For classroom optimisers Jonathan Firth and Nasima Riazat December 2023 SAGE This practical guide aims to support teachers鈥� reflection on and engagement with memory in the classroom, with direct links to their own teaching 鈥� promising to help achieve the holy trinity of classroom practice: enhance learning, reduce workload boost outcomes. Christmas all wrapped up for the busy teacher in your life (even if that鈥檚 you). Verity Lush December 2023 Routledge Given the well-documented rise in needs among young people, what could be more useful that an accessible toolkit of ideas, methods and motivation to enable teachers to make their classrooms fully inclusive? With evidence-based approaches reaching beyond polarised debates to include relational, restorative practice and traditional methods, it could be just the thing to SEND a busy teacher. For culture builders Omar Akbar January 2024 SAGE A recurring theme this year has been the broken contract between schools and their communities. Behaviour is worse. Attendance is seen as optional. Parental complaints are up. In that context, which educator wouldn鈥檛 want a little guide with 鈥渆verything you need to know about relationship building with students, support staff, stakeholders and parents鈥�? Ruth Ashbee December 2023 Routledge Professional development and school culture are often cited as a remedy to the recruitment and retention crisis. Drawing on key ideas from systems theory, psychology, anthropology, business and philosophy, Ruth Ashbee sets out to offer concrete steps to get this right in practice. And with a free school development package to boot, it鈥檚 Christmas come鈥� not a minute too soon. For primary professionals Sebastian Olway December 2023 John Catt Two key challenges that have consistently been raised by primaries this year have been the size of the curriculum and Ofsted鈥檚 expectations of curriculum leadership, particularly in small schools. Here鈥檚 Sebastian Olway proposes to tackle these issues head-on with a framework rooted in educational research and containing strategies, tips and resources for individual subject leaders or whole-staff CPD. It could be the gift that keeps on giving. Tia Henteleff December 2023 John Catt Another key challenge in primaries is the growing number of children arriving in Reception class who are not school-ready 鈥� drawing greater attention to the crucial value of the early years. As We Begin brings together insights from big thinkers in education and other fields along with the author鈥檚 own experiences in the classroom to offer ideas, rather than prescriptions, for a balanced early childhood educational program. For standard raisers Peter J Hughes December 2023 Bloomsbury Mossbourne Federation CEO, Peter Hughes reflects on his career to offer up a blueprint for successful leadership. From recruitment to improving attainment, being mission-driven to knowing when to take risks, the book provides a replicable framework of support for leaders, with practical tips and proven examples of best practice. Whether or not 鈥榦utstanding鈥� remains a label, no doubt every leader and aspirant to leadership will value its insights. Matt Bromley , Andy Griffith November 2023 Crown House This week鈥檚 IFS and Centre for Social Justice reports lay bare the state of inequality across the nation and in education. The Working Classroom focuses on actions within the control of teachers and school leaders which will ensure that we create a socially just education system 鈥� with useful methods to improve the cultural capital of students that build on the rich heritage of the working class, rather than seeing their background as a weakness. What could be more Christmas-spirited than that? If you’d like to review any of these titles for Schools Week, email jl@schoolsweek.co.uk