Articles
Bella learning seeks to give you relevant and accessible articles that will help you navigate primary school as a parent and support your child. We get our ideas from talking to parents, kids, forums and by seeing what you google the most! Articles will cover information about the curriculum and learning, what happens in the classroom, how to interact with school and teachers and also more difficult and personal issues such as learning needs, bullying and relationships.
Phonics – Phriend or Pho?
Since 2005, every child in state education has been taught to decode words through the teaching of phonics, starting in Reception and culminating in a (rather obscure) statutory 'screening check' at the end of Year One. In short, children in England are taught the 44...
How can you help your child flourish in (and even enjoy) tests?
We live in a testing culture. Before they reach secondary school, state school pupils in England will have undertaken the following assessments: AGE 5/6 - Year 1 phonics screening check AGE 6/7 - Year 2 SATS in Maths, Reading and Grammar, Punctuation and Spelling...
Help! My Child Hates Maths!
More than any other subject, maths can induce real anxiety in adults and children alike. 'I hate maths' is heard much more often that 'I hate English', and given that pupils spend at least an hour a day studying the subject from the ages of 4-16, making sure they...
7 Fuss-Free Ways to Support Your Child’s Learning in 2019
Parents are naturally great teachers and we know that their involvement in education makes a huge difference. But we also know that families are stretched for time and that sitting down at a desk with a worksheet together doesn’t always go to plan… So, here are Bella...
‘Tis The Season of Magic – Let’s Believe In Education
Earlier this year, I was handing out leaflets for Bella Learning at an event, when a man with two young children rebuffed my offer with the words 'No thanks. I don't believe in education.' He said it quite politely and moved on but I was rooted to the spot in...
Behind The Scenes Of The Christmas Production – Teachers’ Version
My news feed this week has been filled with gorgeous pictures of shepherds, angels and donkeys. Alongside this, a lot of parents have been 'taking their hats off' to the teachers that have managed to get these shepherds, angels and donkeys into some sort of...
Primary School League Tables Explained For Parents
This week saw the annual publication of the (state) primary school league tables. Schools are well-aware of what this means for them, but what does it mean for parents? Bella Learning talks you through the maths (and the reading and the writing...) What do they...
Bella Learning’s Book Recommendations
]Here are Bella Learning's current year by year teacher picks for primary school kids, based on entertainment (and educational) value: Reception - Oi Frog! by Kes Gray and Jim Field A hilarious tale of rules and rhymes, perfect for an early reader to enjoy with an...
Primary school jargon explained for parents
Primary School Jargon Explained for Parents Here is Bella Learning’s simple guide to some of the terminology (and acronyms) used in and around primary schools today: ‘Form-entry’ This tells you how many classes there are in each year group. For example, a...
Parents’ Evening
Despite the sore throat and spinning head by the end of the event, as a teacher I used to love parents’ evening. Those 10 minutes can make all the difference to your child’s experience and outcomes at school so go prepared! These are Bella Learning’s TOP TIPS for a...