Artwork for podcast Head-to-Head Podcast
Building Resilience: Preparing Children to Navigate Life’s Challenges
Episode 37 • 7th July 2026 • Head-to-Head Podcast • Early Excellence
00:00:00 00:50:12

Share Episode

Shownotes

Are you considering how best to prepare children for a world that doesn't exist yet?

Charlotte Smiles, Headteacher of Upland School has deeply reflected on how to support her pupils to be as prepared as possible to navigate their future life. In this episode, Charlotte shares how her school moved beyond academics to focus on the skills and attitudes children need for the evolving world. Underpinned by rich outdoor learning opportunities, real-life experiences, and a deliberate focus on character, and centralised around the thinking of a backpack analogy - the idea that every child should leave school carrying a set of skills for life's challenges. Charlotte is honest about developments, what changed, what was hard, and why early experiences matter so much. As she puts it, "we need to prepare children for a world we don't yet know," and the results speak for themselves: children's confidence and resilience have grown.

If you're rethinking what a primary curriculum is really for, this is a not to be missed episode.

Links

Chapters

Video

More from YouTube

More Episodes
37. Building Resilience: Preparing Children to Navigate Life’s Challenges
00:50:12
36. Continuous Provision in KS1: Purposeful Learning, Positive Engagement
00:59:41
35. Strengthen Early Years Assessment & Raise Outcomes
01:07:35
34. Building a Cohesive Trust Wide Early Years Strategy
00:57:05
33. Inspection Reflections: A Headteachers’ Firsthand Experience of Ofsted
01:27:09
32. Continuous Provision in KS1: Rethinking Pedagogy
00:58:48
31. 10 Steps to Purpose Curriculum Design: Achieve Inclusivity & Enable Success
01:08:10
30. Championing Inclusion: Supporting Every Child in the Early Years
00:51:53
29. Expanding Nursery Provision & the School Based Nursery Grant
00:37:00
28. SEND in the Early Years: Supporting Every Child
00:52:40
27. Continuous Provision in KS1: Enabling Purposeful Learning Through Play
00:57:35
26. Transforming Reception Baseline Assessment with EExREC
00:29:55
25. Building Brilliant Beginnings: Strategic Leadership in the EYFS
01:00:07
24. A Leadership Story: The Journey into Headship
00:57:55
23. Rethinking KS1: A Fresh Approach to Learning
00:49:16
22. Supporting Children with SEND: Nurture, Play and Inclusion
00:58:26
21. Strengthening Early Years: A School Leader’s Insights
00:46:11
20. Transforming Learning in KS1: Continuous Provision Beyond the Early Years
00:49:23
19. Enabling Children with SEND: Insights and Impact of Bespoke Provision
00:49:12
18. From Vision to Practice: Effective Key Stage 1 Pedagogy
00:53:39
18. Unlocking Potential: Transforming Adult Interactions in the EYFS
01:12:05
17. Connecting Families: Innovative Approaches to Parental Involvement
00:57:59
16. Drive Improvement: Achieving Success in Shaping Futures
00:42:06
15. Education Doctorate Research: School Leaders and the EYFS
00:38:26
14. Unlocking Learning in KS1 and Beyond: Embracing Continuous Provision
00:51:21
13. From Deputy Head to Headteacher: Reflections one term in to Headship
00:49:13
12. Enabling Successful EYFS Improvement: Through the lens of a large MAT
00:39:17
11. Autumn Term 2023: Reflections, Celebrations & What Next?
00:33:32
10. Successful Curriculum Development: Starting with 2 Year Olds
00:44:20
9. School Leaders: Understanding EYFS from the Inside
00:44:39
8. Successful Curriculum Development: Underpinned by Core Values
00:46:40
7. Knowing your Vision and Values: A Whole Team Approach
00:28:57
6. Connecting your Curriculum: Professional Conversations focussed on Physical Education
00:41:28
5. Connecting your Curriculum: Professional Conversations focussed on Mathematics
00:48:02
4. Successful School Development: Creating a Community of Learners
00:41:51
3. Successful Inspection: Through the eyes of a Primary School
00:34:26
2. The Power of Professional Conversations in Enabling Success
00:39:29
1. Real Experiences: An Insight into Inspection & Deep Dives
00:33:55