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Ks2 articles

Eden garden playing
101 fantastic activities for the summer 2023 school holidays
See the world through an insect’s eyes, take a trip through your own digestive system (yes, really!), or come face-to-face with Robin Hood and his merry men – we've got a whole host of summer adventures for you to enjoy with these 101 amazing and educational activities from across the UK!
Best kids' books for summer 2017
16 of the best books for children for summer 2017
There's no better way to while away the long summer holidays than getting lost in a book. From beautiful picture books to pore over to thrilling adventures and historical tales to savour, we pick some of the best new kids' books for summer 2017.
Child touch typing
18 reasons your child should learn touch-typing
Just 20 minutes of practice a day could be enough to make your child a fluent touch-typist in as little as 10 weeks. We explain why confident, fast typing skills are an essential skill for all primary school children.

Touch-typing is one of those skills that, along with shorthand, seemed to go out of fashion as women began to embrace careers beyond the secretarial. But while you might have a mental image of rows of well-groomed young ladies sitting behind their manual typewriters, touch-typing is far from an outdated practice. In fact, typing could be one of the most valuable skills your primary school child will ever learn.

Teens in school uniform
Preparing for the teenage years
Feeling daunted by the prospect of parenting a teenager? Putting in some groundwork before your child hits their teens could ease their passage through this troublesome time.
Child writing
Best creative writing books for kids
Does your child love writing stories but feel daunted by the blank page? Get them started with creative writing and boost their confidence with a "workbook" packed with story starters, technique tips, example passages and more. Whether they're planning an epic comic strip series, a poetry collection, a ghost story or a fairy tale, these write-your-own-story guides will help them put pen to paper.
Centre of the Cell © Nick Wood for Land Design
Museums reviewed by parents: Centre of the Cell London
If you love London’s fabulous Science Museum but feel your family has done it inside and out, Centre of the Cell, a cutting-edge tech centre in East London, is perfect for expanding your horizons. There’s hands-on fun to bring out the budding doctors, nurses, lab technicians and pathologists in all ages!
Best girl-empowering books for kids
Best girl-empowering books for kids
Introduce the whole family to the achievements of female scientists, explorers, artists, physicians, writers and more in our round-up of the best girl-empowering books for kids. From KS1 picture books and tales to inspiring grown-up "bedtime stories", we love these girl-power celebrations of outstanding people.
Historical dressing up
Kids' historical costumes to buy
Planning ahead for Victorian day at school? Looking for an easy evacuee costume or a Roman centurion outfit? Need to find a dressing-up solution for your eager Viking warrior, Anglo-Saxon scholar or Georgian lady? From Stone Age to suffragettes and Sixties fashion, we've picked a selection of the best historical costumes to buy for kids.
Children in school cafeteria
Catching up at school after a long absence
From making up missed work to fitting back in with friends, how can children reintegrate at school after weeks away?
Children writing in classroom
Keeping up at school during a long-term absence
Falling behind at school can be an extra thing to worry about if your child is on extended sick leave, but there are ways to help them stay up to date.
Teacher and pupil reading
16 ways to help a struggling reader in Key Stage 2
Is reading yet to click for your child? These ideas, from hi-low readers to establishing a reading buddy pet, will help set them on the right track.
What is decomposition?
What is decomposition?
Decomposition in computer programming explained by TheSchoolRun's Billy Rebecchi, with details of how children are taught to decompose programs in the KS1 and KS2 classroom.
Best maths board games for children
Best maths board games for children
Looking for an engaging way to practise maths concepts and skills? Try a mathematical board game! Whether your child is learning about times tables or place value, addition or square roots, there's a family-friendly board game to try. Get ready to roll the dice...
Parent and child outdoors
51 fantastic activities for the May 2023 half term holidays
Get set for an awfully big adventure this half term with our top selection of 51 educational activities for you and your family to enjoy – take a stroll with the wicked Sheriff of Nottingham, swing through the air on a flying trapeze, or even learn how to boogie like a planet (yes, really!)
Primary children in the classroom
What your child learns in KS2 RE
From learning about religious festivals to exploring their own beliefs and values, here's what your child will cover in KS2 Religious Education.
© National Museum of Scotland
Museums reviewed by parents: National Museum of Scotland
Discover the secrets of Scottish history all the way from the Big Bang to Sir Chris Hoy, see a T-Rex up close and meet the world-famous Dolly the Sheep – all at Edinburgh's National Museum of Scotland.
What is a learning log?
What is a learning log?
Learning logs are growing in popularity in primary schools, giving children more control over their learning. We take a look at what's involved.
Best books about geography for kids
Best geography books for children
From natural landscapes to human habitats and cultures, each of these books about our world introduces kids to the diversity, complexity and beauty of the Earth. Inspire future travellers and explorers with our pick of the best kids' books about geography.
What is a programming language?
What is a programming language?
Children are introduced to simple programming languages as early as KS1. Understand how your child will start to use drag-and-drop programming like Scratch with our guide to programming languages in the primary-school classroom. By Billy Rebecchi
What are procedures and functions?
What are procedures and functions?
Brilliant primary-school programmers are introduced to procedures and functions in Year 5 and Year 6. TheSchoolRun's Billy Rebecchi explains what your child might learn about these advanced building blocks of code in our parents' guide.
What is computational logic?
What is computational logic?
Thanks to computational logic, or computational thinking, we can work step-by-step to understand a problem and develop a solution. Children are first introduced to this skill in the KS2 classroom, as TheSchoolRun's Billy Rebecchi explains.
What is a variable?
What is a variable in computing?
Find out how variables are used in computing and how they are introduced in the KS2 classroom in our parents' guide to variables.
What are hardware, software and Operating Systems?
What are hardware, software and Operating Systems?
Hardware (the physical parts of a computer), software (the programs that can be run on a computer) and the Operating System that allows software and hardware to communicate: TheSchoolRun's Billy Rebecchi explains what your child learns in KS1 and KS2 computing and how you can develop their understanding at home.
What is abstraction?
What is abstraction in computing?
Abstraction is an important part of programming. Find out how children are introduced to this tricky concept in KS2 computing and how you can develop their understanding at home.
What are sequences?
What is a sequence in computing?
Understanding sequences is vital in computing. Our parents' guide explains how children learn about sequences in algorithms and programs in KS1 and KS2 computing. By Billy Rebecchi
What is debugging?
What is debugging?
The debugging cycle in computer programming explained by TheSchoolRun's Billy Rebecchi, with details of how children are taught to debug programs in the KS1 and KS2 classroom.
What is a program?
What is a program?
Programming in the primary-school classroom: TheSchoolRun's Billy Rebecchi explains how children learn about programs in KS1 and KS2 and how programmable floor robots are used in primary computing.
Parent and child playing a board game
Best spelling board games for children
Turn the weekly spelling test preparation from chore into challenge with our pick of the best spelling board games for children and families. From brand-new readers and writers to spelling bee champions, there's plenty for even the most competent speller to enjoy!
What is an algorithm?
What is an algorithm?
Algorithms are a set of instructions to complete a task. We explain everything primary-school parents need to understand about algorithms, how they are used to write computer programs and how children will be introduced to them in the KS1 and KS2 classroom. By Billy Rebecchi
What is the National Funding Formula?
The National Funding Formula for schools explained
New plans to change how school budgets are allocated could see some schools gain, but others suffer. We explain the National Funding Formula in a guide for parents.
Child and teacher in the classroom
What is a special school?
If your child has special educational needs, a mainstream education may not be right for them. We take a look at how special schools could help.
Child and parent research on the computer
How to help your child develop research skills
Knowing how to use books and the internet for research is a vital skill for KS2 pupils. We explain how to help your primary-school child.
Costume-making kit for parents
18 must-have costume-making supplies for World Book Day and beyond
Never again will you be caught out by a last-minute outfit request from your primary school child with these craft basics. Stock up today!
What are irregular verbs?
What are irregular verbs?
Children learn to use irregular verbs naturally as they speak and write English, but will also understand more about them during their time at primary school. We explain how irregular verbs are introduced in the classroom in our guide for parents.
What are the commutative, associative and distributive property?
What are the commutative, associative and distributive property?
The commutative, associative and distributive properties or laws underpin algebra and are first introduced to children, in very broad terms, in the primary-school years. We explain how your child will start to understand the basics of higher maths in our guide for parents.
What are word families?
What are word families?
Understand more about how children are introduced to word families, made up of words that share a root word modified by different prefixes and suffixes, in our guide for primary-school parents.
What is a breakfast club?
What is a breakfast club?
Providing a decent meal to start the day – and a reliable childcare solution – breakfast clubs are now available in most schools. We take a look at how your child could benefit from going along.
What is the concrete pictorial abstract approach in maths?
What is the concrete pictorial abstract approach in maths?
Concrete > pictorial > abstract (CPA) is a key feature of the Singapore maths mastery method now being taught in many primary schools. Mastery expert Kate Moore from Maths – No Problem! explains what's involved.
Child cycling
Bikeability explained
Bike riding is an important skill for children to master. We explain how schools play their part in teaching them safe cycling.
What is Standard English?
What is Standard English?
Standard English is accepted as the "correct" form of English, used in formal speaking or writing. In primary school children are expected to learn to write according to the rules of Standard English.