An inside look at what our schools are like today and practical advice for navigating the educational system. School is our children’s second home. They will spend more time there than anywhere else in their formative years. We all need to talk honestly about the nature of this environment, how it works, and how it doesn’t work. Our kids are depending on us to create a school system where they can learn as well as feel happy. The more we know about how school works, the better we will be able to navigate our way through "the system" and help our children do the same. What Every Parent Should Know About School is an honest, positive, thought-provoking look at what schools are today and what they could be in the future.

What do you really know about how children learn? How helpful are different types of assessment and what do the results mean? Is homework necessary and how you can you encourage your child at home? Will ability groups and setting help your child achieve more? How do you choose the right school to suit your child? The government and the media have a lot to say about education, but what is the evidence behind these debates? This book walks you through all the most important issues in education, comparing commonly-held beliefs with simple summaries of the evidence, providing you with clear, jargon-free information. It covers topics including school choice, testing and assessment, homework and revision, primary- and secondary-specific topics, stress and mental health, and special needs. Most importantly it ensures you will be able to ask schools the right questions, interact positively with teachers and effectively support your child throughout their education. "Chris & Stuart have written a parent's guide that is jam packed with practical advice, research and informative summaries that any parent can use to support their child to succeed at school. It's organised so you can easily dip in and out when looking for information and guidance, and gives answers to questions that parents may have about their child's education. I recommend this book to all parents & guardians that want to work alongside their child's school to get the best out of their time there." Dawn Cox, Teacher and Blogger

Raising Your Kids to Succeed: What Every Parent Should Know describes what parents can do to be effective and help their children succeed, both in school and in life.

How can you help your children do well at school and beyond? It’s a question millions of parents are asking themselves as they go to ever greater lengths to secure the best education results for their children. By the time they leave home, many parents will spend 10,000 days trying to help their children prepare for adulthood. Here for the first time are the essential evidence-informed tips to make you an effective parent educator. The Good Parent Educator provides the tools that will turn excessive parenting into effective learning. Whether it is helping children learn to read or revise, engaging with teachers, paying for private tutors, choosing a school, or deciding which degree or apprenticeship to apply for, this is the must-have expert guide. It reveals what really matters in education, debunking the many education myths and misconceptions that can harm children’s learning. Enabling parents to focus on effective uses of their time will lead to better outcomes, but also to a more balanced life. Based on the findings of thousands of studies, but also filled with personal parenting stories, the book’s ultimate aim is to empower children through education so they become independent thinkers ready to prosper in the world.

The bestselling, step-by-step guide to the primary school curriculum from Toby Young and Miranda Bondy. What is your child learning each day in school? How can you tell if they are doing well or badly? And what can you do to help? This practical, detailed and user-friendly manual contains absolutely everything you need to know about primary schooling and the UK curriculum, ensuring your child will succeed and flourish every step of the way. Taking us year-by-year through our children's schooling, we'll be given simple explanations of: - What they'll be taught and why (from phonics checks to SPAG tests) - What they need to know at the start of each year - What they should be able to achieve at its end - The games and exercises we can do at home to help out Not only will this guide help you understand your children's journey through primary school, but it will also help you prepare, encourage and nurture them every step of the way. It's the manual every confused, unsure or worried parent has been waiting for.

This book shines a light on the best research into learning and the brain development that makes it all possible. Written by two distinguished education journalists, it provides an invaluable guide to the latest information for teachers and parents seeking to help children to make the best use of their potential and steer a true course through an often confused, noisy and crowded learning landscape where ideas compete and nothing can seem clear. Summarising the most up to date and significant research in a jargon-free and understandable way, this book provides readers with simple and clear access to knowledge and information about what really helps children learn and flourish. Whether you’re a teacher who wants to encourage the right kind of parental support or a parent who wants to do the best for your child, this is an essential read. Drawing on expert analysis, interviews and example studies, the chapters tackle common misconceptions and myths, and explore crucial topics including: The use of neuroscience in education; The role of parents and how all parents can help their children learn; What works in the classroom and the best ways of teaching a child. The first of its kind, this seminal text is a unique resource for parents, carers, primary and secondary teachers, student teachers, policymakers and anyone interested in the development of children and how they learn.

Best-selling author and educator Michael Reist looks at what our schools are really like today and what needs to change. A passionate advocate for children, he presents an honest picture of contemporary school life, offering parents a wealth of advice for navigating their way through the system.