Gill Williams
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gillmwilliams.bsky.social
Gill Williams
@gillmwilliams.bsky.social
430 followers 510 following 9 posts
Education: leadership development, school improvement and curriculum. Birds, walking, countryside, gardens. North Walian #Cymraes
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Reposted by Gill Williams
tom-richmond.com
They'll be a lot of chatter about England's PISA results this morning, but we need to talk just as much about Wales.

They rejected phonics and knowledge-rich curricula in favour of 'areas of learning', 'skills suites' and barely any testing.

Wales is now 40 points below England in every domain.
September 8, 2026 at 7:48 AM
Reposted by Gill Williams
bennewmark.bsky.social
New.
Things Can Get Worse.
On why the SEND crisis is worse than ever because nobody is facing the philosophical contradictions.
bennewmark.wordpress.com/2026/03/26/t...
Screenshot of text from the linked blog post.
March 26, 2026 at 5:41 PM
Reposted by Gill Williams
jonsevers.bsky.social
"Nobody in that school or my primary school knew that there was a lot more going on for me than the death of my Dad."

Hidden trauma and the challenge of helping those who do not seem to need help.

A powerful, difficult, deeply personal read

www.tes.com/magazine/ana...
What my ‘hidden’ trauma taught me about belonging in schools
We can’t always know what a child is going through, writes trust leader David Clayton, who says his own childhood experience has shown him the need to make schools ‘sanctuaries’ for those suffering tr...
www.tes.com
March 25, 2026 at 6:47 AM
Reposted by Gill Williams
nourishworkplce.bsky.social
My views on the SEND reforms news today.

This is my view as a parent of 2 children with SEND and as someone who cares deeply about the welfare of staff in the education system.
Some might call it naïve, some might call it stupid, but I'm very hopeful about the SEND reforms announced today. Yes, there are issues with funding and people power to make this happen, and I know very many of my friends who have children with special needs and disabilities will be very worried about their future, but when you dig down into it, what the government are trying to do is what we all want really. For the education system to be set up for these needs in the first place, for it not to be an issue if they need an adjustment to the norm as it is widely understood that normal is just a setting on a washing machine. Your child needs coloured paper? No problem! No need for endless meetings, that's a need we can meet. Your child needs a calm space to regulate after playtime? We'll find a way to make that happen. I get that these things cost money and time hat is yet to be explained but before we panic (on both sides as parents and educators) can we just stop and think a bit. If our schools were set up as neurodivergent and disability friendly as standard, then everyone thrives. It is no extra work, funding isn't an issue. This becomes the norm. It's in place for physical disabilities already and has been for a while. We just need to extend that thinking to special needs too. Before you bite my head off, I realise using the word 'just' is very loaded and triggering for many. There will be so many things to unpack from all of this, and so many people will be angry and stressed. But fewer people needing EHCPs is a good thing. Done properly, it really is. The aim is never to get more people onto EHCPs, it's simply to get more peoples' needs met. And this might be the answer.
February 23, 2026 at 8:07 PM
Reposted by Gill Williams
birdingdad.bsky.social
Bishopthorpe Parish Council want to sell a small wildlife oasis hosting rare wildflowers like Yellow Star-of-Bethlehem to a developer. This field belongs to the people of Bish who cherish its wildlife. Please sign this petition to stop them doing this. Thanks 😊 c.org/syGKBRcGBY
February 4, 2026 at 6:21 PM
Reposted by Gill Williams
duncbye.bsky.social
Happy World Wetlands day from the very wet land of Wheldrake Ings & the @ldvnnr.bsky.social
February 2, 2026 at 12:14 PM
Reposted by Gill Williams
penrhynbirder.bsky.social
Deliberately went early to an event today so that I could sit in one of my favourite woodlands for an hour and drink in the sounds of April. Rewarded with my first Pied Flycatcher and Redstart of the year. #BirdingWales

Coed Ganllwyd, Meirionnydd, a @nationaltrust.org.uk treasure.
April 9, 2025 at 3:45 PM
gillmwilliams.bsky.social
Annual city walls #daffodil walk. Moved to this city 32 years ago and its beauty still stuns #York #lovewhereyoulive
@johntomsett.bsky.social
April 2, 2025 at 2:23 PM
Reposted by Gill Williams
nicwilson.bsky.social
A spring wells up in a spring wood alive with birdsong, fresh foliage and sweet-faced flowers in @theguardian.com country diary by @amyjanebeer.bsky.social.

#countrydiary #naturewriting
Country diary: Spring is beginning, with birdsong and green shoots | Amy-Jane Beer
Welburn, North Yorkshire: The wood is greening with wild garlic and dog’s mercury, studded with celandines, violets and primroses
www.theguardian.com
March 26, 2025 at 8:24 AM
Reposted by Gill Williams
nicwilson.bsky.social
Watching bullfinches in the cherry tree in today's @theguardian.com country diary by Jim Perrin.

#countrydiary #naturewriting
Country diary: A sunlit view of two hungry bullfinches | Jim Perrin
Llandrindod Wells, Powys: They’re such captivating birds to watch, and this pair is indulging their preference for flower buds on my cherry tree
www.theguardian.com
March 10, 2025 at 8:42 AM
gillmwilliams.bsky.social
Unbelievable. And unforgivable given outcomes. Thank you for continuing to raise this Rhys.
rhyswilliamsnews.bsky.social Rhys Williams @rhyswilliamsnews.bsky.social · Mar 6
I’m sorry to be banging on about reading in schools again but Estyn’s Chief Inspector was asked about how children in Wales should be taught to read and to say his answer was revealing would be an understatement. 👇🧵
March 7, 2025 at 4:15 PM
gillmwilliams.bsky.social
Another view of the Acomb #starling #murmuration as seen from Clifton Ings
@northyorksbirds.bsky.social @yorkbirding.bsky.social
February 20, 2025 at 7:13 PM
Reposted by Gill Williams
rob-marchant.bsky.social
#York Minster always excels at projection spectaculars- lovely to see the #wildlife that has shaped York’s history taking centre stage
#ColourAndLight2025
February 12, 2025 at 8:49 PM
gillmwilliams.bsky.social
Late afternoon starling murmuration over Clifton. As seen from kitchen window. Wow 🤩 @yorkbirding.bsky.social
February 7, 2025 at 8:41 PM
Reposted by Gill Williams
nicwilson.bsky.social
In today's @theguardian.com country diary, I'm off to church in search of a fictional bird...

#countrydiary #naturewriting #UKBirding
Country diary: A bird that had existed only in my imagination becomes vividly real | Nic Wilson
Bramfield, Hertfordshire: My long-unanswered prayers to see the elusive hawfinch are finally rewarded in a churchyard
www.theguardian.com
February 3, 2025 at 7:53 AM
gillmwilliams.bsky.social
Great day @ldvnnr.bsky.social in Melbourne, including a wander along the canal with Craig and a large flock of siskin. Fantastic reserve. @yorkbirding.bsky.social #ldv #worldwetlandsday
February 1, 2025 at 4:27 PM
Reposted by Gill Williams
psalisbury.bsky.social
If you want to know how to teach reading, lead reading, or have reading taught well in your school: get this book.
I rarely recommend things but this is ace...
suchmo83.bsky.social Christopher Such @suchmo83.bsky.social · Jan 25
My new book, Primary Reading Simplified, is released this Monday.

Briefly, I'd like to explain why it exists, who I think will find it useful and where you can find it.

>>
January 28, 2025 at 8:14 PM
gillmwilliams.bsky.social
Just some Winchester holiday spam to celebrate a move to a friendlier space #EduSky 😊
August 15, 2024 at 8:27 PM