Ages 3–5
Play is the work of this age. Talk a lot, share picture books, count everyday things and let little hands squeeze, cut and draw.
For parents and carers
How to help your child learn at home
Short, practical guidance for every age from 3 to 18 — what children typically learn, ten-minute ideas for home and when it is worth asking for advice.
What works at every age
Four habits that matter more than any worksheet.
Little and often
Ten calm minutes on most days help more than one long session at the weekend. Stop while it is still fun.
Talk, read and wonder
Chatting, reading aloud and asking “what do you think?” build vocabulary and thinking at every age.
Praise the effort
Name what your child did — “you kept trying”, “you checked your answer” — rather than calling them clever.
Follow their interests
Dinosaurs, football or space: learning sticks when it starts from something your child already cares about.
Guides by age
Pick your child’s age
Each guide covers what children typically learn, everyday activities and signs worth talking about.
Ages 5–7
Early reading and number sense take off. Practise letter sounds, read short books together and play quick number games.
Ages 7–9
Children move from learning to read to reading to learn. Keep reading together, practise times tables little and often and talk about ideas.
Ages 9–11
Fractions, longer writing and bigger projects. Help them plan, stay curious about the world and get comfortable with mistakes.
Ages 11–14
A bigger school, more subjects and more independence. Help with organisation and study habits, and keep talking.
Ages 14–18
Exams, choices and growing independence. Be a calm coach: help them plan revision, protect sleep and keep perspective.
Step by step
Programmes and phonics
Structured paths with short daily lessons, instant marking and progress you can follow from your dashboard.
Phonics and early reading
A clear sound-by-sound progression with decodable books matched to each step.
Number Sense
Short lessons for ages 3–5: First numbers, Counting to 10, Shapes and patterns, Ready to add. Fresh practice every time, marked instantly, with a check-up at the end of each unit.
First Reading & Writing
Short lessons for ages 4–6: Letters and sounds, First words, Stories and sentences. Fresh practice every time, marked instantly, with a check-up at the end of each unit.
Science Explorers
Short lessons for ages 5–8: My body, Animals and habitats, Weather and seasons, Space. Fresh practice every time, marked instantly, with a check-up at the end of each unit.
Puzzles & Logic
Short lessons for ages 6–11: Spot and find, Number puzzles, Logic. Fresh practice every time, marked instantly, with a check-up at the end of each unit.
Study Skills
Short lessons for ages 11–16: Remember more, Plan and focus. Fresh practice every time, marked instantly, with a check-up at the end of each unit.
Ready when you are
Activities for real family life
Screen-free ideas, rainy-day boxes, travel packs and quiet-time printables.
From the blog
Articles parents read most
Practical how-tos written for families.
A Realistic Daily Learning Routine for Preschoolers (15–20 Minutes)
A realistic 15–20 minute daily learning routine for 3–5 year olds at home, with a sample week plan, what to do in each block and how to keep it going.
How to Teach Letter Sounds at Home: A 10-Minute Phonics Routine
A calm 10-minute daily routine for teaching letter sounds to 3–5 year olds at home, with games, what to say, and what to do when the sounds won't stick.
Everyday Maths at Home: Cooking, Shopping, Travel and Games by Age
Simple ways to build maths into cooking, shopping, trips and games for ages 3–11, with what to say at each age and no worksheets required.
Reading Aloud at Bedtime: How to Do It Well (Ages 2–10)
Why reading aloud matters from toddlers to 10-year-olds, how to choose books, do voices and use dialogic reading, plus a bedtime routine that holds up.
Screen-Free Activities for Kids: Ideas by Age and Situation
Practical screen-free activities for ages 3–12, sorted by situation: waiting, quiet time, rainy days, trips and "I'm bored", plus an honest note on screens.
How to Learn Times Tables: The Best Order, Patterns and Games
The smartest order to learn times tables, patterns that cut the work in half, games, spaced practice and what the UK Year 4 multiplication check involves.
Learning Wiki
Explanations with a section for grown-ups
Every Learning Wiki topic explains the idea simply, then ends with “For grown-ups”: how it is taught today and how to help.
Clauses
A clause is a group of words that contains a verb and usually a subject. A main clause makes sense on its own; a subordinate clause needs a main clause to complete it.
Subordinate clauses
A subordinate clause is a clause that adds extra information to a main clause but cannot stand alone as a sentence, like because it was raining or who lives next door.
Angles
An angle measures the amount of turn between two lines that meet at a point. Angles are measured in degrees (°); a right angle is 90° and a full turn is 360°.
Similes
A simile compares one thing to another using like or as, such as as brave as a lion or her eyes shone like stars.
Decimals
Decimals are numbers with a decimal point. Digits after the point show tenths, hundredths and so on, so 2.5 means two and five tenths.
Area
Area is the amount of flat space inside a shape, measured in square units like cm² or m². A rectangle 4 cm by 3 cm has an area of 4 × 3 = 12 cm².
Your parent dashboard
See progress, plan ten minutes and print a weekly pack
Add your children to get a suggested plan for today, programme progress, strengths and next steps, screen-time limits and a printable pack of five fresh sheets every week.
Questions parents ask
How much time should my child spend learning at home?
For young children, a few short moments woven into the day — a story, counting on the stairs — are plenty. Primary-age children benefit from about 10–20 focused minutes on school days. Teenagers can plan their own study blocks with you as a calm sounding board. Rest, play and sleep matter just as much.
Should I teach my child things before school does?
You do not need to race ahead. The most useful things you can do are reading together, talking a lot, playing games with numbers and letting your child practise what they are learning at school. If your child is curious and wants more, follow their lead.
What if my child refuses to do any learning at home?
Keep it short, offer a choice between two activities and turn it into a game or a challenge for you both. Some days are simply tired days. If refusal is constant and comes with worry or tears, have a gentle chat with the class teacher.
How do I know whether my child is on track?
Children develop at different speeds, so ranges are wide. The class teacher is the best person to ask about school progress, and your doctor or health visitor about development. Our age guides list what children typically learn and signs that are worth talking about.
Does learning on a screen count?
Yes, when it is active: answering, building, reading and getting feedback. Balance it with paper, play and time outdoors, and use the daily screen-time limit in your parent dashboard if it helps your family.