Important update from TheSchoolRun
For the past 13 years, TheSchoolRun has been run by a small team of mums working from home, dedicated to providing quality educational resources to primary school parents. Unfortunately, rising supplier costs and falling revenue have made it impossible for us to continue operating, and we’ve had to make the difficult decision to close. The good news: We’ve arranged for another educational provider to take over many of our resources. These will be hosted on a new portal, where the content will be updated and expanded to support your child’s learning.
What this means for subscribers:
- Your subscription is still active, and for now, you can keep using the website as normal — just log in with your usual details to access all our articles and resources*.
- In a few months, all resources will move to the new portal. You’ll continue to have access there until your subscription ends. We’ll send you full details nearer the time.
- As a thank you for your support, we’ll also be sending you 16 primary school eBooks (worth £108.84) to download and keep.
A few changes to be aware of:
- The Learning Journey weekly email has ended, but your child’s plan will still be updated on your dashboard each Monday. Just log in to see the recommended worksheets.
- The 11+ weekly emails have now ended. We sent you all the remaining emails in the series at the end of March — please check your inbox (and spam folder) if you haven’t seen them. You can also follow the full programme here: 11+ Learning Journey.
If you have any questions, please contact us at [email protected]. Thank you for being part of our journey it’s been a privilege to support your family’s learning.
*If you need to reset your password, it will still work as usual. Please check your spam folder if the reset email doesn’t appear in your inbox.
Best kids' picture books about difficult subjects
Divorce and separation
Mum and Dad Glue by Kes Gray
(£6.99, Hodder)
A rhyming story about a boy coming to terms with his parents' divorce. Very moving, with wonderful illustrations.
Dyslexia and learning differences
If You're So Smart, How Come You Can't Spell Mississippi? by Barbara Esham
(£14.50, Little Pickle Press)
Why does Katie's very smart dad struggle with one of her weekly spelling list words? A positive, reassuring book about dyslexia.
Grief and legacy
The Copper Tree by Hilary Robinson
(£6.99, Strauss House Productions)
A sensitive story about the power of memory as a means of healing, as a a class learns to remember a beloved teacher.
Dementia
Really and Truly: A story about dementia by Emilie Rivard
(£6.99, Franklin Watts)
An inspiring, tender portrayal of a child dealing with his grandfather's dementia, with beautiful illustrations.
Illness
What's Up with James? Medikidz Explain Depression by Dr Kim Chilman-Blair and Shawn Deloache
(£8.99, Medikidz)
Superhero stories set inside the human body, Medikidz comic-book tales explain medical conditions in an exciting but factual way. As well as depression, conditions covered include asthma, epilepsy, autism and lots more.
Bereavement
The Coat I Wear by Mel Maxwell
(£7.99, I Am Somewhat Ltd)
A simple story that uses the analogy of having to wear a very big, heavy and uncomfortable coat to symbolise the weight of grief. Highly recommended.
Bravery and the right to freedom
Malala a Brave Girl from Pakistan / Iqbal a Brave Boy from Pakistan by Jeanette Winter
(£10.99, HarperCollins)
An inspirational non-fiction picture book about courageous children, bravery and human rights.
Immigration
The Arrival by Shaun Tan
(£10.99, Hodder Children's Books)
A silent graphic novel which tells the story of every migrant, every refugee and every displaced person with amazingly intricate, haunting illustrations. A must-read for adults as well as children.
Living with distance from loved ones
My Daddy's going away by Christopher MacGregor
(£6.99, Picture Corgi)
A comforting, wise book written to help explain why parents sometimes have to go away for work or other reasons. In support of the charity Combat Stress.
Elderly care
Christmas Surprise by Hilary Robinson
(£6.99, Strauss House Productions)
Primary-school children discover fascinating stories about the lives of the elderly residents of their local care home when they visit them.
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Anxiety
Silly Billy by Anthony Browne
(£5.99, Walker Books)
The perfect, reassuring read for a child who worries, written with empathy and warmth and offering a child-friendly 'action plan' for anxiety.
Friendship and jealousy
On Sudden Hill by Linda Sarah
(£6.99, Simon & Schuster)
Best friends, jealousy and accepting someone new, all presented in a simple story about friendship and childhood.
Democracy and politics
The Election by Eleanor Levenson
(£7.99, Fisherton Press)
A picture book to explain our democratic election process, from voting and political parties to canvassing and the announcement of results. A great introduction to a system children will be part of throughout their lives.
Real world vs virtual world
Dot by Randi Zuckerberg
(£6.99, Corgi)
The importance of real-world life and interactions, playfully shown in picture book format for the virtual-world generation.
Feelings and emotions
Feelings can be friends by Gail Maisel
(£5.99, Panoma Press)
Presenting feelings as friends to know, this book empowers children to help them figure out their emotions and understand that their feelings, including the uncomfortable ones, can be assets.
Disability
Mermaid by Cerrie Burnell
(£6.99, Scholastic)
Luka can't swim, but his new friend Sylvia can glide through the waves like a mermaid though on land she uses a wheelchair to move around. A wonderful celebration of difference and friendship from children's author and CBeebies presenter Cerrie Burnell.
Inappropriate adult behaviour
My Underpants Rule! by Kate and Rod Power
(£6.99, Kids Rule Publishing)
Developed by an ex-police officer, My Underpants Rule! aims to help parents talk to their children about private body parts and inappropriate adult behaviour from a young age. With vibrant colour illustrations, rhymes and scenarios and advice about appropriate and inappropriate behaviour, the book empowers children without alarming them.
Suicide
Luna's Red Hat by Emmi Smid
(£11.99, Jessica Kingsley Publishers)
A beautifully illustrated storybook designed to be read with children who have experienced the loss of a loved one by suicide. Including a guide for parents by a bereavement counsellor, Luna's Hat is a celebration of the power of memory and love and suitable for ages 6+.
The refugee crisis
Rachel's Story
(£8.99, Wayland)
Originally produced as BBC animations, the BAFTA award-winning Seeking Refuge stories are now available in book form, telling the stories of five young refugees who are seeking asylum and adjusting to life in new countries all over the world. Hamid's Story, Juliane's Story, Navid's Story and Ali's Story are also available.
Equality
Malala's Magic Pencil by Malala Yousafzai
(£12.99, Penguin Random House)
A beautifully illustrated, picture-book version of Malala's now famous story of fighting for girls' right to an education and to have their voices heard. Empowering, hopeful and perfectly pitched for a young audience, this is an inspiring read for children everywhere.
Moving home
The Longest, Strongest Thread by Inbal Leitner
(£12.99, Scallywag Press)
A little girl is moving with her parents and will be living far away from her grandmother and the place she has always called home. Luckily she and her grandma will be linked by the longest, strongest thread in the whole world, linking them together always.
Adjusting to life after a serious injury
(Free eBook download, Fletchers Solicitors)
An exploration of the practical and emotional changes a family might face following a serious injury, Bracky Builds a New Den is the tale of a happy dinosaur whose life is turned upside down when her father has an accident. Developed using advice from therapists and first-hand accounts from families and children, it's a reassuring read.
