Mr M's PTA

Carl Headley-Morris
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Mr M’s PTA: The Parent/Teacher Association you actually want to join. Host Mr M is a teacher by day and parent by night. He’s tearing down the wall between the school gate and the classroom with a "dual-lens" look at modern education. No dry lectures or bake sales—just honest talk on the stuff that matters. We tackle: The Smartphone Precipice Parents' Evening secrets Surviving the Homework Wars Whether you’re an educator or a parent, there’s a seat for you here. Hit follow—class is in session. Read more: www.mrmsmusings.com By Ignite Education UK

  1. Reception Talk with Ms Emily Andrews!

    Jun 5

    Reception Talk with Ms Emily Andrews!

    September is looming, and if your child is about to start Reception, that familiar knot of anxiety is likely setting in. As a parent—and with my own son hurtling towards school age—I understand what it is like to look at the education system from the other side of the playground gates. When your child, particularly one with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), is transitioning into Primary school, ensuring the setting is absolutely ready for them is vital. Sitting in those tiny chairs opposite the new Reception teacher and SENDCo can feel overwhelming, but remember: you are the expert on your child. In this video, I share targeted questions you can take into your transition meetings to facilitate a rigorous, professional dialogue and ensure your child gets the best possible start. What We Cover In This Episode: Question 1: Navigating home visits to ensure they are a collaborative partnership, not an inspection. Question 2: What specific observations teachers should prioritise during nursery setting visits for a child with SEND. Question 3: How to balance gradual, part-time settling-in periods with the practical constraints of working parents. Mr M's PTA (Parent/Teacher Advice) For more straightforward guidance and resources to help support your child's learning journey, you can explore the following links: Consultancy & Tutoring: igniteeducation.co.uk Educational Workbooks: Browse the full range of workbooks available worldwide on Amazon. Remember to subscribe for more practical advice on taking the stress out of the school year.

    14 min
  2. Proven ways to teach phonics at home (and avoid common mistakes)

    May 31

    Proven ways to teach phonics at home (and avoid common mistakes)

    Fix your child's early reading struggles and avoid common phonics mistakes using six simple sounds and two pieces of scrap paper! Is your pre-schooler treating every street sign like a personal reading challenge? Early reading can feel exhausting, but you can easily teach the first phases of phonics at home without any expensive resources. In this video, we break down Systematic Synthetic Phonics into plain English, explain how to correctly pronounce pure sounds to prevent blending issues later, and demonstrate two incredibly effective, low-cost games to boost your child's reading confidence. The Phonics Code: Why the UK Department for Education and the EYFS framework advocate for phonics, and how it helps children unlock language. Onsets & Rimes: The ultimate shortcut for young readers to decode word families (like the 'at' family) without decoding every single letter. The Magic Six Sounds: Why we start with S, A, T, P, I, N instead of the traditional alphabet. The 'Schwa' Danger: How to avoid the lazy 'uh' sound at the end of consonants that ruins a child's ability to blend words. Ashleigh's Game: How to use six torn pieces of scrap paper to teach segmenting and blending CVC words. The Power of Alien Words: Why nonsense words are crucial for phonetic awareness and how they prepare your child for future school screenings. DIY Word Generator: How to build a tactile, interactive reading tool using just two paper cups or plates and a split pin. Reception Readiness Pack: http://tinyurl.com/mrmspta Digital Phonics Tools (Phonics Boggle & Phoneme Picker): https://www.igniteeducation.co.uk Welcome to the channel! Mr M's PTA is dedicated to providing practical, actionable advice for parents navigating their children's early education. If you found these tips useful, please hit the Subscribe button to help the channel grow so I can keep making content for you. Please note: The activities in this video are for additional support and a fun head start—these skills will be fully taught by professional educators when your child enters Reception. Do not panic, keep it fun, and enjoy the journey! #Phonics #EarlyReading #ParentingTips #LearningToRead #EYFS #PreSchool #MrMsPTA

    15 min
  3. Surviving Term One: Reception Readiness pt. 2

    May 22

    Surviving Term One: Reception Readiness pt. 2

    Don't forget your FREE Reception Readiness Pack All my links! Surviving Term One: What Actually Happens in Reception Sending your four-year-old off to big school for the first time is completely terrifying, but you can put the lukewarm tea down—you have not failed. In this video, we move past the summer preparation and discuss what actually happens when your child walks through the primary school gates in September. From understanding the dreaded after-school meltdown to navigating early phonics and the Reception Baseline Assessment, this straightforward guide is designed to help parents survive and support their children during the crucial first term. The Reality of the First Weeks: Why term one is entirely about survival, establishing routines, and learning to share finite resources. The Reception Baseline Assessment: What this assessment actually looks like (hint: it is not a high-pressure exam) and why you do not need to panic about it. Reading and Maths at Home: A look into early phonics programmes, the logic behind "Fred Talk," why wordless books are vital for reading comprehension, and how we build intuitive number sense. The After-School Meltdown: Understanding "restraint collapse," why your child turns into a furious mini-Godzilla at 3:30 PM, and the best ways to help them decompress. The Digital Age of School Apps: How to stay connected using platforms like Tapestry or Seesaw. Essential Admin: Why a Sharpie is your best friend for labelling uniforms, and how to navigate the strict government attendance rules using NHS guidelines when your child catches a winter sniffle. The School Readiness Myth: If you missed my previous video covering the four true pillars of school readiness—including the importance of Velcro shoes, coat zips, and independent toilet trips—make sure to pause and watch that first. The first term is a wild ride for everyone involved. Give your child plenty of grace when they are exhausted, read to them every night just for the joy of a good story, and remember to praise the journey rather than just the outcome. You are doing a great job.

    8 min
  4. The Information Vault: Why Schools Won't Communicate

    May 15

    The Information Vault: Why Schools Won't Communicate

    Has your child come home with a story that made your blood boil? Before you send an angry email to the Headteacher, watch this. In this video, we tackle the two hardest parts of being a parent. Escalating a serious problem, and finding out what the school is legally allowed to hide from you. I break down exactly how to escalate an issue without starting a war. We cover the strict legal difference between an informal concern and a formal complaint. You will learn exactly what to put in a formal letter to get a result, and how to present your case to a governing body without making massive procedural errors. Then, we look inside the Information Vault. Why do schools refuse to hand over incident reports or CCTV footage? Why do Subject Access Requests (SARs) come back covered in black marker pen? And what does the law actually say about the age of digital consent and safeguarding? I explain the exact rules schools must follow when protecting your child's data. Here is what we cover: 00:00 - The Holiday Chrono-social Conflict 01:15 - Stage 1 and The Informal Resolution 04:30 - Stage 2 and The Formal Complaint to the Headteacher 06:15 - Stage 3 and The Governing Body Panel 09:45 - The Danger of Secretly Recording Meetings 11:15 - The Information Vault and Why Schools Say No 12:45 - Educational Records, SARs, and the Age of 13 14:15 - Redactions and CCTV Rules 15:45 - The Supremacy of Safeguarding Watch the Video: www.youtube.com/@mrmspta Download my free communication email templates: igniteeducation.co.uk/email-templates Reception Readiness Guide: tinyurl.com/mrmspta IPSEA (Special Educational Needs Advocacy): https://www.ipsea.org.uk/ If you found this useful, please hit subscribe. It really helps the channel grow so we can get this information to more parents who need it.

    13 min
  5. How to get the school to listen!

    May 8

    How to get the school to listen!

    In this week's episode, I explain how to communicate with schools in a way that will guarantee effective results. Have you every heard of the SOAR method? It's all about grounding your emotional reaction and constructing a structured, logical outcome that is impossible to ignore. Also, if you haven't yet downloaded my Reception Readiness Guide, you can access it here: tinyurl.com/mrmspta Let people know about it!

    8 min
  6. Ready for Reception?

    May 1

    Ready for Reception?

    Fancy a ***FREE*** Reception Readiness Pack? Some people online are charging £19 a MONTH for this information; I think that's wrong. So I'm giving it away for free. Listen to the podcast for more details. This week, I cover everything that your toddler needs to be able to do before they start 'big' school in September. I look at the four pillars of readiness: Growing Independence, Building Relationships, Physical Development, and Healthy Routines. Chances are, you're already doing a great job, but there are always areas we don't know we don't know!

    19 min
  7. The Two-Tier Education: Curriculum Narrowing pt.2

    Apr 21

    The Two-Tier Education: Curriculum Narrowing pt.2

    In this - somewhat delayed - episode, I discuss how, due to a change in how the Key stage 2 SATs were graded in 2014, we have ended up with a two-tier education system where the children who are confident and capable receive a wider and more balanced curriculum than those who are struggling. We also look at how your postcode could influence that curriculum, and, given that it is totally against government policy, the DfE allow it to happen...

    10 min
  8. Curriculum Narrowing: The SATs Data Factory

    Apr 3

    Curriculum Narrowing: The SATs Data Factory

    In this episode of Mr M’s PTA, we peel back the curtain on the Year 6 SATs, and the systemic pressures currently reshaping primary education. I share my findings from my MA research at University College London, exploring how high-stakes testing is forcing schools to abandon a broad curriculum in favour of a narrow focus on "SPaG" and arithmetic, and we discuss what happens to your child's school experience when the target becomes the measure. TikTok YouTube

    13 min
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About

Mr M’s PTA: The Parent/Teacher Association you actually want to join. Host Mr M is a teacher by day and parent by night. He’s tearing down the wall between the school gate and the classroom with a "dual-lens" look at modern education. No dry lectures or bake sales—just honest talk on the stuff that matters. We tackle: The Smartphone Precipice Parents' Evening secrets Surviving the Homework Wars Whether you’re an educator or a parent, there’s a seat for you here. Hit follow—class is in session. Read more: www.mrmsmusings.com By Ignite Education UK

Information

  • Creator
    Carl Headley-Morris
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    40
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Carl Headley-Morris
  • Show Website
    Mr M's PTA