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Children don't just learn in the classroom. They are always finding new information,learning new skills,stimulating their imaginations indoors and outdoors.
There are lots of free educational resources to help with home schooling and stay at home days.
Parents may also feel they need support to help their children grow and develop. There are lots of resources and online forums to help anyone who is home schooling or supporting children's learning outside school.
BBC Lockdown Learning 2021
Supporting your children's remote learning
How to help children learn at home
Keep a routine.
Get up and go to bed at the same time each day.
Have regular meal times.
Turn off electronic devices,including the t.v. at least an hour before bedtime.
You know your child best. Avoid forcing them into lengthy planned activities if they naturally respond better to a mix of shorter activities.
Keep active - your child should be active for at least 3 hours a day in total.
It's good to get some fresh air every day. If you do not have a garden find your nearest park or take a walk to the post box or shops.
Activities to increase physical exercise - play hide and seek,do star jumps,make an obstacle course,play music and have a dance off.
Early years and primary learning
Virtual School Library
National Literacy Trust has a virtual school library full of resources to help with reading and literacy
EY Matters
EY Matters are constantly adding to their resources for children to try and help you keep your little ones entertained. All FREE to download or access! Stories, music, activities, games and books!
Daily Phonics with Mr Mc
A daily phonics lesson from Early Years teacher Mr Mc – a finalist in the Inspirational Teacher of the Year award 2019 – with songs, games and lots of interaction.
Make Time 2 Play
Learning isn’t all about sitting at the table with pencil and paper; there’s a lot that kids can learn through play, too.
Make Time 2 Play has over 450 play ideas for primary school children and younger that can be played online or downloaded to a tablet or phone. You can search by age, the number of children participating, the duration of the game and the particular benefits.
There’s a great selection of activities including arts and crafts, physical challenges and imaginative play, and for the duration of lockdown, the website has limited its activities to those you can do in the home and garden.
Hungry Little Minds
Simple fun, activities for children aged 0 to 5.
Orchard Toys
A range of free, printable worksheets and activities that will keep your little ones busy for hours!
National Literacy Trust
Split up by age group below, you will find ideas and guidance for simple activities that will engage your children at home, while also benefiting their reading, writing and language development.
You'll be able to access free reading and writing resources, audiobooks, videos, competitions and reading challenges
Scholastic UK
have a wealth of practice books, activities and downloadable resources available on the Home Learning Hub, including FREE home learning packs for Early Years, Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 children.
Tiny Happy People - BBC
Simple activities and play ideas and find out about their amazing early development.
Look, Say, Sing, Play - Brain-building tips | NSPCC
The NSPCC has teamed up with Vroom™ to give you some fun and easy tips to help you bring even more Look, Say, Sing and Play into your daily routine with your baby.
Free access to twinkl
twinkl, the online education resource and learning site are offering free ultimate membership to education settings and parents to help keep pupils learning if they can’t get to schools or nurseries. To claim the offer go to the website and enter code UKTWINKLHELPS.
PhonicsPlay
Free access during this time, children can use the site at home without parents having to subscribe. Click this link for further information and login details.
Brain POP
Free access for families for activities and tips
Oxford Owl for Home
Lots of free resources for Primary age.
BBC CBeebies
Range of activities for Early Years
DK Find Out
Activities and quizzes.
Sumdog
Provide personalised maths and spelling practice for your kids with Sumdog. Sign up for FREE full access to Sumdog with the closure of schools in the UK.
Proud to be Primary
Number Sense Activities and Lessons for Kids
YouTube Free School
art, literature and natural science videos for kids
Classroom Secrets
free home learning packs and other free resources
STEM
home learning resources for primary and secondary students
Secondary School learning
BBC Bitesize
BBC programmes categorised by Learning, available on iplayer.
Futurelearn
Free to access 100s of courses, only pay to upgrade if you need a certificate in your name (own account from age 14+ but younger learners can use a parent account).
Seneca
For those revising at GCSE or A level. Tons of free revision content. Paid access to higher-level material.
Openlearn
Free taster courses aimed at those considering Open University but everyone can access it. Adult level, but some such as nature and environment courses could well be of interest to young people.
Big History Project
Aimed at Secondary age. Multidisciplinary activities.
GoConqr
Creating, discovering and sharing a range of learning resources covering countless topics. Created on a crowd-sourced community library by students and teachers.
Quizlet
From flashcards to help you learn French to games that make it easy to understand history, you can use a variety of tools to conquer any challenge.
Gojimo
Gojimo Revision is the free app that helps you pass exams. For GCSEs and A Levels plus Common Entrance exams and US SATS, ACT and APs. Goji Life provides students with loads of information, from help with essay writing to managing stress and exam pressure.
Memrise
Memrise is a language learning app that is the opposite of textbook learning: it’s enjoyable and effective.
SnapRevise
For GCSE and A Levels, A monthly fee per subject is charged with package discounts available.
S-Cool
Free revision guides, question banks and resources for GCSE and A Levels.
Home Learning Timetable
Home Learning Timetable links to three online lessons on websites like YouTube and TED-Ed, covering key curriculum areas like maths and science plus optional subjects like media studies.
You can access previous days’ learning activities, so there’s no obligation to do every lesson every day, and there’s an emphasis on fun, with quizzes, TV programmes and practical challenges alongside more structured lessons.
National Geographic Kids
Activities and quizzes for younger kids.
Geography Games
Geography gaming!
SEND learning
Dyslexia Academy
The Dyslexia Academy supports homeschooling for families.
Speech and Language Portal
Free speech and language advice, resources and activities.
Autism West Midlands
View and download their free visual resources that can be used to help improve communication and understanding.
SEND Learning at home
Scope has online support and advice for families with SEN children during Covid-19
Inclusive Resources
Sensory Projects free educational resources bank
TechAbility
SEND specific hardware and software aids for home learning
Council for disabled children
Supporting children with learning disability/ASD coping with Covid-19 isolation
Early Years Alliance
Covid-19 advice for parent, carers and practitioners caring for children with SEND
Specialist Classroom
A range of specialist subjects for students with additional needs
BBC Bitesize SEND
Ideas and resources for parents of children and teenagers with special education needs and disabilities.
Digital Learning
Ted Ed
All sorts of engaging educational videos.
Crash Course and Crash Course Kids
YouTube videos on many subjects.
The Kids Should See This
Wide range of cool educational videos.
Blockly
Learn computer programming skills - fun and free.
Scratch
Creative computer programming.
Tynker
coding website for kids
Literacy and Language
Sandwell Libraries
It’s a great time to visit our Virtual Library. With BorrowBox you can access library eBooks and eAudiobooks, without even leaving the house! Tell your friends and family! We're always open with BorrowBox.
If you are not currently a library member, remember you can join online.
Duolingo
Learn languages for free. Web or app.
British Council
Resources for English language learning.
MrBruff
GCSE English Language YouTube tutorials.
National Literacy Trust
Split up by age group below, you will find ideas and guidance for simple activities that will engage your children at home, while also benefiting their reading, writing and language development.
You'll be able to access free reading and writing resources, audiobooks, videos, competitions and reading challenges.
They also offer support for multilingual families at home - The Time Together booklet is a colourful and easy-to-read guide that is full of suggestions for how parents can support their young child's learning at home. It has been translated into thirteen different languages for you to share with the multilingual families in your setting or community.
BookTrust Home Time
Looking for something fun as a family? Enjoy storytime with our free online books and videos, play games, win prizes, test your knowledge in our book-themed quizzes, or even learn how to draw some of your favourite characters.
There are also daily story sessions with some of the nation’s favourite children’s authors.
How to Train your Dragon - Cressida Cowell
Reading How to Train your Dragon, a chapter a day as well as writing tips and drawings and other stories.
Mr Salles Teaches English
Find out how to dramatically improve your grade at GCSE.
Roald Dahl
Lots of activities,games and Roald Dahl inspired things to do
Julia Donaldson
Author of The Gruffalo, Stick Man and many more children's favourites. Free activitiy packs to download as you read the books
The Communication Trust
Listen Up - communication and language resources for parents and professionals
Universally Speaking
Resources for ages and stages of communication development
Maths and Science
Times Tables Rock Stars
Get up to 60 days free full access to Times Tables Rock Stars while the schools are closed due to Coronavirus. They offer effective daily practice of times tables for those of primary school age.
Primrose Kitten
GCSE revision and YouTube tutorials from Primrose Kitten.
Corbetts Maths
Primary to GCSE revision worksheets and cards, 5-a-day and videos, including Further Maths.
Hegarty Maths
Tips to smash GCSE maths and revision videos.
Topmarks
A website full of fantastic maths games for children aged three to 14.
The games are grouped by age, and you can also pick a particular category for your child to focus on, like place value, money maths, shapes and problem-solving. Games include Place Value Basketball, Rocket Rounding, and Number Patterns.
There are also parents’ resources to give you ideas for improving your child’s maths skills, for example learning through cooking.
I See Maths
Online maths lessons hosted by Gareth Metcalfe with videos to help children master each new concept, followed by a main task – a challenge or short set of questions – to complete individually or with an adult’s support.
Crest Awards
Science awards you can complete from home.
Free Science Lessons
For GCSE science revision and YouTube tutorials.
Natural History Museum
Homework Club has different activities each week and a live Quiz
Stargazing
Top tips on stargazing in towns and cities
Let's get active
Go Play Sandwell
Play is fundamental to children’s learning and development and can offer children some normality in these very unusual times. Along with our partners, we will be sharing ideas for play and learning at home, using low cost items or things you are likely to have at home already.
18 Ways to enjoy the Outdoors
BBC Tiny Happy People has lots of ideas for outdoor and indoor activities to keep young children active and engaged with the world around them.
Cosmic Kids Yoga - Kids Yoga and Mindfulness
Enjoy a woof-tastic mix of dog and puppy themed kids yoga and mindfulness videos to help kids self-regulate and understand how to train their attention.
Preschool Inspirations -The Best Kids Yoga Videos
Roundup of the best videos
BBC Supermovers
Interactive videos to support with KS1 and KS2 Maths, Literacy and PSHE and PE Learning. Great for times tables as will as videos that are just for fun.
Go Noodle
Hundreds of ‘brainercise’ dancing, strength and mindfulness videos as well as videos that are just for fun
Premier League Stars
We have a wide collection of free, curriculum- activities to educate and entertain children at home. You can find lots of ideas for helping your children get active, as well as fun videos, games and worksheets for Maths, English and Health and Wellbeing.
Ragdolly Annas
Music, rhyme and high-energy fun for pre-schoolers. You can add your own props such as bubbles, to join with the online classes.
NHS & Change for Life – 10 minute Shake Up Games
These 10-minute bursts of fun are perfect for breaking apart school work and giving kids a chance to move around with familiar Disney characters.
LTA Youth – Tennis at Home
The Lawn Tennis Association have provided a large number of activities to help kids develop their tennis skills at home both mentally and physically. With a great variety of activities for different age groups it’s a great way to prepare for when our courts re-open!
The Scouts - The great indoors
Inspired indoor activity ideas (if we do say so ourselves). Keep your kids learning new skills and having fun (and avoid hearing ‘I’m bored’ every 30 seconds) all in #TheGreatIndoors.
Nature Detectives
A lot of these can be done in a garden, or if you can get to a remote forest location!
National Trust
50 things to do before you're 11 3/4
Muddy Puddles
Muddy Puddles have created “Home Learning” lesson plans which focus on the activities that your children can enjoy indoors or in the garden.
The lesson plans have been developed by outdoor learning professionals in line with key Ofsted objectives for Early Years, KS1 and KS2.
Forestry England
Bring the outside in, with Forestry England indoor and outdoor activities and games.
RSPB Fun Activities
Lots of activities to get families to connect with nature
Nature Tots
Birmingham and Black Country Wildlife Trust wildlife activities programme for kids. Check website to find out what is happening at the local nature reserves
Dudley Canal Trust
A range of digital learning resources to support both formal and informal learning. Explore different topics below - feel free to download, print and share any of the resources on this page either to enjoy at home, use on our site or out and about.
Joe Wicks Podcast PE with Joe Wicks
keep kids active with Joe Wicks exercises
Things to do and things to make
How to become a Wildlife expert in your own Garden
Are you mad about wildlife? Find out how to spot wildlife in your back garden or local park, how to attract more of it and how to give animals a helping hand.
Tinkercad
All kinds of making.
The Artful Parent
Good, free art activities.
The Imagination Tree
Creative art and craft activities for the very youngest.
Draw with Ed Vere
‘How to draw’ tutorials from picture book author and illustrator, and Born Free Foundation artist in residence, Ed Vere. His first lesson showed how to draw a lion.
Red Ted Art
Easy arts and crafts for little ones.
Hobbycraft Daily Kids’ Craft Club
Daily craft activities for kids, with a different theme every day, such as rainbows, fairies and nature.
Save the Children
Full of ideas to help children get creative and fire up their imagination while they’re at home.
STA – Water Safety Activities
STA have also provided a number of helpful resources which includes a downloadable Water Safety Booklet and other activities to help teach children how to keep safe around water.
Blue Peter Badges
If you have a stamp and a nearby post box.
Toy Theater
Educational online games.
iDEA Awards
Digital enterprise award scheme you can complete online.
Paw Print Badges
Free challenge packs and other downloads. Many activities can be completed indoors. Badges cost but are optional.
Free Virtual Tours of World Museums, Educational Sites & Galleries For Children
Explore the world at your fingertips…. Here’s a comprehensive list of virtual tours you can take with your children, adventure all over the world from the confines of your own home.
13 zoos and aquariums that offer live streams of their animals
Zoos may be closed or we are unable to visit due to being on a lock down, so the next best thing is watching them live and see what they are up to in real time.
Gandey Circus Schools Resources
It features a variety of worksheets designed for early years to key stage 2. The pages have been designed to provide resources and activity ideas that can be used in the classroom to support learning.
Mindful Monsters
12 free activity cards for magical family moments.
Focusing on 4 key areas, the activity cards aim to boost creativity, improve concentration, inspire positivity and aid relaxation.
South Staffs Water
South Staffs Water have developed some online activity books.
Your kids will have fun with Captain Efficient as he faces off against The Water Wasters and learn about the importance of #UsingWaterWisely:
Natural History Museum
Try this at home activities and things to make indoors and outdoors
CPRE Countryside Charity
Discover the countryside. Take part in activities
Sandwell Museums
Fun and Bostin Learning online activities every week on Twitter and Facebook
Support and advice
Learning at home
advice for parents on home learning
Help children aged 2 to 4 to learn at home during coronavirus (COVID-19)
advice for parents and carers of early years children who have not yet started school.
Advice for working parents
NSPCC tips and advice for families working and educating from home
Remote Education
DfE advice on remote education and home learning
Best ways to learn at home
5 ways to learn at home
Parentkind
support and resources for parents and ideas for homeschooling
Brain Breaks
resources to help children concentrate with relaxing or energizing activities