LEARNING ENGLISH
Support during School Closure for Parents and Carers
ADDITIONAL READING RESOURCES FOR YOUR CHILDREN
Reading is a really important and fun way to support your child's development. It is suggested that your child reads for at least 20 mins, daily. Then, ask them questions about what they have read to support the development of their comprehension skills.
Below, you will find additional resources to supplement the curriculum being provided by your child's class teacher.
FREE ACCESS TO ELECTRONIC READING BOOKS FOR YOUR CHILD
All-age reading resources for children
Does your child have a Bedford Library Service mobile library card? If they do, they can access free electronic library books using their library card number. Your child's class teacher may have already emailed you your child's card number. If they haven’t had a chance to do this yet, you can request it from them. For more information and instructions about how to access the catalogue please visit: http://virtual-library.culturalservices.net/webingres/bedfordshire/vlib/0.books_reading/ebooks_faqs.htm#register
Oxford Owl: "Welcome to our free eBook collection, developed for children aged 3–11 years old. Help your young child learn to read, and love to read, with our range of over 100 free eBooks.”
https://www.oxfordowl.co.uk/for-home/find-a-book/library-page/
Once parents have created a login, it's free to download books.
Accelerated Reader is offering free access to 6,000 digital children's books
"During school closures, we want to make sure that every child has access to daily reading, which is why we are announcing access to over 6,000 digital books with myON, as well as myON News... myON links with both Star Reading and Accelerated Reader quizzes and offers practical literacy tools and supports through myON Projects." Click here
Look up what children in different year groups are reading. What are the most popular reads? https://www.arbookfind.co.uk/collections.aspx
Read Write Inc. Phonics - learning to read at home
Children may be experiencing worries and anxieties during the return to school phase. Please see a variety of picture book titles to read to children in Reception and Year 1 that introduce these themes. We love 'The Koala Who Could' by Rachel Bright.
- The Koala Who Could by Rachel Bright
- The Lion Inside by Rachel Bright
- The Worrysaurus by Rachel Bright
- Silly Billy by Anthony Browne
- If All the World Were by Joseph Coelho
- There's a Bear on My Chair by Ross Collins
- Loved to Bits by Teresa Heapy
- Grumpy Monkey by Suzanne Lang
- The Colour Monster by Anna Llenas
- Tough Guys Have Feelings Too by Keith Negley
- Perfectly Norman by Tom Percival
- Ravis’ Roar by Tom Percival
- Ruby’s Worry by Tom Percival
- How Big Are Your Worries Little Bear? By Jayneen Sanders
https://www.ruthmiskin.com/en/find-out-more/parents/
Storyline Online
The SAG-AFTRA Foundation’s Daytime Emmy®-nominated and award-winning children’s literacy website, Storyline Online®, streams videos featuring celebrated actors reading children’s books alongside creatively produced illustrations. Readers include Oprah Winfrey, Chris Pine, Kristen Bell, Rita Moreno, Viola Davis, Jaime Camil, Kevin Costner, Lily Tomlin, Sarah Silverman, Betty White, Wanda Sykes and dozens more.
Reading aloud to children has been shown to improve reading, writing and communication skills, logical thinking and concentration, and general academic aptitude, as well as inspire a lifelong love of reading.
https://www.storylineonline.net/library/
Phonics, story time, poetry films, e-books and more!
https://www.ruthmiskin.com/en/find-out-more/help-during-school-closure/
11 places to find online children's books
British Council - this is great, and as far as I can see is completely free. Songs and stories, sounds and spellings, grammar, reading and writing, games and activities. The audio component is excellent.
EAL Hub - includes freebies on every page, including videos.
Chatterpack - the following page includes many links across the curriculum, and has an EAL section.
Additional free home learning platforms: Please do also encourage your child to use the other free home learning resources that we provide which include:
IXL Maths and English: https://uk.ixl.com/signin
Accelerated Reader: https://ukhosted68.renlearn.co.uk/2232233/
Times Table Rock Stars: https://play.ttrockstars.com/
Spelling Shed: https://www.edshed.com/en-gb/
Purple Mash: https://www.purplemash.com/login/
KEY STAGE 1
Children aged 4-7
Teddy bear story time: From Monday to Friday, a member of our school staff, will offer a story time for your child on Facebook at 3pm, featuring the school teddy bear family. Tune in to see a familiar face at: https://www.facebook.com/SJSGPrimary/
Free picture books: https://childrensbooksforever.com/index.html
Phonics lessons on Facebook and YouTube for children to watch at home: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCo7fbLgY2oA_cFCIg9GdxtQ
KEY STAGE 2
Children aged 8 - 11
Story time with Josie (a real cat): From Monday to Friday, a member of our school staff, will offer a story time for your child on Facebook at 3.15pm. Tune in to see a familiar face at: https://www.facebook.com/SJSGPrimary/
Accelerated Reader: Look up what children in different year groups are reading. What are the most popular reads?
https://www.arbookfind.co.uk/collections.aspx
Your child is likely to have an Accelerated Reader (AR) level to guide their book choices, if they are in Years 3 - 6; some children in Year 2 also follow AR. Your child should know their level, but if they don't, ask their teacher. The AR catalogue is available at: https://www.arbookfind.co.uk/ (Look at BL - book levels - to correctly match books for your child.)
Key Stage 1