Ruth Swailes
@ruthswailes.bsky.social
Award winning Early Years and Primary Advisor, lead curriculum developer and author. Unashamedly child - centred EY nerd. Occasionally outspoken rebel with a cause. No unsolicited DM’s unless I know you, thanks.
Ruthswailes.com
Ruthswailes.com
I’m really proud to be a member of Leeds Learning Alliance. This conference is going to be great. Will I see you there?
January 30, 2026 at 8:11 AM
I’m really proud to be a member of Leeds Learning Alliance. This conference is going to be great. Will I see you there?
I'm looking forward to leading this next month. It's open to anyone who wishes to attend. If you're interested in writing development then do come and join us!
January 29, 2026 at 8:14 PM
I'm looking forward to leading this next month. It's open to anyone who wishes to attend. If you're interested in writing development then do come and join us!
Reposted by Ruth Swailes
Thank you to all those primary teachers filling this in for us! If you are involved with KS2, we'd love to hear from you! Please share @ruthswailes.bsky.social @uklitassociation.bsky.social @teresacremin.bsky.social @writingrocks.bsky.social
Are you a KS2 teacher? We're adding an extra dimension to our survey of poetry at KS3 by asking some KS2 teachers to respond to one question. Please could you take 2 mins to click this link & answer the question? Huge thanks! www.surveymonkey.com/r/MapKS2Coll...
Mapping Poetry: A Question for Primary Colleagues
Take this survey powered by surveymonkey.com. Create your own surveys for free.
www.surveymonkey.com
January 28, 2026 at 8:08 PM
Thank you to all those primary teachers filling this in for us! If you are involved with KS2, we'd love to hear from you! Please share @ruthswailes.bsky.social @uklitassociation.bsky.social @teresacremin.bsky.social @writingrocks.bsky.social
Day 3/6 of our Early Writing project. It’s free for Wirral teachers to attend. We’re focussing on developmentally appropriate writing practice in early years. It’s been a real pleasure so far!
January 28, 2026 at 3:43 PM
Day 3/6 of our Early Writing project. It’s free for Wirral teachers to attend. We’re focussing on developmentally appropriate writing practice in early years. It’s been a real pleasure so far!
Reposted by Ruth Swailes
The UK version of “Project 2025” by the Reform party includes a British ICE, a concentration camp for 24,000 people, mass surveillance and withdrawing from refugee, anti-torture and anti-trafficking conventions.
It’s on their website. That’s how comfortable fascists are in the UK today.
It’s on their website. That’s how comfortable fascists are in the UK today.
January 26, 2026 at 1:22 PM
The UK version of “Project 2025” by the Reform party includes a British ICE, a concentration camp for 24,000 people, mass surveillance and withdrawing from refugee, anti-torture and anti-trafficking conventions.
It’s on their website. That’s how comfortable fascists are in the UK today.
It’s on their website. That’s how comfortable fascists are in the UK today.
Reposted by Ruth Swailes
Detaining young children is not acceptable by any standards, it’s sign of a terminally fragile democracy. It’s time for other western democracies to follow Carney’s lead; to frankly call out the Trump regime. In the meantime… what are democrats in federal governance actually *doing*?
US immigration agents detain two-year-old Minnesota girl: ‘depravity beyond words’
DHS detain a toddler and her father on Thursday and fly them to Texas before returning child on judge’s order
www.theguardian.com
January 24, 2026 at 2:37 PM
Detaining young children is not acceptable by any standards, it’s sign of a terminally fragile democracy. It’s time for other western democracies to follow Carney’s lead; to frankly call out the Trump regime. In the meantime… what are democrats in federal governance actually *doing*?
Publication of the year ! Wow !
January 23, 2026 at 10:25 PM
Publication of the year ! Wow !
Fab day today- discussing the readiness agenda with leaders and teachers at Learn Sheffield this morning, then leading the EY network this afternoon. How lucky am I ?
January 22, 2026 at 5:04 PM
Fab day today- discussing the readiness agenda with leaders and teachers at Learn Sheffield this morning, then leading the EY network this afternoon. How lucky am I ?
Grateful to @suecowley.bsky.social who introduced me to the Society of Authors. If you’re a member they’ll look through any contracts that you’re asked to sign. Absolutely brilliant service!
January 19, 2026 at 5:59 PM
Grateful to @suecowley.bsky.social who introduced me to the Society of Authors. If you’re a member they’ll look through any contracts that you’re asked to sign. Absolutely brilliant service!
Preparing for the week ahead. School visits in Sheffield, Leicester and Essex and 2 training sessions in Sheffield, then an exciting end to the week, the ECDSN awards, where we’ve been nominated for an award. Can’t wait!
January 18, 2026 at 11:15 AM
Preparing for the week ahead. School visits in Sheffield, Leicester and Essex and 2 training sessions in Sheffield, then an exciting end to the week, the ECDSN awards, where we’ve been nominated for an award. Can’t wait!
Reposted by Ruth Swailes
Can thoroughly recommend Qwant as an alternative to Google search - clean, unfiltered, unbiased answers.
Found this website this morning, useful as a starting point if you’re trying to boycott American goods and services, which we absolutely all should!
https://www.goeuropean.org
https://www.goeuropean.org
Go European — Discover European products and services
Go European is a community-driven directory bringing you European products and services from across the continent.
www.goeuropean.org
January 18, 2026 at 8:49 AM
Can thoroughly recommend Qwant as an alternative to Google search - clean, unfiltered, unbiased answers.
Reposted by Ruth Swailes
I don't hold my pen or pencil 'properly' and am frequently told my handwriting is beautiful. As a primary teacher, if a child's handwriting was clearly legible, I didn't stress about pencil grip.
Strikes me OFSTED are looking for easy sticks to beat teachers with. A waste of space is what they are.
Strikes me OFSTED are looking for easy sticks to beat teachers with. A waste of space is what they are.
January 17, 2026 at 12:01 PM
I don't hold my pen or pencil 'properly' and am frequently told my handwriting is beautiful. As a primary teacher, if a child's handwriting was clearly legible, I didn't stress about pencil grip.
Strikes me OFSTED are looking for easy sticks to beat teachers with. A waste of space is what they are.
Strikes me OFSTED are looking for easy sticks to beat teachers with. A waste of space is what they are.
This too, shall pass. But not before a load of schools are inaccurately labelled and shamed, and a load of young children are potentially put off writing in the name of ticking the box.
It’s so tiresome!
It’s so tiresome!
Those of us who’ve been on the merry go round a while aren’t shocked. It was fidelity for a while, British values before that, community cohesion prior to that (remember that one?), ECM, differentiation…The latest in a long line of Ofsted obsessions appears to be pencil grip and handwriting.
a person is laying on their back on a bouncy castle .
ALT: a person is laying on their back on a bouncy castle .
media.tenor.com
January 17, 2026 at 11:06 AM
This too, shall pass. But not before a load of schools are inaccurately labelled and shamed, and a load of young children are potentially put off writing in the name of ticking the box.
It’s so tiresome!
It’s so tiresome!
Those of us who’ve been on the merry go round a while aren’t shocked. It was fidelity for a while, British values before that, community cohesion prior to that (remember that one?), ECM, differentiation…The latest in a long line of Ofsted obsessions appears to be pencil grip and handwriting.
a person is laying on their back on a bouncy castle .
ALT: a person is laying on their back on a bouncy castle .
media.tenor.com
January 17, 2026 at 11:06 AM
Those of us who’ve been on the merry go round a while aren’t shocked. It was fidelity for a while, British values before that, community cohesion prior to that (remember that one?), ECM, differentiation…The latest in a long line of Ofsted obsessions appears to be pencil grip and handwriting.
I’ve worked with >500 teachers this week, but I’ve also been busy developing my handwriting programme. It’s designed to align to the phonics scheme you’re using, it’s developmentally appropriate, research informed and simple to incorporate into every day practice.
January 16, 2026 at 7:35 AM
I’ve worked with >500 teachers this week, but I’ve also been busy developing my handwriting programme. It’s designed to align to the phonics scheme you’re using, it’s developmentally appropriate, research informed and simple to incorporate into every day practice.
I’ve had a fabulous day: international training, HT appraisal then online training looking at the readiness agenda. I’ve also started to print out my handwriting programme which aligns with different phonics schemes. I’m quite pleased with how these are coming together.
January 14, 2026 at 4:32 PM
I’ve had a fabulous day: international training, HT appraisal then online training looking at the readiness agenda. I’ve also started to print out my handwriting programme which aligns with different phonics schemes. I’m quite pleased with how these are coming together.
Absolutely buzzing after leading an international training session early this morning, followed by training on curriculum for Heart Stronger Practice hub. I've worked with over 400 teachers already today. What a privilege!
January 13, 2026 at 12:14 PM
Absolutely buzzing after leading an international training session early this morning, followed by training on curriculum for Heart Stronger Practice hub. I've worked with over 400 teachers already today. What a privilege!
Reposted by Ruth Swailes
Inspiration Network with Ruth Swailes 💡
On Tue 13 Jan, we'll be joined by renowned consultant and author @ruthswailes.bsky.social, to explore how a deep understanding of the unique child can shape a unique curriculum — one that is inclusive, responsive, and rooted in evidence-based practice.
/2
On Tue 13 Jan, we'll be joined by renowned consultant and author @ruthswailes.bsky.social, to explore how a deep understanding of the unique child can shape a unique curriculum — one that is inclusive, responsive, and rooted in evidence-based practice.
/2
January 7, 2026 at 6:12 PM
Inspiration Network with Ruth Swailes 💡
On Tue 13 Jan, we'll be joined by renowned consultant and author @ruthswailes.bsky.social, to explore how a deep understanding of the unique child can shape a unique curriculum — one that is inclusive, responsive, and rooted in evidence-based practice.
/2
On Tue 13 Jan, we'll be joined by renowned consultant and author @ruthswailes.bsky.social, to explore how a deep understanding of the unique child can shape a unique curriculum — one that is inclusive, responsive, and rooted in evidence-based practice.
/2
Well, this is slightly concerning, when I’ve 5 days of long journeys ahead …
January 7, 2026 at 6:59 AM
Well, this is slightly concerning, when I’ve 5 days of long journeys ahead …
I had a lovely first day back, working with the team at Grace Owen Nursery today. Discussing all things EAD!
January 5, 2026 at 6:21 PM
I had a lovely first day back, working with the team at Grace Owen Nursery today. Discussing all things EAD!
Just running through tomorrow’s inset and gap tasks. This is a project I’m leading with practitioners and teachers working with babies to 5 year olds, we’re focussing on Expressive Arts and Design and how it can be a powerful tool to build Executive Function. I’m quite excited about it!
January 4, 2026 at 6:46 PM
Just running through tomorrow’s inset and gap tasks. This is a project I’m leading with practitioners and teachers working with babies to 5 year olds, we’re focussing on Expressive Arts and Design and how it can be a powerful tool to build Executive Function. I’m quite excited about it!
An inspiration to many, she will be missed but what a legacy she leaves us all.
December 30, 2025 at 9:41 AM
An inspiration to many, she will be missed but what a legacy she leaves us all.
The winter flu has caught up with me. I’m self medicating with Rumbullion and my 5th book of the week, under the mardy blanket, so it’s not all bad. Determined to shake it off in time for the NYE party!
December 29, 2025 at 6:37 PM
The winter flu has caught up with me. I’m self medicating with Rumbullion and my 5th book of the week, under the mardy blanket, so it’s not all bad. Determined to shake it off in time for the NYE party!
A lovely sunny day today
December 15, 2025 at 12:21 PM
A lovely sunny day today