Ben Case is part of the Tapestry education team and a former primary and early years teacher. He works closely with settings to support their use of Tapestry and believes tech is only successful if you bring staff with you. As a teacher Ben regularly presented at TeachMeet Sussex and he now helps to host the Tapestry podcast, writes for education publications, and features in many of the Tapestry training videos to support users. He is keen to share actionable insights and foster a positive, confident approach to using technology effectively in early years settings across the UK.

Tapestry's annual survey had some interesting findings around the use of AI in the early years; engaging with families; and supporting families with ideas for play at home.

More info about the survey: https://tapestry.info/tapestry-early-years-education-survey-2025-what-we-learnt/

Tapestry has teamed up with award-winning Playworker Amber – aka Amber Ogunsanya-William – to collaborate on a project championing children’s freedom to play. The animation shares Amber’s story, and highlights provocations for play at home.

https://tapestry.info/let-play-lead-the-day/

Takeaways:

• The importance of centering the child in educational processes cannot be overstated, as their home experiences significantly influence their learning in school.
• Tapestry facilitates effective two-way communication between educators and parents, enhancing the overall educational experience for children.
• As AI tools become increasingly prevalent, it is essential to teach children to critically assess the authenticity of the media they encounter.
• Engaging parents in their child's learning journey is vital, as it fosters a deeper understanding of child development beyond mere participation in school events.
• The integration of play in education is crucial, enabling children to develop problem-solving skills while maintaining engagement in their learning.
• AI can be a valuable resource in lesson planning and child activity suggestions, but it should support, rather than replace, the educator's role.

https://tapestry.info/

https://www.instagram.com/tapestry_fsf/

https://www.facebook.com/TapestryLearningJournal

https://www.linkedin.com/in/eyfsben/

Show Sponsor – National Association for Primary Education (NAPE)

https://nape.org.uk/

Find out more about their Primary First Journal:

https://www.educationonfire.com/nape

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The AI maths tutor that gets pupils reasoning out loud.

Third Space Learning believe an AI tutor should do more than just generate questions and mark answers.

What if it could provide scaffolded support according to knowledge gaps, speaking to students and encouraging them to verbalise their reasoning as they go?

What if every pupil who needs it could work through maths problems in this way for one fixed low cost?

Meet Skye, the low-cost AI maths tutor built by expert maths teachers

Skye mimics the behaviours of a pedagogically sound subject matter expert and prompts ensures responses are effective, adaptable, and focused on improving understanding and increasing confidence.

Prompts are specified in detail for each slide, and use insights from thousands of maths tutoring sessions to teach concepts effectively, address common misconceptions and ensure Skye adapts the pitch and pace of the session and personalises the instruction to suit each learner.

'Since 2013, over 4,100 schools have chosen Third Space Learning’s cost-effective one-to-one maths tutoring – giving them more time to focus on whole-class teaching and learning.

We’ve used all the online tutoring insights we’ve gained in the last decade to create Skye, an AI maths tutor like no other.'

Takeaways:

• The primary objective of our mission is to make effective tutoring accessible to underprivileged children, thereby assisting in closing the educational attainment gap.
• Utilizing artificial intelligence for tutoring can provide substantial scaling benefits while maintaining the essential requirements necessary for effective tutoring.
• Our tutoring programs are designed to be seamlessly integrated into school timetables, enhancing the overall learning experience and reinforcing classroom instruction.
• We have observed that the interaction between students and AI tutors fosters a low-stakes environment, encouraging children to engage more freely without the fear of judgment.
• Our approach focuses on high-impact tutoring, which necessitates a proactive and structured interaction rather than reactive responses to student inquiries.
• The transition from human to AI tutors is grounded in extensive research and data, ensuring that we continue to meet the needs of schools and students effectively.

https://thirdspacelearning.com/maths-tutoring/ai-maths-tutor/

https://thirdspacelearning.com/

@thirdspacetweet

https://www.linkedin.com/company/third-space-learning/

Show Sponsor – National Association for Primary Education (NAPE)

https://nape.org.uk/

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Matt Dalio dreams of a world in which every kid has the resources to shape their own technology instead of being shaped by it.

In 2011, he founded Endless which aims to provide universal access to technology and equal opportunities to succeed in the digital world by tackling three key challenges.

Endless is harnessing the power of modern games to introduce youth to 21st Century skills like coding and design. Second, it is addressing the internet gap by creating technology that enables youth anywhere to have access to basic educational resources. And lastly, Endless is building a “pay as you go” laptop program making it so that billions more people can afford a computer.

Collectively these unlock educational opportunities that allow everyone to be a creator

Takeaways:

• The average child dedicates approximately 10,000 hours to playing video games by the time they complete their education, an astonishing figure that underscores the pervasiveness of gaming in youth culture.
• In the last fifteen years, a significant trend in the gaming industry has been the shift towards creation, with platforms like Minecraft, Roblox, and Fortnite leading the way in empowering users to engage in content generation.
• The concept of transforming players into creators is pivotal; through this transition, youths acquire essential software development skills tailored for an increasingly digital, knowledge-based economy.
• Endless Studios aims to provide scalable educational solutions that are both affordable and accessible, particularly in communities with limited access to qualified educators, thereby breaking down financial barriers to learning.
• Feedback, especially peer feedback, plays a critical role in the learning process by providing valuable insights and support without the traditional costs associated with formal education.
• The future workforce will largely consist of individuals who possess robust digital skills, which are essential for navigating the complexities of an AI-driven world, making it imperative to equip youth with these competencies.

www.endlessstudios.com

Show Sponsor – National Association for Primary Education (NAPE)

https://nape.org.uk/

🔥 Discover more about Education on Fire

https://www.educationonfire.com/

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https://educationonfire.com/support

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Professor Dr Ger Graus OBE will be joining me for a dedicated season based on his book - Through a Different Lens - Lessons from a Life in Education.

We will discuss in more depth the 6 chapters:

1. The benefit of hindsight and the lessons learned. This includes family influences, school experiences, teachers, being a teacher and being involved in The Children's University, Kidzania and travelling the world giving lectures, presentations and being a keynote speaker.

2. Children can only aspire to what they know exists. I am a living example of this........I would not have been a professional musician and had the career I have had if not for my school experiences and opportunities.

3. Thoughts about schooling and education - what is the difference? Education is 0-99 years.......how do we instil this understanding in our children?

4. Technology!!!!!!

5. The role we play

6. More than a school - measuring what we value not just subject exam results and league tables.

We will then invite expert discussion about 3 key areas.

Early Years - the current situation, what it can be, why it is important and views from around the globe.

School - What is a school and why do children attend?

Higher/Further education - How is this working today? What are the alternatives, is it fit for purpose, can they all survive the threat of closure from lack of funding.....does that matter?

We will also have a LIVE show where you can get involved, ask questions and bring your views to the campfire. Be a fire lighter. Be part of the movement.

Education on Fire - Feedback Inspiration Resilience Empowerment

Why not listen to Ger's conversation with me on Ep 439 to get ready for the Ger Graus Gets Gritty Season.

https://www.educationonfire.com

https://www.gergraus.com

Mentioned in this episode:

NAPE Al Kingsley Summit Promo

Watch Mark Taylor interview Al Kingsley about 'Creating Digital Strategies for Schools' as part of the Primary Education Summit 2023 - Visions for the Future - presented by National Association for Primary Education (NAPE) https://www.educationonfire.com/creating-digital-strategies-for-schools/

Today we highlight 10 previous episodes and the educational resources created or shared by my guests.

These include:

1. Reading Writing and Spelling with Jane Considine
2. Let's Learn About Science with Dr. Stephanie Ryan
3. Artis Foundation - Integrating the arts throughout learning
4. Nurture Resilience, Empathy and Global Citizenship with Lyfta
5. Sir Linkalot - Spelling App
6. WHO SMARTED? Hit children's podcast with Jerry Kolber
7. C.H.A.M.P.S Mentoring with Vondale Singleton
8. Satchel - Online Teaching and Learning Tool
9. MarvellousMe - Parent Engagement App
10. Steer Education - Whole School Mental Health Platform

You can download the FREE pdf with links to all the websites at https://www.educationonfire.com/

In advance of our Ger Graus season which will be based on his book Through a Different Lens - Lessons from a Life in Education I have created a summary podcast of our previous conversation (Ep 439) using NotebookLM. This is as - described on it's website - 'the AI research tool and thinking partner that can analyze your sources, turn complexity into clarity and transform your content'.

You will hear 2 AI voices discuss and summarise our conversation about Ger's book.

Why do this? Partly as a quick recap before we start the Ger Graus season but also to help me understand what is currently possible with AI in advance of our Education on Fire LIVE Stream shows that will focus on AI in education.

To keep up to date with everything we are doing and download our FREE top 10 resources pdf please visit https://www.educationonfire.com/

During the autumn we will have a dedicated series exploring how education can change lives through the work of Professor Dr. Ger Graus and his book "Through a Different Lens: Lessons From a Life in Education."

What You'll Hear:

• Real stories from teachers, parents, and mentors
• Practical ways to help children discover who they really are
• How communities can work together to improve education
• Simple strategies that make a real difference in learning

We will structure the podcast around the chapters of the book, have LIVE Q&A shows and interview some inspirational people about how education supported their growth.

Education works best when everyone gets involved - not just schools, but families and communities too. Throughout this season, we'll share conversations with people who are making education better for kids everywhere.

Why This Matters:

Every child deserves guidance that helps them grow into their authentic self. The educators and mentors we interview show us how to do exactly that, with wisdom gained from years of experience.

Join the Conversation:

Ready to be part of the education movement? Listen as we uncover the insights that can transform how we think about teaching and learning.

• educationonfire.com
• nape.org.uk
• creativeamplifiers.substack.com

This podcast episode explains the forthcoming evolution of the Education on Fire podcast, as I, Mark Taylor, prepare to embark on an exciting new chapter with esteemed educator Professor Dr. Ger Graus OBE. Central to our discussion will be the exploration of innovative educational theories derived from Ger's autobiography, focusing on the concepts of connection, extension, and challenge in the learning process. We aim to illuminate the distinction between merely imparting knowledge and fostering genuine understanding, thereby empowering children to aspire to their fullest potential. Additionally, I express my profound gratitude to our longstanding sponsor, the National Association for Primary Education, whose unwavering support enables us to advance our mission of transforming educational experiences. As we anticipate our return on September 8th, I encourage our listeners to engage with us and share their thoughts on how we can best serve the educational community moving forward.

Takeaways:

• The Education on Fire podcast serves as a platform for creative and inspiring learning globally.
• Listeners can expect a series of enlightening conversations focusing on educational transformation and innovation.
• The upcoming autumn season will feature discussions with Professor Dr. Ger Graus on impactful educational theories.
• The importance of nurturing children's aspirations through exposure to diverse learning experiences is emphasized throughout the podcast.
• The podcast intends to explore the intersection of education and artificial intelligence to enhance learning opportunities.
• Listeners are invited to contribute their preferences for future episodes, ensuring the content remains relevant and supportive.

www.educationonfire.com