Dandelion Learning

04/06/2026

Children don't struggle to write because they lack ideas.

Often, they struggle because they haven't had enough opportunities to think, feel and imagine.

Discover how purposeful drama can give pupils the experiences they need to write with confidence, depth and purpose.

Join our live online KS2 training and discover how purposeful drama can unlock ideas, boost engagement and improve writing quality.

🎭 No performances.
📜 No scripts.
💡 Just powerful, easy to implement strategies that really work.

Join us for classroom-ready techniques that help pupils:
✨ Generate richer ideas
✨ Develop stronger vocabulary
✨ Understand character and viewpoint
✨ Write with greater confidence and purpose.

The aim of this training session is to support KS2 teachers in putting drama at the heart of planning for writing. This session will enhance your teaching of writing through practical drama techniques which will empower your pupils to write with depth, clarity and confidence.

23/04/2026

Primary teachers and leaders! Don't miss this free briefing!

Premature birth can shape a child’s development and learning in ways we don’t always see—but understanding it can change everything.

In this powerful session, Caroline Woodman shares her personal story alongside her professional insight, bringing this important issue to life. Discover the challenges children born prematurely may face, why early intervention is so vital, and how we can better support them across the primary years.

If you work with children, this is knowledge that truly matters—and can make a lasting difference.

30th April 4pm - 5pm
https://training.dandelionlearning.co.uk/courses/tiny-starts-strong-futures-free-summer-briefing-for-primary-english-leaders-and-sendcos-30th-april-2026
and
5th May 10am - 11am
https://training.dandelionlearning.co.uk/products/courses/tiny-starts-strong-futures-briefing-for-primary-english-leaders-and-sendcos-5th-may-10am-11am

02/04/2026

We all recognise the importance of oracy…but translating this into concrete action in the classroom on a daily basis is not always easy. How do we move to explicitly teaching pupils how to speak, listen and reason together so that this is embedded in our classroom routines?

Our live online training day looks at exactly this. Grounded in research and guidance from Ofsted and Voice 21 and brought to life with classroom examples, this day explores what high-quality oracy provision looks like in primary schools. You’ll gain practical strategies to:

* Teach the Four Strands of Oracy clearly and systematically.
* Use drama, discussion and Book Talk to deepen thinking.
* Strengthen reading and writing through purposeful talk.
* Assess and monitor pupils’ spoken language.
* Develop a clear action plan for your classroom or school.
* Expect a day that is evidence-informed, practical and grounded in real classroom experience.

We are always so proud of the feedback we get from our training - check out what leaders and teachers say about this day! Join us and leave with the confidence, clarity and resources to embed oracy across your school.

Book your place today via the link below! Don't forget that Dandelion Learning Individual Subscribers and Subscribing Schools have unlimited free places!

https://training.dandelionlearning.co.uk/products/courses/excellence-in-oracy-harnessing-the-power-of-talk-live-online-training-28th-april-2026

13/03/2026

There is something really special about running live training days.

Yesterday we spent the day exploring Effective Writing Provision with a group of incredibly reflective practitioners. Working with teachers who are so thoughtful about their practice, refining and sharing ideas, is always inspiring.

Spending the day immersed in an aspect of literacy we love, with people who care deeply about getting it right for children, is a real privilege.

And then seeing the feedback at the end… the icing on the cake! 🎂

05/03/2026

Happy World Book Day!

Remember…it’s not always about ground breaking, innovative approaches! It’s about doing what we know works well and doing it consistently and with enthusiasm! When it comes to Read Aloud in the primary classroom - we haven’t got time not to!

In schools where time is tight and budgets are stretched, we need to prioritise the practices that give us the greatest impact. Sometimes that means returning to the simple things done well, every day.

Reading aloud is so powerful. It models fluent reading, exposes children to rich vocabulary and helps them absorb the syntactic patterns of great writing. It sparks curiosity, opens doors to new worlds and invites pupils to ask: How would I feel if I were this character?

Hearing beautiful texts read aloud by someone they love (teachers and parents/carers) helps children learn about the world and its cultures and it fosters empathy and understanding. Most importantly, it nurtures a love of reading and inspires children to read for themselves.

So let’s make Read Aloud a non-negotiable part of the school day — not an optional extra, but a practical necessity.

As my colleague and great friend Tre Christopher once said:
“Haven’t got time to read aloud in the primary classroom? We haven’t got time not to.”

For lots of easy to implement, high-impact strategies for developing a love of reading, check out our fully funded Developing Reading for Pleasure on demand recorded training! Link in bio - find it under Free Recordings!

03/03/2026

Fully Funded CPD | NEW! Developing Reading for Pleasure
On Demand Recording - Updated for The National Year of Reading

We’re delighted to offer Dandelion Learning’s fully funded recorded training: Developing Reading for Pleasure.

What you’ll gain:
• Practical strategies to develop a culture of reading.
• Evidence-informed approaches linked to reading motivation.
• Ideas you can implement immediately in classrooms.
• Support for strengthening reading engagement across your school.

Completely free
- Flexible recorded training — learn at your own pace.
- Ideal for primary teachers, literacy leads and school leaders.
- Perfect for staff meetings, INSET or individual CPD.

If reading attainment matters to you, reading enjoyment matters too.

Watch on demand and share with colleagues who want to strengthen reading for pleasure in their schools.

Transform reading outcomes in your primary school with this 1hr 45min Developing Reading for Pleasure CPD. Designed for teachers and leaders, this evidence-informed training shares practical strategies to raise attainment and build a sustainable whole-school reading culture. Give every child the gif...

22/01/2026

It’s SO frustrating to have missed National days (the impact of which can often be felt rippling throughout the year!) As school leaders, English leads and teachers are so busy, we have put together a handy free pdf. Download our termly English planner … it’s got all the key national dates with links to great resource sites to save you time.

Link in bio on our site under free resources!

21/01/2026

Today marks 15 years of Dandelion Learning supporting schools, teachers, leaders and—most importantly—children.
We’re incredibly grateful to everyone who has been part of our journey: schools, partners, families, and supporters who believed in our vision and walked alongside us. We feel privileged to be able to focus on an aspect of education we love, working alongside educators we admire and be business partners who are also best friends!
We both started this journey because we are passionate about children’s attitudes to learning as well as outcomes in English. Thank you for helping us grow, continue our own learning journey and make a difference over the past 15 years. Here’s to continuing to support children and schools for many more to come.

06/01/2026

Love this Alistair Bryce-Clegg at ABC Does

“Equality does not begin in high school or in adult workplaces. It begins in the block area, the role play, and the outdoor space. It begins when we let all children be gentle and all children be bold.” ❤️

Head over to The PLAYlist now to read (or listen!) to my brand new, original article: "Gender in the Early Years & Why It Matters".

One of the best things about working in the Early Years is that young children arrive full of energy, ideas, and curiosity. They are not yet shaped by all the rules that older children and adults follow.

But even at three or four, they have already picked up lots of messages about what boys and girls are ‘supposed’ to do. Sometimes these messages are easy to spot. Often, they are quiet and subtle. That is why our work with them matters so much.

If you're interested in understanding more about gender and the role it can play in learning spaces, be sure to head to abcdoes.substack.com now to give it a read!

Enjoy 💫

05/01/2026

What a fantastic start to 2026 - working with such an amazing bunch on all things writing! Great energy and enthusiasm from all staff at Tor Bridge Primary and Ernesettle Community School - a joy and a privilege! Ernesettle Community School Tor Bridge Primary School 🙌🤩🙌