Creating a Community of Readers in the Primary School

Sally Betteridge has dedicated 23 years to the field of education, beginning her journey with teacher training at Cambridge University, specialising in Primary and Middle school English She started her teaching career as an Upper Key Stage 2 teacher in Nottinghamshire, UK. After four years, Sally became a Lead Teacher for Primary English and Thinking through Philosophy, working across Nottinghamshire schools as a Teaching and Learning Coach and CPD leader for whole school staff. She later advanced to the role of Lead Teacher Consultant in Nottingham City, supporting primary schools to improve English teaching. In this role, she led CPD sessions, team-taught lessons, created planning materials, and developed whole-school curricula that resulted in excellent school improvement outcomes. Sally then transitioned to higher education, becoming an Assistant Professor of Primary Education at the University of Nottingham. There, she led the Teach First program and lectured on the School Direct courses. She co-wrote and led a new forward thinking Primary PGCE program at the university, awarded outstanding by OFSTED, and is now the lead Primary PGCE in the United Kingdom. She also lectured English across various programs. She also lectured on the international PGCE in the UAE. Holding a master’s degree in Creativity, Arts, Literacies, and Learning from the University of Nottingham, Sally has contributed to research on creative curriculum change, Primary English, and thinking skills. She also participated in the Reading for Pleasure research project at the Open University. She is a trained practitioner for the BFI Institute, promoting the use of short films in primary teaching, She has taught and led English In Primary schools in the UAE for the last 5 years in 2 Emirates, Ras Al Khaimah and a Grade 4 teacher at North London Collegiate School. She has also lectured on the Primary PGCE at The University of Birmingham. In addition to her extensive background in primary education, Sally is passionate about mental health and well-being and a certified Youth Mental Health First Aider. She holds 2 certificates for the wellbeing Educator level 1 course and the advanced course. She is also a trained Reiki practitioner. Currently, Sally teaches the NPQ programs for Leading Teaching and Leading Literacy, continuing her commitment to improving education and supporting both students and educators.