There continues to be an ongoing struggle to fight the increase in child obesity and other emerging illnesses in young people related to poor health and inactivity. As one of the UK’s leading providers of school ground developments, Sovereign Design Play Systems is working hard to influence more schools to evaluate their outdoor facilities and their provision of an imaginative and physical play environment.

At The Education Show 2010, Texthelp Systems (stand F68) will be showcasing Schools Access Software Suite; a specially developed assistive technology package designed to provide continuity of support and access for learning for students. Already supporting over 270,000 students with special educational needs (SEN) through the Government‚s Home Access scheme, Texthelp is now extending this provision to schools and local authorities to help all students become motivated, independent learners. The bundle includes Texthelp‚s award-winning Read&Write GOLD for Schools software, MindView mind-mapping and iZoom screen magnification tools.

The Strive seating collection from KI is a family of simple, elegant, comfortable chair designs. KI and Giancarlo Piretti, the world famous Italian furniture designer, have applied a consistent design language throughout the collection of stacking chairs, café stools, nesting chairs, task chairs, task stools and fixed seating available in a choice of 19 polypropylene colours.  All have a unique, flexible back with a wire rod inserted into the polypropylene to encourage movement and relaxation. The back curve provides lateral support and the contoured seat dissipates pressure points. Strive has a ten year warranty, is GREENGUARD certified for LEED accreditation and is ideal for providing solutions for business, education and healthcare sectors.

Sovereign Play Equipment has sailed into 2010 at full speed and completed the first installation of its newest addition to its play equipment range, the Play Galleon.

Not yet advertised in Sovereign’s online or hard-copy catalogue, the Play Galleon has already been a hit. St Dominic Savio School in Reading approached Sovereign to assist them in completing a major outdoor make-over of its grounds during the winter term and were keen to install the equipment.

Enclosure Systems Ltd is a UK based manufacturer, and leading supplier  of the LEBA NoteCart and NoteLocker, offering charging, networking and security solutions to the education market. Our NoteCarts can store and charge 12, 16, or 24 Laptops and our latest models can cater for 24 and 32 Netbooks.

The NoteLocker is a modular system which allows you to create any combination of compartments required. With options for both floor standing and wall mounted, you can charge any electrical equipment securely.

We believe that every child should be given the chance to experience the excitement of learning an instrument during their early years.

The ukulele craze is sweeping across the classrooms of Britain and Zings Education will be showcasing a wide range of ukuleles. There will be brightly coloured entry level Mahalo models right the way through to the more serious high-end Ohana Ukuleles. All of which are available individually or as class packs.

Hillcrest offers 39 and 52 week residential care for looked after children in England and Wales, alongside fully registered DCSF schools. These offer full national curriculum coverage in addition to a wide range of certifications covering entry level qualifications, GCSE’s, ASDAN and Vocational BTECs. Hillcrest also offers specialist education for children with ASC/Asperger’s.

Oaklands College, opening in May 2010, is a unique opportunity for girls aged 14 -19 with EBD and associated difficulties to reshape their future.  This is a particularly exciting addition to the Hillcrest family as it is the first of its kind - a vocational college for girls, offering specialist therapeutic support including equine therapy.

The MySchoolProms.co.uk website has been launched to provide a “One-stop-shop” toward the easier and more efficient arrangement of end of year School Proms.  As well as assisting in the organisation of these events, the platform offers a secure social networking area for the students of each school. 

MySchoolProms.co.uk brings together teachers, students and members of the local business community in a unique and exciting way.  The creation of this virtual aspect to the community offers an improved connection between not only students and their peers but also the world of work. 

Everyone in education is aware that the well-being and social and academic development of every child involves parents, teachers, health workers and arts and sports specialists working together to nurture talent and potential. With this in mind, schools are now opening their doors to outside organisations and specialists - “extending” the school to make the site a hub for learning and enjoyment in the community beyond traditional school hours. 

Developed in conjunction with teachers and leading handwriting experts, the Learn to Write series guides children through the stages of learning handwriting in a structured and consistent way.

The range, approved by the National Handwriting Association supports the development of handwriting from learning patterns, to forming letters and numbers, through to cursive handwriting.

A new one-to-one reading scheme for learners aged from 8 to 80

Yes we can read is a fun new phonics-based programme to develop reading for meaning. Anyone who can read fluently can teach a non or poor reader to read in six months or less.

No training or other qualifications are required.

It’s not always easy to get children exercising but it is crucially important.  With statistics clearly showing that the school kids in England of today are simply not as fit as their counterparts 10 years ago, it is time to improve on both outdoor and indoor activities available to them. Fitness levels are declining faster here than in other countries and this must not be allowed to continue.

Indeed, cardio-respiratory fitness may be more important than the much talked about BMI levels and with this in mind Wicksteed commissioned specific research from the Centre for Sport and Exercise Research at Staffordshire University.

That figure represents an impressive six per cent increase compared to 2008, and feedback from visitors and exhibitors alike confirmed that the Show was a huge success.

Visitors to the Education Show 2009 enjoyed experiencing a great range of Nursery and Primary equipment from the TTS Group this year! Guests were able to bang and play a host of music materials from MES, including the Animal Boogie Song sack, shortlisted for an ERA award. The specialist Nursery resources from Early Steps, offered resources and equipment to cater every aspect of the EYFS. Dedicated resources for Special Needs, presented from Special Direct, including their new writing slopes, scissor skills and Spellbound books, to name a few.

Adroit-e is an innovative, quantitative market research company. Adopting respected industry techniques it uses with major brands, Adroit-e has developed a unique approach to research in schools. Having established sound practice through a proof of concept study, Adroit-e is now working with 20 schools in Hertfordshire, in 2 contrasting extended schools' consortia, to provide reliable data and sound information about perceptions and attitudes of pupils, parents and teachers.

Why don't you pop your brain and stretch your imagination! BrainPOP UK is a new website for schools which contains hundreds of animated explanations and interactive quizzes for Key Stages 2 and 3.