EDDIE’s LAUNCHPADS

We’ve reached the final episode of Season 6 of the Dogsthorpe Infant School podcast.  This episode is a live special Christmas show with Eddie Edster, the school’s well-being dog, our headteacher Mrs Waters and their pilot for their flight home for Christmas is ‘Cap’n Dave’.  With special messages for Dogsthorpe children, families, carers and our amazing Dogsthorpe Infant School staff, and with li...

Today we welcome the Deputy Headteacher of Dogsthorpe Infant School to our podcast. Miss Gattuso works so hard supporting classroom learning, teaching resources, and teachers’ well-being.  In this episode MisscGattuso shares her latest projects to improve school pupil behaviour and aid classroom learning. 2026 is going to be exciting for everyone at Dogsthorpe Infant School. This being our 76th ye...

In this episode of the Dogsthorpe Infant School podcast, (Eddie’s Launchpads) we talk to Karen Woodcock who leads the work of Family Action Peterborough Pre-Schools.  Family Action Peterborough Pre-schools offer high quality early years education and childcare during term-time. Well qualified staff teams welcome children from the age of 2 onwards and work with them, in partnership with parents and...

We continue our phonics discussion with the fantastic Monster Phonics and hear how these amazing learning resources are being used across the U.K. and the world to assist schools and change children’s lives for the better.  https://monsterphonics.com This is the Dogsthorpe Infant School podcast for parents, teachers and schools. An EdStar Production for Hampton Academies Trust.  https://www.dogsth...

Monster Phonics has accelerated learning and greatly improved phonics results at Dogsthorpe Infant School  Monster Phonics award-winning programmes use a multi-sensory approach that dramatically enhances learning and engagement.   From nursery to year 6, our comprehensive phonics and spelling scheme guides children on an exciting learning journey.   Explore their programmes, inclusive training, bo...

It’s time for another Festive Launchpad podcast from Dogsthorpe Infant School. Ever wonder what happens to our children after they leave Dogsthorpe Infant School?  Well known pop stars, top London lawyers, teachers, politicians and sports stars all started their learning journey  at Dogsthorpe Infant School over the past 75 years. Today we catch up with Dom Paling - another ex-pupil of our school...

The first of seven special Festive Launchpads that are each very much connected with children attending Dogsthorpe Infant School. On this edition, we hear about a fantastic way to help Peterborough children who are facing a Christmas without a gift to unwrap and enjoy.  Face book page:  https://www.facebook.com/share/1BqUQk8Wgj/?mibextid=wwXIfr   Amazon wishlist to directly send a gift:  https://w...

Our conversation with poet and creative writer educator, Hilary Elder continues….  Please listen to Part One of the interview before listening to this episode and see the links in the text of that episode to contact Hilary. 

Part 1 of a two-part adventure as Eddie and his pilot Captain Dave fly north to meet poet and creative writing teacher, Hilary Elder. Hilary was born and raised in Carlisle which is so near to Scotland and sounds so Welsh that she spends a lot of time explaining that she’s English. Carlisle sometimes seems far away from anywhere but it is near the Lake District. When she was growing up her family...

Eddie and Captain Dave talk about well-being and mental health with Vie Portland. Vie Portland helps people Find Their Fabulous! She uses her work and academic experience and, for her, most importantly, her life experience to create environments where everyone feels valued, heard, and appreciated. She does this through her award-winning workshops and training, her best selling books, her one to on...

In this Dogsthorpe Infant School podcast, hear the amazing story of Brian Abram, his young grandson and the series of books that feature them.  This is the incredible story of ‘GRANDAD WHEELS’.  Social media links linked to this episode are are : Website  www.grandadwheels.com Facebook: @grandadwheels X: @GrandadWheels https://www.dogsthorpeinfants.co.uk  

Richard Fenwick studied horticulture at Askham Bryan College qualifying at level 5 and specializing in micropropagation and plant science. Richard has worked in horticulture for over 20 years in a range of sectors including; commercial nursery work, garden maintenance, retail and design. In 2012 Richard became a tutor at Bishop Burton College teaching a range of subjects at  levels 1 to 6.  He has...

Eddie and Captain Dave meet the children’s author Ramya Julian on this week’s Dogsthorpe Infant School podcast.  Here's the link to my website - www.ramyajulian.com   And there are amazing free teaching resources to go with every book, which can be obtained by visiting….    .www.ramyajulian.com/teachingresources   All of the books featured in today’s show are available on Ramya’s website, most boo...

Eddie and Cap’n Dave continue their exploration on the Great Central Railway.   The Great Central Railway exists today because a group of determined volunteers in 1969 saved the line following its closure by British Rail to recreate the experience of a main line steam railway for  many generations to come.   Today the staff and volunteers of the GCR proudly cherish and develop their legacy as a co...

A two-part adventure (part 2 next week) for Eddie, the well-being dog and his pilot, Cap’n Dave.   This week Captain Dave and Eddie visit the UK’s only double track, main line heritage railway.   The Great Central Railway exists today because a group of determined volunteers in 1969 saved the line following its closure by British Rail to recreate the experience of a main line steam railway for  ma...

Our guest author on Eddie’s Launchpads today is Helen Heraldsen. Helen grew up and still lives in Cumbria, on the edge of the Lake District. She's also known as The Writer in Wellies due to the fact that whenever she's not writing, she's outside with her horses and dogs in the Cumbrian rain! Helen has always loved reading and animals, so, as an author, she combines the two by writing books about t...

Nadia Hewstone is a former Headteacher who now works full-time as a professional coach. Through Destino Coaching Nadia supports school leaders with coaching programmes and personal development work. She is also a neurodiversity advocate and champions the need to adjust curriculum and approaches to teaching which consider the strengths and needs of young people with autism, ADHD and other neurodive...

Season 6 of the Dogsthorpe Infant School podcast continues with another visit to Liverpool. This time to meet the children’s author, Lisa J. Allen and her black cat called Charlie. In her past life, Lisa was an award-winning regional business journalist, but more recently she enjoyed a brief stint as a college librarian. Her middle grade fiction and poetry usually features baked goods, comedy and...

In this edition of the Dogsthorpe School podcast, Eddie and Cap'n Dave talk to the author and poet, Paul Jenkins. 10 years of teaching, 7 poetry books and 1 novel have all perfectly prepared Paul for a life dedicated to educating kids through fun and creativity. He loves nothing more than taking his workshops from school to school, making smallish humans giggle for a day and giving them the confid...

In Podcast 155, Eddie the well-being dog and his pilot, Cap’n Dave meet the children’s author, Lexi Rees.  Lexi writes fun activity books and action-packed adventures for children. As well as writing, Lexi makes regular author visits to primary schools and other events, teaches creative writing, and runs a book club. Lexi is passionate about developing a love of reading and writing in children and...

In this episode of ‘Eddie’s Launchpads’’, the schools podcast for pupils, parents, families, teachers, and schools, Eddie and Cap’n Dave meet Rob has been writing for both children and adults for many years.   He usually writes poetry and short fiction, but he’s also written scripts, columns for a football programme and even a pathway!   He’s  published a full-length book of poetry for adults.  Ma...

Captain Dave and his co-pilot Eddie land in Liverpool to talk to their friend JUDE LENNON about her latest children’s story, ‘Lamby and the Liver Bird’.  Jude has a passion for books, words, storytelling and creativity. She is the current Disney Winnie the Pooh Laureate for the North West, a proud member of TAUK Publishing and a  core member of the Liverpool Literacy Cycle which to encourage and p...

In this episode of Eddie’s Launchpads, Eddie and Cap’n Dave meet the poet, Joshua Seigal ,   Joshua is a highly acclaimed, award-winning professional poet, author and performer who uses poetry to develop literacy skills and inspire confidence and ​creativity in communication. He has an MA in Writing and Education, have worked in hundreds of schools, libraries and festivals around the world, had bo...

In this week’s episode of the Dogsthorpe Infant School podcast we talk to the children’s author, illustrator and painter, Dawn Treacher.  Dawn’s love for fantasy and whimsey set her down the path as an author and illustrator of children’s fantasy adventure fiction. Her adventure novels, though set in fantastical worlds with plenty of beasts and peril, highlights the importance of friendship, belon...

It's the 150th episode of 'Eddie's Launchpads'. And its a very special show that is being launched on the anniversary of the death of a young boy called Ruairi. We'll talk to his mum in this show about her book. Eddie and Captain Dave first meet with the man who helped them set up the Dogsthorpe Infant School podcast, Al Kingsley MBE. Al talks about his trip to Buckingham Palace, Hampton Academies...