Important update from TheSchoolRun
For the past 13 years, TheSchoolRun has been run by a small team of mums working from home, dedicated to providing quality educational resources to primary school parents. Unfortunately, rising supplier costs and falling revenue have made it impossible for us to continue operating, and we’ve had to make the difficult decision to close. The good news: We’ve arranged for another educational provider to take over many of our resources. These will be hosted on a new portal, where the content will be updated and expanded to support your child’s learning.
What this means for subscribers:
- Your subscription is still active, and for now, you can keep using the website as normal — just log in with your usual details to access all our articles and resources*.
- In a few months, all resources will move to the new portal. You’ll continue to have access there until your subscription ends. We’ll send you full details nearer the time.
- As a thank you for your support, we’ll also be sending you 16 primary school eBooks (worth £108.84) to download and keep.
A few changes to be aware of:
- The Learning Journey weekly email has ended, but your child’s plan will still be updated on your dashboard each Monday. Just log in to see the recommended worksheets.
- The 11+ weekly emails have now ended. We sent you all the remaining emails in the series at the end of March — please check your inbox (and spam folder) if you haven’t seen them. You can also follow the full programme here: 11+ Learning Journey.
If you have any questions, please contact us at [email protected]. Thank you for being part of our journey it’s been a privilege to support your family’s learning.
*If you need to reset your password, it will still work as usual. Please check your spam folder if the reset email doesn’t appear in your inbox.
Best audiobooks for primary school kids
Oral story telling harks back to our ancestors, whose only way of sharing tales was by word of mouth – before pen and paper was even a thing! We still find ourselves comforted by the sound of a story being told to us and we love to let our imaginations run wild with the words that follow.
Children of all ages and abilities enjoy audiobooks, but they can be particularly transformative and delightful for those with special educational needs. Everybody learns differently, and people enjoy stories differently. Audiobooks open up a whole new world for those who feel alienated by the written word.
You can listen to these anywhere (well, almost anywhere!) and they’re great for long drives, the school run or as part of a healthy bedtime routine.
Timeless Tales for Kids
Audible monthly subscription (30 day free trial)
Or buy now for £7.99
Classic bedtime tales such as The Railway Children, Alice Through the Looking Glass and Treasure Island, are all told by a well-known cast of performers (Bill Nighy and Alistair McGowan, to name a few). This is perfect for bedtime listening or a rainy Sunday. The voices are soothing and captivating, and the tales will transport your child to another world. It’s also a great way to introduce them to classic tales. Adults can also find this a useful way to relax and even help with their own sleep!
Lost on Infinity
First part is free
Download the full audiobook for £6.99
The first four chapters are free on the Rockford’s Rock Opera website and it’s suitable for all ages. Unlike other audiobooks that are usually based on pre-existing stories, this unique and mesmerising tale was created specifically for audio. It combines charming characters, plot twists and catchy musical numbers to make a family favourite you’ll all be hooked on. Follow Rockford the dog as he finds himself lost on the island of Infinity – where all the extinct animals end up. But what happens when dogs accidentally become part of the extinct list? There’s a great ecology-based message behind the tale and plenty of resources for parents and teachers to enhance learning in this area.
Warning: earworms may persist and you will find yourself humming the tunes regularly!
Rockford’s Rock Opera’s stories are also available on Audible, Apple Music, Spotify and other streaming platforms.
You Are Awesome
Audible monthly subscription £7.99 (30 day free trial)
Or buy now for £12.99
Ready to feel inspired, build resilience and self-esteem? Then get listening to Mathew Syed’s You Are Awesome. The book is fantastic but for those children who lose interest in flicking through pages, the audiobook is a great alternative. Some even say it’s better as an audiobook! Mathew reads it in an animated and likeable manner and encourages children to rethink their attitude about their own capabilities and perceived limitations. It’s a great energy booster to start the day.
Diary of a Wimpy Kid
Many will be familiar with this book, as it’s been a huge hit with children in KS2. It’s a relatable story with a relatable main character and addresses bullying and difficult transitions. It’s American-based but the issues apply to kids almost anywhere. The chances are that your child has heard about this book from friends or teachers. Well, now they don’t have to miss out on the fun as they can listen to the story in audio form.
The Ice Children
Audible month subscription (30 day free trial)
Or buy now £7.99
A captivating story, perfect for a winter’s evening. The story follows Bianca’s adventure after her little brother has been found alive but frozen! She’s certain it has something to do with a mysterious book he found in the library. One by one, more children are found frozen and time is running out. This is a great audiobook for KS2 children, but one that adults will enjoy too. The voice acting is superb, and the atmosphere of mystery and drama that they create is palpable.
Roald Dahl's Matilda
Audible subscription (30 day free trial)
Or buy now £9.62
Matilda is a story that never grows old and works beautifully for print, film, stage and audio! Actress Kate Winslet tells the tale of Matilda, a young girl of incredible intelligence and special gifts. Her parents are unimpressed by her (and downright nasty) and she is sent to a school with a wicked headmistress where she forms loyal friendships and familial ties. Whether you're familiar with the story or not, this is a delicious audio treat for the ears (perhaps on a long family drive).
The Christmasaurus and the Naughty List
Audible subscription (30 day free trial)
Buy now £9.62
There's something about listening to a story during the festive season, cuddled up on the sofa on a cold and wintery evening, that just feels splendid. The narrator, Paul Shelley, is perfect for this Christmas tale (he has a great Santa voice) and he tells the story about a Christmasaurus who makes it his mission to help the children on the naughty list right their wrongs in time for Christmas. It's an auidobook with some serious festive vibes – enjoy it with a hot cuppa and lots of sofa cuddles.
Are we missing your favourite audiobook from our list? Email [email protected] and let us know!
Please note that some of the products included in this article feature affiliate links; this means that if you click through and purchase one of the featured products, we might earn a small commission. Lost on Infinity is sponsored content brought to you by TheSchoolRun and Rockford's Rock Opera.
