EDDIE’s LAUNCHPADS

Great Central Railway pt1

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  many generations to come.
 
Today the staff and volunteers of the GCR proudly cherish and develop their legacy as a contemporary visitor attraction that’s open all year.
 
The GCR run steam and heritage diesel locomotives, as well as heritage railcars to educate children and college students and entertain families whilst preserving the fantastic story of this railway.
The railway also supports primary schools with lessons and experiences for  EYFS, KS1 and KS2.
The GCR is now making links with secondary schools and colleges.  Alongside their apprentices, they host week-long work experiences, (up to 10 a year) and T-level work placements where a student is with them for one day a week for a year. 
Their new Education programmes for secondary schools and colleges are particularly concentrating on employability skills and offer students the opportunity to undertake problem solving and technical challenges, working with mentors from the railway workforce and partner companies from the wider rail industry  Each session will include a visit to our newly re-clad loco shed. They can also cater for SEND students. 
Useful links 
Website: https://www.gcrailway.co.uk
 
Education : education@gcrailway.co.uk 
DIS Website: https://www.dogsthorpeinfants.co.uk
 
GCR Reunification : https://www.gcrailway.co.uk/about/reunification/
 
 
 
 
 
 

Helen Heraldsen

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 the ponies and pooches in her own life.
Helen describes this as her dream job. 
For more information about Helen and her books please visit
https://www.helenharaldsen.co.uk
 
Eddie’s Launchpads is the Dogsthorpe Infant School  podcast for parents, teachers and schools.
It is an EdStar production for Hampton Academies Trust. https://www.dogsthorpeinfants.co.uk
 

Nadia Hewstone

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 neurodiversity challenges.
Nadia’s book ‘ The Unhappy Headteacher’ is a guide for headteachers, who what to uncover the joy in the role and learn some tools to support them through some of the big challenges in headship. 
Nadia lives in Norfolk with her husband and two teenage children.
Destino Website
destinocoaching.co.uk 
 
Socials
https://www.instagram.com/destino.coaching_nadia
Nadia Hewstone ACC | LinkedIn
 
Facebook
 
Landing page for LEAP
https://nadia-jarana.mykajabi.com/leap
 
Affiliate link to book
http://amzn.to/3QEXikE
 
Headteacher SOS Group
https://www.facebook.com/groups/5144922005628650/?mibextid=oMANbw

Lisa J. Allen

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 mythical, magical mayhem but she has a new book out which she tells us about in this episode.
The story is called ‘Undercover Angel - Crash Landing.’ After listening to this podcast, visit Lisa’s website at 
https://lisajallen.com

Paul Jenkins

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 confidence to work together to create their own brand new written pieces.
Whilst he's playful on stage he's serious in intent and is regularly called upon to write teaching resources and has worked with EmpathyLab, The National Literacy Trust, The Shakespeare Schools Festival and BBC Learning so you can rest assured there's a sensible head underneath the silly hat.​
When not nurturing the seeds of creativity in young minds or writing new works he can be found elbow deep in popcorn watching movies with his sons or running like a maniac with Ramsbottom Running Club. He's also Poet in Residence at Springhill Hospice in Rochdale.
On Launchpad 156 we hear Paul talking about his books, his work and his vision plus he shares his poetry with us. So sit back, and enjoy the show. 
More here: https://www.pauljenkinspoet.co.uk/
 
 

Lexi Rees

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 guests on this podcast to share what inspires her in her work and share with our listeners her incredible resources. 
You can see more by visiting her website at 
https://lexirees.co.uk
Eddie then shares his theme song written and sang by Cambridgeshire musician, John Devine. https://captdavidwaters.podbean.com/e/festive-launchpad-3/
 

Rob Walton.

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.  Many years ago he wrote some books for teachers published by Scholastic and many articles for education magazines such as Junior Education and Junior Focus.  
His work has been published in all sorts of books, magazines and anthologies in the UK, Ireland, USA, Canada and Aotearoa, New Zealand.
Useful links: 
https://robwaltonwriter.co.uk
https://dirigibleballoon.org
https://www.dogsthorpeinfants.co.uk
 
 

Jude Lennon

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 promote reading, writing and spoken word across the Liverpool City Region.
Visit Jude’s website here. https://littlelambpublishing.co.uk