Fish and Chips

 

https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/whats-on/food-drink-news/reason-liverpool-chippy-staying-open-33113618?fbclid=IwZnRzaAPLCw9leHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEew7TC1La-ny19AICsAstGmuPo0S6kGXAFv-xsKRAXlLZDyxKOIaaxWSH5z9M_aem_B4UEyNgTeFpkSaAEbE_5eQ#wgtl72e688ewrak95jxqqengyo7c8ga2r

What do you see in the picture, where is this, what do you notice, what do you think the story is going to be about?

In the picture you can see Mubinul  Hoque who owns Portland Fish and Chips in Brunswick, Liverpool. This story is about something that Mubinul and his team did on Christmas day. 

What do you think they did?

Mubinul opened his fish and chip shop on Christmas day and served free food for anyone who wanted it. Mubinul particularly offered his fish and chips to older people, vulnerable members of the community or anyone who was alone on Christmas day.

People could have chunky fish fingers, fish and chip barms and fresh tea and coffee, all free. 

What is a fish and chip barm, does that have a different name where you live?

Why do you think Mubinul did this?

What is a vulnerable person?

Why particularly invite people who are alone?

Mubinul said, "We give back and we do a lot of charities. It's in our belief, in our religion. Christmas day was one of those things where we don't celebrate ourselves so we would have been just shut. So it was like, why don't we give back to the community?"

Mubinul says "It's in our religion" but he doesn't say which religion; why not? Which religions don't celebrate Christmas?

If Mubinul doesn't celebrate Christmas, why is he inviting people who do celebrate it to visit him?

This is the second year running Mubinul has opened on Christmas day and given away food. He says, "We just thought it would be amazing and the response we got last year, I couldn't actually believe it."

"It was more emotional because I was thinking it's such a special day. Everyone wishes they had good family and friends but you don't realise how many people are by themselves and they just need that little talk."

Why is Mubinul calling Christmas a special day when he doesn't celebrate it?

Why does Mubinul say people need a little talk?

Do you agree or disagree? Why?

What do you think is the impact of Mubinul's actions on the community?

Why is this about No Outsiders? 

Which British Value is this about?

 Do you want this assembly as a power point? To join the free mailing list and receive these assemblies as power points every week, email me on a.moffat@excelsiormat.org

No Outsiders: We belong here by Andrew Moffat  (scheme of work for primary schools) 

Andrew Moffat delivers in-school No Outsiders training- watch a short video here 

Register to be a No Outsiders school  (get access to members page with additional resources)

Watch CPD films showing schools teaching belonging

New Years Eve 2026

  

https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/2152331/sadiq-khan-new-year-eve-fireworks-eu

What do you see in the picture, where is is, what is happening, what is the story about?

On New Year's Eve many people across the world celebrated the start of 2026. Then photo shows the celebrations in London where there was a 15 minute firework display, the biggest in Europe. 

Why do people celebrate a new year?

One argument is that new years day is just another day, so why celebrate it?

Part of the London fireworks included a speech called, "This is what England means to me"

Thinking about the title, what do you think was said in the speech?

"When it's sunny, it's to hot. When it's cold, the weather's rubbish. England to me is a cup of tea. How many sugars? I'm sweet enough."

Why do you think the author of the poem chose those opening lines?

"sweet enough" - what's this about?

"England to me is Caribbean barbers with a sharpish trim. 

It's Christian neighbours saying Happy Hanukkah mate and Muslim mums saying Merry Christmas, love."

Why mention Caribbean barbers, why not English barbers?

Has the author got things mixed up here, should this say instead, "Jewish neighbours saying Happy Hanukkah, Muslim mums saying Happy Eid and Christian mums saying Merry Christmas"?

What is the author saying here about religions and nationalities in England today?

"And you think you're seeing flags now? Wait until the World Cup's on. And then you'll know about flags, my son."

Why do you think the author chose to mention flags?

To whom is the author addressing this line, is he talking to his child by saying, "my son", why use those words?

"Because this is what England means to me. It's about loving each other no mater what colour you are, where you're from or who your God is. Because this is England, this is the United Kingdom."

What is the author saying here?

Why do you think London chose to show so many different flags here, why not just show one flag?

Is there anything else you would add to this poem?

The mayor of London, Sadiq Khan said the London firework display was the greatest in the world; "From celebrating our wonderful year of women's sport and Europe beating the USA in the Ryder Cup to celebrating our diversity and looking ahead to a fantastic 2026, we've sent the message that London will always be a city of hope and a place for everyone."

Why do you think the Mayor chose to say London is a place for everyone?

What can we learn from the London NYE show this year?

Why is this about No Outsiders?

Which British value is this about?

Do you want this assembly as a power point? To join the free mailing list and receive these assemblies as power points every week, email me on a.moffat@excelsiormat.org

I usually send these out on a Sunday morning.

 

No Outsiders: We belong here by Andrew Moffat  (scheme of work for primary schools) 

Andrew Moffat delivers in-school No Outsiders training- watch a short video here 

Register to be a No Outsiders school  (get access to members page with additional resources)

Watch CPD films showing schools teaching belonging

Christmas family

 

                     

What do you see in in the photo? What is happening, where are they, what do you notice about the group? Who do you think these people are and why are they together?

In this photo we see Erin and her family. Erin says, "I'm English. I'm a mum. I'm white, British and proud of my heritage."

What does that all mean, why do you think she is saying that?

"I'm the mum to over 15 unaccompanied asylum seeking children."

What does that mean? How can she be a mum to 15 children? 

There are no children in the photo so where are they?

This photo is from last Christmas- "7 of my boys, all family, all loved"

How can they all be family?

Erin talks about how some of her boys had very difficult journeys to get to England as refugees. Many did not want to leave their homes but they had to leave to be safe. She talks describes how many of the boys faced hardship and struggles, but now they are safe and feel loved as part of her family.

What is a refugee/ asylum seeker?

Why is being a refugee hard?

What kind of struggles do you think some of her boys faced?

What do you think the boys needed most of all from Erin?

Erin says some people don't understand about refugees and think they are all the same. She says, "There are always bad apples in every community - but that doesn't give anyone the right to condemn a whole group of people."

What does Erin mean by that?

Erin says, "Still, my boys smile, still they call me mum, still we celebrate Christmas, birthdays, EID, GCSE results, and new jobs- together."

Christmas and Eid are from different religions so why are this family celebrating both?

How can you celebrate two religious festivals in the same family?

Can you celebrate a religious festival if you have a different faith? How does that work?

"As one of my lads once said, when someone asked how we can be a family: "It's ok - we all have different dads."

Erin says, "That's England too."

Why do you think someone asked how they could be a family?

What do you think of the response from one of the lads?

Why do you think Erin says, "That's England too."

What can we learn from Erin and her family?

Which British value is this about?

                                                                Happy Christmas from me!

Do you want this assembly as a power point? To join the free mailing list and receive these assemblies as power points every week, email me on a.moffat@excelsiormat.org

 

No Outsiders: We belong here by Andrew Moffat  (scheme of work for primary schools) 

Andrew Moffat delivers in-school No Outsiders training- watch a short video here 

Register to be a No Outsiders school  (get access to members page with additional resources)

Watch CPD films showing schools teaching belonging

rainbow crossing

 

https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/rainbow-crosswalk-pulse-nightclub-florida-orlando_n_68a7e06ae4b0c791dbab53ef

What do you see in the picture? What do think is happening, where is it? What do you think the story is here?

In Orlando, Florida, USA, there has been a debate for the last few months about a crossing on a road.

Can you guess what the debate is?

Ten years ago there was a homophobic attack on LGBT+ people at a night club called Pulse. 49 people were killed in the attack and many more injured. Following the attack, the council decided to paint a crossing outside the club with rainbow colours. The crossing was already there with black and white colours. They painted it rainbow colours instead.

Why do you think people painted the crossing with rainbow colours?

What do the colours represent?

What are the arguments for and against doing that?

For the last ten years the crossing has remained in place. Until now.

Over summer, the council removed the rainbow colours. They arrived at night to do it. They made the crossing black and white again.

Why do you think the council did that?

Why do it at night time?

How do you think the local residents felt?

The Mayor of Orlando, Buddy Dyer said, "We are devastated to learn that overnight the state painted over the Pulse Memorial crosswalk."

If the council painted the crossing rainbow ten years ago, why change it now? What does that show about ideas changing?

How do ideas change? 

Looking at the photo, what do you think the residents did next?

The residents used chalk to colour in the crossing and make it rainbow again. The residents did this during the day time.

Why do you think the residents did this during the day time not at night?

What do you think the council did?

The council painted over the crossing again. The state governor Ron DeSantis said the state would not allow its "roads to be commandeered for political purposes."

The US transport secretary of state said, "Taxpayers expect their dollars to fund safe streets, not rainbow crosswalks."

What does that mean?

Do you think colouring a crossing with rainbow colours is a political act?

Can you see both sides of this debate? What are the two sides of this discussion?

The Orlando mayor responded saying the crossing did adhere to safety standards and also helped enhance visibility for people going to visit the night club.

What do you think of this point?

Since the summer, four people have been arrested for "defacing the crosswalk" by painting rainbow colours on the road. People continue to paint or chalk colours every time the council remove the colours.

What is your opinion about this?

What do you think should happen? Can you find a solution?

What do we say at our school about being LGBT+ and having different families?

Why is this about No Outsiders?

Which British Value is this about? 

Do you want this assembly as a power point? To join the free mailing list and receive these assemblies as power points every week, email me on a.moffat@excelsiormat.org

 

No Outsiders: We belong here by Andrew Moffat  (scheme of work for primary schools) 

Andrew Moffat delivers in-school No Outsiders training- watch a short video here 

Register to be a No Outsiders school  (get access to members page with additional resources)

Watch CPD films showing schools teaching belonging

Kindness

 

https://manninglive.com/stories/manning-high-school-students-using-text-program-to-send-positive-messages,20818

What do you see in the picture? What do you notice? Can you predict what this story is about?

A High school in South Carolina USA noticed students were using unkind language at school and home. Students were choosing to use negative comments and the effect on the school community was...

What do you think the effect was?

The school felt all the  negative comments were giving their students a "poor outlook on life"

What does mean?

One of the teachers, Leila McCoy, was concerned her students were just being 'complainers', running everything down and taking about everything being bad. Miss McCoy says she talked abut her mother; "I was always told by my mother that life is about perspective, to find the good in everything and eventually everything is doable and everyone is likeable."

What does Leila mean by this?

Do you agree or disagree?

Can you see different points of view about this statement?

Miss McCoy got a plan together. Looking at the picture, can you guess what the plan was? 

Miss McCoy set up a social media group for her students. Students signed up under the agreement and expectation that they will only use it to send positive, motivational messages to each other at the start of the day. The messages came through Miss McCoy's name but the words came from the students.

Why only positive . motivational messages?

What do you think happened?

The group  became a huge success. All the students sent positive messages every morning. The class set a motto: "Be the change you want to see."

What does this mean?

Why do you think everyone signed up and stayed positive?

Why do you think no one ever messaged unkind words?

How do you think this affected the mindset of the class?

How does social media work today? Is social media always like this? 

How do we get social media to be more like this today?

Do you need social media to do this? How could we do this at our school without using social media? Is there any way we could get positive, motivational messages to other pupils in your school? How would it affect our school?

A school in Birmingham worked out a way of getting positive messages to different classes during Covid. They places envelopes under doors with messages of support; even just "Have a nice day, love from Y3" worked A Y6 class realised Y2 were in a class directly below them and they lowered a basket from the outside window to knock on the Y2 window, with a message from Y6 - "hello to y2, have a great day from y6")

What do you think the impact was on the school? 

How can language you choose to use every day affect people around you?

Why is this about No Outsiders?

Which British Value is this about?

Do you want this assembly as a power point? To join the free mailing list and receive these assemblies as power points every week, email me on a.moffat@excelsiormat.org

 

No Outsiders: We belong here by Andrew Moffat  (scheme of work for primary schools) 

Andrew Moffat delivers in-school No Outsiders training- watch a short video here 

Register to be a No Outsiders school  (get access to members page with additional resources)

Watch CPD films showing schools teaching belonging

Wicked

 

https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/wellness/why-wicked-for-good-star-marissa-bode-is-on-a-mission-to-change-hollywood/ar-AA1PVIS7?ocid=BingNewsVerp

https://www.capitalfm.com/news/wicked-nessarose-marissa-bode-disability-wheelchair/

What do you see in the picture, do you recognise anyone, where is it, what is happening?

The picture shows a scene from the film Wicked. We can see Cynthia Erivo who plays the character Elphaba and Marissa Bode who plays the character Nessarose, Elphaba's younger sister..

What do you notice about the character Nessarose?

The character Nessarose uses a wheelchair. In real life, the actor Marissa Bode also uses a wheelchair, yet this is the first time the character Nessarose has been played by a wheelchair user. In the past, the character has always been played by an actor pretending to be a wheelchair user.

Why do you think this is?

Can you see any reason why a wheelchair user might not be able to be an actor?

The film Wicked has been on stage all over the world for over 20 years and every actor who plays Nessarose has always been able to walk and simply acted as a wheelchair user. 

Do you think this matters? Does it matter if an actor pretends to be a wheelchair user, or does it not matter? What are the arguments for and against this choice?

Today, Marissa is overjoyed to be a wheelchair user playing the character of Nessarose; "I am over the moon about them making the decision to cast someone who is authentically in a wheelchair because..."

How do you think Marissa will finish that sentence?

"because it's not something I saw a lot growing up. So be in this huge movie, I just feel so lucky and grateful that I can be that representation and help people feel a lot less alone."

What is representation?

Who is Marissa talking about feeling alone?

Why do you think her being cast as Nessarose might make people feel less alone?

Marissa wants to pave the way for more disabled actors.

What does this mean?

Can you think of any actors who are not disabled and can you think of any disabled actors?

Why is that interesting, what does that show? Why do you think this is happening?

Marrisa says, "I think creating more visibility in media can make a huge differecne overall."

What is visibility, what is Marissa saying here? 

Do you agree?

In the original Wicked story, the Nessarose character pleased with her sister Elphaba to make her walk and Elphaba magically does this. But in the film version this story line has been changed.

What do you think about this old story line? Howe do you think Marissa might feel about it?

Why do you think the story has been changed in 2025?

Marissa didn't like the storyline where a character asks for her disability to be fixed. She says, "Disability is not fictional. At the end of the day, me, Marissa is the person who is still disabled and in a wheelchair. The more we see disabled people just chilling, just kicking it, the more people will treat us as equals."

Why does Marrisa say she wants to see disabled people just chilling? Wouldn't that be boring to see?

How do we get to a place where disabled people are treated as equals?

Why is this about No Outsiders?

Which British value is this about?

Do you want this assembly as a power point? To join the free mailing list and receive these assemblies as power points every week, email me on a.moffat@excelsiormat.org

 

No Outsiders: We belong here by Andrew Moffat  (scheme of work for primary schools) 

Andrew Moffat delivers in-school No Outsiders training- watch a short video here 

Register to be a No Outsiders school  (get access to members page with additional resources)

Watch CPD films showing schools teaching belonging

Football

 

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2025/nov/08/friendships-forged-football-terraces-fans

What do you see here, where are they, what do you you notice, what do you think this story is about?

The photo shows Caroline and Mickey at the Birmingham City football ground. Mickey is 70 years old and he used to sneak under the turnstiles as a child to get in to matches. He met a friend, Bill, who he would stand next to. But when he first tried to join Birmingham's official supporter's club as a teenager, he was blocked.

Why do you think Mickey was blocked?

This was the 1960s and Mickey explains, "I was blocked. I realise now it was probably because they didn't want any dark faces or whatever."

What is this an example of?

Would this happen today?

What law is in place today about this?

Mickey says, "That really niggled me. I thought: nobody's going to deny me going to see my club."

What do you think Mickey did?

Mickey challenged it and Bill (who was white) supported him. Eventually when he was 18, Mickey was allowed in the club and could go to the home and away matches with his friend, Bill.

Caroline is Bill's daughter and remembers going to matches with her Dad and Mickey as a child in the 1970s. Bill died eight years ago. Caroline says, "My Dad would have been in his 80's now and it's not great to say, but a lot of people of that generation... you know,.."

What do you think Caroline is saying here?

"But my Dad brought us up to treat everyone equally. My Dad would have been that person to say to Mick, "Come with us, we'll get you in." That's who he was and I'm really proud of him for that."

Why do you think that make Caroline feel proud?

Today, Mickey and Caroline sit together in the stands. Caroline says, "He brings back memories of my Dad. Something might happen in a game that's emotional and he'll give me a look and I know he's thinking about my Dad." Mickey says Caroline and her daughter are "part of my family. I love them to bits."

Are they part of his family? What does he mean? What is a family?

In 2016, Mickey and his son Bik aet up the Blues 4 All club with the aim of getting more people who look like them in to the crowd.

What do you think Mickey means by "people who look like them"? 

Why do you think people who look like Mickey were not going to football matches?

Mickey says it's got better and better; "We never used to see Asian girls and women. Now, because of winning the Euros, Asian women are bringing their daughters to our Academy, which is fantastic."

Who won the Euros?

Why do you think more girls are playing football today?

Mickey says they haven't had an Asian player break through in the men's side yet, "But we've got the first Punjabi girl, Riya Mannu, to sign for Birmingham City, and she scored on her debut. Football brings families and everyone together."

Do you agree?

What if you support a different team, can it still bring people together?

What can we learn from Mickey and Caroline?Why is this about No Outsiders?

Which British value is this about?

Do you want this assembly as a power point? To join the free mailing list and receive these assemblies as power points every week, email me on a.moffat@excelsiormat.org

 

No Outsiders: We belong here by Andrew Moffat  (scheme of work for primary schools) 

Andrew Moffat delivers in-school No Outsiders training- watch a short video here 

Register to be a No Outsiders school  (get access to members page with additional resources)

Watch CPD films showing schools teaching belonging