Tag: Twinkl

2.6 BILLION miles of ‘Are We There Yet?’  

Welcome Break and Twinkl Team Up to Beat Travel Boredom for UK Families 

  • UK kids set to travel 2.6 billion miles in the car this summer[1] 
  • Half of Scottish parents are averse to playing nursery rhymes for kids in the car 
  • With it taking 28 minutes for the first kid in Scotland to ask, ‘are we there yet?’ 

Travelling with kids in tow can be stressful for parents. With the summer holidays almost here, Welcome Break has revealed the average child is set to travel 206 miles around the UK this summer.

Luckily for these children, Welcome Break has launched a partnership with Twinkl Educational Publishing to give out free activity packs to help with these long car journeys. 

Welcome Break, one of the UK’s leading Motorway Service Area Operators, has recently conducted a survey revealing the top essential items for parents travelling with kids in the car.

According to Scottish respondents, snacks are a must-have, with eight out of ten parents (82 percent) agreeing. The optimal number of snacks for Scottish kids on a car journey is 3 nibbles. Other items rated highly include an iPad or tablet (70 percent) and activity or colouring books (31 percent). 

 When it comes to music preferences during road trips, Scottish parents stand their ground against nursery rhymes, with half of them (48 percent) saying ‘no’ to playing them in the car. Only a mere 11 percent allow nursery rhymes to keep their back passengers happy!

Additionally, almost a third of Scottish families (29 percent) admit to experiencing disagreements in the car over the playlist. However, according to Welcome Break, musical entertainment doesn’t always prevent moments of boredom for children. It takes just 28 minutes for the first kid to ask, ‘are we there yet?’ and only 45 minutes before a child in Scotland asks, ‘can we stop to use the bathroom?’ 

Fortunately, traditional car games are still enjoyed by parents and children. More than half of Scottish families (55 percent) play the classic ‘I spy’ on long car journeys, while one in ten (11 percent) engage in the ‘number plate game.’ Additionally, some shrewd parents (21 percent) use the ‘quiet game’ to ensure some moments of peace and silence. 

 As families plan their summer trips around the UK, Welcome Break’s survey reveals that half of Scottish parents (56 percent) consider a bag of toys and books as the top packing essential for UK holidays. For those who stop at Welcome Break pit stops, Twinkl has created activity mats that are sure to keep children entertained and engaged.

Gary Steele, Operations Director at Welcome Break, commented on the findings: “Welcome Break has everything you need if you’re travelling with children this summer.

“Whether it’s a toilet break, a snack stop or to pick up one of our Twinkl activity packs, we’re there to keep kids entertained on any journey! With 66 percent of Scots holidaying in Scotland this year, we’re there to act as that perfect pitstop whatever your plans are this summer!”  

Twinkl’s activity mats, available at all Welcome Break sites, feature a variety of fun puzzles, activities, and games, carefully designed to be both entertaining and educational.

The tasks aim to engage children with their surroundings while on their travels. Twinkl also directs travelling families to a range of their free Twinkl Go! interactive games and Twinkl Originals AudioBook Playlists, ensuring they are well-equipped for their journeys over the summer. 

Leon Smith, Chief Customer Officer at Twinkl, commented: “Twinkl is passionate about providing support to all types of educators, including parents. Our collaboration with Welcome Break is a testament to that mission.

“As a parent myself, I understand the challenges of keeping children engaged during long car journeys. That’s why we’ve thoughtfully designed activity mats packed with fun puzzles, activities, and games, all with an educational twist.

“We hope these will make travel more enjoyable for families by sparking curiosity and learning on the road.” 

For more information on Welcome Break on your journey this summer visit,  https://www.welcomebreak.co.uk/. 

Twinkl’s activity mats will be freely available at all Welcome Break sites.

For more free activities, scan the QR code on the sheets to discover free audio books and games that can be played on iPads, tablets, iPhones and Androids. All the activities have been created by Twinkl’s team of experienced teachers and parents, to ensure they are inviting for children with an educational twist. 

Twinkl and Voices of Children partner up to support Ukrainian children’s mental health during the war

The war in Ukraine started over a year ago in February 2022, causing 17.4 million individuals to seek refuge in neighbouring countries. Twinkl Educational Publishing continues to help Ukrainian children and has now teamed up with the Ukraine-based charity fund Voices of Children to provide FREE mental health and art therapy resources for families affected by the war and for anyone in need.

As highlighted in an article published in the European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry journal in March 2022: The effects of war on refugee children are vast, encompassing everything from immediate stress responses to a higher likelihood of developing mental health issues like PTSD, depression, and anxiety. Additionally, being separated from parents and losing a sense of safety during war can have long-term negative impacts on a child’s development. These experiences stand in stark contrast to children’s fundamental needs and rights to grow up in a safe, secure, and predictable environment.

Psychologists from the Voices of Children Foundation explained how the preservation of mental health can be influenced by the people who surround us, showing that resilience is important, and it is resilience which enables an individual to maintain faith in their own strength to overcome difficulties.

Psychologists from the Voices of Children Foundation said: “One of the difficulties in the work of a psychologist or psychotherapist, which we now encounter quite often, is the misuse of the term “trauma”. The psyche of a person, in particular a small child, has a number of protective mechanisms that are activated in conditions of increased stress. The preservation of mental health is also influenced by the people who surround us, who support and care for us and help us cope with the most severe stress.”

To conclude they mentioned that studies linked to mass disasters showed that post-traumatic stress disorder is one of the most severe forms of stress reaction, and it develops in 25-30% of people who have been in emergency situations.

Twinkl’s partnership with Voices of Children wants to contribute to the delivery of trauma-informed care by providing a selection of mental health and art therapy resources that have been reviewed and recommended by the Foundation’s psychologists.

These mental health materials are now easily accessible for FREE and grouped in bundles to help parents, carers and mental health professionals support Toddlers and young learners, children aged 7-11, and Teenagers express and manage their emotions, develop coping strategies, and reduce anxiety.

Besides storytelling, art therapy activities such as the ones included in this pack are part of the methodology used by the Foundation’s psychologists in their Art Therapy Programme which focuses on understanding children’s emotions and supporting their wellbeing while also helping parents deal with child anxiety.

All resources are available from 24th  February 2023 onwards in both Ukrainian and English, to aid speakers of both languages in accessing them. Some materials curated in partnership with Voices of Children are also published in German, French and Polish, and all resource packs created from this collaboration can be found in the Voices of Children page at Twinkl’s platform.

Apart from the Dual Language materials, these resources are also available in Ukrainian only and can be accessed for FREE by Ukrainian families and educators anywhere in the world!

Find out more about the resources created in collaboration with Voices of Children by visiting Twinkl’s Blog.

Penguin and Twinkl to donate over 55,000 books by authors of colour to UK primary schools

  • Penguin Books UK and Twinkl are coming together to increase primary school pupils’ access to books by writers of colour, by giving away books including by Sharna Jackson and Malala Yousafzai to 500 schools across the UK.
  • Twinkl are producing a range of learning resources to accompany titles in the donation, to support teachers to integrate the new texts into their teaching. 
  • Schools can apply to receive the books at https://www.penguin.co.uk/lit-in-colour/twinkl-partnership 

Penguin Books have joined forces with Twinkl Educational Publishing to donate books by authors of colour to 500 UK primary schools.

The donation of books from Penguin, Puffin, Ladybird, and Vintage and Andersen Press forms part of Penguin’s Lit in Colour campaign, and aims to give pupils access to a wider range of authors, characters and books to tackle their stark underrepresentation in UK schools. 

Each participating school will receive 100 books, covering a range of titles across fiction, non-fiction, poetry and mythology; from much-loved classics to new voices. Authors included in the selection are Matthew A. Cherry, Malala Yousafzai, Ibtihaj Muhammad and S.K. Ali and more. Each school will also receive a class set of The Good Turn by Sharna Jackson. 

Research by Lit in Colour, carried out by Penguin Books and the Runnymede Trust in 2021, revealed a stark picture of under-representation of Black, Asian and minority ethnic authors in the teaching of English Literature in this country.

This is relative both to these authors’ place in contemporary British literary excellence and school population demographics. According to the research, 82% of young people do not ever recall studying a book by a Black, Asian or minority ethnic author, while 70% agree that diversity is part of British society and should be represented in the school curriculum. 

The research also found that a key barrier for primary school teachers was a lack of ready-made resources available from teaching sites that are focused on diverse texts. This is a significant challenge for educators who rely on these for the basis of their planning.

In response to this, Twinkl are producing a comprehensive set of learning resources that aim to make it as easy as possible for educators to create a full lesson around these titles and immerse learners through a selection of activity sheets to be used alongside the books and as follow-on activities. 

Twinkl’s comprehensive series of educational resources will cover 20 titles that will support bringing new literature to classrooms. The learning materials will consist of various worksheets and activity packs. These include 60-second reading activities, to biography fact files and writing packs. These resources will be available to freely access online and can be used in connection with Penguin’s Lit in Colour book list.

Zaahida Nabagereka, Penguin Random House’s Head of Social Impact, said: “Partnering with Twinkl on this first ever UK wide Lit in Colour Primary School donation is a really significant step in addressing the barriers the Lit in Colour report identified in 2021.

“We are committed to supporting teachers to take diverse books into their classrooms with confidence, and key to that is resources. This collaboration strengthens the argument that we can achieve more when we tackle systemic issues together.”

David Angrave, Twinkl’s Chief Operating Officer, said, “As a global education publisher, we are delighted to work with Penguin on such a meaningful campaign. Our Lit in Colour resources aim to engage learners in a wide variety of diverse titles in the classroom. Through a range of voices in books, children can discover different cultures and identifiable characters. 

“We are looking forward to continuing to collaborate with Penguin with this campaign and help build an inclusive outlook which celebrates differences and what brings us together.”

Sharna Jackson, author of The Good Turn, “When I was younger, there was a pronounced lack of access to many books that reflected my experience – as part of the curriculum, or in my school library.

“It’s why I wholeheartedly support the transformative work that Lit in Colour does to expand and enrich the curriculum. I am so incredibly proud that The Good Turn can be a small part of this change, as this donation from Lit in Colour and Twinkl will make an enormous difference to thousands of young readers who deserve to see themselves and their experience reflected in the books stocked on their school library shelves.”

To find out more about how your school can get involved with the Lit in Colour book giveaway, please visit our website.

Primary teachers can apply by completing this short form by Friday 30th September.

Twinkl Scotland celebrates World Gaelic Week

Global educational resources publisher, Twinkl, has a Gaelic-speaking team publishing resources in the language throughout the year.

From the 21st to the 27th of March, Seachdain na Gàidhlig (World Gaelic Week) is going to be enjoyed in Scottish classrooms and beyond.

The event is a wonderful way of shining a light on a significant part of Scottish heritage, and to celebrate an aspect of Scottish culture. The aims of the week are to encourage learning Gaelic, and to promote the cultural richness associated with Gaelic.

Gaelic is prominently used in the Highlands and islands of Scotland. There are also many urban Gaels using the language in Scotland’s cities. Gaelic is actively spoken in schools, among friends & family,  as well as in shops and restaurants.

According to the last census, over 87,000* Scots were able to speak, read or understand Gaelic. As a minority language, it has had a large impact on Scottish culture for centuries, right up to the present day. 

Twinkl has created learning materials that fit into five themes to help the language come alive. The themes can be used each day in the school-week when Seachdain na Gàidhlig takes place.

These are: Celebrate Gaelic, Learning the Language, Gaelic in the Real World, Gaelic in the Media, and Arts & Culture. These themes were created to support the teaching and the learning of Gaelic.

Twinkl is an EdTech company with a mission to ‘help those who teach’. The organisation has its own Gaelic-speaking team, dedicated to creating educational materials in the Gaelic language throughout the year. There are resources designed for fluent Gaelic speakers as well as learners. 

Julie-Anne Mackenzie, Twinkl Alba’s Product Owner said, “World Gaelic Week is a fantastic way of boosting the language’s profile, as well as celebrating its stories, music, and much more.  It is an opportunity for both learners and fluent speakers in a variety of contexts to celebrate and share their learning, whatever stage they are at.”

The Twinkl Alba team speaks Gaelic throughout the working day. Alongside the Gaelic resources that are made, emails are written, and meetings are hosted in the language. The team features content writers, graphic designers and editors dedicated to supporting teaching and learning in the language throughout the year. Employees come from a variety of educational and linguistic backgrounds throughout Scotland and beyond. 

Julie-Anne said, “It is a privilege to work on a team that creates thousands of educational resources in Gaelic a year. Gaelic is the primary language we use in a business setting, no matter the project we are working on.

“There are even English Twinkl employees who have enjoyed picking up some Gaelic words and phrases when working alongside us!” 

“Learning Gaelic is a fun challenge, and Twinkl Alba are here to support learners and teachers with a vast array of engaging resources. This is to supplement and enhance the learning experience. Why don’t you give it a try?”

For more information about World Gaelic Week, you can take a look at Twinkl’s World Gaelic Week Category Page.

Wave of Thanks

Your chance to thank an inspirational educator or school on Edinburgh’s billboards

People across Edinburgh are being asked to send in messages to thank schools and members of the education community that have supported them during the pandemic. These messages will then be placed on billboards across the city, to show appreciation and raise awareness of everything educators have done to help others. 

Through repeated lockdowns and with remote teaching and social distancing, the teaching community of Edinburgh have gone the extra mile to support their pupils. Whether it’s a teacher who helped a pupil struggling at home, a lunchtime supervisor who kept everyone safe at meal times or a teaching assistant that is an unsung hero – it is hoped the messages will highlight individuals and schools that have made a difference. 

People are invited to send in their messages in any format to show their appreciation, be this a drawing, written message, poem or video.

They can be submitted to appear on the billboards using this nomination form https://www.twinkl.co.uk/giveaways/thank-you-bundles before 6th June, by sending to waveofthanks@twinkl.co.uk or by simply posting on social media using the hashtag #WaveOfThanksEdinburgh by Wednesday 23rd June.

The digital billboards will be live from Thursday 10th to Thursday 24th June, located at the Edinburgh Arch and local supermarkets. 

Any schools nominated using the form before 6th June will also be in with the chance of receiving one of 500 wellbeing bundles. These will be packed full of goodies including tea and biscuits (staples of staff rooms around the world), thank you postcards and notepads and pens.

The billboard messages are part of a campaign organised by the educational resource publisher Twinkl, with the charity Mind and school supplier YPO, after they recognised the huge lengths educators have gone to for others throughout the past year. The campaign includes a range of other activities and surprises that celebrate educators for their dedication and give people an opportunity to thank someone close to their heart. 

As part of this, the public sector buying organisation YPO, which supplies materials and contract support to schools across the UK, is sending 100 surprise ‘Thank you’ gifts to teachers and school staff. They will also be running a competition to give communities a chance to name 40 new delivery fleet vehicles after inspirational teachers. 

Leon Smith, Chief Customer Officer at Twinkl, said: “The wellbeing bundles and billboards are a way of showing school staff how valued and appreciated they are. We’d love them to see a heartfelt message of thanks on a billboard on their way to work, giving them a boost after such a challenging year.

“Despite the difficulties they have faced, educators have gone above and beyond to offer the very best teaching, care and support during the pandemic. It’s so important to show them how thankful people are for their ongoing support and commitment to their pupils.”

To find out more, please visit: www.twinkl.co.uk/wave-of-thanks 

Business accelerator supports young Scottish entrepreneurs by offering £250,000 in startup grants

A business accelerator that supports budding entrepreneurs is offering £250,000 to young people across Scotland who want to grow a digital business. 

The sought-after scheme from TwinklHive provides grants and mentorship to individuals aged 18 to 24 and enables young people to commit and pursue entrepreneurship as a full-time career path and make their business dreams a reality.  

The combination of funding and dedicated support on offer has been designed to provide a unique educational experience and equip successful applicants with the knowledge and skills to grow successful and sustainable businesses.

To apply, the young entrepreneurs must have a validated concept for a technology-enabled business and a clear vision. Their idea should also be focused on solving a real problem for their customers, as the scholarship is looking to develop the next mission driven founders and cultivate startups that will make a real difference to society. 

Each successful applicant will receive a grant of up to £40,000. The scholarship is a full-time position that is set to run for six months, with the opportunity to apply for follow-on investment from the TwinklHive accelerator at the end of this period. 

The applicants are not required to pay back the grant, which also covers the founding team’s salaries of up to £20,000 for the six month period.

Set up in 2019, TwinklHive was created by the entrepreneur Jonathan Seaton, who is the Co-Founder and CEO of the global educational publisher Twinkl. Jonathan started Twinkl with his wife Susie Seaton in their spare bedroom over ten years ago. The business now operates in over 200 countries and regions and has over 790 team members based at its offices in Sheffield and around the world. 

Since its launch, TwinklHive has supported a variety of mission-led founders from startups in the tech sector, including EdTech, FinTech and HealthTech. The accelerator is working to continually extend its support to the startup ecosystem more widely, including assisting and supporting young and aspiring entrepreneurs with their scholarship scheme.

Alongside the non-repayable grant, candidates will receive mentorship and support from Jonathan and the current startup founders from within the Hive. Candidates will also gain access to the accelerator’s expansive business network. All support and mentorship can be accessed virtually to suit candidate’s locations.  

Jonathan Seaton, Co-Founder and CEO at Twinkl and TwinklHive, said: “We’re absolutely delighted to now be in a position to offer support and mentorship to young individuals in Scotland.”

 “We have all been living in unprecedented circumstances due to the pandemic. Covid has undoubtedly impacted the job market, and people are looking to find new opportunities and explore new directions as a result.

“For young people who  are looking for a new direction or to pursue their business ideas, it can be an exciting yet daunting time. Through the TwinklHive scholarship we endeavor to support young entrepreneurs looking to take that leap and pursue and grow a business of their own.

“When my wife, Susie and I founded Twinkl,  we experienced first hand the difficulties young entrepreneurs face when trying to get a business venture up and running. It can be difficult to get investment and having advice from people with experience is invaluable. We hope that we can provide the same kind of advice that helped us all those years ago and give people the opportunity to make a difference to their own lives and to others. ”

Amber Jardine, Hive Manager at Twinkl, said: “The scholarship was created to support young people who are passionate about building a sustainable business. I am so pleased that this year we are able to open this opportunity nationwide and I am looking forward to the prospect of working alongside mission-driven entrepreneurs with innovative solutions.”

The scholarship is open to people across the UK and applications are open now. If you or someone you know would like to apply, please email hive@twinkl.co.uk where further information will be provided.

The closing date for applications is Friday 11th June.

For more information about the scholarship and to find the application form visit the TwinklHive blog.

For more information about TwinklHive visit: www.twinkl.co.uk/hive