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After School

Childcare tips

Stuck for things to do this half term?

If the kids are driving you crazy and you are really dreading keeping them entertained during holiday times, here are some fun activities which all the family can enjoy over weekends, half terms and holidays


 

Choosing the right kind of childcare setting

Choosing the right kind of childcare setting can be a difficult decision but help is available. Altogether Better for Children, the Government's Early Years campaign has produced a Childcare Checklist that you might find helpful when choosing the type of childcare best suited to both you and your child. 


 
 

After School time

Bedtime Stories - the importance of reading to children during family time

Once upon a time, in a land not so very far away, storytelling ruled. Today, as watching television, playing computer games and surfing the net take up most of our time, it's the bedtime story that best preserves that storytelling magic. Denise Roberts finds out why it's so special to read bedtime stories during your family time

  Storytelling at bedtime

Folk tales, fairy tales, tall tales, trickster stories or mystery - the act of spinning a tale to educate, instill knowledge and values, to preserve family histories or culture - or simply to entertain - is a tradition common to every land and time. People have told tales around campfires and boasted of their exploits over dinner, but of all the shapes the story appears in, the bedtime tale is the most endearing. More...

 

Learning at school

Children Learning | National Curriculum

  • Writing in the National Curriculum - Everyday at school your child will do some writing. Whether it is poetry, stories, or beyond the literacy lessons in other National Curriculum areas, children's writing takes many forms.
 

Learning outdoors

After School | Play

  • Playing outdoors - Benefits of fresh air and exercise for a child's mind don't need to simply be confined to big trips to the country. Research has shown that even 15 minutes running in the local park has the potential to develop the way your children thinks, improving their mood and raising their understanding and ability to learn.

After School | Hobbies and Activities

  • Teaching a child to swim - Teaching your child to swim is about having fun, keeping healthy, and staying safe. Be positive yourself, and your child should enjoy swimming lessons - remember, it's a vital skill they shouldn't miss out on!
 

Learning at home

After School | Homework

  • Study spaces - How parents can help with homework by creating the perfect study space. Gather tips, ideas and inspiration that you and your child can use and adapt to create the perfect space for reading, homework, creative projects or revision
 

Learning online

Children Learning | ICT

  • Learning about ICT - Information and communication technology (ICT) is such an integral part of our lives that it is embedded right across the curriculum. Growing up in an ICT-rich environment means that children need to have opportunity to experience and develop skills in its use that will help them make the most of adult life.
 

After school

Research consistently shows that parents have a far greater impact on their children's academic achievement than schools, so this section is all about what you can do support learning outside of school - at home, in your local community and online. 
 

Also in this section

Homework

Tips and ideas for helping with homework

Events

Check out our selection of family fun events!

Family Time

Find guidance and tips on how you can have family fun together and help support your child's learning

Hobbies and Activities

Different hobby ideas, craft tips, and fun activities for children


Play

Get the lowdown on the what, where and how of children's play!

 

Events this Christmas

Christmas is on its way, so what better way to welcome in the winter season than with some fun activities for all the family to enjoy? Just because it's cold outside doesn't mean you shouldn't venture out, in fact there are exciting family events taking place across the country. More... 

 

Top resources

•    Find all the resources you need to help your child with their learning. More...

 

Helping hands

• Your online Directory of support for parents and children. More...