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For ideas for the under fives click on the pre-school link.
For older children click on the appropriate year group in the links on the left.
If you're not sure how the ages relate to year groups click here.
Story sacks contain resources related to a selected book, with guidance on how parents can use them with their child.
Click here for more information.
Early Years publications available online.
(these have been designed for parents in America)
Homework
For general information on homework click here.
For homework ideas try:
Homework Elephant or
Homework High.
Parents' guide to the National Curriculum
Old favourites are still in the running according to the latest survey of the 100 best children's books. The poll was conducted by education publisher Kumon. "The results show that parents are introducing their children to the reading books that they enjoyed as youngsters, while at the same time reading children's books that have captured the imaginations of today's generation," said Simon Davies of Kumon. "It also emphasises, yet again, the importance of developing a love of reading at an early age."
The top 20
2. Harry Potter - Goblet of Fire
3. Harry Potter - Chamber of Secrets
4. Famous Five
5. Winnie the Pooh
6. The Lord of the Rings
7. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
8. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
9. Harry Potter - Prisoner of Azkaban
10. BFG
(The Guardian, 23 September 2002)
12. Alice in Wonderland
13. Matilda
14. The Hobbit
15. Treasure Island
16. Cindarella
17. Thomas the Tank Engine
18. James and the Giant Peach
19. Mr Men books
20. The Jungle Book
A little reading goes a long way. A booklet full of advice for parents on how to help with their children's reading. Free of charge.
Contact: DfEE Publications, PO Box 5050, Sudbury, Suffolk CO10 6ZQ. Tel: 0845 60 222 60. Quote reference: LRGLW
Advice for parents guides. The parent education unit of the City Lit, London, has developed a series of guides giving advice to parents wanting to support their children's reading. Parents helped to produced the guides, ensuring easily accessible and appropriate text. Cost £2 plus p&p.
Contact the City Lit on 020 7430 9808.
Baby Power: Give your child real learning power. Professor Barrie Wade and Dr Maggie Moore, the teachers turned academics whose research has shown the effectiveness of Bookstart, have now published a practical guide called Baby Power: Give your child real learning power for all parents, relatives and carers who want to introduce pre-school children to books but are not sure how. To order call 0870 155 7222. For more information see Baby Power.
Books are for every child. REACH, the national advice centre for children with reading difficulties, has produced a leaflet to help and encourage parents of pre-school children who have, or are at risk of developing, reading diffculties to share books with thier child. It available free to health workers, libraries, pre-schools, playgroups and nurseries.
Contact: REACH Resource Centre for Children with Reading Difficulties, California Country Park, Nine Mile Ride, Finchampstead, Berkshire RG40 4HT. Tel: 0118 973 7575.
Beginning with Books. Practical guidance for parents available in a number of different languages. Cost £1.50
Contact: Scottish Book Trust, Scottish Book Centre, 137 Dundee Street, Edinburgh EH11 1BG. Tel: 0131 229 3663.
Parents and Schools magazine. Free termly DfEE publication that aims to provide parents with easily accessible information about all aspects of their children's schooling, from the curriculum to bullying, homework to parents' evenings. Available free from schools, supermarkets, libraries, doctors' surgeries and other community venues or by calling 0800 389 3899.
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