If you want some great ideas for educating your kids during lockdown then there are no end of fantastic resources out there – luckily, as well as the more traditional resources,  living in this digital age, education at home can be fully informative, interactive and interesting on line too!

FOR ALL AGES

• BBC Learning – This site is old and no longer updated and yet there’s so much still available, from language learning to BBC Bitesize for revision. No TV licence required except for content on BBC 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).
• Blockly – Learn computer programming skills – fun and free.
• Scratch – Creative computer programming
• Ted Ed – All sorts of engaging educational videos
• Duolingo -Learn languages for free. Web or app.
• Mystery Science – Free science lessons
• The Kids Should See This – Wide range of cool educational videos
• Crash Course – YouTube videos on many subjects
• Crest Awards – Science awards you can complete from home.
• 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.
• Tinkercad – All kinds of making.
• Geography Games – Geography gaming!
• Blue Peter Badges – If you have a stamp and a nearby post box.
• The Artful Parent – Good, free art activities
• Nature Detectives – A lot of these can be done in a garden, or if you can get to a remote forest location!
• British Council – Resources for English language learning
• Toy Theater – Educational online games
• DK Find Out – Activities and quizzes
• Twinkl – This is more for printouts, and usually at a fee, but they are offering a month of free access to parents in the event of school closures. Just use the code UKTWINKLHELPS
• Scholastic Learn at Home – Free Resources for School Closures. Day-by-day projects to keep kids reading, thinking, and growing
• Discovery Education Espresso – Suitable for your whole school from Foundation to Year 6. Free resources available
• PhonicsPlay – They have made this site free to use during the current situation
• TopMarks Interactive resources, homework, exam and revision help for children 5+
• Teach Your Monster to Read – The app free is for a limited time during the current situation
• TTS Learning Packs – A curriculum-focused independent learning resource with over 40 home learning activities all planned and all prepared
• Oak National Academy – created by 40 teachers from some of the leading schools across England and backed by government grant funding. It provides 180 video lessons each week across a broad range of subjects from maths to art to languages, for every year group from Reception through to Year 10.

PRESCHOOL

• Cbeebies Radio – Listening activities for the younger ones.
• Red Ted Art – Easy arts and crafts for little ones
• The Imagination Tree – Creative art and craft activities for the very youngest.
• PJ Masks – apps are now free to access including Hero Academy which is a coding app for pre-schoolers.
• DK Find Out – Fun activities, quizzes and interactive information across lots of topics

PRIMARY

• National Geographic Kids – Activities and quizzes for younger kids.
• Crash Course Kids – YouTube videos on many subjects for a younger audience
• Prodigy Maths – Is in U.S. grades, but good for UK Primary age.
• Oxford Owl for Home – Lots of free resources for Primary age
• PhonicsPlay – They have made this site free to use during the current situation
• TopMarks Interactive resources, homework, exam and revision help for children 5+

SECONDARY

• Khan Academy – Especially good for maths and computing for all ages but other subjects at Secondary level. Note this uses the U.S. grade system but it’s mostly common material.
• 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 e.g. nature and environment courses could well be of interest to young people.
• Big History Project – Aimed at Secondary age. Multidisciplinary activities.
• Informed Financial Planning– We are delighted to share with you 12 Financial Education Videos which are designed in an animated and easy to understand way. These videos are aimed at kids aged between 9 and 16 years old and don’t worry, we know kids don’t always listen so we’ve provided a question/answer sheet to test their knowledge. This programme is completely free and requires no subscription so why not get involved and teach your kids about money in the real world? Psst… don’t tell anyone, but even adults have learnt a few things too! Watch here.