New Website will empower parents to teach at home
A new website launched today will give parents direct internet access to the same teaching notes and learning support products that are used in schools.Called keen2learn, the new site will offer a vast range of products, support materials and guidance to enable parents to supplement their children’s teaching across all major subjects and through all the key stages covered by the national curriculum.Alistair Owens, keen2learn managing director, says that despite increasing government expenditure, surveys show parental anxiety about their children’s progress continues to rise. In particular, parents worry that large class sizes severely restrict the time available for essential one-on-one tuition tailored to individual needs.
“Parent power is a vast untapped teaching resource,” Owens said. “But parents worry about causing confusion with their ad hoc teaching - and need practical help so they can work squarely within the school process and supplement it in a safe, structured and positive way. My idea is to provide the products and know-how needed so children can be taught at home in the same subjects and using the same methods and resources that they will recognise from school.”
The new website offers over 650 products ranged in the four key stage age groups from pre school foundation to Key Stage 4 - GCSE. level it covers subjects including; numeracy, geography, literacy, science, ICT, history and maths. Teaching notes and usage guidance is provided where necessary. The site also contains links to government support agencies providing additional teaching advice.
Products vary from instructive board games and practical educational aids - through to an extensive range of interactive software. Although the products are not toys, an element of fun and enjoyment has been built in to stimulate the child’s wish to learn.
In particular, keen2learn seeks to help parents anxious to use one-on-one home tuition to overcome problems where gaps in understanding have occurred at school.
“Many children are reluctant to ask questions in open class at school and this can lead to gaps in understanding.” Owens explains. “Our products are designed to help parents identify and overcome these problems in a way which will complement the school process and not conflict with it.”
Many months of professional design resource have been employed to ensure the site is fast, secure and easy to use.
