General Information

You will do an amazing job! 

Firstly, thank you for everyone's support of school and their child's learning. With school being closed and unlikely to reopen soon, we know that you are busy gathering teaching materials, setting up schedules, and looking for ways to keep children engaged beyond the limited hours of remote-learning. Remember you are already great at organising your child for school, juggling home with school commitments, supporting homework and getting children to after school activities. 

 

Even so, learning at home is something new to us all and something we are getting used to. You may feel overwhelmed at the thought of managing your child's school days at home but we know that you will do an amazing job.

Helping Children Understand Why School Is Closed

This is a very difficult time for our children as it is hard for them to understand why they are not coming to school or seeing their friends.

A free book for children about Coronavirus has been released. It has been illustrated by Axel Scheffler. This is a good book to share to explain what is happening. 

Helping Children In School Understand Why It is Different

For some children they are coming to school and it is different to what they are used to. This is a useful booklet to explain why. 

Keep Routine

Children really like routine. It is a good idea to establish a routine so it is clear what to expect during the day. For those of you who would like to keep to the school structure of a typical day here is the outline that we use. 

Home / School Provision Timetable

 

Consistency helps children to focus, so try to have a daily schedule. By building in breaks, choice and a range of activities, you can tailor plans to meet children’s individual needs. But be flexible and keep your child’s experience and personality in mind.

FREE Online Education Resources

This is a non-exhaustive list that might help you keep the children engaged with their learning alongside other more practical and pen and paper activities. 

 

Supporting A Range of Subjects 

 

BBC Learning

http://www.bbc.co.uk/learning/coursesearch/
This site is old and no longer updated and yet there's so much still available, from language learning to BBC Bitesize for revision. No TV licence required except for content on BBC iPlayer.

Blockly
https://blockly.games
Learn computer programming skills - fun and free.

Scratch
https://scratch.mit.edu/explore/projects/games/
Creative computer programming

National Geographic Kids
https://www.natgeokids.com/uk/
Activities and quizzes for children.

Mystery Science
https://mysteryscience.com
Free science lessons

Paw Print Badges
https://www.pawprintbadges.co.uk
Free challenge packs and other downloads. Many activities can be completed indoors. Badges cost but are optional.

Cbeebies Radio
https://www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/radio
Listening activities for the younger ones.

Oxford Owl for Home
https://www.oxfordowl.co.uk/for-home/
Lots of free resources for Primary age

 

Blue Peter Badges
https://www.bbc.co.uk/cbbc/joinin/about-blue-peter-badges
If you have a stamp and a nearby post box.

The Artful Parent
https://www.facebook.com/artfulparent/
Good, free art activities

Red Ted Art
https://www.redtedart.com
Easy arts and crafts for little ones

The Imagination Tree
https://theimaginationtree.com
Creative art and craft activities for the very youngest.

Toy Theater
https://toytheater.com/
Educational online games

DK Find Out
https://www.dkfindout.com/uk/?fbclid=IwAR2wJdpSJSeITf4do6aPhff8A3tAktnmpaxqZbkgudD49l71ep8-sjXmrac
Activities and quizzes

Twinkl
https://www.twinkl.co.uk
This is more for printouts, and usually at a fee, but they are offering a month of free access to parents due to school closures.

 

Remember our reading ideas:

Check out these sites for great booklists and activities.

 

• www.worldbookday.com

• www.booksfortopics.com

• www.booktrust.org.uk

• www.storiestogrowby.org/bedtime-stories-kids-free/