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Break it up into bite size pieces so that they don't get overwhelmed

Mine know that I’m very easily distracted but I’m ok with that. If we’re cooking for example we might try to find out where the ingredients come from, we use ratios to work out how much we need, we look at the etymology, how they grow, and so on. Geography, history, English, maths all from making a pizza!

Being away from family has been difficult, SKYPE has been an absolute saviour. Joseph is 5 and Chloe 3, so education has not been difficult.

Been very tough not seeing my grandchildren. Zoom has been great but not the same.

Learning needs to be fun. And don’t get disheartened if the child doesn’t pick up the concept straight away, sometimes repetition helps, but I usually think if the child doesn’t get it this is because I have not explained it in a way they can understand- so down to me to try another way. I have so missed the physical contact but the first recent meeting was ecstatic!

Unable to see the grandchildren, we have stared doing virtual bedtime stories using the duplicates of books we both have in the house. The girls follow the story at one end whilst we read from the other. It works surprisingly well and gives their parents a brief break.

We found that offering a mix of educational resources (various websites and different types of activities) has helped with home learning. Our relationship did not change because it made is realise even more how lucky we are to have each other. Thank you for the opportunity to take part in this competition.

Keeping a routine, finding resources online. We learnt how to use Zoom and have family members teach different subjects.

Start first thing with homeschooling. stop At midday. Have an early lunch. Then fresh air & help with checking farm animals. Free time. Do some fun cooking together. Routine is the most important. Try not to get cross.

Lots of help when needed. Keep kids occupy....work, play, cooking and walks

I've been able to encourage learning that they might not do at school - appreciating nature, cookery, the arts and how to listen well. All at a far more relaxed pace.

My DGC x4 have written letters asking about our childhood and another their life during lockdown, all with lovely handwriting and sketches. They and mum have then cycled to deliver the letters and we have been able to speak from the window whilst they rest in the garden.The following week and another cycle ride they collect our replies.The younger ones have then been shown how to phone and text from mums mobile whilst the older ones have practised sending us videos of their activities.They have had so much fun experiences.

Establishing a routine. Lots of praise.
Skype is good for Keeping in touch

We have two 2 year old grandchildren and we took their favourite books from our nursery and I read them whilst videoing via my phone the pages and as I turned them gave emphasis to key elements in the pictures on the page. I also took their favourite puzzles and again videoed the puzzles being done asking “where does this piece go ? show me”. We then sent the videos to our daughters who used them for the after bath ready for bedtime reading. It was such a joy when their husbands videoed the reading sessions with them and it meant they heard us still reading and doing their puzzles. As soon as we were allowed to have them back they went straight up to the nursery took out the books and came down with them so that we could read them in person. Whilst only two years old they could hold the tablet and watch and listen so it gave the daughters some time to clear away after bath time and gave us the feeling we were helping albeit in a small way.

Home baking and crafting together has been enjoyable for my grandchildren. They've taken photos of what they've made too

I love the fact that with Zoom, we are in touch every day rather than once a week. We have a timetable and I help with the work set by the school in the mornings so their mum can get on with her work. Then we all bake together most afternoons.

Keeping a consistent approach always helps little ones - even more important when nursery has been curtailed and they are with both parents working from home. Just as we start to get back to normal-ish routine the school holidays will take over and back to square one. I think starting with the most familiar and introducing something new with visual, aural cues is better when learning at home than the in with two feet approach!!

Let them get it wrong, you can put them right next time you do it together

Engaging with them & opening up discussions to ignite an interest in learning although to do this it's important to think about the individual ages and how they make sense of the world.

Lots of fun interesting activities, I used to teach and know children learn best when they are having fun and interested in what they are doing. We FaceTime and also communicate by post. It is an exciting time of day that we look forward to.

Mixing a bit of fun whilst still being stern enough that they understand they are learning as well. Sticking with a set timetable and also taking breaks as if in school, if the sun's shining we take lessons outside (in the shade) and a bit of music mixed in as they say that helps concentration too.

I’m a retired teacher, specialising in primary aged SEN. I’ve been teaching my two year one granddaughters literacy and numeracy since the beginning of March although one left us a few weeks ago to return to school. The lessons have been delivered via Zoom which has caused some difficulties although not insurmountable.
I’ve found that the key to a successful lesson is in the planning of a range of personalised activities based solely on how the child is achieving and what the learning objective is. For example, literacy lessons will have been planned using the examination of a writing sample e-mailed to me from the previous lesson. Spelling errors would be addressed and practised either using spelling rules or mnemonics etc for tricky words or phonological awareness for phase 2-5 sounds.
In maths, I’ve noticed that my granddaughter has a problem with the teens numbers so I’ve ensured she has bundles of 10 straws with single ones at her disposal so we can explore place value together.
It’s not ideal and obviously I’d prefer her next to me to explore these maths and literacy issues but it’s the next best thing. I’m certainly enjoying doing my job again and spending time with my girls.

Lots of brain breaks and keeping as active as possible between tasks to ensure tired out and good night’s sleep!! Also constantly praising the effort and the results. The zoom chats have been a bit harder as the children love the interaction if they’re 1:1 but the squabble or wander off if both there at the same time. Everyone also really misses the physical contact and we have learned to appreciate that even more!!

Keep it to routine as much as can be done. Arrange lunch and play time so work will not be boring. Arrange games and jigsaw, card games which you will get engaged and participating together. May be some cooking lesson and washing up and play in the garden and do some planting and sowing seeds. Try to keep in touch through WhatsApp and zoom.

Keeping to a routine but adapting that routine if things aren’t working Informing kids of the change too is important