Jim Lauder
@mrjlauder.bsky.social
Dixons Academies. Schools as civic institutions - ensuring our communities have a voice and power. Building place based partnerships. Views my own.
At weekends I post about cooking.
At weekends I post about cooking.
Reposted by Jim Lauder
Big story from @lydiach.bsky.social - buried in Treasury documents, the government confirms it intends to allocate disadvantage funding to schools based on income data, not free school meals eligibility.
It follows criticism that FSM is a poor proxy for poverty
It follows criticism that FSM is a poor proxy for poverty
Exclusive: Family income data will replace free school meals eligibility as the trigger for pupil premium and other deprivation funding for schools, the government has said
schoolsweek.co.uk/pupil-premiu...
schoolsweek.co.uk/pupil-premiu...
Income to replace FSM as trigger for disadvantage funding
Government 'will design new model' for allocating the pupil premium and other disadvantage cash
schoolsweek.co.uk
December 8, 2025 at 4:07 PM
Big story from @lydiach.bsky.social - buried in Treasury documents, the government confirms it intends to allocate disadvantage funding to schools based on income data, not free school meals eligibility.
It follows criticism that FSM is a poor proxy for poverty
It follows criticism that FSM is a poor proxy for poverty
Mark got heavily dunked on here for AI Mark, but this is good humoured, thoughtful and worth a read.
Goodbye AI Mark! The experiment has ended. Big thank you to my constituent, Jeremy Smith, for his voluntary work on the first-ever AI MP.
I’ve written some initial thoughts on the universally-loved virtual version of myself:
www.politicshome.com/opinion/arti...
I’ve written some initial thoughts on the universally-loved virtual version of myself:
www.politicshome.com/opinion/arti...
What ‘AI Mark’ taught me about the realities of the new technology
In a future that no one asked for, but many predicted, I took the plunge and turned myself into the first AI MP.
www.politicshome.com
December 8, 2025 at 9:44 AM
Mark got heavily dunked on here for AI Mark, but this is good humoured, thoughtful and worth a read.
Another SEND debate bugbear: 'support' has become an unhelpful bucket concept.
Articles/posts etc often talk about parents fighting for 'support'. The assumption is what's needed is for something additional & different for that child. That's sometimes (very) needed but it's often unhelpful framing.
Articles/posts etc often talk about parents fighting for 'support'. The assumption is what's needed is for something additional & different for that child. That's sometimes (very) needed but it's often unhelpful framing.
December 8, 2025 at 9:00 AM
Another SEND debate bugbear: 'support' has become an unhelpful bucket concept.
Articles/posts etc often talk about parents fighting for 'support'. The assumption is what's needed is for something additional & different for that child. That's sometimes (very) needed but it's often unhelpful framing.
Articles/posts etc often talk about parents fighting for 'support'. The assumption is what's needed is for something additional & different for that child. That's sometimes (very) needed but it's often unhelpful framing.
That Observer interview once again proving that the PM's instincts on education and young people are a) bad and b) a mile wide and an inch deep (possibly mercifully).
It's good he scrapped the limit though.
It's good he scrapped the limit though.
December 7, 2025 at 6:51 PM
That Observer interview once again proving that the PM's instincts on education and young people are a) bad and b) a mile wide and an inch deep (possibly mercifully).
It's good he scrapped the limit though.
It's good he scrapped the limit though.
Made dauphinoise. Tried to do it low and slow, 150 for an hour 45, which was too hot and it split. 120 definitely a better idea. It was still really yummy so no complaints. Gonna do it again for Christmas eve.
December 6, 2025 at 9:17 PM
Made dauphinoise. Tried to do it low and slow, 150 for an hour 45, which was too hot and it split. 120 definitely a better idea. It was still really yummy so no complaints. Gonna do it again for Christmas eve.
Reposted by Jim Lauder
This has made grin, so I'm sharing it 😍 @sturdyalex.bsky.social @pimlicat.bsky.social and @mrkennycampbell.bsky.social
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
‘Empathy that lasts a lifetime’: charity bridges gap between Bradford schools
Pupils from schools with differing demographics meet and play under charity scheme set up after city’s 2001 riots
www.theguardian.com
December 6, 2025 at 8:49 AM
This has made grin, so I'm sharing it 😍 @sturdyalex.bsky.social @pimlicat.bsky.social and @mrkennycampbell.bsky.social
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
Reposted by Jim Lauder
One from me today on why we need to talk to the positives on teacher recruitment.
A lovely positive piece (with caveats) from @samgibbs.bsky.social on teacher training targets
www.tes.com/magazine/ana...
www.tes.com/magazine/ana...
Teacher recruitment is turning a corner - let’s accentuate the positives
Positive ITT data should be welcomed by the sector - and used to shape a narrative about why it’s a great profession to build on ‘fragile’ green shoots, says Sam Gibbs
www.tes.com
December 5, 2025 at 9:30 PM
One from me today on why we need to talk to the positives on teacher recruitment.
Reposted by Jim Lauder
Ok let's go.
1. It's a Big Country. Davitt Sigerson.
2. When the Thames Froze. Smith and Burrows.
3. A Fairytale of New York. The Pogues.
4. River. Joni Mitchell.
5. Thank God it's Christmas. Queen.
1. It's a Big Country. Davitt Sigerson.
2. When the Thames Froze. Smith and Burrows.
3. A Fairytale of New York. The Pogues.
4. River. Joni Mitchell.
5. Thank God it's Christmas. Queen.
December 5, 2025 at 4:55 PM
Ok let's go.
1. It's a Big Country. Davitt Sigerson.
2. When the Thames Froze. Smith and Burrows.
3. A Fairytale of New York. The Pogues.
4. River. Joni Mitchell.
5. Thank God it's Christmas. Queen.
1. It's a Big Country. Davitt Sigerson.
2. When the Thames Froze. Smith and Burrows.
3. A Fairytale of New York. The Pogues.
4. River. Joni Mitchell.
5. Thank God it's Christmas. Queen.
This is a v positive step and something we've been calling for
A new legal duty will be introduced for councils to notify schools when a child is placed in temporary accommodation, government has announced as part of its child poverty strategy
schoolsweek.co.uk/councils-to-...
schoolsweek.co.uk/councils-to-...
schoolsweek.co.uk
December 5, 2025 at 7:24 AM
This is a v positive step and something we've been calling for
Reposted by Jim Lauder
As @mrjlauder.bsky.social explains, 'more specialist places in mainstream schools' sounds lovely in theory but it really might not be lovely in practice.
Your regular reminder that the govt's preferred direction of travel on SEND reform - creating more school-based SEND units - creates risks around:
- staffing
- lowering expectations
- shifting kids into units to game accountability
- shifting kids based on prejudice/labels
- staffing
- lowering expectations
- shifting kids into units to game accountability
- shifting kids based on prejudice/labels
December 4, 2025 at 7:48 AM
As @mrjlauder.bsky.social explains, 'more specialist places in mainstream schools' sounds lovely in theory but it really might not be lovely in practice.
Reposted by Jim Lauder
Please share this info. I cannot emphasise enough: all formulas are the same by law (*except prescription ones), you don’t need to spend £3-£5 more a tub for the branding. Spending more buys no extra quality and does not make you a better mama x
And where it comes to formula:
- all formulas are the same by law
- the cheapest is always Aldi Mamia at £7.50 or so a tub (only own brand on the market)
- follow-on milk is a marketing device to get round the ad ban - your baby doesn’t need it
- all formulas are the same by law
- the cheapest is always Aldi Mamia at £7.50 or so a tub (only own brand on the market)
- follow-on milk is a marketing device to get round the ad ban - your baby doesn’t need it
December 3, 2025 at 11:17 PM
Please share this info. I cannot emphasise enough: all formulas are the same by law (*except prescription ones), you don’t need to spend £3-£5 more a tub for the branding. Spending more buys no extra quality and does not make you a better mama x
Reposted by Jim Lauder
Your regular reminder that the govt's preferred direction of travel on SEND reform - creating more school-based SEND units - creates risks around:
- staffing
- lowering expectations
- shifting kids into units to game accountability
- shifting kids based on prejudice/labels
- staffing
- lowering expectations
- shifting kids into units to game accountability
- shifting kids based on prejudice/labels
December 3, 2025 at 9:24 PM
Your regular reminder that the govt's preferred direction of travel on SEND reform - creating more school-based SEND units - creates risks around:
- staffing
- lowering expectations
- shifting kids into units to game accountability
- shifting kids based on prejudice/labels
- staffing
- lowering expectations
- shifting kids into units to game accountability
- shifting kids based on prejudice/labels
Reposted by Jim Lauder
Yup. Expertise in the SEND space is worse than in non-SEND - so we need to keep as many children out of it as we can.
December 4, 2025 at 6:00 AM
Yup. Expertise in the SEND space is worse than in non-SEND - so we need to keep as many children out of it as we can.
Your regular reminder that the govt's preferred direction of travel on SEND reform - creating more school-based SEND units - creates risks around:
- staffing
- lowering expectations
- shifting kids into units to game accountability
- shifting kids based on prejudice/labels
- staffing
- lowering expectations
- shifting kids into units to game accountability
- shifting kids based on prejudice/labels
December 3, 2025 at 9:24 PM
Your regular reminder that the govt's preferred direction of travel on SEND reform - creating more school-based SEND units - creates risks around:
- staffing
- lowering expectations
- shifting kids into units to game accountability
- shifting kids based on prejudice/labels
- staffing
- lowering expectations
- shifting kids into units to game accountability
- shifting kids based on prejudice/labels
Reposted by Jim Lauder
Cognitive Load Theory and Maths
Zain Mahmood considers the subject through the lens of working memory.
researchschool.org.uk/bradford/new...
Zain Mahmood considers the subject through the lens of working memory.
researchschool.org.uk/bradford/new...
Cognitive Load Theory and Maths
Applying principles of Cognitive Load Theory to mathematics
researchschool.org.uk
December 3, 2025 at 6:30 PM
Cognitive Load Theory and Maths
Zain Mahmood considers the subject through the lens of working memory.
researchschool.org.uk/bradford/new...
Zain Mahmood considers the subject through the lens of working memory.
researchschool.org.uk/bradford/new...
From a few conversations recently, it seems like accountability is a lot stronger/harder edged in education compared to the NHS.
Ofsted tougher than CQC
LM/PM tougher in schools
Clearer expectations on staff that are enforced
Anyone else have a view? Very anecdotal for me at the moment.
Ofsted tougher than CQC
LM/PM tougher in schools
Clearer expectations on staff that are enforced
Anyone else have a view? Very anecdotal for me at the moment.
December 1, 2025 at 6:19 PM
From a few conversations recently, it seems like accountability is a lot stronger/harder edged in education compared to the NHS.
Ofsted tougher than CQC
LM/PM tougher in schools
Clearer expectations on staff that are enforced
Anyone else have a view? Very anecdotal for me at the moment.
Ofsted tougher than CQC
LM/PM tougher in schools
Clearer expectations on staff that are enforced
Anyone else have a view? Very anecdotal for me at the moment.
I actually think the reforms package will initially land quite well. But to make it work is going to require huge mindset shifts from schools and parents, and as I've said elsewhere, some of it is looking to be fundamentally misconceived.
So I'm apprehensive. But we should try and make it all work.
So I'm apprehensive. But we should try and make it all work.
I wrote for @theobserveruk.bsky.social on the special needs problem highlighted by the budget and the big political battle over it coming next year.
share.google/kTTENR1gX4Y4...
share.google/kTTENR1gX4Y4...
Labour’s holiday homework: solve the problem of special needs education | The Observer
share.google
November 30, 2025 at 1:28 PM
I actually think the reforms package will initially land quite well. But to make it work is going to require huge mindset shifts from schools and parents, and as I've said elsewhere, some of it is looking to be fundamentally misconceived.
So I'm apprehensive. But we should try and make it all work.
So I'm apprehensive. But we should try and make it all work.
Reposted by Jim Lauder
Absolutely right @samfr.bsky.social.
I'm this contradiction entirely. I know the system well. It's a binfire. Huge amounts of money are being wasted. But I'll defend my daughters ehcp to the hilt because I have zero faith the system will reform in a way that benefits her fast enough..
I'm this contradiction entirely. I know the system well. It's a binfire. Huge amounts of money are being wasted. But I'll defend my daughters ehcp to the hilt because I have zero faith the system will reform in a way that benefits her fast enough..
November 30, 2025 at 10:26 AM
Absolutely right @samfr.bsky.social.
I'm this contradiction entirely. I know the system well. It's a binfire. Huge amounts of money are being wasted. But I'll defend my daughters ehcp to the hilt because I have zero faith the system will reform in a way that benefits her fast enough..
I'm this contradiction entirely. I know the system well. It's a binfire. Huge amounts of money are being wasted. But I'll defend my daughters ehcp to the hilt because I have zero faith the system will reform in a way that benefits her fast enough..
Reposted by Jim Lauder
From yesterday. Why did edutwitter discourse dissolve?
👇🏻
👇🏻
1. Reasons for the collapse of the Great Edu Conversation.
First important to acknowledge the whole thing was very unlikely. People writing essays about their jobs for free on the internet and engaging in deep conversations about other people's essays. So always fragile.
And then..
First important to acknowledge the whole thing was very unlikely. People writing essays about their jobs for free on the internet and engaging in deep conversations about other people's essays. So always fragile.
And then..
November 30, 2025 at 9:40 AM
From yesterday. Why did edutwitter discourse dissolve?
👇🏻
👇🏻
Reposted by Jim Lauder
I've decided to re-read Hogfather over the festive period (starting on Dec 1th) and thought there may be others doing the same thing.
If you're a @thestorygraph.com user, join me in a buddy read, if you like?
app.thestorygraph.com/buddy_reads/...
If you're a @thestorygraph.com user, join me in a buddy read, if you like?
app.thestorygraph.com/buddy_reads/...
Sign In | The StoryGraph
app.thestorygraph.com
November 29, 2025 at 11:13 PM
I've decided to re-read Hogfather over the festive period (starting on Dec 1th) and thought there may be others doing the same thing.
If you're a @thestorygraph.com user, join me in a buddy read, if you like?
app.thestorygraph.com/buddy_reads/...
If you're a @thestorygraph.com user, join me in a buddy read, if you like?
app.thestorygraph.com/buddy_reads/...
The backlash to the proposals to limit trial by jury is a great example of the UK's stale cakeism.
We want the nice things but don't want to pay for them.
Then when someone proposes something different we kick off, so they back down, and the cycle of stagnation continues.
We want the nice things but don't want to pay for them.
Then when someone proposes something different we kick off, so they back down, and the cycle of stagnation continues.
November 30, 2025 at 8:44 AM
The backlash to the proposals to limit trial by jury is a great example of the UK's stale cakeism.
We want the nice things but don't want to pay for them.
Then when someone proposes something different we kick off, so they back down, and the cycle of stagnation continues.
We want the nice things but don't want to pay for them.
Then when someone proposes something different we kick off, so they back down, and the cycle of stagnation continues.
Beginning to get my head into Christmas dinner. My absolute favourite meal of the year to cook.
I'm doing a turkey crown this year, but if you are doing a ~4.5kg whole bird, 90 minutes plus an hour to rest is plenty.
Believe Raymond Blanc, not the turkey nuking brigade on BBC Good Food.
I'm doing a turkey crown this year, but if you are doing a ~4.5kg whole bird, 90 minutes plus an hour to rest is plenty.
Believe Raymond Blanc, not the turkey nuking brigade on BBC Good Food.
November 29, 2025 at 9:59 AM
Beginning to get my head into Christmas dinner. My absolute favourite meal of the year to cook.
I'm doing a turkey crown this year, but if you are doing a ~4.5kg whole bird, 90 minutes plus an hour to rest is plenty.
Believe Raymond Blanc, not the turkey nuking brigade on BBC Good Food.
I'm doing a turkey crown this year, but if you are doing a ~4.5kg whole bird, 90 minutes plus an hour to rest is plenty.
Believe Raymond Blanc, not the turkey nuking brigade on BBC Good Food.
Reposted by Jim Lauder
NEW BLOG: OFSTED REFLECTIONS.
Trying to be even handed: southgloshead.wordpress.com/2025/11/28/w...
Trying to be even handed: southgloshead.wordpress.com/2025/11/28/w...
What we learned about OFSTED (Part 1)
Credit: The Times Reflections on the new inspection framework: 1742 days under the lottery finger My school and I have spent 1742 days in the OFSTED window (our last inspection was Feb 2018). 1742 …
southgloshead.wordpress.com
November 29, 2025 at 8:59 AM
NEW BLOG: OFSTED REFLECTIONS.
Trying to be even handed: southgloshead.wordpress.com/2025/11/28/w...
Trying to be even handed: southgloshead.wordpress.com/2025/11/28/w...
Is anyone else as excited as me for the place-based budgets for Mayors announced in the budget?
Break some siloes, baby.
Break some siloes, baby.
November 28, 2025 at 4:14 PM
Is anyone else as excited as me for the place-based budgets for Mayors announced in the budget?
Break some siloes, baby.
Break some siloes, baby.
Reposted by Jim Lauder
#FridayFive is missing people.
1. Never Forget You. The Noisettes.
2. So Far Away. Carole King.
3. Maps. The Yeah Yeah Yeahs.
4. In My Life. The Beatles.
5. Half the World Away. Oasis.
1. Never Forget You. The Noisettes.
2. So Far Away. Carole King.
3. Maps. The Yeah Yeah Yeahs.
4. In My Life. The Beatles.
5. Half the World Away. Oasis.
November 28, 2025 at 3:51 PM
#FridayFive is missing people.
1. Never Forget You. The Noisettes.
2. So Far Away. Carole King.
3. Maps. The Yeah Yeah Yeahs.
4. In My Life. The Beatles.
5. Half the World Away. Oasis.
1. Never Forget You. The Noisettes.
2. So Far Away. Carole King.
3. Maps. The Yeah Yeah Yeahs.
4. In My Life. The Beatles.
5. Half the World Away. Oasis.