As always, we here at LGfL hope you are well and that the end of term is going smoothly for all.
Read on for:
New LGfL symbols portal
Busy Things Chatbot resource
Listening Books June update
Royal Collection Trust opportunities
Quick bites section
New LGfL symbols portal
How can the use of symbols promote inclusivity across the whole school?
LGfL helps schools create accessible and engaging learning environments where every student feels heard. Symbols are a powerful tool to achieve this. We've partnered with Widgit Symbols for over ten years, offering the LGfL Widgit Symbol Collection to promote inclusive learning.
To support Universal Design for Learning, we've developed a new support portal. This portal showcases how three diverse schools successfully integrate symbols into their everyday teaching and school operations, making the curriculum and the school environment accessible to all learners.
Have you ever wanted your class to interview a famous person from the past and find out key information by asking searching questions?
Linking to the Science, History and English curriculum, Busy Things now has interactive interviews with Zeus, an evacuee child, William Shakespeare, and Neil Armstrong found in the Key Stage 2 resources area. Pupils type questions to the characters to find out about them. One example is Betty, an evacuee child. Pupils can type messages to Betty to find out about her family, the war and life as an evacuee, helping them to learn about any aspect of wartime from a child's perspective. Pupils could interview Betty before completing one of the writing activities within Busy Things.
Staying safe with AI in BusyThings LGfL is committed to keeping you and your pupils safe, so please be aware of this AI chat functionality, and if you are at all concerned, you can hide all pupil-facing AI content via Account settings > Basic settings > Privacy settings.
DfE has recently offered guidance on generative AI use in schools, as well as the product safety expectations which apply to all EdTech providers adding artificial intelligence to their products to help you make informed decisions.
These documents are available at genaisafe.lgfl.net, as well as an LGfL training video on gen AI for school staff, and an overview video of the harms landscape, which you might want to share with staff or parents.
Listening Books is a national UK charity that provides an audiobook library service for anyone who finds it difficult to read or hold physical books. Listening Books offers over 100 curriculum-based audiobooks direct to all schools that are part of the LGfL service, to be used with pupils with SEND. All teachers in LGfL schools, as well as students in London special schools who are LGfL users, can access these audiobooks. Listening Books aims to ensure that print disabilities do not hinder access to the joy and benefits of reading.
An Interview with Jacqueline Wilson- Jacqueline Wilson's novels often deal with many challenging themes and remain some of the most popular titles chosen in the Listening Books library.
An Interview with Sally Gardner,A Nestle Prize-winning children's author and illustrator whose books have been translated into 22 different languages.
Remember to view some of these authors and more on the LGfL'ReadingZone Liveresource - Information and interviews with authors. A very powerful resource for use in the classroom.
School Bookings for visits to the State Rooms at Buckingham Palace are now open for September, including the exclusive access days (School Groups only) on Wednesdays 17 and 24 Sept and “Schools Week” 29 Sept to 3 October.
To help with schools visiting, the Royal Collection Trust has an 'Access Scheme' and 'Travel Subsidy Scheme' to enable schools that meet certain criteria (eg Schools receiving above 30% Pupil Premium) to visit but not have to cover the admission costs of £6 per pupil. The travel scheme can provide up to £175 towards any travel costs incurred by a school wanting to visit. Find out more by clicking here.
J2e are hosting live lessons this month for KS1 and KS2 classes. All sessions are led by Just2Easy educators, and you and your class follow along on your devices. London Bus tour - 20th June, 10.45 - 11.30 for Years 1 - 3 - Create an exciting multimedia London bus tour project combining art, animation, and storytelling. This is London - 20th June, 1.30 - 2.15 for Years 4 - 6 -Create complete, visually stunning digital guides to London and its landmarks.
Join us for an immersive day exploring the power of EdTech with leading schools from the EdTech Hubs programme. Witness firsthand how technology drives high-quality, inclusive teaching and learning through live classroom demonstrations, classroom visits, a pupil showcase and learn how to implement effective EdTech strategies in your context. Find out more hereand book for the EXPO here
DSL forum - our next session will be the last for this academic year and is on 2nd July, where we will be discussing DSL Wellbeing. To book on please registerhere
Adobe Live Lessons- join one of our final live lessons of the year. Don’t forget that you can pause us whenever you like and stay for just one or both activities
Also, take part in the Adobe Express School Challenge
If you’re looking for an end-of-year celebration or some gifts for your pupils, then take part in the Express School Challenge! It’s easy and Adobe have got loads of prizes to give away.
LGfL Training
Online training events are free for all school staff to attend (*with the exception of the Designated Safeguarding Lead Training which we offer to LGfL customers only). Please click the button below to see the extensive training programme available.
