Eyfs articles
Foundation Stage music: what does your child learn?
Music helps your child’s learning in lots of school subjects. Here’s what they will be taught in lessons and how you can develop their love of music at home.
Foundation Stage history curriculum
Your guide to how the history curriculum is brought to life in your child’s lessons and what you can do to support this in their free time.
Teach your child to read a clock
Reading an analogue clock is a tricky skill to master. Help your child get to grips with it with our teaching-time guide.
10 messy (but educational!) ideas for kids
Most kids love getting up to their elbows in stuff. Feeling, squidging, kneading, squeezing – it’s instinctive. What’s more, this sort of play is crucial for learning; it forms the building blocks of knowledge about the world, its materials and how they work. Whether they’re five or ten, watch them get really stuck in to these educational activities.
How your child develops in the Early Years Foundation Stage
As your child starts their primary education, here's how they’ll develop during their Reception year.
What your child learns in the Early Years Foundation Stage
The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) is the programme which must be followed in all childcare settings from birth to five years, so for schools this means nursery and Reception.
How your Reception child develops
Starting school is a big leap for your child, so how will they grow during their first academic year?
Reception English: what your child learns
Want to know how your child’s English skills are developed when they start school? Read on to find out.
Reception maths: what your child learns
It’s amazing how much your child will learn about maths in the first year of school. Here’s a rundown of the main topics so you know what to expect.
Reception science: what your child learns
Unsure what the science curriculum covers in Reception? Read on to find out.
Foundation Stage PE explained
Want to know what your child will learn in PE when they start school? Here’s all you need to know, plus tips for supporting their learning at home.
School reports decoded
It’s the end of term and that means one thing – school report time. But what exactly do those cryptic comments in your child’s report mean? Jessica Powell gets teachers to explain.
Apostrophes – get them right every time
Apostrophes are tricky things. Do they imply ownership or are they there to denote a missing letter? Do they go before the ‘s’ or after? Jackie Cosh explains how to help your child master them.
Do boys learn in a different way to girls?
Research shows boys are lagging behind girls in reading, writing, maths and science. If the teaching is the same, is gender the issue? Emily Organ explores boys' achievement in the classroom.
How is religion taught in schools?
Every school has to teach religious education and hold an act of worship each day. But what happens if you don’t like what’s on offer? In this extract from TheSchoolRun's The Essential Guide to Primary School, we explore what your child learns and your rights as a parent.
Five steps to success in developing your child’s handwriting
In a world where technology is rapidly taking over, teaching children handwriting skills is still as important as it ever was. Best-selling author Bernadette Tynan offers five steps to handwriting success.
Handwriting practice makes perfect
Why is handwriting practice so important, and how can you help your child to learn? Find out in our guide.
The primary design and technology curriculum
Is your child a budding designer? We take a look at what design and technology lessons involve.
Learning numeracy at home
All around us are a wealth of mathematical problems just waiting to be solved. Here’s how to help your child extend their numeracy skills at home.
Is your child getting enough sleep?
Is your child overtired – or not tired enough? Here’s how to make sure they’re getting the right amount of sleep for their age.
Parent teacher meeting tips from real parents
Whether you’re preparing for your first meeting, or want to improve on past experience, these top tips will help you know what to get out of your time with your child’s teacher.
Boost your child's confidence with glasses
Making the transition to wearing glasses doesn’t have to be traumatic! We get tips from parents and experts on how to make the experience stress-free and confidence-building.
Homework tips for children with dyslexia
The British Dyslexia Association shares tips to help make doing homework a calm and productive process for your dyslexic child.
7 vital road safety skills you must teach your child
Worried about your child walking to school on their own? Help them become street savvy during Walk to School Month by teaching them these key principles of walking safely.
Growing pains explained
Aches and pain don’t just happen in your 80s – children can experience strong twinges and throbbings, which can even wake them up at night. Dr. David Shortland explains how to help your child through it.
12 ways to build a great relationship with your child’s teacher
We all want the teacher to love our child (and us too!) so Lucy Dimbylow asked them to share their top parenting peeves, along with the things that parents can do at school and at home to make their job easier. Teachers’ pets, us? Yes please!
9 ways to help your child love poetry
Use National Poetry Day as an excuse to enjoy the creative wordplay that poetry can offer! Coax out the budding poet in your child with these games and activities, and boost their literacy skills the fun way.
Managing allergies at school: a guide for parents
It’s easy to keep track of what your child eats when they’re at home, but school is another matter. We’ve rounded up the latest advice on how to manage your child’s allergies at school.
What is a number line?
Spotted something about a number line in your child’s homework instructions, and not sure what it means? We review the basics of this amazing, adaptable educational tool and explain how it's used in KS1 and KS2 maths.
Roald Dahl Day: five ways to celebrate
While there’s always a reason to enjoy and celebrate the amazing books that Roald Dahl wrote, make a special effort on Roald Dahl Day to organise phizz-whizzingly brilliant activities and scrumdiddlyumptious treats!
Great family days out, recommended by parents
Looking for a great family day out? From the Kyle of Lochalsh in the north to Helston in Cornwall in the south, TheSchoolRun’s interactive Great Family Days Out Map offers hundreds of suggestions from the people who know best – real parents.
Simple ways to save on school costs
We all want to give our children the best in life, but with the cost of living rising it can seem impossible to pinch those pennies and pay for school materials at the same time. Uniforms, meals, trips and birthday parties – the list goes on. But who knows how to budget better than a primary-school parent? Check out our tried-and-tested budgeting tips from other parents.
Using story books to learn to read
Are Kipper, Chip and co the only fictional characters your child is reading about now that they're learning to read? Education writer Phoebe Doyle argues that every book's a reading book, and children's literature is as vital as reading scheme books when it comes to learning to read.
Threadworms: all your questions answered
It’s easy to feel horrified if your child gets threadworms, but don’t panic! They’re very common among kids – and easy to treat. Here are all your pressing questions answered.
No-sew Halloween costume ideas
No need for complicated patterns or topnotch sewing skills – get ready for Halloween with these easy costume ideas. Ghosts, wizards, witches and more can be created in less than an hour and the kids can help, too. Emily Organ waves her wand and shows us how.
8 things you must do to lay the foundations of a great school year
Want to know how to get your child off to a flying start next term? Who better to ask than the experts! Wendy Golledge quizzed eight primary school teachers for their tips on preparing your child for the school year ahead.
Could your child be gifted?
Does your child excel in academic subjects, on the sports field or with a musical instrument? We take a look at how to tell if they are exceptionally able – or just bright.
'My 3-year-old knew all his times tables'
How does it feel to have an incredibly intelligent child? Tracy Lee Newman and her husband Neill, from Essex, first suspected their son Oliver might be exceptional when he was two.
What to expect from school if you have a more able child
Highly able children sometimes struggle to get the support they need from school. We explain what to expect and who to turn to for help.
What is enrichment?
Education is more than just mastering English and maths - it's also about activities that extend children's learning through new experiences and opportunities. We take a look at how enrichment benefits primary school kids.