The Learning Journal
Ideas, strategies and reassurance for parents
Written by our tutors, for the families we work with. Ten pieces in each of our five strands, from early number sense to GCSE exam technique.
English
Reading comprehension: answering the question asked
Children lose marks by writing what they know instead of what the question asks. A simple fix for parents.
4 min read
English
Phonics at home without the flashcards battle
Early reading should feel like play. Simple, low-stress phonics routines that actually build decoding skill.
4 min read
English
Why handwriting still matters in a keyboard world
Legible, fluent handwriting saves marks at every stage of school. Here is how to help without nagging.
4 min read
English
Building a wider vocabulary, one word at a time
Vocabulary is the quiet engine of reading and writing. Small, deliberate habits that grow it fast.
4 min read
English
Creative writing: helping a reluctant writer start
The blank page is the enemy. Practical ways to get a hesitant writer moving in five minutes.
5 min read
English
Grammar terms parents meet in Year 6
Fronted adverbials, relative clauses, modal verbs. A plain-English glossary for the SATs grammar paper.
3 min read
English
Reading for pleasure when your child says they hate books
Some children genuinely find reading hard. Matching the right book to the right child is everything.
4 min read
English
Spelling strategies that work for dyslexic learners
Look-cover-write-check is not enough on its own. Multisensory spelling approaches that hold.
5 min read
English
How to talk to your child about a book
Comprehension grows in conversation, not in worksheets. Six questions that open up a book.
3 min read
English
The power of reading aloud, even in Year 6
Reading aloud to a capable reader is not babyish — it is one of the most effective things you can do.
4 min read