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Learning outside school

Girl writing in park

Not all learning takes place in the classroom – in fact, most of your child’s learning is going to happen outside of school.

In this section of the site you’ll find how to make everyday events, like gardening or playing football, into learning opportunities, how to create a reading-friendly home, fun science and craft activities to try at home and ways to bring maths into your child’s everyday life.

If you are considering home education, we’ve also got lots of information and advice to help you weigh up the options.

Articles

Delancey UK Schools Chess Challenge
Chess: the perfect game for kids
It’s free, portable, quiet enough to play anywhere and has powerful brain-boosting benefits for kids – and it’s fun, too. Here’s why you should get your child hooked on chess.
Child learning to cook
7 life skills all primary-school children need
Not everything your child needs to get on in life can be learned in the classroom. From typing and DIY skills to cooking and lifesaving, here are seven vital skills that will stand them in good stead in the primary-school years and beyond. By Lucy Dimbylow
Raising bilingual children
Raising bilingual children
Like many skills, it’s best to start learning two languages as young as possible, but it’s not uncommon for parents to run into a few difficulties when raising bilingual children. TheSchoolRun offers advice and tips from parents who have first-hand experience to share.
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Family-friendly museums

The UK's museums are among the best in the world. Uncover amazing artistic, scientific and literary treasures with your children by visiting the museums other parents love and return to time after time – in our reviews mums and dads highlight the audio trails, activities and exhibits you mustn't miss. With links to the national curriculum and free educational materials to download, you'll enjoy every minute of hands-on learning!

Read out reviews of family-friendly museums in the UK now.

Summer learning pack

Holiday learning made fun!

A long, lazy holiday is one of the great joys of life – but within days you’ll be driven to distraction by sibling squabbles and cries of “I’m bored” (not to mention a visible emptying of your wallet). Plus, research shows that kids who don’t stay mentally alert during the summer lose up to a third of what they’ve learned during the academic year. So try one of our 59 easy, boredom-busting activities – at home, on the move and on holiday. They’ll be having so much fun they won’t even realise they’re learning…

Brain-boosting challenges

Brain-boosting challenges to try at home!

Juggle fruit. Work on the technology of the future. Plot and design a lost city, create a zoo of invented animals, learn to talk sdrawkcab and bake a pizza clock and a pastry map. How many of our wonderful brain-boosting challenges can you have a go at? All you need are some art materials, imagination and an enquiring mind to have a go at a whole host of practical and reflective activities, suitable for primary-school children (and parents, of course). Have fun!

 

daily resource programme

Daily learning programme

Are you looking for daily inspiration to encourage your child’s love of learning? Do you want to develop their knowledge and skills with a structured programme of activities?

Introducing TheSchoolRun’s daily learning programme, suitable for parents of children aged 3-11 (equivalent to school years Nursery to Year 6).

Sign up for the programme and each weekday we’ll send you a bite-size email with easy-to-use ideas and resources to support your child's learning at home.

The programme runs for 6 months and is perfect for parents who have taken their children out of school for a period, those who are setting out on the home education journey or just parents who want daily activities to boost their child’s learning.

Targeted by age/school year, the programme includes a range of activities such as:

- English, maths or science worksheets to download and print.

- Interactive maths tutorials – our digital teacher will explain the method, show you examples and then give you a chance to practise what you've learned.

- Topic-themed learning packs and workbooks to explore.

- Fun activities and games you can do at home to keep your child busy

Sign up for a FREE trial today!