Useful home schooling resources for parents, teachers and SENCos
We realise that at this difficult time, there will be lots of parents trying to think of things they can do to occupy their young child or children at home. There are lots of resources and activity ideas available, and we have listed some below as a helpful starting point.
Early Years
- Dr Ranj of ‘Get well Soon’- an episode around coronavirus for children
- The National Literacy Trust Website: Small Talk - This gives practical ways in which you can support your child through “chat” “Play” and “Read” activities. This is also broken into appropriate activities to support your child depending on their age.
- Learning 4 Kids- Lots of ideas of practical, hands on things you can do at home for 3-4 year olds.
- How to make play dough on YouTube
- Twinkl Early Years Home Learning Hub - A wealth of home learning activities and resources.
- Fun learning for kids - Super fun activities for children to do indoors.
- Oxford Owl - Lots of fun ideas to help your children learn.
- Kidspot - Fifty favorite play based learning activities chosen by parents.
- Teach your child to read website.
- Lift Lessons - Offering free resources to parents and schools and they’re amazing for science vocabulary.
General education resources
- Chatter Pack - Comprehensive list of resources for home learning for all age groups.
- Wabisabi Learning - A list of terrific STEM project-based learning activities for teachers and home-school parents’.
- STEM learning - Free home learning resources for primary to post 16.
- BBC Bitesize- the BBC Learning suite of activity sites with links to much more (pre-school to Post 16).
- Audible - Free Audio books.
- Twinkl Home Learning Hub - Home school resources, printables, book readings, live lessons, positive news updated daily.
Maths
- The Maths Factor - Carol Vorderman's Maths Factor for 4-12 year olds. No longer free. Now £4.99 per monthl
- Maths third space learning - Resources for home learning primary maths.
- STEM learning - Free family activities for primary to post 16.
Science
- Lift Lessons - Offering free resources to parents and schools and they’re amazing for science vocabulary.
- Science Theatre - Free science lessons online.
SEN resources
- Chatter Pack - List of FREE Speech, Language, communication and SEND resources for schools and parent/carers.
- Do2Learn - Resources for learning at home including fine motor skill development, language development and visual discrimination.
- SEN Teacher – Teaching resources that are free to share and use at school and at home.
- Books beyond - Support for reading for all SEN.
- Simultaneous Oral spelling - multi-sensory spelling techniques
- Spelling Support Strategies- synthetic phonics approach to spelling
Sports and drama
- Cosmic Kids - Offering yoga, mindfulness and relaxation designed especially for kids aged 3+, used in schools and homes all over the world.
- Joe Wickes Body Coach - Workouts for all ages at home.
- Disability Sport Swindon's - Socially Distancing exercises to keep you active at home
- Drama Geezers - Drama games every day.
Social and contact stories
- Coronovarius: a book for children aged 5-9 A free information book explaining the coronavirus to children, illustrated by Gruffalo illustrator Axel Scheffler
- Swindon Speech and language therapy - Resources for specific activities to do at home.
- Coronavirus social story - Coronavirus social story for children (ease their anxiety).
- Carol Grey Social Stories -The best resource for free social stories – sign up for free.
- Social Contact – How to safely avoid social contact.
- Our school is closing for a while – Why and what we can do at home.
Mental health and wellbeing and talking to your child about Coronavirus
- Communication with children about COVID-19
- What to do if you're a young person and it's all getting too much
- Nip in the Bud - short films and fact sheets to help parents, primary school teachers and others caring for and working with children to recognise potential mental health conditions.
- Anna Freud - 7 ways to support children and young people who are worried.
- Kooth - Online counselling for young people.
- Anna Freud website - Supporting young people's mental health.
- Mencap easy read Coronavirus latest guidelines - Latest guidance on coronavirus (COVID-19) as well as lots more useful information and resources.
- 'Dave the Dog is worried about Coronavirus'- Free book to download providing information without fear.
- MindEd - a free learning resource about the mental health of children, young people and older adults
General parental resources
- Advice for parents on how to support a child and young person if they are concerned about their mental health
- Balancing home schooling and working
- Family Links - Excellent support for families of all ages.
- Children's Coronavirus Fact Sheet
- Education Psychologist Support and Advice for Coronavirus
- Free downloads for parents Family links have some amazing parents resources to download on choices & consequences, making family rules, time to calm down and active ignoring. They also have activities to do and printable kindness charts.
- Thinkuknow helps parents, carers, teachers and others keep children safe from sexual abuse, offering learning activities, advice and support for children and young people aged 4-18 and their families..
Page updated 24/02/2021