Practical notes for parents on learning at home and at school

At home

• Reading at home with primary-age children

  Simple ways to support reading at home: shared reading, choosing books, talking about stories and keeping it enjoyable.

• Homework routines that work for families

  Practical ideas for setting up a homework routine: time, place, how much to help and what to do when homework causes arguments.

• Screen time: questions to talk through as a family

  A practical approach to screen time for school-age children, focusing on sleep, content, and family agreements rather than fixed numbers.

• Choosing after-school activities

  How to choose after-school clubs and activities without overloading a child: balance, cost, travel and asking the child what they want.

Working with school

• Safeguarding: questions parents can ask a school or club

  Questions parents can reasonably ask a school, club or tutor about how they keep children safe, and what good answers look like.

• Getting the most from a parent-teacher meeting

  How to prepare for a parent-teacher meeting: what to ask, what to bring, and how to follow up afterwards.

• When your child is learning English at school

  Support for families whose children are learning English as an additional language at school: what schools usually offer and how to help at home.

Choosing schools

• Moving from primary to secondary school

  How to help a child prepare for the move to secondary school: practical skills, friendships, organisation and what to expect in the first term.

• Choosing an international school as a family

  Questions to think through when choosing an international school after a move abroad: curriculum, language, fees, travel and visiting.

• Planning for university: a timeline for families

  A simple timeline for families supporting a teenager towards university, including subject choices, researching courses and studying abroad.

Family Education Notes is an independent publication. It is not a school, school district or education service agency.