Cathy Bee 〓〓

@MrHtheteacher @HelpfulTeacher_ Can you imagine... "George, dont do that, silence in the role play area, no talking!! Stop chatting at the water tray... no, I'm sorry, collaborative problem solving isn't what is required, just silently doing what you are told, please." Apologies to Joyce Grenfell.

@HelpfulTeacher_ Particularly in EYFS - good luck teaching with silent provision!

The classroom default should be pin-drop silence 🔕 There is time for collaboration, think-pair-shares, discussion and debate When the teacher decides so But the default is silence. That's the only way education can work, and it's how students should enter the room 🚪 #Edchat

@spudaustin83 @DrFreyaEP @SarahSmallwood @RCNorwich @DanielKebedeNEU @LGAcomms @ProspectUnion @NEUnion @AEPsychologists And reviews of SPA have been promised every year since FOREVER...

@DrFreyaEP @chezlabeille @SarahSmallwood @RCNorwich @DanielKebedeNEU @LGAcomms @ProspectUnion @NEUnion @AEPsychologists There you go after all the grandstanding they roll over and accept the 3.2%. Absolutely no chance we get it in march 😂😂

Hey @DanielKebedeNEU can you give the #Soulbury paid teachers a heads up re when we can expect ANY info on our September 2024 pay negotiation with @LGAcomms. As usual, we have nothing and no updates either. Have you even met since Sept?

@spudaustin83 @DrFreyaEP @SarahSmallwood @RCNorwich @DanielKebedeNEU @LGAcomms @ProspectUnion @NEUnion @AEPsychologists Well at least they are starting right away to get 26/27 sorted, so I'd give that about 12 more months...

@jan_dubiel Totally agree, but I'm worried this clip in the ELG focus to only transcription/dictation will influence practitioners and leaders to lose sight of the joy if writing your own messages.

@jan_dubiel As far as I can fathom, all you need now are dictated sentences to prove transcriptions skills. Can't get a definitive statement from DfE/STA on this, but all the indications are there in various pronouncements. Would love your view! (Ellis is still fab!)

let’s think about writing in the EYFS… February 2026 - What was lost? Revisiting ‘Ellis and the Trap for Baddies’ and the implications for children’s writing in the EYFS | Hempsalls coramhempsalls.org.uk/news/2026-02-1…

@tes @AEPsychologists EPs and EIPs on #soulbury Pay and conditions (typically because of teacher quals) usually have 6months+ delay for their annual pay award. Once it took nearly 2 years. Always below % to QTs. Maybe DfE could look at how that impacts retention?

The DfE announces funding to train hundreds more educational psychologists amid fears that schools are facing a shortage of support tes.com/magazine/news/…

@DrFreyaEP @spudaustin83 @SarahSmallwood @RCNorwich @DanielKebedeNEU @LGAcomms @ProspectUnion @NEUnion @AEPsychologists Every year, it's the same, so 🤷

@spudaustin83 @chezlabeille @SarahSmallwood @RCNorwich @DanielKebedeNEU @LGAcomms @ProspectUnion @NEUnion @AEPsychologists This is interesting. Is it saying that the Soulbury pay increase always has to match the local gov’t increase? If so, then what’s the point of trying to negotiate more? Is it all just a charade?

@spudaustin83 @SarahSmallwood @RCNorwich @DanielKebedeNEU @LGAcomms @ProspectUnion @NEUnion @AEPsychologists Because my pay has so many random variations now my tax bills are all over the place. This impacts in so many small ways on #soulbury members.

@spudaustin83 @SarahSmallwood @RCNorwich @DanielKebedeNEU @LGAcomms @ProspectUnion @NEUnion @AEPsychologists Thanks. 5 months overdue and counting. Massive tax bill when it's finally paid. Months of Interest from savings lost. Financial decisions delayed...same arguments year after year and still no parity. #WeAreTeachersToo

@lb_southwark Anything that sorts out the bike carnage, blocked bus stop and pavements at Peckham Rye station will be an improvement. Sick of having to work my way around dumped bikes everywhere.

E-bike use in Southwark has grown 356% in two years with 8.2 million trips in 2025 🚲 We support e-bikes as a clean, healthy way to travel, but rapid growth needs good management. We’re now negotiating a new agreement with operators to deliver: ✔️ More parking bays ✔️ Funded enforcement ✔️ Less night-time noise ✔️ Clear reporting for residents ✔️ Discounts for residents & key workers ✔️ Free monthly safety training Cllr James McAsh: “E-bikes play an important role in cutting pollution, but unsafe behaviour and poor parking won’t be tolerated.” Read more here: orlo.uk/ho6Lw

@DanielKebedeNEU Ate you putting any effort into meeting with the #Soulbury Committee so the EPs, EIPs etc can have their Sept 25 pay award agreed? They're also working in schools and it's now Feb. Our pay really doesn't matter to @neu does it.

Why are we opening an indicative strike ballot on funding, pay and working conditions on 28 February? Years of sustained austerity mean our schools are running on empty. Every day, educators are being asked to do more and more with fewer resources. The pressure is relentless. The government has submitted evidence to the pay review body that recommends: - a real-terms pay cut - that any pay increase must be funded by schools themselves - a review of the limit on working hours All of this comes at a time when schools are already stretched to breaking point. If you’re a member, ask yourself: 1) Can you reasonably work after school and run enrichment activities on top of an already exhausting day if the government removes the working hours limit? 2) Can your school fund any pay award without cutting jobs or vital resources? 3) Will a 2% pay award this year - and every year for the next three - help your family keep up with the cost of living? Educators are leaving the profession in huge numbers. The system is grinding to a halt. Vote yes to action

@Janroweljmu @DeputyGrocott Because PD is a focus of mine (EYFS specialist), as an IP, I've been banging on about poor letter formation in KS2 for years. See it all the time and wonder why no one noticed and did something about it. However, Ofsted obsessions with one thing skews any professional debate.

@DeputyGrocott One local primary got exactly this. National test outcomes are good. Handwriting seems to be the new obsession. What century are we in?

Something I find mad: I’ve read some inspection reports where schools get a needs attention for handwriting only. That’s crazy in itself, but also, Are they really going to come back within 12 months to check progress with that? Seems a waste of resources and money.

@davidsmcknight @_100Countries @MattBombHead @EE @bt_uk Doesn't change your landline number.

@_100Countries @MattBombHead @EE @bt_uk Maybe they've removed the analogue line in favour of VOIP telephony? If so, your mum will need a VOIP phone that plugs into her new router. Just the sort of thing that will start happening a lot to people I fear. Just amazed that @EE didn't sell her a new phone. I hate BT

My mum had a new router installed yesterday from what she thought was @EE. Today, I tried to call her, and her number is not in service. Today, we found out that @bt_uk is now the supplier, and they've changed her number without giving any warning! How is this acceptable? 🤷‍♀️

@ianarchiebeck @thescrewballgrl My members pick screening suggestion that was chosen by the BFI. Such a joy to see on the big screen.

@thescrewballgrl One of the very greatest films

Kael’s observation is no more apparent than this scene from TO BE OR NOT TO BE (1942). You can see the twinkle in Lombard’s eye as she and Robert Stack exchange double entendres.

@RyanTCB @BBCTomEdwards You apply for it and pay £35 initially, so I'd guess you actually want one if you do that much.

@BBCTomEdwards Guess many use their passes a lot less than the year travel would give them. I have staff pass and nominee pass but as can’t afford to live in London they are used 0 times a year. I know they aren’t like for like but I’d imagine there’s a lot of councils paying for unused travel

🚦Over 65 Freedom passes. Cost councils £372m. To make bus only need changes to the GLA Act as that outlines Tfl rail, trams, boats & buses are covered. 🚦Over 60 free travel. Costs Tfl £135m. Changes need a decision from the Mayor. Politically hard to see changes to either?

@Cycle77lon @BBCTomEdwards For the 60+ oystercard, there already is an initial fee of £35 and an annual fee now of £18. And an annual address check/photo id check. No-one seems to know those facts.

@BBCTomEdwards I wonder what the cost of setting this up. If a charge is introduced, it should be a flat fee of around £10 year, which is locked in for 5 or 10 years. You can't complain for £10 a year for the amount of travel within London you could get.

@spudaustin83 @SarahSmallwood @RCNorwich @DanielKebedeNEU @LGAcomms @ProspectUnion @NEUnion @AEPsychologists FFS. Thought unions were supposed to be there for the people they represent, in this case, whether they are members or not.

@chezlabeille @SarahSmallwood @RCNorwich @DanielKebedeNEU @LGAcomms @ProspectUnion @NEUnion @AEPsychologists There ya go everyone the offer was rejected on 13th November but we are only being told now 🤦🤦 local.gov.uk/our-support/wo…

@teacherhead Ha ha!! Snap!

And so it begins..

@spudaustin83 @SarahSmallwood @RCNorwich @DanielKebedeNEU @LGAcomms @ProspectUnion @NEUnion @AEPsychologists So back to square 1 again. LGA responded to unions in october, so already too late for Sept 25. Officers side reject that November. So a few more months for LGA to respond...I'd go April 26 for that. Expect something in my bank account around June?! Hello another tax problem...

@chezlabeille @SarahSmallwood @RCNorwich @DanielKebedeNEU @LGAcomms @ProspectUnion @NEUnion @AEPsychologists Here is an update from South East employers that says the offer was rejected but nothing from the unions

@spudaustin83 @SarahSmallwood @RCNorwich @DanielKebedeNEU @LGAcomms @ProspectUnion @NEUnion @AEPsychologists So do the unions care to comment? Or do the unions just not care enough?

@spudaustin83 @SarahSmallwood @RCNorwich @DanielKebedeNEU @LGAcomms @ProspectUnion @NEUnion @AEPsychologists Shall we have a sweepstake re what month?