Keeping schools safe during the COVID-19 outbreak: monitoring priorities for governing boards Spring Term 2022 – NGA Information

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Keeping schools safe during the COVID-19 outbreak:
monitoring priorities for governing boards

Updated 4 January 2022

Department for Education (DfE) operational guidance for schools and the accompanying contingency framework explain the actions school leaders should take to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission. The guidance has been updated in line with upweighted (plan B) control measures.

 

nga-covid-monitoring-priorities-20220104

This information sheet:

  • summarises the current control measures in place in schools (in response to updated DfE guidance)
  • describes the monitoring priorities that NGA recommends governing boards focus on
  • provides example questions to ask of executive leaders

Governing boards should assure themselves that their school or trust plans have been updated to reflect recent changes to DfE guidance. Our information sheet describes key areas of focus for governing boards to structure their discussions around.

We also advise that governing board meetings and governor/trustee visits should be conducted remotely during this period. Guidance on virtual governance and conducting remote meetings is available on our Knowledge Centre

Statement regarding families remaining abroad

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Good evening, please see below with correct email address for queries

 Sent on behalf of James Fowler, Education Entitlement Manager

For queries regarding the email and attachment please contact childrenmissingeducation@buckinghamshire.gov.uk

 Dear Colleagues,

We are aware that many schools have pupils who have travelled overseas during the pandemic and who have not yet committed to a return date.

Please see the attached statement that gives advice on what actions schools can take in these circumstances.

Statement re families remaining abroad

Kind regards

James

James Fowler

Education Entitlement Manager

Children’s Services – Education

Buckinghamshire Council

Have any questions about coronavirus? Follow the links below to find further information.

 Schools FAQs page: https://schoolsweb.buckscc.gov.uk/covid-19-corona-virus-latest-advice/

Support for families: https://www.bucksfamilyinfo.org/coronavirus

 

 

 

 

 

Anti Vaccination Protests

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SENT FROM: GARETH DRAWMER, HEAD OF ACHIEVEMENT & LEARNING

Dear Colleague,

We have been notified this week of a protest outside of a Buckinghamshire school by anti-vaccination protestors.

Protests such as these are be based on an assumption that Covid vaccinations for school age children will be rolled out through schools, rather than the existing vaccination centres, even though this has not been confirmed. The current situation is that Covid vaccinations have not been approved for under 16s and that confirmation of any vaccination programme is awaited from the government. As secondary schools are aware, there is contingency planning being carried out for delivery of vaccinations, should there be an ask from central government to deliver it, but this has not yet been confirmed.

In terms of the actions which a school can take, if the protesters are on public land, then they have the right of peaceful protest, and there is little which can be done about them as long as they are not causing an obstruction or a breach of the peace, in which case the police should be called. If the protest is on school grounds, then protesters can be asked to leave and their posters and placards removed. We would encourage schools to request protestors to remove any signage and to only remove it themselves as a last resort as this may be a provocative action. Schools have the legal right to exclude people from their school grounds, which are a private, not a public space, – under section 547 Education Act 1996, it is a criminal offence for a person who is on school premises without lawful authority to cause or permit a nuisance or disturbance and the Police can be called to remove them.

Schools should not engage in debate with the protesters or provide counterinformation to that being promulgated by the protesters. This is not a school’s role, but rather the job of the Government on the advice from their scientific advisers. Any contact with protestors should be kept to a minimum and school staff should remain calm, factual and considerate of their own safety during any discussion.

If schools require further support during an incident or wish to log one with us then please contact the School Improvement Team 01296 383030 during normal office hours or email sis@buckinghamshire.gov.uk.

Warm regards,

Gareth

 

Gareth Drawmer

Head of Service

Achievement & Learning

12 – 15 Covid Vaccination Programme

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Please see attached which was sent to your headteacher.

Sent on behalf of Kate Holmes – Interim CFO, Buckinghamshire CCG & Chair Bucks Vaccine Cell and Simon James Service Director: Education, Buckinghamshire Council

 Dear Colleagues,

Please find attached the 12 – 15 covid vaccination programme

Letter to Headteachers Bucks 12-15 covid vaccination programme

DfE Educational Settings Status Form

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Sent to all Headteachers

SENT FROM RICHARD NASH, CORPORATE DIRECTOR CHILDREN’S SERVICES AND SIMON JAMES, SERVICE DIRECTOR EDUCATION

Dear Colleagues

At the start of this new academic year, please can we remind all schools that daily completion of the DfE Educational Settings Status Form is essential. The information on how to complete the form is here https://www.gov.uk/guidance/how-to-complete-the-educational-setting-status-form

Whilst we appreciate the administrative burden, it is vital that both the DfE and Buckinghamshire Council receive this information on a daily basis, so that we can understand the pressure on schools and consider pragmatic solutions which will help you. The DfE will discuss each school closure with us, so it is key that we have this information in advance.

When you are considering a move to remote learning for either groups of pupils or all pupils, based on the guidelines and thresholds in the new contingency framework, please follow the below process:

If you have to close down a class or more then this must be recorded on the SchoolsWeb closures form. We would ask that you refer to this as a move to remote learning rather than labelling it as a closure. Two new categories of reason have been added to SchoolsWeb closure page:

  • Moved to remote learning – whole school
  • Moved to remote learning – specific pupil groups only

It is important that you include additional details, such as which year groups, how many pupils are affected and how many (if any) staff are affected.  In the situation where the whole school moves to remote learning, whilst the school buildings may be closed, you and your staff are still providing education to the children and the above descriptors better articulates this to parents.

Thank you for your assistance with the above process, which will help provide clarity for all.

Richard Nash                                                                       Simon James

Corporate Director, Children’s Services                         Service Director, Education

Updated Transition Principles Guidance for Schools

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Sent on behalf of Debbie Munday: Admissions and Transport Manager

Transition Principles FINAL3

 

Debbie Munday
Admissions and Transport Manager

Education and Skills
Children’s Services
Buckinghamshire Council
Walton Street Offices, Walton St, Aylesbury, Bucks, HP20 1UZ

SARS-CoV-2 variant Delta in Bucks – guidance for meetings

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Dear Colleagues,

Following a few recent queries I have asked Dan about the current guidance with regards to meeting up, face-to-face.  His advice is as follows:

With case numbers rising it would be sensible to keep meetings virtual unless there is a pressing reason why they have to be face-to-face.

Dan

 Daniel Flecknoe

Consultant in Public Health

Please see the current guidance below and also the email sent on the 7th June below:

 

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/school-governance-update/school-governance-coronavirus-covid-19-june-update–2#role-of-governing-and-trust-boards

 

  1. How can governing or trust boards continue to function effectively during this time?

DfE understands that governing and trust boards have a key role in supporting their school or trust’s senior leaders throughout this period and that decisions will need to be pragmatic, proportionate and sensitive to local circumstances. Boards remain accountable for their schools and should stay connected to senior leaders, and the key operational decisions they are taking, to retain a strategic overview of the school or trust.

Whilst social distancing rules remain, boards should adopt alternative arrangements for holding meetings, for example, by using video or teleconferencing applications. If boards or schools require support to access digital platforms, please see DfE’s guidance on help with technology and remote education. The National Governance Association has also produced guidance for business continuity and holding virtual meetings.

 

  1. Should committees continue to meet during this period?

Governing and trust boards, in discussion with the clerk, should take a pragmatic approach to handling any urgent business and assess whether it is reasonable for virtual committee meetings to go ahead. Availability of governors or trustees will need to be considered to ensure that committee meetings are quorate. It may be more practical for the urgent business of any committee to be discussed at the governing or trust board meeting instead.

 

 

Regards,

Hazel

 

Hazel David

School Improvement Team

Children’s Services

SARS-CoV-2 variant Delta – Update for Educational Settings

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SENT FROM DAN FLECKNOE – CONSULTANT IN PUBLIC HEALTH 7th June 2021

Dear Colleagues,

As you may have seen in the news, over the last week evidence has emerged that the SARS-CoV-2 variant Delta (formerly “India”) has overtaken “Alpha” (formerly “Kent”) to become the dominant form of COVID-19 both nationally and locally. This finding supports research evidence that Delta is significantly more infectious than Alpha, but importantly COVID-19 vaccines have been shown to still provide effective protection against it. In Buckinghamshire there has been a significant increase in COVID outbreaks in educational settings over the past 2 weeks, mostly caused by the Delta variant. Although no serious illness has been reportedly associated with these outbreaks, there are two major concerns resulting from this trend:

1. Secondary transmission from outbreaks among young and healthy people may go on to affect those more likely to become severely unwell (i.e. older family members), and
2. School/EYS outbreaks driven by a more infectious variant will lead to significant missed school time for a large number of children and young people who are identified as contacts of confirmed cases.

In view of this, I would recommend that:
• any planned loosening of in-school precautions should be delayed,
• bubbles should be maintained and kept as small as is practical,
• the whole school community should be reminded of the importance of practicing the principles of ‘hands, face, space, fresh air’ whenever possible.
• anyone who is eligible for COVID-19 vaccination but has not yet taken up the offer, or who has not taken up their second dose when invited, should be encouraged to do so ASAP,
• and – perhaps most importantly with a more easily transmissible variant – immediate self-isolation by the entire household when any person in the house develops possible COVID-19 symptoms or gets a positive LFD result must be strongly emphasised. There is some evidence that the Delta variant has a shorter incubation period (that is, people may become infectious more quickly after being infected), so if household members wait for PCR confirmation before self-isolating then they could already have unknowingly passed the infection on to non-household contacts and thereby turned a cluster into an outbreak.

I know that these will be unwelcome tidings at a time when we have all been looking forward to further easing of restrictions on June 21st and possibly a more normal end to the school year. Obviously I can’t say for sure what the national decision will be about how this new evidence affects the planned progress of the Roadmap, but I suspect that Step 4 may be delayed until a larger proportion of the adult population have been vaccinated. In the meantime, it is important that we do what we can locally to restrict or slow down the spread of this variant in schools/EYS in order to safeguard both the education and wellbeing of pupils, and the health of vulnerable individuals in our communities.

Regards,
Daniel Flecknoe
Consultant in Public Health
Adults and Health Directorate
Buckinghamshire Council

20 Best Websites to Help Kids Learn From Home in 2021

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20 Best Websites to Help Kids Learn From Home in 2021

Julia Olech Last Updated by Julia Olech on March 06, 2021

The internet is a great resource to support home learning, but not all websites meet educational requirements or are child-friendly — some even have inappropriate ads! Teaching your children at home is stressful enough without having to frantically close pop-ups at the same time. Unfortunately, websites that are safe and entertaining often require you to pay expensive subscription fees. The good news is that there are useful free resources available to help your kids learn from home.

That’s why I rounded up a list of the 20 best free websites that provide engaging and fun learning experiences for you and your children. I made sure each website caters to a wide range of ages with games and interactive lessons that won’t bore even the most fidgety kids. The best part is that you can use them all at no cost!

Top 20 Online Resources to Help Kids Learn From Home in 2021

  1. CoolMath4Kids — Practice Algebra With Fun Math Games and Tricky Puzzles
  2. Duolingo — Perfect for Improving Language Skills in Only 5 Minutes a Day
  3. PBS Kids — Encourage Learning With Popular Cartoon Characters
  4. GoNoodle — Fun Dance Routines That Incorporate Learning Through Movement
  5. National Geographic Kids — Investigate World Wonders From the Leading Geography Site
  6. TIME for Kids — Current Events (and More) Explained in Child-Friendly Language
  7. Cosmic Kids — Calm Young Minds With Themed Yoga Classes
  8. Funbrain — Fully Interactive Lessons to Keep Kids Occupied and Interested
  9. Scholastic Kids — Practice Reading and Understanding With Popular Book Characters
  10. Wonderopolis — Find Answers for Curious Minds That Always Ask Questions
  11. Science Bob — Science Made Fun Through Easy-to-Follow Experiments
  12. TED-Ed — Entertaining Videos That Stimulate Learning in Bite-Size Lessons
  13. Fuse School — Entertain Little Scientists With Lessons Created by Teachers
  14. Make Me Genius — Advanced Topics for Those Who Want to Enhance Their Learning
  15. NASA Kids — Explore the Wonders of Space From Your Own Home
  16. Exploratorium — Turn Your House Into a Laboratory With Hands-On Science Experiments
  17. Storynory — A Large Selection of Audio Stories to Improve Your Kids’ Reading
  18. Highlight Kids — Unleash Creativity Through Home Crafts and Games for Kids of All Ages
  19. Help My Kid Learn — Easy-to-Navigate Site With Simple but Effective Learning Tips
  20. ABCYa! — Great Learning Resources for Preschoolers and Teenagers

1. CoolMath4Kids — Practice Algebra With Fun Math Games and Tricky Puzzles

 

Screenshot of CoolMath4Kids main page

 

This self-proclaimed “amusement park of math” offers hundreds of games that teach children basic math skills. Whether your kids love or hate math, they’re bound to enjoy discovering how to add, subtract, multiply, divide, and create fractions with help from aliens and animals. Apart from fun games, CoolMath4Kids offers “Brain Teasers” — puzzles you need to work out through a combination of math and problem-solving skills. I often found myself scratching my head at some of them, so you’ll have as much fun as your children trying to come up with a correct solution!

CoolMaths4Kids is geared mainly towards pupils aged 3-12. For more advanced kids aged 13+, you can access the platform’s sister website called CoolMath that covers different aspects of algebra. The older students will be able to practice their skills not only through games, but also more challenging quizzes and riddles.

2. Duolingo — Perfect for Improving Language Skills in Only 5 Minutes a Day

 

Screenshot of Duolingo home page

 

Learning languages doesn’t have to involve big textbooks and hours of repeated activities. Instead, your kids can use a phone or a tablet and spend as little as 5 minutes a day polishing their language skills. Duolingo is a bright and easy-to-use app and website that encourages children to discover foreign languages through writing, speaking, and listening activities. With hundreds of languages to choose from (including French, Spanish, Mandarin, and more), the green Duolingo owl will reward your kids every time they complete a lesson. This creates a positive reinforcement that motivates young (and older!) users to come back for more every single day.

The platform also encourages a healthy competition between your kids, their friends, and even you! You can all race to see who can get the most points, the longest learning streak, the least number of mistakes, or reach a level milestone first. It’s a fun activity that engages the whole family and keeps your children excited about learning languages.

3. PBS Kids — Encourage Learning With Popular Cartoon Characters

 

Screenshot of PBS Kids main page

 

PBS Kids incorporates the characters from their educational TV shows and uses them in themed learning sections. Choose between Sesame Street Muppets, Curious George, Martha Speaks, and more to teach your children how to spell, count, or understand basic science. Every TV show character comes with a set of simple games, stories, videos, and even sing-along rhymes that encourage active participation and quick learning. As a bonus, PBS Kids also offers various tips for parents on how to incorporate online learning at home and motivate children to stay focused.

4. GoNoodle — Fun Dance Routines That Incorporate Learning Through Movement

 

Screenshot of GoNoodle YouTube channel

 

Home learning makes physical education a lot more challenging as it means children spend an average of 6 hours per day sitting in front of a computer or a phone. That’s why GoNoodle started their Good Energy Movement that encourages children all over the world to tunnel their energy into positive and mindful exercise. With over 14 million regular viewers, GoNoodle creates exercise videos that incorporate movement in dance routines, challenges, and even science lessons. On top of that, the platform regularly publishes themed blog posts with details on how to turn daily activities, like tidying up, cooking, and eating snacks into physical play.

5. National Geographic Kids — Investigate World Wonders From the Leading Geography Site

 

Screenshot of National Geographic Kids website

 

National Geographic makes learning geography fun with an abundance of resources to keep your children engaged and interested in everything the world has to offer. From discovering unusual animal species and how to read a map to learning about world history — you’ll find everything you need to equip your child with appropriate knowledge. Every lesson is accompanied by beautiful photographs and fun videos that kept me fully invested in each topic. Additionally, your kids will be able to play various games to facilitate their learning. I particularly liked the personality quizzes I filled in to discover which shark or dinosaur matches me best and games that let me crack secret messages and solve world mysteries.

6. TIME for Kids — Current Events (and More) Explained in Child-Friendly Language

 

Screenshot of articles on TIME for Kids website

 

Developed by the TIME magazine, TIME for Kids explores politics, culture, the environment, health, and sports through articles written in very simple language. It works in the same way as other online newspapers and magazines, but TIME publishers make sure each topic has age-appropriate photos and videos. This incorporates visuals to help kids assimilate new information easily. Though not as interactive as other platforms on the list, your kids will still benefit from simple explanations of complex subjects like global warming and poverty.

7. Cosmic Kids — Calm Young Minds With Themed Yoga Classes

 

Screenshot of Cosmic Kids yoga videos

 

Kids get a ton of stimulation on a daily basis which sometimes makes it difficult for them to slow down and just breathe. That’s why Cosmic Kids created a platform and a free YouTube channel that offers a variety of yoga and mindfulness classes. This turns sedentary screen time into active movement that encourages children to get up and wiggle. Every class on Cosmic Kids uses kids’ favorite stories (like Frozen, Harry Potter, and Cinderella) and features storytelling through yoga poses. It keeps children (and adults) highly entertained and engaged throughout the whole video while also getting a much-needed daily workout.

Aside from providing great workout breaks, Cosmic Kids facilitates the development of emotional intelligence. I found specific “zen den” classes that encouraged me to recognize my feelings or learn different breathing techniques to keep calm. The mindfulness lessons also cover topics like dealing with nightmares or living in the present moment to avoid stress and anxiety.

8. Funbrain — Fully Interactive Lessons to Keep Kids Occupied and Interested

 

Screenshot of Funbrain home page

 

Funbrain is a great educational resource that masks learning through hundreds of games, books, videos, and comics. These are so interesting and engaging that children don’t even realize they’re actually developing new skills in literacy, math, or problem-solving! I could feed a human body and see what happens inside of it during meal times and learn how to prevent an electrical fire. Funbrain has so much more to offer so explore it yourself! Unlike many other similar websites, Funbrain offers all of its resources completely for free — including popular books such as A Diary of a Wimpy Kid and Daisy Nuzzlehead. The platform is designed for kids of all ages and even features special “Playground” classes for the younger viewers who aren’t as advanced as their older siblings.

9. Scholastic Kids — Practice Reading and Comprehension With Popular Book Characters

 

Screenshot of Scholastic Kids game, Home Base

 

Set up by the publishers of educational books, Scholastic Kids encourages children to read and learn with their favorite fictional characters. Your kids will explore the world of fiction through an interactive 3D game, Home Base. There, they’ll follow and interact with each character that will motivate them to read other stories in certain series or teach them about geography, astronomy, spelling, and more. I could even write my own stories and comics which is an amazing feature if your children are interested in expressing themselves through creative activities.

Though such freedom made me question its safety, Scholastic Kids ensures Home Base safeguards children through a strict word filter and constant human moderation. The platform also advocates for positive digital behavior and internet engagement to teach children the foundations of online safety.

10. Wonderopolis — Find Answers for Curious Minds That Always Ask Questions

 

Screenshot of Wonderopolis website

 

Created by the National Center for Families Learning, Wonderopolis fuels natural curiosity and imagination by providing answers to questions frequently asked by children. Every answer is broken down into understandable explanations through videos, images, and text that highlights and defines more difficult terms. At the end of each lesson, you can also find additional resources to explore the topic in more depth. Once you finish “wondering” you can test your child by exploring all “Wonder Words” and taking the “Wonder World Challenge” to make sure your kids really took the information in.

If your children have any burning questions themselves, you can submit a query and wait for experts to answer it. The fresh approach makes learning through the platform more child-led as it allows kids to explore their areas of interest.

11. Science Bob — Science Made Fun Through Easy-to-Follow Experiments

 

Screenshot of Science Bob's website

 

Science Bob became popular after becoming a regular feature on various US talk shows, like Jimmy Kimmel Live or Live Kelly and Ryan. However, the knowledgeable scientist also has his own YouTube channel and online website where he shares tutorials for at-home experiments. Every project comes with appropriate explanations written in a simple language that won’t overwhelm the young scientists. This hands-on approach is perfect for kids of all ages as it shows them how science works in practice. Science Bob also provides ideas and methods to carry out science fair projects which I found is an extremely unique feature that facilitates problem-solving and scientific thinking.

12. TED-Ed — Entertaining Videos That Stimulate Learning in Bite-Size Lessons

 

Screenshot of the list of available lessons on Ted-Ed

 

Aside from hours of lectures for adults, TED features a TED-Ed section that’s perfect for younger viewers. Suitable for children as young as 4, TED-Ed supports home learning through video-based lessons that explain even the most difficult topics like systemic racism and war. Each video features an engaging speaker or an interesting animation while providing in-depth explanations you and your children will surely enjoy. It’s also a fantastic way to introduce your children to a diverse range of perspectives and topics that they wouldn’t always come across at school. There are new lessons added to the library every single day so you’ll never run out of interesting topics either — and you’ll find yourself craving for more!

13. Fuse School — Entertain Little Scientists With Lessons Created by Teachers

 

Screenshot of Fuse School free signup page

 

With hundreds of educational videos, Fuse School teaches children about math, biology, chemistry, and physics. Every video is between 3-5 minutes long and features simple animations that help you understand tricky scientific concepts like GMO foods, organ transplants, and more. Despite touching on seemingly difficult subjects that even many adults don’t always understand, I didn’t find any lesson overwhelming, boring, or tiring.

Fuse School even offers its own social network that’s safe for the young users where children can interact with each other and talk about what interests them the most.

14. Make Me Genius — Advanced Topics for Those Who Want to Enhance Their Learning

 

Screenshot of Make Me Genius home page

 

Some children need resources that provide a bit more of a challenge through advanced topics and materials. Make Me Genius recognized that demand and created a space for those students who struggle to satisfy their hunger for education. Through animated videos, PowerPoint presentations, and more, the platform covers topics from Environmental Science and Nutrition to Great Personalities and even Parenting. Your children will also have a chance to test themselves through multiple quizzes you won’t find on any other website. It’s a true heaven for young geniuses all over the world!

15. NASA Kids — Explore the Wonders of Space From Your Own Home

 

Screenshot of NASA Kids main page

 

NASA Kids makes it easy to learn about space without the need to look through the telescope. With the help of Nebula (a friendly animated astronaut), your children will explore the ins and outs of what it’s like to be an astronaut and work for the world’s largest space organization. The platform also shares various details and reports on their past missions and each one is accompanied by mind-blowing real-life space images and videos. Difficult topics and concepts are also explained through interactive games and puzzles that entertain while educating.

16. Exploratorium — Turn Your House Into a Laboratory With Hands-On Science Experiments

 

Screenshot of the Exploratorium website

 

The Exploratorium is a popular public laboratory that now offers its learning resources through an online platform. Your kids will be able to explore the science behind computing, physical balance, tech gadgets, as well as discover what lies below sea level and how to launch a rocket into space. The website isn’t limited just to scientific topics — the Exploratorium holds lessons about the intricacies of arts and history too! Every lesson is filled with engaging videos and descriptions of actual experiments you can tinker with at home. You’ll even be able to carry out experiments without needing specific equipment as the “Science Snacks” section provides low-cost simple activities for everyone. Additionally, your children can enjoy a Storytime event when they’ll read a child-friendly story followed by simple science activity at the end.

17. Storynory — A Large Selection of Audio Stories to Improve Your Kids’ Reading

 

Screenshot of Storynory audio stories

 

Storynory helps children develop their reading skills by providing a wide range of original and classic stories in a form of audiobooks. Your kids will follow each story as it’s read out loud using not just the audio clues, but also a written text that’s underneath the audio clip. I was also impressed that the voiceover includes a short synopsis of characters from previous chapters so I understood the plot even though I didn’t follow the book from the beginning. Additionally, the narrator takes time to explain difficult “catch phrases” before each chapter to ensure everyone has a full understanding of all terms they might have never seen before. Storynory also lets you translate each text into multiple languages which is super helpful if English isn’t your children’s first language.

18. Highlights Kids — Unleash Creativity Through Home Crafts and Games for Kids of All Ages

 

Screenshot of the home page on Highlights Kids

 

While Highlights isn’t usually thought of as an educational platform, I found that it still teaches children various skills linked with creativity like problem-solving or experimenting. Based on the popular kids’ magazine, Highlights Kids offers articles and lessons on the same topics as its printed version like coloring pages, jokes, baking, and DIY. However, I also used the e-magazine to learn about scientific topics and listen to podcasts which you won’t find in the regular newspaper.

19. Help My Kid Learn — Easy-to-Navigate Site With Simple but Effective Learning Tips

 

Screenshot of Help My Kid Learn website

 

While it may not seem like the most advanced site, Help My Kid Learn helps you target your child’s learning according to their age and abilities. The platform offers a high variety of lessons and suggested activities sorted into 5 categories: Talk, Play, Read, Write, and Count. This layout makes it a lot easier for you to determine if your child meets its stage goals and develops accordingly. Additionally, you’ll be able to access useful tips for each age and how to prepare your kids for what they’ll have to learn next.

20. ABCYa! — Great Learning Resources for Preschoolers and Tweens

 

Screenshot of ABCYa! main page

 

ABCYa! Provides free resources for children from preschool all the way to 13 years old. The website was created by teachers with just one aim in mind — to create educational games that make learning a fun experience. Through gamifying school lessons, ABCYa! grew and expanded its content to teach kids Math, English, Arts, and more. Unlike other websites, ABCYa! also offers multiplayer games that will let your children play online with their friends which facilitates developing social skills while learning.

5 Necessary Steps to Protect Your Children Online

According to the FBI, there are over 625,000 sexual predators trying to befriend children online every day. At the same time, thousands of identity thieves target young kids on the internet to steal their personal information. That’s why you need to follow certain safety precautions before you let your child use the internet — whether that’s for online learning or just entertainment.

  1. Set parental controls on every device your child has access to.
  2. Whitelist specific educational websites you want your kids to use. This will automatically block any other platforms.
  3. Place time limits on how long your children can be online. You should also check if you can decide specific time periods and days their devices can be used, for example, Monday-Friday between 2-5pm.
  4. Never leave your children unattended when they’re online, no matter how old they are. If possible, put all digital devices in common areas (like the living room) so you can monitor your tweens’ activities without interfering in their personal space.
  5. Encourage regular conversations about internet safety and teach your children how they can protect themselves.

While it may feel like you’re placing harsh restrictions, these steps are crucial to ensure no harm can come your kids’ way as they participate in online learning. As long as you remember to include them in setting up the online controls and explain why they’re there in the first place, you’ll reinforce positive habits children won’t rebel against.

Make Sure Your Children Make the Most of Home Learning With These Online Tools

With so many parents being forced to embrace home learning, you need to use the best resources that will help your children reach their maximum potential. Home learning can be stressful but you and your kids can make the most of your learning moments with the right approach and help from online experts. Just remember to take appropriate steps to protect your children and teach them how to stay safe online — you never know who’s lurking in the dark online corners. Set appropriate parental controls and engage them in a conversation about ethical and secure internet behavior and you’ll all see the benefits of online learning in no time!