Ks2 articles

Prisms and pyramids explained for parents, including practical ways children work with 3D shapes in the classroom and learn about their properties.

Learning a language at primary school is more than just words; it’s a gateway to other cultures. Dawn Francis-Pester shares top tips for bringing languages to life for your child.

Expand vocabulary, develop spelling skills, learn about homophones, anagrams and synonyms and compose huge numbers of silly sentences... all while having a great time. Whether your child is 3 or 13, our favourite word board games and literacy card games offer fast-paced fun for the whole family.

We have the facts you need to know about taking grammar school entrance tests in the Dorset area.

You'll be spoilt for choice choosing new books for 4-11 year olds this Christmas. As well as the blockbusters in every bookshop window (welcome back Wimpy Kid, Percy Jackson and Ruby Redfort!), we've fallen for this bumper crop of great reads, from picture books to read out loud to scare stories to shiver under the covers with. Whatever your child's reading ability, these stories are unmissable. Happy reading!

If your child is applying for a place at one of Wiltshire's two grammar schools, they'll need to sit the 11+. Read on for the facts about the test.

If you're living in Buckinghamshire, your child will take the Transfer Test to decide which type of secondary school they'll go to – but do you know what's involved?

If you're planning to apply for a place at one of Redbridge Borough's grammar schools, check out the facts you need to know about the 11+ in this area.

With competition for grammar school places fierce in south east London, we explain the facts about taking the 11+ in Bromley.

Kent is the largest grammar school area in the UK, with more than 30 selective schools to choose from. We have the facts about the 11+ test in this region.

Children living in the London Borough of Bexley can sit the 11+ test for entrance to one of the area's grammar schools. We explain the facts parents need to know about the Bexley test.

With six grammar schools and one bilateral, we have the facts you need to know about the 11+ test in the Medway area.

A Maths Week costume?!? Don’t get your numbers in a twist! Non-crafty mum Phoebe Doyle’s on hand with some no-sew, no-stress ideas.

With a return to greater emphasis on handwriting in primary schools, could a special pen or pencil help your child master the art of neat writing? Handwriting tutor Michelle van Rooyen explains what handwriting pencils and pens are available.

A visit to a museum or gallery can really help a subject come to life for a child. Who doesn’t remember the first time they saw a dinosaur? Or an ancient Egyptian mummy? To help you navigate the wonderful world of museums the experts at Show Me have put together a guide to some of the UK's best family-friendly places to visit in person and online.

Help your child form each letter of the alphabet correctly with our step-by-step and stroke-by-stroke videos, with experts from the National Handwriting Association. In this video we look at the Zig-zag monster letter family: z, x, v, w, y and k.

Help your child form each letter of the alphabet correctly with our step-by-step and stroke-by-stroke videos, with experts from the National Handwriting Association. Here we look at the Curly caterpillar family: c, a, d, g, q, o, e, s and f.

The letters of the alphabet can be divided into ‘movement groups’, based on the movement made to start writing the letter. Each group has a lead letter (L for Long ladder letters, C for Curly caterpillar letters, R for One-armed robot letters and Z for Zig-zag monster letters) and our handwriting advice video outlines the different letter families and how to practise writing them.

Make sure your child holds their pencil correctly every time they pick it up with this quick trick, as outlined in our video by National Handwriting Association Occupational Paediatric Therapist Catherine Elsey.