Eyfs articles
Best books to read with five year olds
Reading time is time to laugh, share and explore stories with your child. Choose books that have a strong rhythm to them and are full of humour, rhyme and attractive illustrations. We've picked ten of our favourites to read with five year olds.
101 fantastic activities for the Christmas 2024 school holidays
Appear on a game show with Charles Dickens, hit the heights in a sky-high snow globe and find out why polar bears can’t wear heels (yes, really!) – it's all going to be an awfully festive adventure this winter with 101 amazing and educational activities for you and the kids to enjoy together!
Museums reviewed by parents: Glasgow Science Centre
Find out about forces, get confused by optical illusions, blow up a balloon (literally!) and have fun discovering the world around you at the Glasgow Science Centre – and bring the whole family!
The best subscription boxes for children
What child wouldn't love receiving a new box of goodies through the letterbox every month? We tried out some of the best-selling subscription boxes and unpacked some fun, educational offerings.
Best picture books for five year olds
Picture books are a fantastic way to develop children’s speaking and listening skills. They also provide a brilliant starting point for children to hypothesise and draw inferences about characters’ thoughts, feelings and actions. Allow time for your child to pore over the illustrations in these beautiful books, make predictions and discuss the story with you.
Primary school appeals template: Reception and KS1
If your child has missed out on a place at your preferred school, use this template as a basis for your appeal.
Best books for children for Christmas 2017
Invest in a stack of books to pile up under the tree to guarantee a peaceful, adventure-filled festive break for the whole family. Whatever your child's interests or reading ability, our pick of the best new reads on offer this Christmas includes best-sellers, traditional tales for our times, wonderful world-building quests and laugh-out-loud funny reads. Enjoy!
How maths teaching has changed since we were at school
Bus stops, the grid method, number bonds… Maths in today’s classroom can seem undecipherable. We look at how things have changed since we were kids.
52 fantastic activities for the October 2024 half term holidays
Get set for an awfully big spooky adventure this half term with our top selection of 52 educational activities for you and your family to enjoy together – come face to face with a giant Ice Age sloth, crack codes like a World War Two spy, or even enjoy a spot of Victorian rat sweeping (yes, really!)
What is Circle Time?
Circle Time is used in many primary schools, but what actually happens in these sessions? We've got the parents' guide.
How to prepare a child with communication difficulties for starting school
Maxine Burns, speech and language advisor at children's communication charity I CAN, shares her tips for helping your child settle in at school.
Sign language and Makaton in primary schools
Signing can give children an educational boost, regardless of whether they have special needs. We take a look at its growth in schools.
How English teaching has changed since we were at school
Feeling out of touch with your child's literacy learning? We look at how times have changed in the classroom since you were at school yourself.
35 questions to ask your child instead of 'How was your day?'
If finding out about your child's day at school is mission: impossible, try these alternative conversation starters.
21 things your child’s Reception teacher wants you to know
Your child isn’t the only one who has a lot to learn in their first year of school. Here’s what their teacher wishes you’d do – and not do.
7 ways to mark your child's first day at school
Your child's very first day at school is one to remember, so we've rounded up the best ways to mark the occasion.
6 ways to introduce your child to classical music
Open up a world of amazing music for your child by introducing them to classical music composers and performances. With loads of resources available for free online, there's no better time to dive in and start listening.
Best history books for children
Travel back in time to visit a Roman bath-house, explore the Persian empire, find your way through an Elizabethan maze and witness the fall of the Berlin Wall – the whole of human history is brought to life for children in our pick of the best kids' books about world and British history.
How to future-proof your child's learning
Is your primary-school child getting the education they'll need to thrive in the 21st century? Jill Hodges, CEO and Founder of Fire Tech technology classes and camps for kids, describes the five skills young people will need, at work and in life, to make the most of our technological society's opportunities.
101 fantastic activities for the summer 2024 school holidays
Paint a giant impressionist masterpiece, go dragon racing with Toothless or discover the medicinal properties of buttered spiders (yes, really!) – we've got a whole host of summer adventures for you to enjoy with 101 amazing activities from across the UK!
16 of the best books for children for summer 2017
There's no better way to while away the long summer holidays than getting lost in a book. From beautiful picture books to pore over to thrilling adventures and historical tales to savour, we pick some of the best new kids' books for summer 2017.
Best creative writing books for kids
Does your child love writing stories but feel daunted by the blank page? Get them started with creative writing and boost their confidence with a "workbook" packed with story starters, technique tips, example passages and more. Whether they're planning an epic comic strip series, a poetry collection, a ghost story or a fairy tale, these write-your-own-story guides will help them put pen to paper.
19 questions to ask at the Reception starters’ meeting
The Reception starters' meeting is your chance to ask your burning questions about what happens when your child starts school. Our ideas will help you find out everything you need to know.
Museums reviewed by parents: Centre of the Cell London
If you love London’s fabulous Science Museum but feel your family has done it inside and out, Centre of the Cell, a cutting-edge tech centre in East London, is perfect for expanding your horizons. There’s hands-on fun to bring out the budding doctors, nurses, lab technicians and pathologists in all ages!
Best girl-empowering books for kids
Introduce the whole family to the achievements of female scientists, explorers, artists, physicians, writers and more in our round-up of the best girl-empowering books for kids. From KS1 picture books and tales to inspiring grown-up "bedtime stories", we love these girl-power celebrations of outstanding people.
Kids' historical costumes to buy
Planning ahead for Victorian day at school? Looking for an easy evacuee costume or a Roman centurion outfit? Need to find a dressing-up solution for your eager Viking warrior, Anglo-Saxon scholar or Georgian lady? From Stone Age to suffragettes and Sixties fashion, we've picked a selection of the best historical costumes to buy for kids.
Catching up at school after a long absence
From making up missed work to fitting back in with friends, how can children reintegrate at school after weeks away?
Keeping up at school during a long-term absence
Falling behind at school can be an extra thing to worry about if your child is on extended sick leave, but there are ways to help them stay up to date.
Best maths board games for children
Looking for an engaging way to practise maths concepts and skills? Try a mathematical board game! Whether your child is learning about times tables or place value, addition or square roots, there's a family-friendly board game to try. Get ready to roll the dice...
Museums reviewed by parents: National Museum of Scotland
Discover the secrets of Scottish history all the way from the Big Bang to Sir Chris Hoy, see a T-Rex up close and meet the world-famous Dolly the Sheep – all at Edinburgh's National Museum of Scotland.
School waiting lists explained
Missed out on a place at the school of your choice? Joining the waiting list could keep the door open for your child.
Best geography books for children
From natural landscapes to human habitats and cultures, each of these books about our world introduces kids to the diversity, complexity and beauty of the Earth. Inspire future travellers and explorers with our pick of the best kids' books about geography.
What are hardware, software and Operating Systems?
Hardware (the physical parts of a computer), software (the programs that can be run on a computer) and the Operating System that allows software and hardware to communicate: TheSchoolRun's Billy Rebecchi explains what your child learns in KS1 and KS2 computing and how you can develop their understanding at home.
Best spelling board games for children
Turn the weekly spelling test preparation from chore into challenge with our pick of the best spelling board games for children and families. From brand-new readers and writers to spelling bee champions, there's plenty for even the most competent speller to enjoy!
What is an algorithm?
Algorithms are a set of instructions to complete a task. We explain everything primary-school parents need to understand about algorithms, how they are used to write computer programs and how children will be introduced to them in the KS1 and KS2 classroom. By Billy Rebecchi
The National Funding Formula for schools explained
New plans to change how school budgets are allocated could see some schools gain, but others suffer. We explain the National Funding Formula in a guide for parents.
What is a special school?
If your child has special educational needs, a mainstream education may not be right for them. We take a look at how special schools could help.
18 must-have costume-making supplies for World Book Day and beyond
Never again will you be caught out by a last-minute outfit request from your primary school child with these craft basics. Stock up today!
What is a breakfast club?
Providing a decent meal to start the day – and a reliable childcare solution – breakfast clubs are now available in most schools. We take a look at how your child could benefit from going along.
What is the concrete pictorial abstract approach in maths?
Concrete > pictorial > abstract (CPA) is a key feature of the Singapore maths mastery method now being taught in many primary schools. Mastery expert Kate Moore from Maths – No Problem! explains what's involved.