Free educational resources for supporting families during school closures

Schools across the globe have responded to the outbreak of the Coronavirus by closing their doors to children of non-keyworkers.

At Twinkl, their mission is to help those who teach and they are therefore taking steps to support continued learning at home, by offering the teachers and parents of children in schools which are closed free access to all Twinkl resources for a period of one month in the first instance.

Twinkl have put together a simple, step-by-step guide about this offer of help, for parents to use. This guide is not designed to override or replace any official guidance but is intended to advise on using the Twinkl website during this period.

How do I sign up for the free month?

Step 1: Go to twinklhq.twinkl.co.uk/offer

Step 2: Enter the code you have received, or CVDTWINKLHELPS if you have not yet been given a code

Step 3: Share the offer code and website link with anyone who could benefit 

How can parents use Twinkl independently?

Twinkl have a number of really helpful guides, designed for parents, for different areas of the curriculum. Their dedicated Parents’ Hub contains hundreds of educational activities designed for use at home. 

For parents with children in EYFS, take a look through their EYFS for Parents area to find some really useful guides and activities to share. 

For primary-aged children, take a look at the 5-11 area. Again, this was created with parents in mind so it’s filled with guides and information about what children should be learning in each year group, for each curriculum area. 

For parents with secondary-aged children (for ages 11 to 16), take a look at the Beyond area of the website. Resources are available for English, Maths and Science, as well as languages, art, humanities and other curriculum areas. There’s lots to keep older children occupied. 

The Parents User Guide and general Twinkl Membership guide are both useful documents to refer to for general information about the site, our content and how to find it. 

How can I support my child’s learning at home?

There are a number of ready-made packs on the Twinkl website, as well as many useful areas that parents can easily use. 

Using the Home Learning Packs

Twinkl have put together Home Learning Packs from Year 1 to Year 6.

The EYFS Home Learning Packs can be found here.

The KS1 Home Learning Packs can be found here.

The KS2 Home Learning Packs can be found here.

Using Twinkl Go!

Twinkl Go! is the interactive area of the site, where you’ll find online games, self-marking comprehensions, audiobooks and more. Take a look at the Twinkl Go! user guide for further information. 

Using Twinkl Originals

As a parent you may feel more comfortable and confident in using books as a starting point for learning. The Twinkl Originals books were created to encourage a love of reading and enhance curriculum-wide learning through accompanying teacher-created resources. Each book is available in different formats – PowerPoint, eBook or audio book (available through Twinkl Go!) – and has been written using age-appropriate vocabulary and themes. Books are available for children in EYFS, KS1 and KS2 (up to age 11) and each comes with ready-made resources to support writing, maths and other curriculum areas. Once you’ve found a book within the Twinkl Originals page, click to see all supporting resources. If your child is learning a particular topic at school, this is a great way to continue this learning at home. 

Lapbooks and Workbooks

For parents who may prefer a topic-led approach, Twinkl have a fantastic range of lapbooks to choose from. Browse the options online – again, these might align with topics being learnt at school. There’s also a helpful guide which explains how to make a Twinkl lapbook. Super simple and a really enjoyable activity for children and parents alike. 

The maths workbooks offer a really simple solution. They’re organised by age group and topic, and are available with answer sheets for easy marking. Use ready-made workbooks from the site, or create your own to print out.

Other Useful Resources

• Twinkl Boost offers step-by-step lessons and interventions. Designed for use in class, there’s lots that parents could select for their children at home. 
• Maths Mysteries are incredibly popular, self-led activities. Perfect for use at home.
• For hands-on, fun science activities, take a look at the Awe and Wonder collection.

How can we discuss Coronavirus with children?

Inevitably, children will have questions about the Coronavirus and want to find out more. To support parents and teachers with these conversations, Twinkl have a range of suitable materials on site. Discuss good hygiene and hand washing using the display packs, or take a look at the child-friendly news reports in Twinkl Newsroom – designed for use in KS2 (ages 7 to 11) with new stories added each day. Or search ‘coronavirus’ on the Twinkl site to find other related materials. 

As ever, if parents have any questions, Twinkl are always happy to help. Contact TwinklCares using the help icon at the bottom of the page to send a message to their experienced team of teachers. Their Facebook communities are also a fantastic source of ideas, knowledge and support for parents.