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Children's learning resources for parents in the UK

Choose sensible books, websites, free tools and support routes by your child's goal, stage and the kind of help they need.

Find the right resource routeSee good places to start

Editorial

  • Lead authorRobin GibbonsFounder & CEO·Latimer Tuition
  • Reviewed byHeather LatimerTutor matching & customer service·Latimer Tuition
  • Published
  • Last reviewed

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Pages inside Children's learning resources for parents in the UK. Pick whichever matches the question in front of you.

  1. Read the guide

    Best children’s books by age and stage

    A practical UK parent guide to choosing books that fit your child’s age, interests, confidence and preferred way of reading.

What kind of learning resource does your child need?

Start with the reason you are looking for a resource, then choose a format that fits your child and your family.

Help parents choose a route by goal, stage and format before they scroll.

What you are trying to doGood starting routeBest formatCheck first

Find reading books they will actually try

BookTrust, library route, Oxford Owl, Latimer book guides

Free / library / books / online

Match age, interest and reading confidence

Practise reading or phonics at home

Oxford Owl and school-aligned reading guidance

Online / free eBooks / print

Ask school which reading or phonics approach they use

Build everyday maths confidence

Family Maths Toolkit and short real-life maths activities

Free / offline / online

Keep it low-pressure and use alongside school learning

Find structured online lessons

Oak National Academy or LearnEnglish Kids where relevant

Online / free

Check screen balance and topic fit

Keep costs low

Libraries, BookTrust, free eBooks and free online routes

Free / library / online

Verify availability in your area

Work out whether resources are enough

School or teacher, SENCO if concerns persist, tutor where structured practice is needed

Support route

Do not use resources to delay asking for help

Good places to start

These routes give parents practical places to begin. They are not a universal ranking: choose the option that fits your child’s goal, stage, school approach, budget and screen needs.

Labels such as free, mostly free or paid/mixed describe typical access at the time of writing — always confirm on the provider’s site before you rely on them.

How we chose these
  • UK parent usability
  • Free or low-cost availability
  • Age/stage clarity
  • School-fit usefulness
  • Source quality
  • Low maintenance risk
  • Clear parent job solved

Reviewed 2026-04-30

Reading and home learning — mostly free

Oxford Owl

Oxford Owl / Oxford University Press

Best for: Primary reading, phonics fit and free eBooks

Combines age filters, reading support and access to a free eBook library.

Check first

Check the school’s phonics or reading scheme and whether registration is needed.

Oxford Owl for Home

Book discovery and early years — free routes

BookTrust Bookfinder and Bookstart

BookTrust

Best for: Finding age-appropriate books and shared-reading starting points

Supports book discovery and free early-years reading programmes.

Check first

Check eligibility and availability for Bookstart packs by nation and local route.

BookTrust

Literacy activities — free

Words for Life

National Literacy Trust

Best for: Simple literacy activities and parent guidance

Practical activities for reading, language and literacy at home.

Check first

Use as literacy support, not as a whole-curriculum replacement.

Words for Life activities

Maths confidence — free

Family Maths Toolkit

National Numeracy

Best for: Low-pressure everyday maths and confidence-building

Helps parents support maths without turning everything into a worksheet.

Check first

Use alongside school learning, not instead of it.

Family Maths Toolkit

Free library route

Local libraries and the Summer Reading Challenge

GOV.UK / The Reading Agency / local libraries

Best for: Borrowing before buying and building reading motivation

Free access to reading materials and seasonal reading motivation through libraries.

Check first

Check local library services and current Summer Reading Challenge dates.

Find local library services

Whole-curriculum online lessons — free

Oak National Academy

Oak National Academy

Best for: Structured subject support and catch-up practice

Free lessons with videos and quizzes across subjects.

Check first

Balance with screen guidance and check whether the lesson matches the child’s school topic.

Oak pupils' lessons

English language support — free

LearnEnglish Kids

British Council

Best for: English-learning games, stories, apps and parent advice

A dedicated English-language learning route when that is the actual goal.

Check first

Use when English-language support is the goal, not as a general curriculum replacement.

LearnEnglish Kids for parents

Printable and digital parent resources — paid/mixed

Twinkl Parents Hub

Twinkl

Best for: Printable activities, worksheets and broad subject coverage

A wide bank of parent-facing activities by age and subject.

Check first

Some resources are subscription-based; check quality, fit and whether a free alternative is enough.

Twinkl Parents

Parent script

A quick question to ask school

Situation

When parents are unsure whether a resource matches the school's approach.

Try saying

Which reading level, phonics approach, topic or maths method is my child using at the moment, so we can choose something that supports school learning rather than confusing it?

Why it helps

This gives parents a low-pressure way to check resource fit before buying or downloading more.

Support ladder

When learning resources are not enough

Some children need more than another worksheet, app or book. This ladder helps parents decide what to try next without turning the page into diagnostic advice.

When tutoring might help with a clear, school-aligned goal, you can find a tutor — as a late step alongside school routes, not instead of them.

  • At home

    Try one or two well-matched resources consistently, keep sessions short and notice whether confidence improves.

  • At school

    Ask the teacher what level, topic or method the child is using and whether there are school-recommended resources.

  • SENCO or specialist

    If concerns persist or the child may need SEND support, speak to school and ask about the SENCO route — the usual starting point for formal SEND questions in England.

  • Latimer tutor role

    A tutor may help where a child needs structured practice, confidence-building or targeted support, but tutoring should not replace school advice or official SEND routes.

  • When to escalate

    Escalate if the child is stuck despite regular support, becomes distressed, falls further behind, or you suspect a wider learning need.

Books, reading and literacy resources

Reading resources can mean different things: finding books a child wants to try, practising reading or phonics, or using short literacy activities at home. Start with the child’s interest and confidence, then check school fit where the resource affects reading level or method.

  • Start with interest and reading confidence, not only age.
  • Use libraries and BookTrust-style discovery routes before buying lots of books.
  • Check school reading or phonics approach where accuracy matters.
Best children's books by age and stage

Maths resources that build confidence

Maths resources are most useful when they feel manageable. Short practice, real-life examples and confidence-building activities can help parents support maths at home without trying to reteach the whole curriculum.

  • Keep maths practice short and low-pressure.
  • Use real-life situations where possible.
  • Ask school if the method looks different from how the parent learned it.

Online lessons and curriculum support

Online lessons can help when a child needs to revisit a topic or practise independently. They work best when the topic matches what the child is learning and when screen use is balanced with reading, play, discussion and offline practice.

  • Useful for structured practice and catching up on specific topics.
  • Not every online resource matches the child's school topic or level.
  • For younger children, balance screen use with reading, play and offline activities.

Free and low-cost routes before you buy

Free does not automatically mean suitable, but it is often a sensible first step. Libraries, free eBook routes, reading programmes and free online lessons can help parents test what works before paying for workbooks, subscriptions or tutoring. Research on digital inclusion also reminds us that cost and device access vary — free routes matter most when budgets are tight.

  • Borrow before buying where possible.
  • Check local library services.
  • Re-check whether a resource is still free before describing it as free.

Where to go from here

Use the links below and the cards on this page to go deeper on reading choices, homework routines and when extra support might help.

Related sections

You might also find these useful

Pages from elsewhere in the Ed Centre that share the most ground with this one — picked by keyword overlap rather than position in the navigation tree.

Related sections

Educational resources for parents

Choose a sensible starting point for reading, maths, homework, revision or home learning, and know when to ask school or seek more tailored support.

Related sections

How to teach a child to read at home

Practical first steps for supporting reading at home, from phonics and book choice to calm routines and when to ask school for help.

Support and clarity

Frequently asked questions

Straight answers to the questions people ask most often.

Are free children's learning resources enough?

Free resources are often a good starting point, especially libraries, free eBooks and free online lessons. The right choice still depends on your child’s goal, stage and whether the resource fits what they are doing at school.

Should my child use online learning resources every day?

Online resources can help with specific topics, but they should be balanced with age-appropriate screen use, offline practice, reading, play and conversation. For younger children, check current screen guidance and use online tools carefully.

How do I know if a resource matches my child's schoolwork?

Ask the teacher what level, topic, reading scheme, phonics approach or maths method your child is using. That makes it easier to choose a resource that supports school learning rather than confusing it.

What should I try if my child does not enjoy reading?

Start with interest and choice. Libraries, read-aloud books, short sessions, graphic books, non-fiction and book-finder tools can all help a reluctant reader try again without making reading feel like a test.

When should I ask school or the SENCO for help?

Speak to school if your child stays stuck despite regular support, becomes distressed, falls further behind or you suspect a wider learning need. The school can explain next steps and, where appropriate, the SENCO route.

Is tutoring better than using books or online resources?

Tutoring can help when a child needs structured practice, confidence-building or targeted support, but it should not replace school advice or official SEND routes. Start with the need, not the product.

Sources and references

Sources and references

Official guidance

Peer-reviewed research

Other sources