School reading schemes explained

Ask any parent of a Reception child about Biff, Chip and Kipper, and they’ll know exactly who you’re talking about. But just how do primary school reading schemes work, and how can you tell if your child is progressing at the right rate? Lucy Dimbylow puts these questions to the teachers who use reading schemes in the classroom.

10 ways to boost phonics confidence

The very first Year 1 Phonics Screening Check is coming up in June. How should you support your child’s learning and first reading at home to help them prepare for the phonics test? Teacher and Y1 parent Phoebe Doyle offers some practical tips and ideas.

Using comics to improve your child’s literacy

Struggling to get your child to pick up a book? A comic might have more appeal – and some surprising literacy-boosting benefits, especially for boys. Lucy Dimbylow explains why you don’t need to be snobbish about your child’s choice of reading material.

10 of the best royal reads for kids

Make sure the whole family feels part of the Jubilee festivities and include some celebratory reading in your child’s half-term break. We’ve picked some great options for you to read out loud and for independent readers. Time to hang the bunting and snuggle up with a book…

8 of the best phonics learning tools

Want to practise phonics at home? We’ve picked eight of the best games, apps, tools and books to help you reinforce what your child is learning at home – the fun way!

Phonics games

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Your child will do lots of phonics learning at school – so why not use games to help them put their new skills into practice at home? Our Phonics games learning pack, created by a KS1 teacher (and parent), offers ten games and activities to choose from. Everything you need to start playing, from instructions to game boards and a sound die, is included in your download – print off your bingo counters, sharpen your pencils and have some fun!

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3 brilliant London excursions for primary school children

A trip to London is a great way to see history. With almost every stone soaked in stories of the past, a day in the capital is a great way to make KS1 and KS2 history learning come alive. There are elements from every period of London’s past still visible in the city today if you know where to look – Francesca Fenn from Step Outside guides suggests a few things to see and do that bring the primary history curriculum to life.

Handwriting practice: what all parents need to know

If you’re worried about your child’s handwriting and want to help them improve, you’re not alone – handwriting is an essential skill, but we all have to learn it, and it’s a very complex task. Legible, neat handwriting takes lots of practice – here are a few things to keep in mind when you’re working with your child at home.

Capital letters (straight lines) E F H I L T

Help your child with their handwriting with this practice worksheet, which covers the straight-lined capital letters E, F, H, I, L and T.

Capital letters (diagonal lines) A K M N V W Y Z

A handwriting worksheet which will help your child practise capital letters formed with diagonal lines (A K M N V W Y Z).

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TheSchoolRun

EYFS

School reading schemes explained

10 ways to boost phonics confidence

Using comics to improve your child’s literacy

10 of the best royal reads for kids

8 of the best phonics learning tools

Phonics games

3 brilliant London excursions for primary school children

Handwriting practice: what all parents need to know

Capital letters (straight lines) E F H I L T

Capital letters (diagonal lines) A K M N V W Y Z

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