
Naylor's Natter Podcast 'Just talking to Teachers'
"Naylor's natter...just talking to teachers"
Naylor's Natter is the brainchild of Phil Naylor , created initially to share musings on evidence, research and CPD. The podcast has grown significantly since its first episode in early 2019 and is now proudly independent. We have no sponsorship or affiliation.
As the podcast has evolved so has its reach, we feel passionately about diversity of opinion and representation of our profession. To ensure we better reflect teaching , we are now proud to add more hosts to the podcast. Opinions are guests and hosts alone.
Latest episodes

Dec 4, 2023 • 58min
Equity in education: Levelling the playing field of learning with Lee Elliot Major
quity in Education sets out a new equity-based approach in education to help teachers improve the prospects of under-resourced and working-class pupils.The equity approach recognises that we must address our own cultural biases and barriers within the classroom, while helping to remove extra barriers to learning experienced by children outside schools. Based on thousands of research studies and years of working with expert teachers, the book sets out the principles and practical strategies for trainee teachers, teachers and teacher leaders.Adopting an equity mindset involves four key principles:· equity not equality - doing more to overcome the extra barriers some learners experience· capacity not deficit thinking - recognising the talents in all pupils· deep not shallow relationships - developing authentic individual relationships with pupils· multiple not singular talents - acknowledging that human talents come in many forms.Equity in Education also advocates the national policies that would enable teachers to prioritise an equitable approach and reduce divides between the education haves and have-nots.

Nov 6, 2023 • 58min
What Do New Teachers Need to Know?: A conversation with Peter Foster
In this podcast, author Peter Foster shares insights from his book on teaching. Topics include the fundamentals of teacher expertise, using evidence in planning, the importance of student knowledge, and how experts develop and break habits. The speakers also discuss classroom routines, effective learning models, and the significance of mentor meetings for new teachers.

Oct 23, 2023 • 50min
Warm, welcoming and Friendly with Barry Smith
From Barry's LinkedIn
Founding Deputy of Michaela School, Wembley. The kids’ amazing French, & my unique approach to MFL teaching, created huge buzz at Michaela. Became head of Great Yarmouth Charter. 10th head in 10 years. Inadequate for a decade. 60+ % fsm coastal comp. In 5 months, Ofsted declared Charter, ‘a miraculous turnaround’. Maths & English 5+ doubled in a year. P8 from - 0.57 to + 0.14. Visitors from across UK and beyond visited & talked of ‘joy’, ‘relationships’, ‘warmth’. CST as Regional Director. Led turn around of inadequate Hackney New School working with 5th Head in 5 years. 25 years teaching. A decade as a freelance teacher trainer fighting fashionable fads 2004 to 2014. Then founded Michaela, transformed Charter & turned around Hackney. Sept 21 to date, freelance again. MFL CPD. It’s what I became famous for. With commendations from the likes of Christine Counsell & Tom Bennett. But mostly working with headteachers. Culture, behaviour, courtesy, teaching & learning, systems. Very practical, hands on, jargon free. Holistic take on whole school improvement working hand in hand with the head. Helping head realise their vision. Attention to detail, coaching, systems. Rapid and radical change or incremental. Bringing best bits of experience from 25 years in education, a decade training & coaching, setting up & leading the legendary Michaela School, turning around two inadequate comps to now, working with heads across the country. Creating genuine mutual respect school cultures; coaching heads; developing SLT; transforming norms. Try my podcast on Spotify, Barry Smith Education. DM me on twitter, BarryNSmith79. Happy to chat. Practical. Genuinely transformative. Jargon free.

Oct 16, 2023 • 49min
Time to Think with Rachel Johnson
Being a leader is a wonderful privilege but can also come with challenges we don't always feel prepared for. How often do we tie ourselves in knots wondering about the right way to deal with a difficult situation at work? Or wondering why no one ever told us how to manage some of the challenges? This book is for people who need practical ways of tackling the tricky issues in leadership to move forward courageously. From people pleasing to crucial conversations, we look at ten areas that can cause us to be 'stuck' and how we can get ourselves free. Dip into this book when you need some support to inspire, motivate, and equip you in whatever stage of leadership you're at so that you can lead more confidently and freely, and be your best more of the time.

Sep 17, 2023 • 54min
The Power of Teams with Sam Crome
In education, resources and time are scarce, yet the demand for performance is sky high. School leaders invest money and labour into improving their schools, navigating trade offs along the way. But what if one of the biggest improvements we could make to our schools was something we already do? What if enhancing teamwork so that school teams thrive, was actually the secret ingredient to success?The Power of Teams explores evidence from across sectors, including education, to find out what high-performing teams share, and how we can adapt the most effective teamwork strategies to the unique environment of a school. The book outlines a model of teamwork factors that contribute to truly thriving teams, with theory, research, tangible actions for school teams, and a range of expert voices who contribute their experience in case studies.Effective teamwork leads to purpose, belonging, trust, learning, and, ultimately, high performance. When we better understand the nuances of how teams can thrive, we discover the real Power of Teams.

Sep 4, 2023 • 46min
Building Culture with Lekha Sharma
Building Culture navigates the complex educational landscape and provides a look at school culture, highlighting key aspects of cultivating culture that leads to great pupil outcomes.Rooted in her own experience as a senior leader, Lekha Sharma knows that leaders need not only the what of curriculum, assessment and pedagogy but also the how. How can school leaders bring together the theoretical knowledge they possess and mobilise it on the ground so that they can have a positive and tangible impact on pupil outcomes? Teachers are increasingly equipped with the awareness and knowledge of cognitive psychology but what other areas of psychology could support those that lead those very teachers? And what elements of human nature can we harness to build the kind of school cultures that are conducive to improving outcomes for pupils? Building Culture provides a great start to answering all those questions.

Aug 14, 2023 • 1h 7min
Changing Perceptions with Graham Chatterley
Written by Graham Chatterley, Changing Perceptions: Deciphering the language of behaviour provides everyone working with children a better understanding of the causes of challenging behaviour and what motivates it.
This timely book moves the dial on the perception of challenging behaviour in schools. De-escalation is important but it is only part of the process: if we really want to change behaviour, we have to understand it.
The causes of poor behaviour are many and varied: fear, stress, anxiety and the feeling of being overwhelmed can all take their toll. Changing Perceptions examines the motives behind challenging behaviour and the consequences that come with it, detailing ways in which these situations can be managed calmly and consistently. Better understanding and empathy can make children feel safer, build their trust, develop belonging and consequently create more effective learners in the classroom.
Empathy is the master key to unlocking the most challenging pupils. When we consistently respond to children with empathy and compassion, we don’t just put a sticking plaster over a problem, we change their experiences: how they feel and how they behave long term. Importantly, this approach also greatly improves staff wellbeing by increasing understanding of challenging behaviour and how it is perceived.
In this book, Graham sets out why it is so important to teach behaviour and provides practical ways to deal with the most challenging situations in the classroom and stop the conflict spiral. He also covers the importance of validating feelings, building self-esteem, improving emotional resilience, raising expectations, fostering positive values and much more.
Essential reading for teachers, school leaders and everyone working with challenging behaviour.
Contents include:
Introduction
Chapter 1: Relationships
Chapter 2: How we respond
Chapter 3: The origins of behaviour
Chapter 4: Short-term survival responses
Chapter 5: What is the behaviour communicating?
Chapter 6: The five responses to threat
Chapter 7: Prevention is better than cure
Chapter 8: Consequences
Chapter 9: Long-term survival
Chapter 10: Shielding from shame
Chapter 11: Not school ready
Chapter 12: Overwhelm
Chapter 13: Lifting them up
Chapter 14: Linking self-esteem and additional needs
Chapter 15: My autism journey
Chapter 16: Emotional resilience
Chapter 11: The power of trauma
Chapter 12: Behind the mask
Chapter 13: Expectations and values
Chapter 14: Enforcing external control versus teaching self-control
Chapter 15: Less is sometimes more
Conclusion

Aug 5, 2023 • 54min
Teach from Your Best Self with Jay Schroder
Teachers, this book is a guide for taking care of education’s most valuable resource: you. Author Jay Schroder, founder of the popular Teach from Your Best Self Institute, demonstrates why the version of ourselves that we bring to teaching matters and describes how we can rejuvenate ourselves while maximizing student learning. Part I explains why the self that a teacher brings to the classroom is important. Part II explores skills that will help us sustain a best-self state in all manner of situations. Part III delves into those moments when we’re provoked beyond our limits and our "hurtspots" come sharply into view. It offers ways to avert a reactive state or recover from it. Lastly, Part IV provides simple approaches for building a more durable, best self for the long term―a best self with deepened capacity to respond rather than react in the pressurized conditions of teaching. With fresh ideas presented throughout, you’ll learn how to prioritize your own well-being so you can continue to make a difference for your students.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Teach-Your-Best-Self-Classroom/dp/1032416874/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2XRBL87X70HXH&keywords=teach+from+your+best+self&qid=1691233277&sprefix=teach+from+your+best+self%2Caps%2C78&sr=8-1
Phil's book:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Naylors-Natter-collective-teachers-education/dp/1472992466/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1MG7NPVEZI3SJ&keywords=naylors+matter&qid=1691233966&sprefix=Naylor%2Caps%2C103&sr=8-1

Jul 24, 2023 • 53min
Rethinking School Inspection- Is there a better way? With Tracey O'Brien
This timely book examines what a meaningful school accountability system could look like in England. The book starts with a deep dive into our current inspection model, discussing some of the current pressures within the system, and comparing our inspection approach to that of other countries and sectors. It moves on to show how Ofsted and school inspections are perceived and portrayed - using first-hand accounts, academic papers, government publications, and media reports - and pulls together some of the current thinking on how the model could be improved. The author ends with her own proposals for a more meaningful and humane school accountability system. She suggests we rethink what we do, and how we do it, with a call for wide-ranging consultation leading to evidence-informed reform of the school inspection process.

Jul 4, 2023 • 54min
How to prepare for OFSTED with Dominic Salles
Ofsted are coming. You've read the new Framework, heard the horror stories, seen some busted myths which, frankly, you don't believe, and you want to know this: How do I stop my school getting less than a 'good' judgement? How can I prepare for the inspection, so the team see my school in the best light? How can we control the inspection team, so they see what we want them to see, and understand it through our eyes? Is it possible for two teams to see the exact same lessons, teachers and students, and come to different judgements? Yes, absolutely. So, find out how to control the game, and get the judgement your school deserves.
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