For his book, Steve Adler would like anecdotes from practising or retired teachers about the effects of the reduction of separate infant school provision on pupils and teachers. He has found that “a lack of ‘hands-on’ experiential learning has deleterious effects on pupils’ later understanding and that an almost entirely female hierarchy in separate infant schools allowed a career progression for women that now no longer exists, many key stage 1 co-ordinators being paid a mere two points above the main salary scale”. Address: 4 Tregeseal Hill, St Just-in-Penwith, Cornwall TR19 7PX; e-mail: adlersteve@yahoo.com

EMPLOYING DISABLED TEACHERS

Sponsored by the Teacher Training Agency, Skill, the national bureau for students with disabilities, is producing a guide and needs examples of good practice and of adjustments necessary to make teaching accessible. Please contact Nick Hawkes, 0171 450 0641; e-mail: nick@skill.org.uk

PARENTAL PARTNERSHIP PROJECT

The Institute of Public Policy Research is carrying out a one-year project exploring all aspects of parental involvement in compulsory education, both individual and collective, and would like to hear from anyone working on innovative initiatives. Contact: Joe Hallgarten, 0171 470 6122; e-mail: j.hallgarten@ippr.org.uk

WORK EXPERIENCE

Nino Pelopida’s school is thinking of using half term for one week of work experience. If any teachers have any experience of this, good or bad, please contact him at 5 Roman Road, Salisbury SP2 9BH; e-mail: ninopelopida@hotmail.com

SPONSORSHIP: GREENWICH MERIDIAN BIKE RIDE

Dave Evans, head of Barrowcliff Junior School, Scarborough, is cycling 1,000 miles from the North Sea, east Yorkshire, to the Mediterranean for two weeks in July and August. He is raising funds to buy computers for his school. Details: 01723 374508; e-mail: dgevans@tesco.net