From the EDITOR

Summer is here, and the pleasures of a life lived outdoors provide a boost for body and mind. Our cover story is about Queen Ethelburga’s Collegiate (QE) in York (from page 18) and its cleverly designed Middle Years programme that helps children develop their learning strengths and make that leap from prep to senior its amazing Beanstalk programme (page 32), now in its 50th year of helping children to grow into avid readers. It was a pleasure to chat to Dame Jacqueline Wilson (page 30) about the joy she had in revisiting her childhood, and one of her own favourite reads when she was asked to add to Enid Blyton’s classic Faraway Tree series. We also hear from Charlie T. Brooks, writer of the Holly Hopkinson series, about what it’s like to take his miniature Shetland pony years confidently and smoothly. In that confidence-building spirit, we speak to Playing Out (page 20), a grassroots campaign encouraging parents to let children play outside in their own neighbourhoods. It has been supported by councils around the country – and across the globe – and it’s about self-directed play to give children a sense of their own space and place in the world. We also catch up with Coram to find out more about

Beanstalk on author visits (page 52). Don’t miss Pet therapy (page 40), in which we talk to schools about the four-legged companions bringing happiness – and soothing pats and strokes – to school life. The benefits they bring are clear, so high fives (or paws/ hooves) to their brilliant work.

Libby Norman ACTING EDITOR