Thank you for looking at possible resources to use with your child at home. We are currently in very difficult and challenging times and as such there is not an expectation that you are home schooling your children. The thing that your children will remember when we are past this scary time is how you made them feel, so please make their time fun, show them that you are there for them and reduce pressure. When we do return to school, we will meet the children where they are - our teachers are experts at this! Everyone is going through the same situation.
If you can spend some time working on your child's priority learning targets then great! Try to build things into your normal day and make them functional - most of our targets set in one plans are functional and you can build these into your day, e.g. tidying up, cooking or sharing stories or film.
We have prepared some other learning ideas and resources for you to consider below.
Most importantly, stick together and stay safe.
Together we will get through this.
APPS
Busy Things – (iOS and ANDROID)
This is a popular website in school (see EDUCATING PUPILS AT HOME pdf above for home access) but they also have apps for both:
iOS ( https://apps.apple.com/gb/developer/busy-things-limited/id482059850 ) and
Android ( https://play.google.com/store/apps/developer?id=busythings.co.uk&hl=en_GB ).
Though some are paid for, others are free.
Kid’s Brain Trainer – FULL (ANDROID)
This app has been recommended because it provides a collection of games and activities for children to help them grow, learn and have fun.
With four fun, colourful and educational sections, the app has 144 games specifically designed to contribute to, exercise and develop your child's motor and cognitive skills such as visual attention, visual-spatial relations, short term memory, visual-motor coordination, bi-lateral coordination and more.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=brilliant.sari.ads&hl=en_GB
Other items of interest.
Anita from Cheeky Chimps Music
Anita visits us at school and is currently providing online music classes. Her YouTube channel can be found here:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4p0DZTGE4qxj6Zk7pdex3w
David Walliams - Audiobooks & resources
David is streaming a free audiobook each day on his website. These can be found here:
https://www.worldofdavidwalliams.com/elevenses/
Resource packs can also be found on his website, relating to some of his books:
https://www.worldofdavidwalliams.com/activities/
Audible - Audiobooks
Currently on their website, Audible is giving access to hundreds of children’s books to stream online. Ranging from ‘littlest listeners’ to teens, including classics and even some other languages too:
https://stories.audible.com/discovery
Phonics and Grammar
Printable worksheets to practice phonics at home. From the same people we use to do our phonics at school, Jolly Phonics.
WIldnerness Foundation
The Wilderness Foundation UK launches ‘Wild Time’ an online series of tools and exercises to stay engaged with nature and the outdoors – even from your window – during the lock down. Others are to manage your mental health.
These can be found on at https://wildernessfoundation.org.uk/wildtime/ .
Three main resources: mindfulness techniques, practical activities to do with the family or on your own, and reflections and tools for maintaining positive relationships are refreshed daily. The Foundation is promoting social media channels for updates on all these topics plus more on nature and the environment-https://www.facebook.com/WildernessUK/ , https://www.instagram.com/wildernessfoundationuk/, https://www.instagram.com/chathamgreenproject/ .
Public are invited to engage by sharing photos, writing, art and their own ideas which will be added in and social media will boost the sharing platform.
Wild Time programme will help families and those living on their own to get through isolation for some and being squashed together for others.