Contact:
If parents/carers need to contact teachers in the event of a closure, their email will be the teacher’s name (no dots in between) followed by @linwood.bournemouth.sch.uk.
Printable resources
Twinkl
https://www.twinkl.co.uk
Educational resources that can be used at each step of a child’s learning journey. Over 525,000 teacher-created resources and new content added every day.
Twinkl Parent Hub
The Parent Hub offers lots of fun activities and games, as well as parent guides on all manner of subjects – from the curriculum to your own well-being. There is also a FREE Resource Pack.
Home Learning Hub
Here you’ll find daily, FREE activities for different age groups and subjects. New content is added each day, including videos, games and activities.
One month free membership
To support during this period, Twinkl is also offering parents and carers access to all Twinkl resources with a One Month Ultimate Membership, totally free of charge. Go to www.twinkl.co.uk/offer and enter the code UKTWINKLHELPS. You will need to set up an account for this.
Brilliant Publications
https://brilliantpublications.co.uk/free-resources
Brilliant Publications have a large range of free materials and specially chosen books that have printable sheets, making them easy to assign as work to be undertaken at home. Activities have been designed to inspire and motivate pupils such as play activities, activities to promote speaking and listening, activities relating to the weather, and science and technology activities for the outdoor environment.
Elsa Support
https://www.elsa-support.co.uk/category/free-resources/
Free resources to support a child’s social and emotional learning. Lots of different categories to choose from such as: emotions, managing strong feelings, friendship, self esteem, social skills, bereavement and loss.
Recommended websites
All subjects
Oak National Academy
https://www.thenational.academy/online-classroom/
Online classroom and resource hub offering 180 video lessons each week for schools to use, across a broad range of subjects. The lessons cover children in Reception through to Year 10 and are free to use by both teachers and young people.
BBC Bitesize
https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize
Three new lessons every weekday, with videos, activities and more.
Crickweb
http://www.crickweb.co.uk
Futurelearn
https://www.futurelearn.com
Free to access 100s of courses, only pay to upgrade if you need a certificate in your name (own account from age 14+ but younger learners can use a parent account).
Khan Academy
https://www.khanacademy.org
Especially good for maths and computing for all ages but other subjects at Secondary level. Note this uses the US grade system but it’s mostly common material.
National Geographic Kids
https://www.natgeokids.com/uk
Openlearn
https://www.open.edu/openlearn/
Free taster courses aimed at those considering Open University but everyone can access it. Adult level, but some e.g. nature and environment courses could well be of interest to young people.
Primary Resources
http://www.primaryresources.co.uk/
Free lesson plans, activity ideas and resources.
Seneca
https://www.senecalearning.com
For those revising at GCSE or A level. Tons of free revision content. Paid access to higher level material.
Top Marks
https://www.topmarks.co.uk
TTS
https://www.tts-group.co.uk/home+learning+activities.html
Free home learning activity books available for download.
Maths & English
BBC Skillswise
https://www.bbc.co.uk/teach/skillswise
British Council
https://learnenglishkids.britishcouncil.org/songs
Singing songs is a great way to get better at speaking English and they have lots of great songs for you to enjoy.
https://www.britishcouncil.org/school-resources/find
Lesson plans, activities, stories and poems covering different topics and themes.
Classroom Secrets
https://classroomsecrets.co.uk/free-home-learning-packs/
ICT Games
http://www.ictgames.co.uk
The Mathematics Shed
http://www.mathematicshed.com
Lots of free printable maths activities.
Maths is Fun
https://www.mathsisfun.com
National Literacy Trust
https://literacytrust.org.uk/
Family Zone – Ideas and guidance for fun, simple activities that will engage your children at home, while also benefiting their reading, writing and language development.
Oxford Owl
https://www.oxfordowl.co.uk/for-home
Prodigy
https://www.prodigygame.com
Skills Workshop
https://www.skillsworkshop.org/
Free Functional Skills and Skills for Life resources.
Values Money and Me
https://www.valuesmoneyandme.co.uk/
Exploring what money can and cannot buy.
White Rose Maths
https://whiterosemaths.com/homelearning
letter to parents
Reading & Phonics
Audible
https://stories.audible.com/start-listen
Listen to 100s of kids’ audio books. All stories are free to stream on your desktop, laptop, phone or tablet. Stories include Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, The Secret Garden, Winnie the Pooh and Timeless Tales of Beatrix Potter.
British Library
https://www.bl.uk/childrens-books
Explore centuries of stories, poems and illustrations with Discovering Children’s Books.
Letters and Sounds
http://www.letters-and-sounds.com
Free resources to help support the DfES Letters and Sounds phonics programme.
Phonics Play
https://www.phonicsplay.co.uk
Phonics Play is free to use during this period. No subscription is needed.
To access their resources, log on with username: jan21 password: home
Roy the Zebra
https://www.roythezebra.com
Reading website for emerging readers. The reading games are ideal for supporting the development of reading skills.
Ruth Miskin Training
https://www.ruthmiskin.com/en/find-out-more/parents/
Free phonics lesson videos for children.
Sooper Books
https://sooperbooks.com/bedtime-stories/
Collection of FREE bedtime stories for kids, online story books, short stories, fairy tales, rhymes and poems.
Sounds Write
https://www.sounds-write.co.uk/
Online course detailed at the bottom of the page: ‘Help your child to read and write’. The course is in two parts – and the first part is free! It’s aimed specifically at parents and carers who are interested in putting their children on the first steps to literacy.
Teach Your Monster to Read
https://www.teachyourmonstertoread.com
Covers everything from letters and sounds to reading full sentences.
The computer version is free but it is also available as an app.
World Book Day
https://www.worldbookday.com/resources/primary/
Free resource packs and activity sheets for a range of popular books and authors.
Physical Activity & Wellbeing
Calm
https://www.calm.com/blog/take-a-deep-breath#calmkids
Meditation to help those struggling with anxiety and stress at this time.
Cosmic Kids! Yoga and Mindfulness for kids
https://www.youtube.com/user/CosmicKidsYoga
Yoga, mindfulness and relaxation designed specially for kids aged 3+, used in schools and homes all over the world.
GoNoodle
https://www.gonoodle.com/
GoNoodle encourages kids to dance, stretch, run, jump and also unwind! There are many different channels, including:
• Blazer Fresh – Get down, get funky & get schooled with this edutaining hip hop trio! Banana Banana Meatball is a big hit with our kids!
• Flow – to help kids relax, think positive, and flow with mindfulness exercises.
You can also check out their free apps: GoNoodle – Kids Videos (for iOS and Android) and GoNoodle Games (for iOS only)
Food for Life – Healthy Eating
https://www.foodforlife.org.uk/schools/packages/resource-packs
Joe Wicks (The Body Coach)
https://www.youtube.com/thebodycoachtv
Fitness videos if you are getting restless and need to burn off some energy.
Mr Higgins Indoor Inclusive PE
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYQBpbwHdfoKPrZu9qu0Ujg
Indoor inclusive PE activities by Simon Higgins (Head of PE and Sport at Victoria School).
Outdoor Learning
Oxford Owl
Oxford Owl – Outdoor Learning Ideas
5 short videos giving ideas on how to take learning outdoors.
RHS Campaign for school gardening
https://schoolgardening.rhs.org.uk/home
Ideas to get potting, identify trees or design a secret garden
Humanities
Big History Project
https://www.bighistoryproject.com/home
Multi disciplinary activities which examines our past, explains our present, and imagines our future.
Climate Kids
https://climatekids.nasa.gov
Helping children understand about climate change with a range of activities, videos and games.
Geography Games
https://world-geography-games.com/world.html
Geography gaming.
Computing
Blockly
https://blockly.games
Learn computer programming skills – fun and free.
Code.org
https://code.org/
Free website with coding courses for children of all ages and levels.
Scratch
https://scratch.mit.edu/explore/projects/games/
Creative computer programming.
Tinkercad
https://www.tinkercad.com
All kinds of making.
Science & Technology
Crest Awards
https://www.crestawards.org
Science awards you can complete from home.
The Kid Should See This
https://thekidshouldseethis.com
A collection of over 4,500 free kid-friendly videos covering history and culture but with a special focus on STEAM—science, technology, engineering, art, and maths. It celebrates curiosity, collaboration, creativity, critical thinking, problem-solving, kindness, and other essential themes for all ages. Enjoy around 10 to 15 newly-added videos every week.
Mystery Science
https://mysteryscience.com
Free science lessons.
Stem Learning
https://www.stem.org.uk/home-learning
A range of fun, hands-on activities that can be used to engage young people of all ages with science, technology, engineering and maths.
Arts & Craft
Access Art sketchbook project/NSEAD
https://www.accessart.org.uk/sketchbooks-an-online-course-for-children-families-parents-teachers/
The Artful Parent
https://www.facebook.com/artfulparent/
Good, free art activities linked to from this Facebook page.
The Arty Teacher
https://theartyteacher.com/art-home-learning-inspiration-for-art-teachers/
Art home learning resources and inspirational ideas.
Draw with Rob
http://www.robbiddulph.com/draw-with-rob
Free drawing lessons for kids from World Book Day illustrator Rob Biddulph.
The Imagination Tree
https://theimaginationtree.com
Fun creative activities and resources for kids.
Red Ted Art
https://www.redtedart.com
Hundreds of craft ideas and free printables.
Tate Gallery
https://www.tate.org.uk/kids
Music & Media
Audacity
https://www.audacityteam.org
Free open source audio software.
Linwood Music Lady
Linwood Music Lady – YouTube playlist
Sam Mason is a music therapist and provides whole class sessions at Linwood once a week. Above is a link to several of the videos she put together during the lockdowns.
Miscellaneous
Blue Peter Badges
https://www.bbc.co.uk/cbbc/joinin/about-blue-peter-badges
A Blue Peter badge is a special award given to people who appear on the show, or in recognition of achievement. Applicants must be 6 to 15 years old.
CBeebies
https://www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies
CBeebies helps young children learn whilst they play fun games, watch clips, sing songs and make things with their favourite CBeebies characters and shows. Also, there are several CBeebies apps such as Go Explore which helps kids expand their world, and Storytime for building early reading and comprehension skills.
Chatter Pack
https://chatterpack.net
List of resources for home learning.
Chester Zoo – Virtual Zoo Days
https://www.chesterzoo.org/virtual-zoo-2/
Experience the magical sights and sounds of Chester Zoo… LIVE from your living room! Meet a range of wonderful animals including meerkats, otters, giraffes, penguins, red pandas, lions, komodo dragons, elephants, rhinos, tropical birds, chameleons, pythons, cheetahs, orangutans and even punk rocker pigs! If you can’t tune in live, don’t worry – you can watch them back whenever you want on their YouTube Channel.
Crash Course
https://thecrashcourse.com
You Tube videos on many subjects.
Crash Course Kids
https://www.youtube.com/user/crashcoursekids
Crash Course is all about “Science with a side of awesome”, looking at Earth, Habitats, Space, Chemical Reactions, Engineering, and much more. New uploads every Tuesday and Thursday.
DK Find Out!
https://www.dkfindout.com/uk
A general interest site with fun facts, quizzes, galleries, games, videos and activities. Includes a wide variety of topics such as dinosaurs, space, animals, nature & more.
Duolingo
https://www.duolingo.com
Learn a language for free. Also available as an app.
Family Learning
http://www.familylearning.org.uk
Games and activities designed to help children (and parents) learn while having fun.
iDEA Awards
https://idea.org.uk
Digital enterprise award scheme you can complete online.
Minecraft
https://www.minecraft.net/en-us/marketplace/education
18 free digital educational lessons available for download.
Newsround
https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround
The Sensory Projects
http://www.thesensoryprojects.co.uk/covid19-resources
Links to free sensory activities and resources.
Skills Builder
https://www.skillsbuilder.org/homelearning
To help develop essential skills such as listening, speaking, team work, problem solving, staying positive, creativity. Each skill is broken down into teachable, measurable steps.
Ted Ed
https://ed.ted.com
All sorts of engaging educational videos.
Toy Theatre
https://toytheater.com
A collection of free interactive educational games that can be played on computers, tablets and mobile devices.
Tutortastic
https://www.tutortastic.co.uk/blog/homelearning
If you’re not feeling too overwhelmed already, here is a TOP 20 list of discounted or free resources for home learning recommended by a teacher. Many of them are already listed above.