Penny Sturt
@supervisionmatters.bsky.social
Passionate about #Supervision in education and social care. Safeguarding children
Like to dream big- sometimes it happens
Like to dream big- sometimes it happens
Pinned
This term it really feels like supervision in education has taken a massive leap forward.
A 🧵
A 🧵
Reposted by Penny Sturt
The biggest miscalculation of the Trumpists is about human nature. They assume we're all selfish and cowardly and can be cowed into silence or submission or surrender, which is to say they seem to base their version of human nature partly on themselves and partly on their scorn for the rest of us.
One Long Year Later: It's Not Over, and We Haven't Surrendered
I wrote an essay in the immediate aftermath of the 2024 election, an essay to encourage people to not give up and not assume that the Trumpists had won. It follows, after this prelude about where we a...
www.meditationsinanemergency.com
January 20, 2026 at 6:12 PM
The biggest miscalculation of the Trumpists is about human nature. They assume we're all selfish and cowardly and can be cowed into silence or submission or surrender, which is to say they seem to base their version of human nature partly on themselves and partly on their scorn for the rest of us.
Reposted by Penny Sturt
As government is poised to issue 'tougher guidance' on smartphone bans, one headteacher who already enforces a strict ban has spoken to Schools Week about the effect it's had on pupils, backlash from parents, and why he thinks legislation is needed
schoolsweek.co.uk/the-school-t...
schoolsweek.co.uk/the-school-t...
The school that confiscates phones for six weeks
Head whose abuse from parents was highlighted by MPs speaks to Schools Week about his strict approach
schoolsweek.co.uk
January 20, 2026 at 1:27 PM
As government is poised to issue 'tougher guidance' on smartphone bans, one headteacher who already enforces a strict ban has spoken to Schools Week about the effect it's had on pupils, backlash from parents, and why he thinks legislation is needed
schoolsweek.co.uk/the-school-t...
schoolsweek.co.uk/the-school-t...
Reposted by Penny Sturt
Compare & contrast. This is Trump’s demand for Greenland. And this is Hitler’s for the Sudetenland.
There is no difference. The language. The unstoppable need to dominate. The megalomania. It’s the same.
And Keir Starmer’s response is appeasement. We are in that moment.
1/
There is no difference. The language. The unstoppable need to dominate. The megalomania. It’s the same.
And Keir Starmer’s response is appeasement. We are in that moment.
1/
January 20, 2026 at 9:00 AM
Compare & contrast. This is Trump’s demand for Greenland. And this is Hitler’s for the Sudetenland.
There is no difference. The language. The unstoppable need to dominate. The megalomania. It’s the same.
And Keir Starmer’s response is appeasement. We are in that moment.
1/
There is no difference. The language. The unstoppable need to dominate. The megalomania. It’s the same.
And Keir Starmer’s response is appeasement. We are in that moment.
1/
Reposted by Penny Sturt
NEW: Stop Normalizing Fascism.
Seriously, if not now, when?
1/
Seriously, if not now, when?
1/
January 19, 2026 at 11:27 PM
NEW: Stop Normalizing Fascism.
Seriously, if not now, when?
1/
Seriously, if not now, when?
1/
Reposted by Penny Sturt
My latest on failure in both the US & UK to acknowledge what we are seeing with our eyes & hearing with our ears.
The old world is over. And we have to act fast.
open.substack.com/pub/broligar...
The old world is over. And we have to act fast.
open.substack.com/pub/broligar...
Stop Normalizing Fascism
If not now, then when?
open.substack.com
January 19, 2026 at 11:28 PM
My latest on failure in both the US & UK to acknowledge what we are seeing with our eyes & hearing with our ears.
The old world is over. And we have to act fast.
open.substack.com/pub/broligar...
The old world is over. And we have to act fast.
open.substack.com/pub/broligar...
Reposted by Penny Sturt
Gordon Brown outlines a bold new proposal for democratic international cooperation, as America’s neighbours & Europe try to negotiate with Trump’s whims, imposing change by threats, tariffs & tantrums, limited only by his own “morality”.
Will the idea have legs? www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Will the idea have legs? www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
As Trump menaces Greenland, this much is clear: the free world needs a new plan – and inspired leadership | Gordon Brown
The idea that the liberal rules-based order can survive his presidency now seems complacent. This is a historic moment – and a time to act, says former UK prime minister Gordon Brown
www.theguardian.com
January 20, 2026 at 7:52 AM
Gordon Brown outlines a bold new proposal for democratic international cooperation, as America’s neighbours & Europe try to negotiate with Trump’s whims, imposing change by threats, tariffs & tantrums, limited only by his own “morality”.
Will the idea have legs? www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Will the idea have legs? www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Reposted by Penny Sturt
Dolly Parton is 80 today. Instead of hoarding wealth and buying social media platforms to spread hate she spread literacy and made sure kids had books to read 🦋📚
January 19, 2026 at 5:40 PM
Dolly Parton is 80 today. Instead of hoarding wealth and buying social media platforms to spread hate she spread literacy and made sure kids had books to read 🦋📚
Reposted by Penny Sturt
Silence doesn’t always mean people are coping.
An open door policy isn’t a wellbeing strategy. Most people won’t make a point of coming to find to you tell you something until it is a big problem.
Find out what the little things are before they become big things!
An open door policy isn’t a wellbeing strategy. Most people won’t make a point of coming to find to you tell you something until it is a big problem.
Find out what the little things are before they become big things!
January 19, 2026 at 5:02 PM
Silence doesn’t always mean people are coping.
An open door policy isn’t a wellbeing strategy. Most people won’t make a point of coming to find to you tell you something until it is a big problem.
Find out what the little things are before they become big things!
An open door policy isn’t a wellbeing strategy. Most people won’t make a point of coming to find to you tell you something until it is a big problem.
Find out what the little things are before they become big things!
Reposted by Penny Sturt
It's that magical time of year when private jets descend on a Swiss mountain village to discuss climate change and poverty! Anyway, here's my annual reminder. I'll stop posting this when they stop avoiding the real issue: their own massive tax avoidance 💰
January 19, 2026 at 1:00 PM
It's that magical time of year when private jets descend on a Swiss mountain village to discuss climate change and poverty! Anyway, here's my annual reminder. I'll stop posting this when they stop avoiding the real issue: their own massive tax avoidance 💰
Reposted by Penny Sturt
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre... terrifying article. The best time for Britain to avoid descent into authoritarianism was 2016. The next best time is now.
What ICE is doing on US streets looks terrifying, but don’t forget: it could happen anywhere | Nesrine Malik
This shocking moment is the outcome of a political, institutional and media environment that is not far off Britain’s, says Guardian columnist Nesrine Malik
www.theguardian.com
January 19, 2026 at 8:39 AM
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre... terrifying article. The best time for Britain to avoid descent into authoritarianism was 2016. The next best time is now.
Reposted by Penny Sturt
When “Operation Raise the Colours” started attaching flags to lampposts, you couldn’t analyse it in the media without the reply, “it’s just people innocently expressing national pride”. Now the same people are travelling to France to intimidate refugees.
www.theguardian.com/world/2026/j...
www.theguardian.com/world/2026/j...
‘They’re emboldened’: British far-right activists step up harassment of asylum seekers in northern France
Aid groups say rise of far-right rhetoric in politics has fed into intimidation, vandalism and hate graffiti around migrant camps
www.theguardian.com
January 19, 2026 at 7:02 AM
When “Operation Raise the Colours” started attaching flags to lampposts, you couldn’t analyse it in the media without the reply, “it’s just people innocently expressing national pride”. Now the same people are travelling to France to intimidate refugees.
www.theguardian.com/world/2026/j...
www.theguardian.com/world/2026/j...
Reposted by Penny Sturt
NEW: Another Conservative MP defects to Reform, just days after Robert Jenrick.
Andrew Rosindell becomes Reform’s seventh MP.
Put another way 43% of Reform’s serving MPs were Conservative MPs and were not elected as Reform.
Andrew Rosindell becomes Reform’s seventh MP.
Put another way 43% of Reform’s serving MPs were Conservative MPs and were not elected as Reform.
January 18, 2026 at 8:37 PM
NEW: Another Conservative MP defects to Reform, just days after Robert Jenrick.
Andrew Rosindell becomes Reform’s seventh MP.
Put another way 43% of Reform’s serving MPs were Conservative MPs and were not elected as Reform.
Andrew Rosindell becomes Reform’s seventh MP.
Put another way 43% of Reform’s serving MPs were Conservative MPs and were not elected as Reform.
Reposted by Penny Sturt
Suggested title:
"Journalism is dead. Long live journalism."
(A quote from @rebeccasolnit.bsky.social)
Getty photographer tackled by ICE throws his camera to another journalist.
"Journalism is dead. Long live journalism."
(A quote from @rebeccasolnit.bsky.social)
Getty photographer tackled by ICE throws his camera to another journalist.
Photo by Pierre Lavie. Yes this is me. And I threw my Leica. It landed on the bass plate with hardly a scratch. Another Photographer grabbed it along with my phone and I was able to track him later. I was held face down tear gas deployed right in front of me and pepper sprayed directly into the eye.
January 17, 2026 at 4:09 PM
Suggested title:
"Journalism is dead. Long live journalism."
(A quote from @rebeccasolnit.bsky.social)
Getty photographer tackled by ICE throws his camera to another journalist.
"Journalism is dead. Long live journalism."
(A quote from @rebeccasolnit.bsky.social)
Getty photographer tackled by ICE throws his camera to another journalist.
Reposted by Penny Sturt
It’s a real shame that Nigel Farage is too unwell to do interviews the morning after Donald Trump threatens us with sanctions.
Here he is with “the bravest man he ever met”. He campaigned to make Trump President, and has spent the last year enjoying all the chaos he has caused.
Here he is with “the bravest man he ever met”. He campaigned to make Trump President, and has spent the last year enjoying all the chaos he has caused.
January 18, 2026 at 12:08 PM
The bright spot of January- the return of Grand Slam tennis. Loving Alcaraz outfit - lime green for a further burst of brightness. Whether participating in or watching I so enjoy sport for being able to distract me from real world events #Wellbeing #AusOpen
January 18, 2026 at 11:48 AM
The bright spot of January- the return of Grand Slam tennis. Loving Alcaraz outfit - lime green for a further burst of brightness. Whether participating in or watching I so enjoy sport for being able to distract me from real world events #Wellbeing #AusOpen
Reposted by Penny Sturt
January 17, 2026
January 17, 2026
After the extraordinary pushback on President Donald J.
heathercoxrichardson.substack.com
January 18, 2026 at 6:49 AM
January 17, 2026
Reposted by Penny Sturt
Find some spine, UK and Europe. Where’s that fabled spirit of resistance? Tell Trump to sod off. Close his golf courses. Take the gloves off. Badenoch kicked out Jenrick before he quit; what are we waiting for with Trump? Do we have to suffer abject humiliation? Enough. Enough already.
January 17, 2026 at 6:00 PM
Find some spine, UK and Europe. Where’s that fabled spirit of resistance? Tell Trump to sod off. Close his golf courses. Take the gloves off. Badenoch kicked out Jenrick before he quit; what are we waiting for with Trump? Do we have to suffer abject humiliation? Enough. Enough already.
Reposted by Penny Sturt
We may be weak individually, but collectively we’re stronger than we think and have tools we can leverage- military based, bond markets, overflight rights, Diego Garcia, trade deals, sanctions. Trump is a corrupt, authoritarian leader - we’d have long ago sanctioned his type in other countries.
January 17, 2026 at 6:00 PM
We may be weak individually, but collectively we’re stronger than we think and have tools we can leverage- military based, bond markets, overflight rights, Diego Garcia, trade deals, sanctions. Trump is a corrupt, authoritarian leader - we’d have long ago sanctioned his type in other countries.
If you are in anyway concerned about children in the uk, this post should concern you and expose how money is being sucked away from the children most in need of high quality services. I am grateful for @martinbarrow.bsky.social persistence in exposing the residential care market
No moral Compass: Private equity earns millions in profits as crisis engulfs children’s social care.
My new column via Substack
open.substack.com/pub/martinba...
My new column via Substack
open.substack.com/pub/martinba...
No moral Compass: How private equity profits as crisis engulfs children’s social care
Compass Community is a major provider of children’s homes and foster care to local authorities.
open.substack.com
January 17, 2026 at 6:38 PM
If you are in anyway concerned about children in the uk, this post should concern you and expose how money is being sucked away from the children most in need of high quality services. I am grateful for @martinbarrow.bsky.social persistence in exposing the residential care market
Reposted by Penny Sturt
Some BIG news for the UBI community:
"Following a review of international travel conditions and visa accessibility for participants, a decision has reluctantly been reached to relocate the 2026 BIEN Congress from University of Pennsylvania, USA, to Toronto Metropolitan University Toronto, Canada."
"Following a review of international travel conditions and visa accessibility for participants, a decision has reluctantly been reached to relocate the 2026 BIEN Congress from University of Pennsylvania, USA, to Toronto Metropolitan University Toronto, Canada."
Location Update for the 2026 BIEN Congress | BIEN — Basic Income Earth Network
basicincome.org
January 17, 2026 at 4:26 PM
Some BIG news for the UBI community:
"Following a review of international travel conditions and visa accessibility for participants, a decision has reluctantly been reached to relocate the 2026 BIEN Congress from University of Pennsylvania, USA, to Toronto Metropolitan University Toronto, Canada."
"Following a review of international travel conditions and visa accessibility for participants, a decision has reluctantly been reached to relocate the 2026 BIEN Congress from University of Pennsylvania, USA, to Toronto Metropolitan University Toronto, Canada."
Reposted by Penny Sturt
The toxic politics of might and money www.taxresearch.org.uk/Blog/2026/01...
The toxic politics of might and money
The Guardian has noted this morning that:
Donald Trump has appointed the US secretary of state, Marco Rubio, and former British prime minister Tony Blair to a newly created Gaza “board of peace”, a b...
www.taxresearch.org.uk
January 17, 2026 at 8:50 AM
The toxic politics of might and money www.taxresearch.org.uk/Blog/2026/01...
Reposted by Penny Sturt
January 15, 2026
January 15, 2026
You know what Americans aren’t talking about very much today after Trump’s threat to detonate the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) this week and his threat this morning to invoke the Insurrec...
heathercoxrichardson.substack.com
January 16, 2026 at 6:31 AM
January 15, 2026
Reposted by Penny Sturt
Where is the most expensive place to be a teacher?
Common wisdom says London, hence the salaries in the capital being higher. But @jabedahmed.bsky.social has found that many more cities across the country face similar cost of living challenges without the pay uplift.
www.tes.com/magazine/new...
Common wisdom says London, hence the salaries in the capital being higher. But @jabedahmed.bsky.social has found that many more cities across the country face similar cost of living challenges without the pay uplift.
www.tes.com/magazine/new...
Revealed: where teacher pay falls furthest short of living costs
Teachers in London get thousands in pay uplifts to compensate for historically high housing costs. But, given that staff in many other parts of the country now also face high property costs, does the ...
www.tes.com
January 16, 2026 at 6:48 AM
Where is the most expensive place to be a teacher?
Common wisdom says London, hence the salaries in the capital being higher. But @jabedahmed.bsky.social has found that many more cities across the country face similar cost of living challenges without the pay uplift.
www.tes.com/magazine/new...
Common wisdom says London, hence the salaries in the capital being higher. But @jabedahmed.bsky.social has found that many more cities across the country face similar cost of living challenges without the pay uplift.
www.tes.com/magazine/new...
Reposted by Penny Sturt
I wrote about illegal children’s homes, a symptom of failure across the care system open.substack.com/pub/martinba...
We tell parents they are not fit to raise children, then put their sons and daughters in illegal children’s homes: the latest scandal of a broken care system
Hundreds of children in care are living in caravans, holiday parks and Air BnBs, some for as long as three years, an investigation by the Children’s Commissioner has found.
open.substack.com
January 16, 2026 at 8:27 AM
I wrote about illegal children’s homes, a symptom of failure across the care system open.substack.com/pub/martinba...
Important 🧵 from @martinbarrow.bsky.social about how providing the homes children need has become a financial management issue. When care becomes debt management rather than care focused, society has failed its children. More evidence of need for politics/economics of care/compassion
Hundreds of vulnerable children placed in illegal homes for months by care system: new report by the Commons’ Public Accounts Committee
committees.parliament.uk/committee/12...
committees.parliament.uk/committee/12...
Hundreds of vulnerable children placed in illegal homes for months by care system - Committees - UK Parliament
Children are being put at risk as a result of being placed in inappropriate homes through a residential care system in England that is not working.
committees.parliament.uk
January 16, 2026 at 8:38 AM
Important 🧵 from @martinbarrow.bsky.social about how providing the homes children need has become a financial management issue. When care becomes debt management rather than care focused, society has failed its children. More evidence of need for politics/economics of care/compassion