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James Harris
Jan 32 min read
Faith-based school admissions policies
As a committed Christian I have always disliked faith-based admissions policies. They are a form of social selection where schools get to...
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James Harris
Jan 32 min read
Happy New Year! Is the era of compulsory school education over?
Now there's a question! As 2025 opens we are hearing several voices ringing loudly in education: Government: "All children should be in...
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James Harris
Nov 12, 20242 min read
Teacher identity, control and trauma-informed practice
I am a teacher. I consider that trauma-informed practice in education is a positive, essential thing . I also know that schools are...
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James Harris
Oct 29, 20241 min read
Support for school staff
It has been interesting this week to work with individual senior staff in a school around working with an exceptionally tricky parental...
39 views0 comments


James Harris
Oct 15, 20242 min read
Homework and wellbeing - can we get this right?
The Finding Common Ground project brings up all kinds of interesting conversations with families: Foster parent: "I don't get X to do...
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James Harris
Oct 8, 20243 min read
"Blended" learning - an idea whose time has come
Over the last 12 months I have talked with more and more families where being in school every day is just not a possibility for the young...
86 views0 comments


James Harris
Sep 18, 20241 min read
It is that time of year again....
It is the time of year for Open Evenings and parents/carers making anxious decisions about secondary school applications. More and more...
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James Harris
Aug 13, 20249 min read
Low-level intervention that works!
As the first anniversary of the Finding Common Ground project approaches I am finding myself being asked by various people and agencies...
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James Harris
Aug 13, 20244 min read
Finding Common Ground - the next steps
Reflecting on the past year The Finding Common Ground project started from experience of working with many families as a school leader,...
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James Harris
Aug 4, 20241 min read
It's been a bit quiet on here!
Firstly, an apology: This blog has been quiet recently! That is simply due to a whole range of things going on. As you may be aware, I...
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James Harris
Jun 13, 20242 min read
Agency - the power to effect change
Reflecting on the last few months and preparing to talk to a parents' and carers' group tomorrow I have been thinking about the nature of...
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James Harris
May 16, 20244 min read
Simple early interventions - it isn't rocket science!
From working with lots of families as part of the Finding Common Ground project (www.findingcommonground.org.uk) it is clear that many...
72 views0 comments


James Harris
Apr 28, 20243 min read
Communication, communication, communication.....
As I work with families through the Finding Common Ground project, a number of common themes recur. Over a number of posts I plan to...
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James Harris
Apr 1, 20243 min read
We have created a monster...
The excellent Schools Week has published a couple of articles this week which should give everyone pause for thought, but, with...
307 views0 comments


James Harris
Mar 21, 20243 min read
EBSA, attendance and part-time timetables
Last week, I was sent a message raising a concern from parents of children with EBSA (Emotionally Based School Avoidance - also known as...
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James Harris
Mar 2, 20246 min read
Transition to secondary school
In early March social media and messaging apps were full of messages about which secondary school various Year 6s had "got", Parents and...
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James Harris
Feb 27, 20244 min read
No longer just a pilot project!
So, based on the success of the pilot, the Finding Common Ground project now becomes a ongoing service! I am now working on the next...
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James Harris
Feb 12, 20243 min read
The "Finding Common Ground" project at 4 and a half months!
I set up the Finding Common Ground project on 25 Sept 2023 and gave it 6 months to see if it was a service that was needed. Four and a...
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James Harris
Feb 9, 20243 min read
Consistency!
I knew, from long experience, that it was true, but the reality has shocked me. The inconsistency between secondary schools when working...
44 views0 comments


James Harris
Jan 21, 20242 min read
A force for good
With many thanks to the team at Special Needs Jungle I have had a very busy and interesting week! SNJ kindly posted information about...
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