Reception English articles
Your phonics questions answered
Do you understand how your child is learning to read? We asked the experts to demystify phonics teaching and give you some practical tips to support your child’s learning. You'll also find links to phonics worksheets, games and activities.
5 ways to boost your early reader's confidence
Your early reader may be steaming ahead but you can give them an extra boost with a few easy strategies, says Jackie Cosh. Start today!
Develop your child's literacy skills in the early years
Supporting kids’ literacy skills at home is a key factor in helping them to become accomplished readers with broad vocabularies. Get started today!
Should children be able to read and write before they start school?
Emily Organ asks if parents should be educating their children at home before their school days have even begun.
Helping your child learn to write
More often than not, parents provide children with their first writing experiences. Here’s how to encourage good handwriting habits from the beginning of primary school.
Writing practice: how to help your struggling child
Is your child’s handwriting a cause for concern? Help them to improve it with these simple activities.
Storytelling for Early Years Foundation Stage children
When it comes to storytelling, children are naturally gifted. Find a range of activities here to support your Early Years Foundation Stage child's storytelling skills.
Literacy and numeracy in the Foundation Stage
Literacy and numeracy underpin all Key Stages, so help your child get off to a good start with these top tips and resources.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
What are high frequency words?
As your child learns to read and spell they’re likely to bring home lists of words. Moira Holden looks at ways in which you can reinforce the learning of high frequency words at home.
Childhood dyspraxia explained
Your guide to what dyspraxia is and how you can support a dyspraxic child at home.
How to strengthen your child's coordination skills
Handwriting, buttoning, drawing or using a knife and fork… your child’s hands can perform the most amazing array of tasks. We take a look at how you can support the development of your child's movement skills.
Dyslexia: strengths, advantages and opportunities
While dyslexic children can have learning difficulties they can also be very gifted in certain areas. Find out how to create a positive and constructive learning experience for your dyslexic child with our top advice.
Reading outside the book
For many children, reading is something they only associate with books. But beyond the page lies a world of words just waiting to be read. Here’s how you can strengthen children's reading skills every day.
Inspire your child to write poetry
Encouraging your child to pick up a pen and try writing some poetry can help them become more emotionally literate and improve their confidence. We have some top children's poetry tips.
Learning English and maths outdoors
The great outdoors is a place where learning can take diverse shapes and forms. We take a look at how you can use it to strengthen your child’s literacy and numeracy skills.
Why it’s important to make time for reading
Reading with your child is a valuable part of their learning, and your relationship, but how do you make the time in busy family life?
How to tell your child a story – without a book
Once upon a time, before the onslaught of video games, DVDs and the internet, telling stories was one of the only forms of entertainment. Jasmin Qureshi looks at how it can still be beneficial (and great fun!) today.
Top tips to help your dyslexic child enjoy reading
Reading might be difficult for some dyslexic children, but that doesn’t mean they can’t enjoy it. We have tips to help you inspire them to love books.
How storytelling can boost learning
As a tool for developing speaking skills, literacy and bonding between parent and child, storytelling is unsurpassed. Phoebe Doyle investigates why it’s so beneficial.
Learning literacy at home
The everyday world provides a wealth of learning opportunities to get your child using their literacy skills outside school. Try these top tips to get your child writing and reading at home.