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 This website is primarily a resource for primary school teachers...but we hope parents will find it valuable too for promoting fun learning at home!
The programmes are intended to help teachers deliver the curriculum - the National Curriculum in England, the 5 to 14 Guidelines in Scotland and programmes are also relevant to the programmes of study in Northern Ireland and Wales. In fact, it's quite possible that your own child is already a frequent user of School Radio in the classroom. |
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You won't need us to tell you that children love sound and respond to it from the earliest age. School Radio programmes aim to harness that love of sound through some of the traditional strengths of radio - including storytelling, music, songs and games which involve sound discrimination. But, as well as being fun, the programmes carefully support what your child will already be learning in school.
In the classroom programmes are intended for use on pre-recorded CDs. This is because the programmes are 'interactive' and include a number of pause points at which the programme can be stopped for children to respond to the material. At home you can replicate this use of the pause button by listening to the programmes as 'audio on demand' using . This means complete programmes 'streamed' over the web at the click of a button. There are links below to some of the programmes available as audio on demand which may be of interest. |
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When you use programmes remember the following:
- Have everything you'll need ready beforehand (usually just a pen/pencil and a piece of paper, but it might include additional support materials if you have any of these).
- Refer to the programme pages on this website beforehand - they include useful information, such as the target age groups and the length of the programmes.
- Make sure your child is sitting comfortably ready to listen before starting a programme.
- For some programmes (e.g. stories) you may wish to display something to act as a 'focus object' - something visual to focus attention while listening. You can easily do this on the computer as the Real Player will minimize to the bottom of your screen when you open another application but the radio programme will continue playing. You can display the Real Player again at any time by clicking on it.
- The key to successful use of the programmes is to pause the programmes when necessary. You can pause and restart the programmes using the buttons on the Real Media player. The programme will restart exactly where you paused it - just like a conventional cassette recorder. Do this either to undertake activities suggested by the programme or to resettle ready to listen again. Remember that you will remain online while the programme is paused.
Please note that pre-recorded copies of School Radio programmes on CD are only available for order to schools.
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You may be interested in the following, all of which are available as audio on demand. Most series also have notes to accompany them which will help you get the most out of the programmes (visit the Teacher's Notes section).
If you've children aged 3 to 5 the following are perfect for listening at home and joining in. Programmes are fun...and because they target important nursery/pre-school activities you'll know it's time well spent!
Wiggle Waggle
This series emphasises early literacy and movement skills. Ideal to listen along with the songs and stories and take part in the simple movement activities.
Music Box
Listen to stories...and join in with singing. A great way to develop early music skills!
Playtime
An interactive miscellany with stories, songs, rhymes and plenty of opportunities to join in. The material in each programme is grouped by theme and links to popular topics of the Foundation stage of the curriculum.
For ages 5 to 7...
Reading Tree Stories
If your child is reading the popular Oxford Reading Tree scheme at school you may like to listen to these stories featuring Biff, Chip, Kipper and the others. Each programme is completely faithful to the original text. The stories are all from Magpies stages 8 and 9.
Story Pack
This series includes recordings of some of the most popular recent children's picture books, including The Rescue Party and Elmer and the Hippos, as well as some classics like Mr Gumpy's Outing.
The Song Tree
A music series with lots of songs to learn and join in with. In the Spring term the programmes have a seaside theme (Rockpool rap) and are also based on the well-known story of The Emperor and the Nightingale.
For children aged 7 to 9...
Megamaths
A mental maths quiz that's ideal for use at home as well as at school.
For older children aged 7 to 11...
A Christmas Carol
Our version of Charles Dickens's classic ghost story A Christmas Carol is available to listen to at any time. The story is faithful to the original text and is abridged in 9 episodes, each 15 mins long. Ideal listening in the run up to Christmas!
Maths Challenge
More maths fun to build and consolidate children's ability with mental maths.
History Clips Victorians
Your child will very likely study the topic of The Victorians during Key Stage 2. This series offers a number of short dramas - each about 5 minutes long - relating to the lives of Victorians and in particular children. The programmes are an ideal way to broaden pupils' experience of the Victorian era. |
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