NEWS...


Over 185,000 signups for Classroom Secrets Kids


Halifax-based educational resource provider, Classroom Secrets, has launched Classroom Secrets Kids, enabling primary pupils to continue their education through home learning lessons and interactive games that match the English national curriculum. Celebrating their seventh


year in business this year, towards the end of 2019 the company launched a separate home-learning website for children, complementing what they were being taught by teachers using Classroom Secrets resources in their lessons. As the COVID-19 outbreak became a pandemic and schools were at risk of closure, the plan to develop the games and activities on Classroom Secrets Kids was moved forward ahead of the original schedule. Access to the games and activities on Classroom Secrets Kids website is


currently free and will remain so for as long as possible. This forms part of a wider package offered by the company at this challenging time, which includes free weekly home learning packs (as recommended by gov.uk) on the main Classroom Secrets website, a daily home learning timetable, a partnership with BBC Bitesize daily lessons to create daily content, and a support group on Facebook called ‘Coronavirus Home Learning Support for Teachers and Parents’ that has over 11,000 members. Claire Riley, CEO of Classroom Secrets, commented “We’ve been


overwhelmed by the response to our new Classroom Secrets Kids service, both in terms of how well it’s been received and how many people have signed up. We knew that there was going to be a huge demand for home learning, and so as soon as we heard about the potential school closures it was our top priority. Classroom Secrets Kids, provides something directly for parents and children to help learning at home. Being able to offer it for free at this early stage was vital to us, so we can ensure that children get the education they need without putting any unwanted financial pressure on parents.”


uhttps://kids.classroomsecrets.co.uk/


Essential films to see before you’re 15


Film education charity Into Film and the BFI are excited to announce their updated list of the films to watch before you’re 15. The new additions are all available to stream and range from legendary titles to more modern masterpieces, offering young people the ideal stimulus to keep them meaningfully occupied, by introducing them to new cultures and languages as well as different walks of life. The ‘50 films you should see by the age of 15' was a list collated by the BFI


in 2005 to inspire young people to take great films just as seriously as great books and art. Striving to look beyond films made recently and at those from outside the UK or Hollywood, the BFI asked more than 70 film educators, producers, teachers, authors and critics internationally to suggest their own Top 10s, which were combined in a single list. Now, 15 years on, Into Film has collaborated with BFI Education to add


another 15 films to the original list. The titles range from beloved titles that didn't quite get enough votes 15 years ago, to more recent ones that have become classics in the years since. The full list of the original 50 plus the 15 new films can be found on the


BFI website, which also includes what streaming platforms the titles are available to watch on and where possible, any supporting learning resources produced either by Into Film or the BFI to help young people get the most out of their viewing experience. Into Film engages with over half of UK schools, putting film at the heart of


young people’s education and is supported by the BFI awarding National Lottery funding. https://www.bfi.org.uk/news-opinion/news-bfi/lists/50-films-to-see-by-15 https://www.intofilm.org/news-and-views/articles/bfi-films-before-15


Stay “Wild at Home” this spring with Kent Wildlife Trust


Kent Wildlife Trust has recently launched a new ‘Wild at Home’ series which is dedicated to delivering a daily dose of the great outdoors direct to our homes during these difficult times. The Trust is urging the public to keep creating a Wilder Kent at home through their series which includes top tips and advice provided by experts. Staff from across the Trust are contributing to the new video series and bringing their expert knowledge whilst providing a virtual window to the outdoors


with highlights from our nature reserves and beyond. These videos showcase the best of the season’s wildlife as well as exploring different habitats and activities that people can do at home. The Trust is encouraging the public to use hashtags #WildAtHome and #WilderKent to engage with nature


at home and share their experiences with others on social media. Whether it’s a species spotted through a window, or a small act to help wildlife, these hashtags can be used to share moments of wildness and connect with likeminded people. Paul Hadaway, Director of Conservation at Kent Wildlife Trust says: “People are discovering that they want


and need to connect to nature more than ever – they’re finding solace in nature, using our inspiration to help wildlife in their gardens and outdoor spaces and educating their children about the natural world. Huge numbers of people are enjoying our Wild at Home series dedicated to bringing nature to you and your families.”


uwww.kentwildlifetrust.org.uk/wildathome 4 www.education-today.co.uk May 2020


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