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.
Museums reviewed by parents: River & Rowing Museum
There is nothing half so much worth doing as simply messing about in the River & Rowing Museum, think Mary (5) and William (3). Located in the lovely town of Henley, it was recently shortlisted for the Kids in Museum Awards. There is plenty of space to move about in as it’s buggy-friendly; another bonus is this place is particularly good at providing pit-stops for small guests and their worn-out parents.
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Nestled on the banks of one of the most picturesque spots on the Thames, this unusual museum successfully combines nostalgic childhood storytelling with the history, geography, wildlife and sporting highlights of the River Thames. It’s good value; tickets last for 12 months.
The award-winning building looks like a huge boathouse and visitors are welcomed in by a huge bronze statue of the world’s most successful Olympic rower, Steve Redgrave, who lives nearby. His medal-winning rowing partner Matthew Pinsent stands heroically alongside.
Best for nursery and Reception kids
William liked the river wildlife display and kept pointing to the enlarged pictures of ducks’ beaks and feet. When we fed the real ducks on the river afterwards, he remembered what he’d seen in the museum. Plus there’s a weekly under 5s club every Wednesday during term time.
Best for KS1 kids
Explore the museum with free backpacks and trails, make a stop at the activity trolley (full of free colouring and crafts!) and don't forget to dress up in replica regatta costume.
Best for KS2 kids
They will love seeing how it feels to row like an Olympian on an ergo machine at the Row Together interactive exhibit – both on their own and in a team with friends. Then compare today’s boating technology with a Greek trireme to see what life was like on the sea in ancient times.
Don't miss!
The permanent Wind in the Willows exhibition, beloved by all who see it. It’s impossible not to feel nostalgic about childhood as you meander past miniature and life-size figures of Mole, Ratty and Toad that bring Kenneth Grahame’s Edwardian stories to a new generation. There is an impressive variety of imaginative displays with 3D models, lights and music, beautifully and intricately made.
Half term and holiday events
There are plenty of half-term and holiday activities, from lantern-making for Diwali, giant-mask-making workshops, Viking Voyages afternoons and Halloween fun. In December join in the carol singing and magical seasonal gallery trail, with decoration-making and a best jumper competition.
Food and drink options
The buzzy Café has been recently refurbished and gets a big thumbs up from locals (you don’t need to go into the museum). Eat in or take some yummy sandwiches away for a perfect riverside picnic (you won’t want to waste any on the ducks).
Getting there, prices and opening hours
River & Rowing Museum, Mill Meadows, Henley on Thames, Oxon, RG9 1BF. It’s a short walk from Henley on Thames railway station with services from London Paddington. By road, it’s junction eight or nine from the M4. The museum is one of the few free places along the river to park. Or what better way to arrive than by the seasonal Salters Steamers boat rides from Reading and Marlow?
Prices and opening hours: Adult: £12.50, child (4-16): £9.95. Open daily from 10am until 5pm. The tickets last for 12 months and include free entry to six family days each year.
Pocket-money shop purchases
It had to be the illustrated hardback of The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame, £5.99.
Online treasures if you're too far to visit
The museum has nearly 20,000 objects in its collection that you can feast your eyes on on the website, from 5,000 photographs to 400 posters and 650 trophies and medals. The medals from previous Olympic Games are really worth looking at, especially the eight-oared gold one from London 1908.
