10 brilliant homeschool resources

It’s great to read about all the resources that have been made available for primary and secondary school-aged children while they’re at home. We recently shared some of the great experiences available for kids which include PE with Joe Wicks, Home Festival Fun with Oti, Karen et al and some musical theatre performances being shown on screen. But what about day to day, how can we keep the kids occupied and what resources are available that support the curriculum and provide an element of fun in-between? Here are some of the best resources we’ve received from school or found ourselves which we hope you will find useful.

BBC Bitesize

BBC Bitesize supports primary (ages 3 to 11), secondary (ages 11 to 16) and children over 16. Learn and revise covers a wide range of subjects by age group in a fun and engaging way. From Monday 20th April, there will be daily English, Maths and Science lessons, in addition to other core subjects like History, Geography, Music and Art, which will be broadcast on BBC iPlayer and the BBC Red Button. Bitesize Daily will consist of six different 20-minute shows, tailored towards varying age groups from age 5 up to 14 (older children will be catered for also).

BBC Teach

BBC Teach is home to thousands of free curriculum-mapped videos, arranged by age-group and subject. Tailored towards primary and secondary school-aged children, it covers art & design, computing, cross-curricular, design & technology, English, French, Geography, German, History, Maths, Media Studies, Music, Physical Education, PSHE, RE, Science and Spanish.

BBC Super Movers is from BBC Teach and Premier League – see Premier League Primary Stars below. It’s a great way for KS1 and KS2 to learn Maths and English through song and movement routines. We’re so going to bring algebra to life with Karim and Hacker T Dog!

The Maths Factor

Carol Vorderman has launched The Maths Factor (for 4-10-year-olds) which free to access while the schools are closed – usually just £2 a week. The Maths Factor has over a thousand maths topics with fun and lively videos, practice sessions and games. It is absolutely brilliant so if you’ve not registered yet, do make sure you do. POD is not a huge fan of maths and she’s loving it which will make homeschooling so much easier!

National Geographic Kids

National Geographic Kids is a great resource for children looking to discover more about science, geography, animals or history. With interesting facts presented in a way that’s easy to understand and digest, it’s a great resource. Additional subjects and more in-depth content is available upon registration.

Oxford Owl

Oxford Owl provides advice and support for parents with educational activities, games and a free ebook library for children aged 3 to 11 years old. Also included are grammar, punctuation and spelling.

Premier League Primary Stars

Premier League Primary Stars is designed for children aged 5 to 11 years with school curriculum-linked resources available for home learning (with no registration). Included are a wide range of activities including Maths, English and physical activity along with games and fun activities, family challenges and ways to stay healthy and active.

Reading Eggs

Reading Eggs is a comprehensive learn to read programme tailored for children aged 2 to 13. Developed by a team of teachers, writers and developers, it helps children become proficient readers through online reading games and activities.

Topmarks

Top Marks is an educational resource which covers a range of subjects and caters for varying ages. There are a wide range of games and activities which make learning fun including Hit The Button (number bonds, doubling, halving, times tables, division facts and square numbers), Mental Maths and reading comprehension.

Twinkl

Twinkl provides instant access to inspirational lesson plans, interactive activities, resource packs and teaching ideas. An essential if you’re currently homeschooling, particularly if you’re attempting to work at the same time. New curriculum resources are being added constantly and it’s especially geared up for parents looking for support during these strange times. There’s even a Coronavirus learning support page.

White Rose Maths

White Rose Maths is run by a group of maths researchers and practitioners who offer maths teaching to train, guide and support maths learning. White Rose Maths provides primary and secondary maths support.

If you’re looking for more inspiration, check out this post with 22 indoor and outdoor activities.