Maternity Leave… Gap or Gain?

Sandra Fernandez Conde, mother to four-month-old Oliver, tells us how professional development whilst on parental leave is not exclusively for teachers: as a charity-sector employee with a history in Early Years, she is using her maternity leave as an opportunity to...

On ‘Delusions of Gender.’

@FKAEnglish discusses how International Women’s Day has inspired her CPD choices this month. Last week I settled down to watch a new BBC drama ‘The Replacement.’ This, as it turned out, was not the best idea considering I am currently on maternity...

On Raising Fearless Daughters

Today I celebrated my eldest daughter’s third birthday. She is vibrant and energetic and so far (seemingly) unencumbered by the social expectations linked to her gender. She has no interest in what she wears. She likes playing with dolls as much as she does tractors...

(Whisper it) I have ambitions.

Frances Ashton (@FKAEnglish) talks ambition, confidence and Maternity Leave CPD. I want to be an Assistant Head Teacher. I’ve never actually written those words down or said them out loud to anyone other than in dinner time musings with my other half. I’ve...

Flexible Working for School Staff

Andrea Jennings is the Director of Support Services at Frederick Bremer School in East London, the school that featured in the CH4 documentary, Educating the East End.  She has two children, aged 10 and 5 and, in response to Hayley Dunn’s overview of...

Family Friendly Schools

Hayley Dunn, @ShropshireSBM, a School Business Manager recounts her own experience balancing an SLT role and parenting, and offers tips for schools wanting to foster a more family friendly culture. My husband and I work well as a team to balance the obligations that...

The Hard Won Right of Parental Leave

It is 5:02am.  My son has just begun to sleep all the way from 8:00pm to 4:00am and for the first time in five months (let’s be honest – longer – sleeping from seven months pregnant onwards was hit and miss) we are getting between five and six hours sleep in a row,...

Learning Outside of the Classroom

A few weeks ago, I offered some tips and advice about how to make outings as beneficial for your baby’s development and entertainment, as your own CPD.  If nothing else, planning a day trip or two whilst on parental leave is a great way to get out of the house,...