Home schooling January 2021

Home Schooling January 2021

At the start of March 2020 we sent out some education resources for parents and carers who have responsibility for supporting children during lockdown.

As many of us find ourselves back in the same position, we want to highlight resources provided by both Speller Metcalfe and others sourced online*, which include activities, lessons and tips, as well as how to support children’s mental health.

We know for many this is a stressful time, and hope that some of the below goes a little way to helping support both you and those you care for during the coming weeks.

*Speller Metcalfe does not take any responsibility for the content shared. 

Speller Metcalfe resources

1. Top Tips – Process Manager Laurence Speller, previously a teacher for 15 years, gives his top tips on how to help support and structure learning
2. Maths in Construction – These lessons are designed to illustrate how maths is used within the construction industry (Age: 14+)
3. Dream Machine – Showcase your entrepreneurialism and design skills by creating your own ‘dream machine’ (Age: 6+)
4. Buzz Sitegear – Visit our Buzz Sitegear website to teach children about safety in construction with games and a downloadable activity book (NB requires Flash permissions – Age: 5-11)

Other resources

1. Joe Wicks – Starting on Monday 11^th January, Joe is restarting online PE lessons via his YouTube channel at 9am
2. Parent Kind and Oak National Academy have both published a list of free lessons and resources, which are both collated by teachers
3. Learning Resources – free activity sheets and resources for younger children
4. Twinkl – sign up to receive a variety of free / paid for resources for early years, primary and secondary ages
5. Brain Pop – animated videos on topics in maths, science and English
6. Tynker – coding lessons
7. Creative Bug – craft lessons, from knitting to jewellery-making, drawing and origami
8. YouTube’s Free School – videos on a diverse range of subjects
9. BBC Bitesize – lots of content divided into subject and age categories, with much new material added since March 2020
10. BBC programmes – The BBC has announced it will show curriculum content on TV every weekday from Monday, 11 January:
    – Primary-school programming, including BBC Live Lessons and BBC Bitesize Daily, from 09:00 to 12:00 on CBBC
    – At least two hours of programming to support the GCSE curriculum on BBC Two
11. Lingokids – an app that helps to support younger children’s language and development through play (ages 2-8)
12. Pinterest and Instagram – both great for activity inspiration
13. North Shore Mums – blog post with 115 activities to do at home, both indoors and outdoors
14. Five Minute Mum – for those with younger children, Five Minute Mum gives great activities that are easy to do, often using things you already have in the house, while encouraging learning at the same time. She also introduces how to structure your day, an ideas bank, how to prepare for kids being at home full time and adapting games for kids of different ages to be able to play together. Finally there is also a feature on supporting young children’s mental health.
15. Young Minds – website dedicated to supporting young people and their mental health, with a specific section on coronavirus and lockdown.
16. Rehab 4Addiction – this helpline is for parents and young adults where the young adult/teen is facing issues with alcohol/drug addiction. This is a free helpline set up by those who are themselves recovering from alcoholism and drug addiction.
17. Place2Be – another mental health support website, with dedicated sections for dealing with specific issues such as difference and diversity (e.g. special needs, LGBTQ+), big changes (e.g. bereavement), conditions and challenges (e.g. eating disorders)
18. Zoom / Skype – why not get the family involved? For those not working, such as a grandparent, they might consider reading stories or helping with lessons and activities over Zoom or similar.