Reception Year Words

Sometimes called High Frequency Years Words. Numeracy and Literacy are vial skills which every child needs to learn properly. The National Literacy and Numeracy Strategy is at the heart of the drive to raise standards in schools. If your child is coming to the end of their first year in school, they should be albe to recognise the 45 High Frequency Words. Avialable in 2 sizes, standard or large from our website or as a free download that will be emialed to you. Knowing these word will help your child as they progress into their next year at school.

Awards Update

Well we didn't make it through to the next round of The North East Digital Awards. But we had lots of support from all our customers. So I would just like to say a big thank you to everyone that voted for us. It did help with getting our name know and we did get hits to the website, which is good news. So it just leaves me one thing to say, I'll be doing it all again next year so watch out!!

Starting School

Is your child starting school in September. Are you getting a little anxious, does the thought fill you with dread? Remember these fellings are normal and you won't be on your own. Most of the other parents at the school gate will be having the same worries. We have put together a list of things you can do to help your child settle into school as pain free as possible and also help you with the transition.

• Plan Ahead - Get organised with uniform, don't leave it till the last week in August, sizes will be getting short and the shops will be crowded with other parents doing the same thing.
• Find out the school terms for the year ahead, you don't want to find out that you have booked a holiday when your child should be starting school.
• Talk to your child about starting school. Tell them what they will be doing, making new friends, playing with exciting new toys and learning lots of new things.
• Most schools offer a transition day, make the most of this. Show your child where to hang their coat, which will be their classroom and where the toilets and playground are.
• Encourage your child to get into a good routine by setting a bedtime. The first few weeks they may be very tired.
• Get organised with everything they will need the night before they start. Lay out their clothes, encourage them to help with this.

These are only a few things you can do to help your child in the first few days of their school life. There is lots more information on the internet. We have listed a few sites for you.

1. Parentscentre - helping you to help your child
2. Raisingkids - if it's about raising kids it here
3. Directgov - public service all in one place

Enjoy your childs first years at school, it goes by so quickly.

Fun Cubes From Zoobookoo

Fun Activities with a difference

We have now uploaded our new stock from Zoobookoo. Is it a book or is it a cube? You decide. Available in Time Tables, Human Body, Word Forming, Addition & Subtraction, Numbers & Alphabet. They make a great gift and keep children entertained, ideal for car journeys and getting them away from the television.

North East Digiatal Awards

The North East Digital Awards celebrate high-quality innovation, media professionalism and technical excellence in the digital world. We have entered our site for this award and hope you will vote for us. Visit our entry now and please cast your vote.
http://www.northeastdigitalawards.co.uk/account/

About Key Stage

A Key Stage is a stage of the state education system in the uk setting the educational knowledge expected of students at various ages.

• Key Stage 1 Age 5-7 (Years 1 & 2)
• Key Stage 2 Age 7 - 11 (Years 3 to 6)
• Key Stage 3 Age 11 - 14 (Years 7 to 9)

The Key Stages were first defined in The Key Stages were first defined in 1988 Education Reform Act to accompany the first introduction of the National Curriculum. The precise definition of each of the main 4 Key Stages is age-related, incorporating all pupils of a particular age at the beginning of each academic year. The Key Stages were designed to fit with the most prevalent structures which had already grown up in the education system over the previous 100 years of development.to accompany the first introduction of the National Curriculum. The precise definition of each of the main 4 Key Stages is age-related, incorporating all pupils of a particular age at the beginning of each academic year. The Key Stages were designed to fit with the most prevalent structures which had already grown up in the education system over the previous 100 years of development.

The National Curriculum was introduced as a nationwide curriculum for primary and secondary state schools. The purpose of the National Curriculum was to ensure that certain basic material was covered by all pupils. In subsequent years the curriculum grew to fill the entire teaching time of most state schools.

Educational Games

Playing games at home with your children will not only help them with all essential numeracy and literacy but will also encourage them to share, communicate and will have a great impact on their understanding of family life. We are all busy people alway rushing about, never taking time to sit down and spend quality time with our children. Encouraging family time together will not only be beneficial for you now but your children when they become parents.

Simple card games, board games and even traditional party games will give children quality time to bond with you. It's all too easy to say "Oh later, I'm too busy now, come back later" but we all know later sometimes never. Make a point of setting aside time to play a game, it won't take long and you will find qualities in your child you may not have seen for a long time.

Some of my favourite are simple games like "I Spy", Card Games and board games like Shopping List and Pass the Word. Even games like Ludo and Snap will encourage children to share and count.