Meet E.a.R.L. 2  – the perfect coding robot   E.a.R.L.2 is our brand new, own-developed coding robot. Here at Hope, we understand the importance of coding for children and having high-quality coding resources. EaRL 2 is the perfect coding robot, we love him, and we’re sure you will too! Not only is E.a.R.L.2 the coolest-looking robot, with his alien face and light-up, transparent green shell, but he is also the most useful and inspiring addition to every classroom!   E.a.R.L.2 has so many fantastic features such as:   A 250-step programme memory Imagine the exciti ..read more

Easter plant pot ideas   With Easter just around the corner on the 9th of April, it is time to start preparing activities and crafts to do with your class. There are many different activities and crafts you can do to kickstart Easter celebrations, and it can be difficult to decide on what you want your pupils to do. To help you, we have teamed up with our friend Veena to bring you exciting crafts to try out whilst encouraging an environmentally friendly attitude. Our Easter plant pot ideas are perfect for getting children involved in the celebrations whilst being creative. Discover how t ..read more

Earth Day Handprint Craft Earth Day falls on the 22nd April and it’s a day to celebrate our planet but also raise awareness on the importance of protecting the natural resources of the Earth for present generations and those to come. 4plusmama has been getting creative in celebration by making this lovely handprint craft. With only a handful of resources needed, this is an excellent craft to try with your little ones in time for Earth Day! Follow the steps below to find out how to create this Earth Day handprint craft.   What you’ll need: Blue paint Green paint Card Straws Pipe clean ..read more

Earth Day Tuff Tray Earth Day falls on the 22nd April and it’s a day to celebrate our planet but also raise awareness on the importance of protecting the natural resources of the Earth for present generations and those to come. This fun Earth Day tuff tray from our brand ambassador Early Years Outdoor can be a useful teaching aid for your little ones. They’ll be able to explore and learn related vocabulary through a sensory experience. Find out how to replicate this Earth Day tuff tray below.   What you’ll need: Tuff tray Smooshy sand – green Smooshy sand – blue Nature Animals &nbs ..read more

Easter Crafting – Recycled Lid Decorations Easter is an ideal time to get crafty with your children (and a great excuse to eat some yummy chocolate!). If you’re stuck on what crafts to do the wonderful 4plusmama has created a step-by-step guide for a recyclable bunny and chick craft that your little ones will love. Follow the steps below and kickstart your Easter! What you’ll need: Recycled lids Tissue paper PVA glue Wiggly eyes Pipe cleaners Twine Double-sided tape Scissors   Step 1 Cut or rip the tissue paper into pieces.   Step 2 Cover your recycled lid thoroughly in PVA ..read more

Effective ways to teach phonics   Phonics is one of many reading strategies for children, but unlike others, it focuses on matching letters to sounds. The goal is to provide children with the tools they need to ‘decode’ written language by assisting them in hearing, identifying, and using sounds to create various words in the English language. It is a tried-and-true method of teaching children to read and write. But how do you teach children to read and write using phonics? Each school will take a slightly different approach to phonics, but the following top phonics strategies may be use ..read more

Teaching children how to proofread and edit their own work Teaching children how to proofread and edit their own work is vital for their futures and gaining independence. They can reflect on their work and critically analyse their own work as well as others before you come to mark them. This skill is helpful for various aspects of life, but it gives children independent learning skills. Plus, they understand their mistakes more and can learn from them quicker. We have sourced ways to teach your pupils proofreading and editing. We also delve into what each year group should be able to do after ..read more

Activities and tools for a better sleep   A good night’s sleep is just as important as regular exercise and a healthy diet. Celebrate World Sleep Day with these activities to help you sleep better. Research shows that poor sleep has immediate negative effects on your hormones, exercise performance, and brain function. It can also cause weight gain and increase disease risk in adults and children. In contrast, good sleep can help you eat less, exercise better, and be healthier. Over the past few decades, both sleep quality and quantity have declined. If you want to optimise your health or ..read more

How to celebrate world poetry day World poetry day is fast approaching and it’s time for teachers to think of poem-based activities they can do with their class to celebrate it. World poetry day is on the 21st of March. The aim of the day is to celebrate poetry and inspire people to involve themselves with poetry. However, it can be quite difficult to think of ways to get children involved with poetry, especially with younger pupils. To help you, we have given some tips on how to celebrate world poetry day that you can try out with your class.   Read rhyming books This is a perfect act ..read more

Scrape Art Flowers With Spring on the way, now is the perfect time to start trying out some fun and easy crafts with your children! Scrape art is such a simple and effective technique with only a few materials needed. The lovely Creative Mama Che made some scrape art flowers which would complement any Spring occasion. Follow the steps below to make scrape art flowers with your little ones! What you’ll need: Cardboard Pastel paint Scissors Glue Green paint Marker pen   Step 1 Cover a white piece of card with small dots of pastel coloured paint. Then leave for a few minutes.   ..read more