings hook readers and practise writing their own. Write action-packed scenes – Use short, punchy sentences to build momentum and structure stories with clear action and transitions.