Ks1 articles
Access arrangements for primary school SATs
If your child has additional needs that could affect their SATs performance, they may be entitled to adjustments, known as ‘access arrangements’. We explain what can be arranged and how it might help your child.
Your free SATs downloads KS1 and KS2
Get your free SATs past papers, downloads and advice and information to help support your KS1 and KS2 child in the Y2 and Y6 tests here.
Supporting summer-born children at school
Your child’s birthdate could make a big difference to how they manage at primary school. We asked the experts about the potential impact, and how you can help your child thrive.
The International Primary Curriculum (IPC) explained
What do children learn through the International Primary Curriculum (IPC), the curriculum used in many international schools around the world (and some primary schools in the UK)?
The primary school International Baccalaureate (IB) explained
We take a look at what children learn if they follow the IB Primary Years Programme at school.
The safety rules every child must know
Help your child stay safe at home and out and about by teaching them these important water safety, fire safety, road safety, home safety, animal safety and stranger danger basics.
Best science board games for children
Have fun with chemistry, physics and biology with these family science games, designed to make STEM learning interactive and competitive, and introduce concepts like quantum physics, space exploration, evolution and ecology to KS1 and KS2 learners (and parent players, too!).
What is oracy?
Speaking and listening may not be formally assessed in primary schools, but they’re vital skills for every child. Here’s why – and how to encourage oracy.
What are age-related expectations?
Is your child’s learning on track for their age? We explain how age-related expectations work in primary school.
Age-related expectations: KS1
What key skills and knowledge should children have by the end of Year 2? We explain what they need to meet the expected standard.
The Curriculum for Wales 2022: what parents need to know
Children in Wales will be studying a new curriculum from September 2022. Here’s what we know so far.
Relationships and sex education: your FAQs answered
How is Relationships and Sex Education changing and why is it so controversial? We did a little digging and spoke to experts to help us debunk some of the myths surrounding RSE in primary school.
What is a question?
Find out how, what and when children are taught about question marks in primary school in our grammar and punctuation guide for parents.
What is a question mark?
Understand how question marks are explained and taught in the primary school classroom with our parents' guide to punctuation and grammar.
What is an exclamation sentence?
Understand the primary curriculum definition of an exclamation sentence with our parents' guide to primary-school grammar.
Best science apps for kids
Help your child discover science through play with these brilliant games-based apps and introduce physics, chemistry and biology the digital way.
What is an exclamation mark?
Understand how to punctuate exclamation sentences and how to communicate sudden and strong emotion in writing with our parents' guide to exclamation marks.
What is a full stop?
Children start learning about punctuation in Reception and Year 1 when they are introduced to full stops and their use. Understand how and when your child learns to use full stops correctly with our parents' punctuation guide.
9 reasons kids struggle with reading – and what you can do about it
Not all children take to books easily. If your child finds reading tricky, read our guide to the problems they might be having.
Best geography games for children
There's no need to pack – travel the length and breadth of our world with these brilliant geography board games and card games, great for explorers and geographers of all ages.
What is Numicon?
Here's how the primary school maths aid could help your child get to grips with counting, calculating and more.
What are imperative verbs?
Do you know how imperative or "bossy" verbs are used in instruction texts? We explain how children are introduced to imperatives from Year 2 onwards, with examples of how they are taught in the primary classroom.
Best activity books for children
Whether you're on the move or at home, a great activity book offers hours of screen-free learning and fun. Crosswords, maths challenges, mystery solving and code writing are all covered in our best activity books for kids picks. We can't guarantee you won't want to help out with the puzzling, though!
Moving house for school places: what the law says
Considering moving house or renting a property to secure a place at your first choice of school? We have the facts you need to know.
Best children's books about Vikings
Take a step back in time when Britain was being regularly invaded to find out more about the fearless raiders who travelled by sea in their long ships to settle here and who have left their mark on today's society. Primary school teacher and children's literature lover Scott Evans shares his pick of the best Viking historical fiction that will capture children's interest in this most interesting and exciting (and sometimes bloodthirsty!) of times.
Best children's books about Tudors
Divorced, beheaded, died! Divorced, beheaded, survived! During the Tudor period, arguably one of the most exciting times in history, one family dominated the country with two of the strongest monarchs ever to sit on the throne, Henry VIII and Elizabeth I. Find out about these rulers and more with teacher and children's book reviewer Scott Evans' pick of the best Tudor stories and novels.
Best books for seven year olds: early readers
Mechanical pirates, hungry dinosaurs, a pair of talking mice, a mischievous group of creatures called the Gigglers and two clever dogs make these books the perfect choice for new readers who are seven.
Best books for six year olds: chapter books
A cunning fox, a haunted room, a terrifying cat, a broken time machine and a princess who fights crime make these short, accessible chapter books perfect for building young readers' confidence.
Best apps for new readers
Reading doesn't always have to involve books. We've rounded up the best apps for children who are learning to read, ranging from traditional tales to interactive games that will improve their reading as they play.
Best phonics apps for kids
Turn screen time into learning-to-read time and help your child become a phonics whizz with these brilliant tried-and-tested apps for Apple and Android.
Best books for six year olds: independent reading
Lonely rainclouds, tea-drinking dogs, dastardly dragons and grumpy giants make this selection for six year olds the perfect choice for developing readers. The illustrations are wonderful and there isn't too much text, so these books are perfect for a first foray into the world of independent reading.
Best spelling apps for kids
Help your child get to grips with spelling with our round-up of the best spelling apps for primary-school kids.
Best poetry books for children
We could tell you that reading and – even better – learning poetry by heart, will do wonders for your child’s memory, vocabulary and writing. We could tell you that reading and reciting poetry is now a key part of the National Curriculum. Or we could simply say that reading a brilliant poem might give your child a great deal of pleasure. Here are some of the best children’s collections out there, chosen by poet Emma Harding.
Best classic books for KS1 children
Each of these novels is full of adventure, inventiveness and magic – great for stimulating young imaginations. Some of these stories may have been written more than half a century ago, but their child’s-eye view of the world and their warm-hearted humour remain as engaging and entertaining as ever. Perfect for reading together, or for independent reading, these books are packed with useful new vocabulary for early readers. By Emma Harding
Museums reviewed by parents: Museum of Science and Industry Manchester
Be awed by past and future science and technology in Manchester with a trip to one of the UK's most atmospheric museums, on the site of the oldest surviving passenger railway station and in the heart of the world’s first industrial city. We highlight what the Museum of Science and Industry has to offer parents, children and families.
Inspiring children to read
When it comes to encouraging children's love of books and reading, teachers (and librarians!) are the experts. We asked Ashley Booth – reader, Year 6 teacher and passionate advocate of children's books – to share his tips for teachers (and for parents!) on igniting a love of reading in primary-school children.
What are singular and plural?
Singular and plural nouns and how they're taught in primary school, plus how KS1 and KS2 children learn about the formation of irregular plurals and how to use possessive apostrophes.
Best children's books about the Anglo Saxons
Travel back in time to the dawn of England and find out more about the Anglo Saxons, their stories and their lives. Teacher and literacy expert Ashley Booth shares his pick of the best historical fiction set in the time of King Alfred, including different retellings of the epic Anglo Saxon poem Beowulf.
Best books to read with five year olds
Reading time is time to laugh, share and explore stories with your child. Choose books that have a strong rhythm to them and are full of humour, rhyme and attractive illustrations. We've picked ten of our favourites to read with five year olds.
101 fantastic activities for the Christmas 2023 school holidays
Appear on a game show with Charles Dickens, cook dinner in a Tudor kitchen or go carol singing with a choir of polar bears. You're sure to have a fantastically festive adventure this winter with these 101 amazing and educational activities for you and the kids to enjoy together!