Evidence into Action

In this episode, Host Alex Quigley and the EEF's Maths Content & Engagement Specialist, Grace Coker, are exploring why manipulatives matter in maths. They speak to Dr Sue Gifford to discuss the research evidence around the use of manipulatives and are then joined by practitioners from both primary and secondary schools to find out the benefits of using manipulatives in their settings. Dr Sue Gifford - (Early Childhood Maths Group) Emma Barker (Assistant headteacher and maths lead, Amberley Primary School; Primary Mastery Specialist and Lead Specialist for Great North Maths Hub) @MissEBarker Guy Carpenter (Director of Research and Innovation, Dudley Academies Trust) @gcarp567 www.linkedin.com/in/guy-carpenter-192560305  

In the final episode of our three-part series, ‘Teaching: an art or science?' host Harry Madgwick meets with Yamina Bibi to discuss how teachers can best exercise their professional judgment, with insights from a panel of experts.   Episode 1: Teaching: an art or science - part 1 Episode 2: Teaching: an art or science - part 2   Yamina Bibi (Project specialist at Chartered College of Teaching and freelance consultant)    Panel: Dr Cat Scutt (Deputy Chief Executive, Education and Research, Chartered College of Teaching) Sarah Cottinghatt (Professional development consultant and instructional coach) Dr Sally Riordan (Associate Professor of Social Policy Research, Northeastern University London)  Further resources Metacognition Guidance Report Engaging with Evidence report

In this second episode of our three-part series, ‘Teaching: an art or science?', host Harry Madgwick meets with Sarah Stock, Director of Newcastle Research School, to discuss teachers' use of research evidence, with insights from a panel of experts:   Sarah Stock (Director of Newcastle Research School, Primary School Improvement Lead NEAT Academy Trust)   Panel: Dr Cat Scutt (Deputy Chief Executive, Education and Research, Chartered College of Teaching) @CatScutt Sarah Cottinghatt (Professional development consultant and instructional coach) @scottinghatt Dr Sally Riordan (Associate Professor of Social Policy Research, Northeastern University London) You can catch up on part 1 here.    Further resources EEF, Teacher Feedback to Improve Pupil Learning Guidance Report (October 2021) EEF Blog, The ShREC approach EEF, Vocabulary in Action tool (based on Beck model) EEF, Using Research Evidence: A Concise Guide (January 2024) Research Schools Network Clips from the Classroom

In the first episode of a three-part series, ‘Teaching: an art or science?', host Alex Quigley is joined by co-host, Harry Madgwick (EEF senior content and engagement manager) and expert guests including: Damilola Ajagbonna (Deputy Headteacher, Hitchin Boys' School) Dr Cat Scutt (Deputy Chief Executive, Education and Research, Chartered College of Teaching) Sarah Cottinghatt (Professional development consultant and instructional coach) Dr Sally Riordan (Senior Research Fellow, UCL) In this episode, Harry meets with his mentor from when he was an ECT to discuss what ECTs must master first upon entering the profession, what good mentoring can involve, and how to stay present and motivated as a teacher, accompanied by insights from a panel of experts.

In this instalment, host Alex Quigley is joined by co-host Kirsten Mould and expert guests. They discuss breakfast club provision in schools, implementation challenges, impact, and advice for those looking to set up breakfast club provision in their setting. Lindsey McDonald, Chief Executive, Magic Breakfast, @LindseyMac_ @Magic_Breakfast (Start – 19:50) Toni Hayzen, Headteacher, Pembroke Park Primary School and Nursery, @PrimaryHT_Mum and Ash McGann, Headteacher, Burton Green Primary School (19:59 - End) Further Resources:  EEF Breakfast Interventions: Rapid Evidence Assessment (August 2024) TES, How to Build an Effective Breakfast Club: What the Research Says (August 2024) To find out more about the Magic Breakfast Early Adopters Scheme: Early Adopters Scheme - Magic Breakfast School Food Matters | School Food Matters

In this instalment, host Alex Quigley is joined by co-host, Rachael Cattrall (EEF content specialist alumna) and expert guests including: Dr Tom Perry – Associate Professor, University of Warwick. Rachel Wilson – Year 6 teacher & Deputy Research Director of Norwich Research School. Mark Miller - Director of Bradford Research School, Dixons Academies Trust. They discuss the evolution of retrieval practice and insights into cognitive science, including how these principles and practices are being applied in classrooms. Resources to support retrieval practice Cognitive Science Approaches in the Classroom: a Review of  the Evidence (summary) EEF Podcast: Cognitive Science in the Classroom The Processes of Memory: A brief explainer Cognitive Load Theory: A brief explainer

In this instalment, host Alex Quigley is joined by co-host, Kirsten Mould (EEF Senior Content and Engagement Manager) and expert guests including: Jonathan Sharples (Associate Professor, EEF) Phil Stock (Director of Greenshaw Research School) Laura Spence (Director of Gloucestershire Research School) They discuss implementation in schools following the recent update of the EEF's implementation guidance report. They explore how we think about implementation and what it looks like in a practical sense. Resources to support implementation in schools A School's Guide to Implementation guidance report Engage and Unite: moving beyond buy-in – blog from Greenshaw Research School

In this instalment, host Alex Quigley is joined by co-host, Kirstin Mulholland (EEF Associate for School Engagement and Evidence Use) and expert guests including: Prof Rob Coe (Director of Research and Development at Evidence Based Education, EEF Senior Associate) Sean Harris (Lead for Research Improvement and Innovation at Tees Valley Education Trust) Claire Williams (Deputy Headteacher of Alexandra Park Primary School and Director of Alexandra Park Research School) They discuss using research evidence well in the context of education, exploring the development of a culture and capacity for engaging with evidence in schools. Resources to support using research evidence EEF Using Research Evidence – a concise guide Research School Network The COM-B Model for behaviour change – an explainer from The Decision Lab

In this instalment, host Alex Quigley is joined by co-host, Freya Morrissey (EEF Content Specialist for Learning Behaviours) and expert guests including: Owen Carter (Director at ImpactEd) Jane Elsworth (Director of Huntington Research School) Oliver Kerr (Headteacher of Old Moat Primary School, Manchester) They discuss the complex topic of attendance and explore what the evidence tells us about the best ways to support it. Resources to support school attendance: Impact Ed: Understanding Attendance report EEF Supporting School Attendance webpage EEF's Attendance intervention rapid evidence review 2022 For quick and easy access to future episodes, search for 'Evidence into Action' in Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Google Podcasts and make sure you subscribe there.

In this instalment, host Alex Quigley is joined by co-host, Grace Cocker (EEF Content Specialist for maths) and expert guests including: Sarah Earle (Reader in Education, Bath Spa University) Ben Rogers (Director of Curriculum and Pedagogy, Paradigm Trust) Mikaela Moore (Director of Primary Science, Delta Academy Trust) They discuss high-quality science teaching that fosters progress and children's interest in science. Resources to support pupils to improve primary science: Improving primary science guidance report, Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) Guidance and resources to support teaching and assessment, Teacher Assessment in Primary Science (TAPS) Explorify resources For quick and easy access to future episodes, search for 'Evidence into Action' in Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Google Podcasts and make sure you subscribe there.

In this instalment, host Alex Quigley is joined by Kirsten Mould and expert guests including: Dr Rebecca Montacute, Head of Research and Policy, Sutton Trust Marc Rowland, Pupil Premium Adviser, Unity School's Partnership Gill Fearns, Director, Lancashire Research School They discuss how to support for pupils from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds. For more on educational disadvantage and resources to support disadvantaged pupils: Contextual Admissions, Sutton Trust The COVID Social Mobility and Opportunities (COSMO) study Elitist Britain, Sutton Trust The EEF Guide to the Pupil Premium, Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) For quick and easy access to future episodes, search for 'Evidence into Action' in Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Google Podcasts and make sure you subscribe there.

In this instalment, host Alex Quigley is joined by expert guests including: Claudia Coussins, Deputy Head of Early Years - Policy and Practice, Anna Freud Centre Ruth Coleman, Headteacher, Highfield Nursery School Louise Jackson, Independent Consultant, Author, Trainer and Teacher, Wye Early Years Nicola Cherry, Early Years Delivery Manager, North Somerset Council Our hosts and expert panel discuss PSED and how we can support how early years practice can be enriched through evidence-use. For quick and easy access to future episodes, search for 'Evidence into Action' in Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Google Podcasts and make sure you subscribe there.

In this instalment, host Alex Quigley is joined by co-host, Kirsten Mould (our Senior Content Specialist) and expert guests including: Jon Eaton, Director of Kingsbridge Research School and Research Lead at Kingsbridge Community College Rebecca Gonyora, Director of Inclusion (MAT) Every Child, Every Day Academy Trust and Deputy Regional SEN Lead for East of England and East London (WSS) Gary Aubin, our Associate content specialist for SEND and Head of Special Educational Needs and Disabilities at Future Academies They discuss how best to support pupils with SEND, outlining the current challenges and opportunities in schools. For quick and easy access to future episodes, search for 'Evidence into Action' in Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Google Podcasts and make sure you subscribe there. Further reading EEF's Special Educational Needs in Mainstream Schools guidance report EEF resource: reflecting on your practice EEF blog: Assess, adjust, adapt – what does adaptive teaching mean to you? EEF blog: Moving from ‘differentiation' to ‘adaptive teaching' Whole School SEND

In this instalment, host Alex Quigley is joined by co-host, Hannah Heron (EEF Content Specialist for Learning Behaviours) and expert guests including: Professor John Dunlosky (Professor of Psychology and Director of the Science of Learning Center at Kent State University) Jo Ashcroft (CEO of the CLIC Trust) Freya Morrissey (Head of English at Teign School) They discuss metacognition with particular focus on putting study strategies into practice.

In this instalment, host Alex Quigley is joined by co-host, Kirstin Mulholland, EEF associate for content and engagement, with particular interest in maths. Expert guests take part in discussions including: Professor Neil Mercer, Director of Oracy at the University of Cambridge Mrs Nicola Hemming, Deputy Headteacher at Clifton Primary School, Birmingham Simon Cox, Leader at Blackpool Research School They discuss high quality talk and how it can be applied and developed in classrooms.

In this instalment, host Alex Quigley is joined by expert guests including: Professor Jessie Ricketts, Director of Language and the reading acquisition research group for the Department of Psychology at Royal Holloway University of London. Marcus Jones, Literacy Lead at Huntington Research School and English Teacher Alex Reynolds, Literacy Content Specialist for the EEF, discuss vocabulary instruction and connections to reading and the curriculum.

In this instalment, hosts Alex Quigley and, EEF Senior Content Manager, Kirsten Mould, are joined by guests including experts in linguistics and education, along with education leaders, giving their perspective, as they discuss how best to support pupils with English as an Additional Language. Guests include: Prof Victoria Murphy, Director of the Department of Education & Professor of Applied Linguistics, University of Oxford. Diana Sutton, The Bell Foundation. Karl Rogerson, Principal of Billesley Primary School and Director of Billesley Research School.

In this instalment, hosts Alex Quigley and, EEF Senior Content Manager, Kirsten Mould, are joined by guests including experts from the school system, along with teachers and leaders, giving their perspective from the front line, as they discuss evidence informed leadership. Guests include: Nick Brook, Deputy General Secretary at NAHT and Chair of the School Improvement Commission. Alex Samways, Andy Samways, Director of Research School and Teaching School Hub, Unity Schools Partnership. Asima Iqbal, Vice Principal of Billesley Research School.

In this new instalment, our expert panel discuss the evidence around how to prepare pupils for exams effectively. Regular host Alex Quigley is joined by our Learning Behaviours Content Specialist, Kirsten Mould, in discussion with: Prof. David Putwain of Liverpool John Moores University (Start – 26.55); Sadie Thompson, Deputy Director of HISP Research School and Modern Foreign Language teacher (26.55 – 40.23); and Simon Cox, Director of Blackpool Research School and Maths teacher (40.23– End).

In this new instalment, our expert panel discuss how reading teaching can be supported using the reading comprehension house, which featured in our updated guidance report, Improving Literacy in Key Stage 2. Regular host Alex Quigley is joined by our Literacy Content Specialist, Sarah Green, in discussion with: Kate Cain, Professor of Language and Literacy Development at Lancaster University (Start – 30:25); Caroline Bilton, Deputy Headteacher at Cragside C of E Primary School (30:25 – 36:50); and James Siddle, Primary School Headteacher and Director of Kyra Research School (36:50– End). This episode is the counterpart to a previous episode on teaching reading fluency, which featured Professor Tim Rasinski, Julie Phazey and Louise Quinn.

In this latest instalment of the EEF's 'Evidence into Action' podcast, our expert panel discuss the evidence around the importance of fluency in teaching children to read. Regular host Alex Quigley is joined by our Literacy Content Specialist, Sarah Green, in discussion with: Tim Rasinski, Professor of Literacy Education and author of “The Megabook of Fluency” (Start – 29:50); Julie Phazey, Primary School Headteacher (29:50 – 39:52); and Louise Quinn, Secondary School Deputy Headteacher and Senior Leader in Education (39:52 – End).

The EEF has released a brand new episode of ‘Evidence into Action', our podcast which explores important areas of educational research, and how it is being put into practice in schools. In this new instalment, our expert panel discuss the key insights from our recent guidance report, ‘Effective Professional Development'. Regular host Alex Quigley is joined by our new maths content specialist, Kirstin Mulholland, in discussion with: Harry Fletcher-Wood, author and researcher at Teacher Tapp (Start – 22:09); Helen Bellinger, Director of Doncaster Research School (22:09 – 38:00); and Tom Martell, Director of Shotton Hall Research School (38:00 – End).

The EEF has released a brand new episode of ‘Evidence into Action', our podcast which considers specific areas of educational research and its implications for classroom practice. In this new instalment, our expert panel explore the newly updated Teaching and Learning Toolkit. Regular host Alex Quigley is joined by the EEF's Head of Synthesis, Jon Kay, alongside: Professor Steve Higgins, lead author of the Teaching and Learning Toolkit and Professor of Education at Durham University (Start – 28:09); Sarah Green, Assistant Headteacher, National Oracy Leader, Evidence Lead in Education and EEF Literacy Content Specialist and Julie Kettlewell, Assistant Director of Huntington Research School, Memory and Metacognition specialist, Psychology teacher and EEF Content Specialist for Learning Behaviours (28:09 – End).

Today, the EEF has released the latest episode of ‘Evidence into Action', our podcast which considers specific areas of educational research and its implications for classroom practice. In this new instalment, our expert panel explore the findings from our recently published evidence review, ‘Cognitive Science in the Classroom'. Regular host Alex Quigley is joined by assistant headteacher and literacy specialist Caroline Bilton, in discussion with: Dr Thomas Perry, lead author on the EEF's recent ‘Cognitive Science in the Classroom' evidence review, educational researcher and lecturer at the University of Birmingham (Start – 28:09); and Mark Miller, Headteacher at Bradford Research School and Dixons Trinity Academy. (28:09 – End)

In this latest episode, our expert panel examine the recommendations from our recently published Feedback guidance report and explore the implications for teaching practice. Regular host Alex Quigley is joined by Joe Collin, EEF programmes manager, in discussion with: our team of content specialists, assistant headteacher and EEF literacy specialist Caroline Bilton, secondary school chemistry teacher and EEF science specialist Dr Niki Kaiser, and secondary school maths teacher and EEF maths specialist Simon Cox; (Start – 21:44); Clare Christie, primary school maths teacher and Specialist Leader of Education; (21:44 – 39:41); and Corinne Settle, Senior Education Lead at SSAT. (39:41 – End)

In this instalment, hosts Alex Quigley and, EEF programme manager, Sarah Tillotson, are joined by guests including programme developers, speech therapists and school practitioners, to discuss oral language interventions and how to successfully implement them schools. Gillian West, Lecturer at the University of Oxford Department of Education; & Claudine Bowyer-Crane, Associate Research Director at the National Institute of Economic & Social Research (NIESR) explore the development of the Nuffield Early Language Intervention (NELI), along with the research on the impact of the Covid pandemic on young children. (Start – 38:12); Caroline Coyne, Joanne Burr & Rhian Owen - all part of Communicate SLT CIC - discuss the Leading Language and Loving It programme and approach. (38:13 – 55:34); and Charlotte Hardwick, a teaching assistant at Settrington Primary School and Rebecca Austwick, headteacher at Bentley High St Primary in Doncaster, explore the process of developing pupils' oral language and implementing NELI successfully in schools. (55:35 – End)

In this episode, regular host Alex Quigley is joined by Caroline Bilton, assistant headteacher at Cragside primary school and the EEF's literacy specialist, to discuss teaching reading comprehension with our expert panel: Professor Kate Nation, experimental psychologist and expert on language and literacy development in school children, explains the process of learning to comprehend text; (Start – 19:43); Hydeh Fayez, Year 5 teacher and evidence lead in education, highlights the importance of exposing children to high-quality texts; (19:48 – 31:41); and Stella Jones, Director of Teaching and Learning at Tower End Associate Research School, describes her school's approach to improving pupils' reading fluency. (31:48 – End)

In this instalment, host Alex Quigley discusses best practice in maths teaching, from establishing strong foundations in the early years, to making purposeful use of pupils' misconceptions: Simon Cox, EEF maths specialist and current secondary school teacher, discusses how maths teaching has changed in recent years and the importance of assessment (Start – 15:07); Craig Barton, author and educational podcaster, highlights the importance of misconceptions and how they can be effectively tackled; (15:08 – 41:47); and Fliss James, Early Years teacher at East London Research School, Specialist Lead and Evidence Lead in Education, explains how to cultivate a deep, holistic understanding of early mathematical concepts. (41:48 – End)

In this episode, host Alex Quigley investigates the evidence on supporting pupils to form effective learning behaviours - both in-school and at home - with our panel of experts: Kirsten Mould, EEF learning Behaviours specialist and current secondary school SENCo, explains how positive behaviours and routines underpin successful learning, in and out of the classroom (Start – 12:05). To find out more about learning behaviours, read Kirsten's EEF blog. Harry Fletcher-Wood, author, researcher and associate dean at Ambition Institute, highlights the importance of embedding habits in sustaining pupils' engagement with their learning; (12:05 – 28:03). To find out more about habits of success, read Harry's blog. Jenny Thompson, principal of Dixons Trinity Academy in Bradford and behaviour advisor to the Department of Education, discusses the way in which shared language and culture set standards for behaviour within her school's community. (28:03 – End). Hear more about the culture in the Dixons Trust here. There is also a range of support resources for schools given the challenges of Covid-19 here.

This episode focuses on how schools can ‘Make the Difference for Disadvantaged Pupils'. We explore the big picture of the challenges faced by disadvantaged pupils.   Host, EEF National Content Manager, Alex Quigley, talks first to Natalie Perrera, Executive Director and Head of Research at the Education Policy Institute. He then speaks to Professor Becky Francis, the CEO of the EEF, before hearing from Sonia Thompson, the headteacher of St Matthew's C of E Primary School, in Birmingham.