Important update from TheSchoolRun
For the past 13 years, TheSchoolRun has been run by a small team of mums working from home, dedicated to providing quality educational resources to primary school parents. Unfortunately, rising supplier costs and falling revenue have made it impossible for us to continue operating, and we’ve had to make the difficult decision to close. The good news: We’ve arranged for another educational provider to take over many of our resources. These will be hosted on a new portal, where the content will be updated and expanded to support your child’s learning.
What this means for subscribers:
- Your subscription is still active, and for now, you can keep using the website as normal — just log in with your usual details to access all our articles and resources*.
- In a few months, all resources will move to the new portal. You’ll continue to have access there until your subscription ends. We’ll send you full details nearer the time.
- As a thank you for your support, we’ll also be sending you 16 primary school eBooks (worth £108.84) to download and keep.
A few changes to be aware of:
- The Learning Journey weekly email has ended, but your child’s plan will still be updated on your dashboard each Monday. Just log in to see the recommended worksheets.
- The 11+ weekly emails have now ended. We sent you all the remaining emails in the series at the end of March — please check your inbox (and spam folder) if you haven’t seen them. You can also follow the full programme here: 11+ Learning Journey.
If you have any questions, please contact us at [email protected]. Thank you for being part of our journey it’s been a privilege to support your family’s learning.
*If you need to reset your password, it will still work as usual. Please check your spam folder if the reset email doesn’t appear in your inbox.
Kids at risk: tackling vaping in schools
Have you noticed how quickly things change when it comes to raising kids? From the days of candy cigarettes to today's concerns about vaping in schools, the landscape of childhood seems to be evolving faster than ever.
While you might have seen scary headlines about clouds of bubblegum-flavoured vapour taking over classrooms, the good news is that widespread vaping in primary schools is less common than a peaceful lunch break!
However, that doesn't mean we shouldn't be proactive. The Department for Education (DfE) is stepping up with new guidance and upcoming laws. But what exactly does this mean for you and your primary school child?
Vaping on the out: banning the disposables
Here's a big change – the sale and supply of disposable vapes is being banned in England, Scotland and Wales! This decision comes after a public consultation where nearly 70% of respondents, including parents and teachers, voiced their support for the ban. The concern was that the designs and flavours of disposable vapes make them particularly appealing to young people.
More than just a ban
The good news is, the government isn't just stopping at a ban. They're also looking to make all vapes less attractive to children by regulating flavours, packaging and how they're displayed in shops. Additionally, trading standards officers will have the power to hit stores with on-the-spot fines for selling vapes or tobacco products to minors.
Getting our children ready for what's next
Okay, so vaping isn't a big problem in primary schools right now, but it's creeping up among older kids. A recent survey by the anti-smoking group ASH found that 20.5% of children aged 11 to 17 had tried vaping, up from 15.8% in 2022. But bans and regulations can only go so far. The most powerful tool we have is open communication.
Let's talk to our children about the dangers of vaping, just like we would about stranger danger or online safety. Schools also play a crucial role. Relationships, Sex and Health Education (RSHE) already teaches children about the risks of harmful substances, and the curriculum is being reviewed to potentially strengthen content around vaping. By giving our children the knowledge now, it might help to keep them away from harmful vapes in the future.
So, while vaping might not be a big issue in primary schools today, it's always good to stay in the loop and take action. By teaming up—parents, schools, and the government—we can make sure our kids grow up in a healthier world, today and tomorrow.
Matt Revill is a primary school headteacher with over 20 years experience of working in schools. He has worked in a range of settings and currently works within a multi-academy trust of 14 schools. In his free time, he enjoys reading, computing, holidaying and spending time with his family and friends. Matt has a son who is currently working his way through A-levels at college.
