Parent Links
This area has been created to provide information for parents on various topics. If you know of any other useful links that you would think others would benefit from, please contact the school office.
Family Lives
Family Lives offers advice on things that might be worrying you, from school worries, coping with difficult behaviour, sibling rivalry and why they argue and supporting your children through separation and divorce.
Good non-judgemental advice whenever you need it.
Contact: http://www.familylives.org.uk/advice/
Tel: 0808 8002222
Prices: £50 per day (£40 for Crowmarsh School families)
For further information please contact the School Office on:
or call: 01491 836785
Returning to school
What parents and carers need to know
An excellent booklet for parents with children of any age, who are worried about specific COVID-19 related anxieties including:
- Some tips for parents to manage a young person who is anxious
- Supporting Children and Young People According to Their Mental Health Needs
- A worry about the virus itself (becoming ill, loved ones becoming unwell, the extent of the illness, including death)
- Absence from friends
- Fear of stigma from passing on the illness
- Negative impact on the family
- Finding it hard to resume usual activities once lockdown is lifted due to feeling ‘unsafe’
Family VibEs
Living values in the home. Information and ideas to support your family’s values, gaining a better understanding of each other, within the family home.
They also have a Facebook Community.
Childline
There is a great section on Coping with Stress which is a reminder of how important it is to use relaxation and breathing exercises to calm our minds and bodies. Although it is on a website aimed at children and young people its suitable for adults too.
Young Friends Against Scams
Educating young people against scams, the different types of scams and how to protect ourselves.
Helping children and families get the food they need
A great resource from daily live cooking shows, how to inspire children to eat more veggies and the best way to store our food, well worth a look!
My Parent Toolkit offers sound advice on what to do when your child has a meltdown. There are also free resources to help with everyday parenting situations.
List of books for children who are worried or anxious
Online Safety Activity Books
Finding quality content for children on line
This link is a must for aged based media picks for your family. Whilst the first page is a little formal, scroll down to Finding Quality Content for Children on Line and click on Common Sense Media for reviews of what your kids want to watch/play/read etc. before they access it.
CBBC Newsround have produced a range of resources, including videos and advice, for children and young people who might be worried about Coronavirus.
Read the news story: Coronavirus: here’s some advice if you’re worried about it
Supporting and reassuring young children – Mindheart has published a short book to support and reassure children about Coronavirus. Covibook is available to download in 21 languages including English.
Read the news story: #COVIBOOK Supporting and reassuring children around the world
Read the book: Covibook (PDF)
The Children’s Commissioner Office has created a children’s guide to coronavirus to help explain the situation. The guide aims to answer children’s questions about coronavirus, it tells children how to stay safe and protect other people and how to help them make the best of their time at home. It is not focused at Early Years, however can be shared with parents to help with conversations at home.
Care for the Family believe that every family, whatever shape and whatever size, should have somewhere to turn to for support and advice. Rob Parsons and his amazing team, encourage you and help you find ideas to strengthen your own family. https://www.careforthefamily.org.uk/family-life
Government Publications
Advice for supporting good Mental Health during the Coronavirus outbreak https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-guidance-for-the-public-on-mental-health-and-wellbeing/guidance-for-the-public-on-the-mental-health-and-wellbeing-aspects-of-coronavirus-covid-19
Oxfordshire County Council Resources for Schools and Parents
Information on Finances and Debt during Coronavirus
Please click on the icon below to visit the Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) Centre.
Seesaw
Seesaw can offer support for children and their families when a parent or sibling is dying and /or after the loss. They offer home visits to explain how they may be able to help.
This is a free service.
Contact: http://www.seesaw.org.uk/
Tel: 01865 744768 Mon-Fri 8.30-4.30
British Dyslexia Association (BDA)
‘Dyslexia is described as a specific difficulty in learning in one or more of reading, spelling and written language which can be accompanied by other difficulties of varying degrees’.
BDA describe themselves as the Voice of Dyslexia and this is reflected in the amount of information and advice on the website. To include: What to do if you think your child may be dyslexic and what the indicators are, how to help your child at home including worksheets to download for different ages, many of which are free and areas of consideration when choosing a school.
Well worth a look.
Contact: http://www.bdadyslexia.org.uk/parent
Tel: 0333 4054567
Websites and APPs to help support learning at home.
*Please note that we always recommend parents to visit new websites together with their children to ensure their safety.” For all Apps – go to the App Store on your device and search for the title (some are to be purchased but most are free).
English
www.oxfordowl.co.uk (Free Oxford Reading Tree Online Books and More!)
Lego Movie Maker App
www.childrensuniversity.manchester.ac.uk (Lots of Learning – but the Adjective Detective is fun!)
www.makebeliefscomix.com (Comic Strip Maker – Write in different languages as well!)
We also recommend the Oxford Primary Punctuation, Grammar and Spelling Dictionary Book. Please click here to view it’s online description.
Maths
ixl Maths (For all year groups – great practice!)
Sushi Monster App (For all Ages to help reinforce and build up calculation fluency)
Maths One Billion App (Recommended for 4-6 – Brilliant to build up core foundations!)
French
Linguascope (Practice for all languages – see the office for our school password)
Duolingo APP
German
www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2cxfngNyPM (Gruffalo in German)
www.languageguide.org/german/vocabulary (German online dictionary)
www.goethe.de/en/spr/ueb/led.html (Goethe Website – great information – links to German Apps)
www.lingonetz.de (Fun and Games all in German)
Computing
http://www.keybr.com/ (Touch Typing)
http://www.typing.com/
www.allcancode.com
Bee Bot App (From 4+ to help children with simple programming)
E-Safety
www.thinkuknow.co.uk (Internet Safety)
www.kidrex.org (Google Safe Search Site for Kids)
PSHCE/Philosophy
www.quandarygame.org (Game for 8+ where children have to make ethical and moral decisions)
Science
www.theforestacademy.com (Learn about trees)
www.hunkinsexperiments.com (Fun experiments)
http://planetquest.jpl.nasa.gov/system/interactable/1/ (Investigate how to make a planet work)
www.exploratorium.edu/cooking/index.html (Science of Cooking)
Art and Design and Technology
www.spatulatta.com (Cooking Website for Children)
www.artsconnected.org/toolkit/index.html (Artist’s Toolkit – Learn about different artistic styles and techniques)
www.whatimade.com (Some fun and quirky projects found in this online blog with illustrations)
www.ldd.lego.com/en-gb (Lego Digital Designer)
Music
Would you like to learn an instrument?
The Oxfordshire County Music Service offer lessons on a range of instruments and ensembles. Follow this link to their website for more information and an online application.
www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/musicinterest
Please contact us on 01865 816990 for more information or assistance.
www.keepingscore.org/interactive (Explore music interactively!)
www.sfskids.org (San Francisco Symphony – Fun and Games with music)
www.charanga.com/site (Our school music site – Use your login to begin learning!)
History/Geography
www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/films/view_all_films.htm (Excellent historical short public information clips)
http://www.ancientcivilizations.co.uk/home_set.html (Discover ancient civilizations)
http://www.operationwardiary.org/ (World War I)
http://www.ngkids.co.uk/ (National Geographic for Kids)
All Learning!
www.thekidshouldseethis.com (An excellent video website for curious young minds!)
www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/ks2/games/questionaut (Fun KS2 game testing English, Maths and Science -go on a magical journey to uncover your friend’s hat.)
www.splash.abc.net.au/home (Australian website for all subjects)
Please find below handouts from our various Parents Information Evenings.
Reading and Phonics Session
Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND)
What does it mean for you and your family and how to get the help you need?
The local offer for SEN and Disability (SEND) brings together information about education, health and care services for children and young people from 0 to 25 with SEND.
Oxfordshire County Council has good information on services and is a guide to accessing support.
https://www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/cms/public-site/special-educational-needs-and-disability-local-offer
SENDIASS Oxfordshire
Formally Parent Partnership, offering impartial information, advice and support to parents of children and young people with an SEN and disability. You can get in touch via phone or email.
SENDIASS Oxfordshire aims to help parents, carers, young people and educational professionals to work together to provide the best possible support to children and young people with special educational needs. They can also link with other organisations offering advice and support.
https://www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/cms/public-site/sendiass-oxfordshire-formerly-parent-partnership
01865 810516 (term–time only)
Children’s centres are for children under five and their families, places where they can find a variety of activities, play, information and support from professionals working in a wide range of fields, whatever their background or circumstances.
Wallingford Children’s Centre
The Wigod Centre
96a Wilding Road
Wallingford
OX10 8AJ
Tel: 01491 835179
https://www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/cms/content/wallingford-childrens-centre
Bullying UK
What is Bullying and What can you do about it? More than half of all children are involved in bullying as perpurtrator, victim or witness therefore most parents do have to deal with it at some point and knowing how can be challenging.
BullyingUK provides useful information on what best to say and what to avoid saying in helping resolve the experience. There is also a section on Cyberbullying and what to look out for if you are worried this may be happening.
Contact: http://www.bullying.co.uk/advice-for-parents/what-to-do-if-your-child-is-being-bullied/
NSPCC
A useful guide in deciding when it is okay to leave your child at home without you.
There is no specific age when a child can be left home alone as maturity and understanding is different for each child. The NSPCC provides useful guidance on how to make this tricky decision. There are also tips on choosing a baby sitter.
Contact: http://www.nspcc.org.uk/preventing-abuse/keeping-children-safe/leaving-child-home-alone/
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