Natalie Hood
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heard-edublog.bsky.social
Natalie Hood
@heard-edublog.bsky.social
Writing for the Leader's and SEND Segment of Twinkl Digest News

Experienced Education Adviser
Senior Leader of AP, SEND and Specialist Resource Provision
Teacher of *AP *Secondary *Primary * EYFS * EOTAS * SEMH
NPQSL, PGCE, BA (Hons)
Burnout concerns over education ‘policy churn’
#Lab25

Read the full article: www.twinkl.co.uk/l/ixqe1
September 30, 2025 at 2:55 PM
Find out how to make staff meetings efficient and effective – your team will thank you for it 👇

1. Do we need a staff meeting?
2. Do staff have capacity?
...
Read the full article: www.twinkl.co.uk/l/1mf8v7
September 23, 2025 at 12:38 PM
*** New headteachers to complete compulsory SEND training Education Committee recommends that all new headteachers should be required to complete a ‘SEND-specific qualification’ within their first four years of headship.
Read: www.twinkl.co.uk/l/neupp
September 18, 2025 at 10:34 AM
10 top tips for new headteachers
From trusting staff to revisiting the 'why', experienced trust and senior leaders give their best advice on those new to the role: www.twinkl.co.uk/l/19ykgq
September 15, 2025 at 12:16 PM
Oracy ‘transforms’ the lives of young people, says Yorkshire academy trust 👇

West Yorkshire Academy Trust shares their Voice 21 UK journey to oracy excellence and the positive impact it’s had on pupil outcomes.

Read: www.twinkl.co.uk/l/mq60j
August 18, 2025 at 9:59 AM
SEND expert and author, Natalie Packer, shares her experiences of developing a MAT-wide SEND strategy.
www.twinkl.co.uk/l/ui7wd
July 28, 2025 at 1:18 PM
7 successful strategies for a neuro-affirming transition to secondary school
Neurodivergent educational psychologist, Dr Joanne Riordan, shares seven strategies for a neuro-affirming transition to secondary school.

www.twinkl.co.uk/l/fm4zj
July 28, 2025 at 1:17 PM
80% of MATs report a lack of SEND funding, school finance survey reveals
Key findings from the MAT CFO Insights Survey 2025:
www.twinkl.co.uk/l/lx4kn
July 15, 2025 at 9:34 AM
New DfE statistics show a marked increase in suspensions and exclusions for 2023/2024

@naht.org.uk

Find out more: www.twinkl.co.uk/l/ddpfk
July 10, 2025 at 10:40 AM
How to lead your team to the end of the summer term...
Teachers and leaders share the best ways to ensure your team ends the year feeling appreciated and supported. www.twinkl.co.uk/l/1h5dsx
July 7, 2025 at 10:35 AM
New research by the National Foundation for Educational Research analyses the impact of financial incentives on teacher retention.

Find out more: www.twinkl.co.uk/l/1lbab0
June 26, 2025 at 7:57 AM
Unions warn Ofsted that school leaders may be encouraged to quit if changes aren’t made to inspections www.twinkl.co.uk/l/d2s55
June 25, 2025 at 2:23 PM
@mission44.bsky.social, alongside Sir Lewis Hamilton and over 25 organisations in the sector, are calling for urgent, concrete action to build a truly inclusive education system.

Find out more: www.twinkl.co.uk/l/1h9apf
May 30, 2025 at 10:07 AM
Double-gold medallist Danielle Brown MBE discusses her own experiences of exclusion from school sports and making sports more accessible for SEND pupils. www.twinkl.co.uk/l/1mzmcv
May 28, 2025 at 9:50 AM
‘Hunger doesn’t end at age 11’
@magicbreakfastuk.bsky.social’s open letter to Chancellor calls for government to expand school breakfast funding for secondary-age pupils www.twinkl.co.uk/l/1ltdpa
May 27, 2025 at 5:13 PM
A review of supervision in schools
‘Something needs to happen to protect SENDCos’

Sue Marks’ current research investigates developments in this area. To find out more, visit: www.twinkl.co.uk/l/1fghf1
May 22, 2025 at 7:26 AM
*Breaking News* New PE Inclusion programme to support over 240,000 pupils
@daniellebrown.bsky.social reveals what this means for children and young people with SEND and the potential the programme has to create 'lasting' change.

Read: lnkd.in/ewyzyESC
May 15, 2025 at 2:44 PM
According to a recent @naht.org.uk survey, 45 % of school leaders report needing mental health support in the last 12 months.

Leader's Digest spoke with researcher Sue Marks about making psychological supervision standard practice.
www.twinkl.co.uk/l/1a5h2n
May 15, 2025 at 7:49 AM
Let's spread some professional positivity! Comment below 👇 What do you most enjoy about being a school leader? What is your 'why?' What do you love about it, and why do you keep doing it?
May 14, 2025 at 3:14 PM
Speaking at the Westminster Forum, inclusion thought leader, Georgina Durrant, shared thought-provoking insights into the new ITT ECF framework. @georginadurrant.bsky.social

Read the full article: www.twinkl.co.uk/l/157q44
April 28, 2025 at 3:58 PM
***Breaking news *** New Chair of the Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel appointed

Education Secretary, Bridget Phillipson, has today appointed Sir David Holmes as new Chair of the Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel.
www.twinkl.co.uk/l/12lubk
April 28, 2025 at 1:38 PM
5 ways school leaders and teachers can support boys and young men to ‘rethink masculinities’ – Exclusive interview with Beyond Equality

Read the full article: www.twinkl.co.uk/l/1fer7p
April 22, 2025 at 9:29 AM
2025: Key events calendar for school and trust leaders
Experienced school and trust leaders share key dates for your leadership diary.

www.twinkl.co.uk/l/1avm7g
April 10, 2025 at 11:20 AM
Find out the school term dates for the academic year, alongside bank holiday dates – useful for parents, schools and organisations.
www.twinkl.co.uk/l/10773z
April 8, 2025 at 8:42 AM
5 successful strategies for pupil reintegration
Experienced school inclusion leaders and SEMH specialists share top tips for effective school reintegration.
Read: www.twinkl.co.uk/l/1m0cye
April 7, 2025 at 8:03 PM