Supporting Your Child at Home

Reading Support

📚 Oxford Owl Free eBooks, reading advice and activities for parents. https://home.oxfordowl.co.uk

📚 BookTrust Book recommendations, reading tips and activities for children of all ages. https://www.booktrust.org.uk

📚 National Literacy Trust Useful advice on reading, writing and language development. https://literacytrust.org.uk

📚 Words for Life Practical literacy activities and advice from the National Literacy Trust. https://wordsforlife.org.uk

Phonics Support (Little Wandle)

🔤 Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised Guidance videos and support materials to help parents understand how phonics is taught in school. https://www.littlewandlelettersandsounds.org.uk/resources/for-parents

🔤 Little Wandle Pronunciation Videos Videos demonstrating correct phoneme pronunciation. https://www.littlewandlelettersandsounds.org.uk/resources/for-parents

Writing Support

✏️ BBC Bitesize English Grammar, punctuation, spelling and writing activities for all primary age groups. https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/subjects/zv48q6f

✏️ National Literacy Trust Writing Activities Fun writing ideas and activities for home. https://literacytrust.org.uk/family-zone

Story Time and Reading for Pleasure

📖 Authorfy Video masterclasses and activities from popular children's authors and illustrators. https://authorfy.com

📖 Storyline Online Children's stories read aloud by well-known actors. https://storylineonline.net

📖 World Book Day Book recommendations and reading activities. https://www.worldbookday.com

Vocabulary and Language Development

💬 BBC Tiny Happy People (particularly useful for EYFS and KS1 families) Activities and advice to support speech, language and communication skills. https://www.bbc.co.uk/tiny-happy-people

💬 National Literacy Trust Family Zone Simple activities to develop vocabulary and communication at home. https://literacytrust.org.uk/family-zone

Top Tips for Parents

  • Read with your child every day, even if only for 10 minutes.
  • Talk about books and ask questions about characters, events and opinions.
  • Encourage your child to use new vocabulary in conversation.
  • Visit your local library regularly.
  • Encourage writing for real purposes such as letters, shopping lists, diaries and stories.
  • Celebrate reading and writing successes at home.

Woodheys Reading Promise

At Woodheys, we believe that developing a love of reading is one of the most important gifts we can give our children. We ask families to support us by:

  • Listening to children read regularly.
  • Sharing stories together.
  • Discussing books and authors.
  • Celebrating reading as an enjoyable part of everyday life.

This partnership between school and home helps our children become confident, lifelong readers and writers.

Local Libraries and Community Reading Opportunities

At Woodheys, we encourage all children to develop a lifelong love of reading beyond the classroom. Trafford offers a fantastic range of library services, events and reading initiatives for children and families. Trafford Libraries regularly provide storytimes, rhymetimes, writing workshops, reading groups and holiday activities for children. [trafford.gov.uk], [trafford.gov.uk]

📚 Sale Library

Our nearest local library is Sale Library, located at Sale Waterside. Families can access a wide range of children's books, eBooks, audiobooks, story sessions and holiday activities throughout the year. [trafford.gov.uk]

📖 Trafford Libraries Events

Trafford Libraries host a variety of free events for children and families, including:

  • Weekly Storytime sessions
  • Rhymetime sessions for younger children
  • Shared Reading groups
  • Children's holiday activities
  • Creative writing workshops
  • Author and storytelling events

Find upcoming events here:

🎵 Summer Reading Challenge

Every summer, Trafford Libraries take part in the national Summer Reading Challenge, encouraging children to continue reading throughout the holidays while earning rewards and certificates. The challenge is free and open to all primary-aged children. [trafford.gov.uk], [summerread...nge.org.uk]

📚 Reading Clubs and Book Communities

Children can access a variety of book clubs, reader groups and creative activities through Trafford Libraries, helping them to discover new authors and share their love of reading with others. Trafford Libraries regularly host children's reading groups, storytelling events and writing opportunities. [trafford.gov.uk], [eventbrite.co.uk]

💻 Free Digital Reading Resources through Trafford Libraries

Library membership provides free access to:

  • eBooks
  • Audiobooks
  • Digital magazines
  • Online resources via BorrowBox

Families can explore these resources through the Trafford Libraries service. [trafford.gov.uk]

Woodheys Reading Challenge

As part of our commitment to developing enthusiastic readers, we encourage all families to:

✅ Visit the library regularly
✅ Enjoy books together every day
✅ Take part in Trafford reading events and challenges
✅ Share recommendations with friends and family
✅ Explore both fiction and non-fiction texts

Together, we can help every child become a confident reader and develop a lifelong love of books.

 

Here are some useful educational links:

CEOP - Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre

We want all young people to know that if they are being threatened online, if they've shared something they regret, it's never too late to get help.

Young people might feel like there is no way out but they can always report to CEOPonline at www.thinkuknow.co.uk or visiting the CEOP Safety Centre.

The NSPCC have set up a dedicated helpline for young people suffering this type of crime, which will be open 24/7 throughout September and October 2013.

NSPCC helpline: 0800 328 0904

Young people can also call Childline on 0800 1111

www.kidsmart.org.uk    

www.childnet.com

E-Safety - safety issues of using email, chat rooms, instant messaging and any other 'direct contact' communications device, along with the importance of keeping personal information private. Viruses and other technological risks of exchanging and sharing information including the issues of plagiarism and copyright .

 

Further wesites that may be of interest:

www.lovereading4schools.co.uk

www.trafford.ac.uk Leisure Learning at a venue near you!

Develop a new hobby, pick up new skills or learn with the family a range of new courses from Trafford College.

education@bt.com Coaching for life for parents and carers to use with children to develop confidence and skills in a fun way.