Resources
If you feel that your child is not sufficiently stretched in school, or if there are gaps is his/her understanding, or if you just want to be sure that everything has been covered without any gaps, then these are the tried and tested gems you need.
MENSA Resources for Gifted and Talented Learners
Mental Arithmetic workbook series
If you aim to cover each workbook in TWO terms, instead of three and start at age 6, then you will be two years ahead by the time you are 10!
Covering the whole of the KS2 National Curriculum and beyond, it's no wonder the series is a best seller. Each book contains a year's worth of graded tests to aid practice of essential mathematical skills, two tests to monitor progress and four diagnostic tests to assess the development of skills and identify areas of weakness.Mental Arithmetic Introductory Book
Mental Arithmetic Book 1
Mental Arithmetic Book 2
Mental Arithmetic Book 3
Mental Arithmetic Book 4
More in the Schofield and Sims Mental Arithmetic Series
The Bond Verbal Reasoning Series
Cunningly devised to increase the difficulty gradually and without pain! It's a good idea to start this series as soon as possible, to give your child the maximum chance at 11+ and SATs.
Bond Assessment Papers: Starter Papers in Reasoning 6-7 
Bond Assessment Papers: First Papers in Reasoning 7-8
Bond Assessment Papers: Second Papers in Reasoning 8-9
Bond Assessment Papers: Third Papers in Reasoning 9-10
Bond Fourth Papers in Verbal Reasoning: 10-11
Bond Assessment Papers: Fifth Papers in Reasoning 10-11
Bond Non-verbal Reasoning Practice Books
Bond Starter Papers in Non-verbal Reasoning: 6-7 Years 
Bond First Papers in Non-verbal Reasoning: 7-8 Years
Bond Second Papers in Non-verbal Reasoning: 8-9 Years
Bond Third Papers in Non-verbal Reasoning: 9-10 Years
Bond Fourth Papers in Non-verbal Reasoning: 10-11 Years
Bond Fifth Papers in Non-verbal Reasoning: 10-11+ Years
No Nonsense English
These really are 'no-nonsense' books - wish they'd been published earlier.
No Nonsense Maths
Key Spellings
Ideal for holiday entertainment! These comprehensive workbooks cover all of the main spelling patterns - and are incredibly cheap. Those long winter evenings will just fly by!
SATs
SATs, which are taken in May of Year 6, assess maths, English (comprehension, writing, spelling and handwriting) and Science.
There are dozens of KS2 science revision books on the shelves, but these are the only ones you need; they are also the best and the most comprehensive.All you need is
KS2 Science: Study Book (Study Books)
and
KS2 Science: Question Book (Question Books)
Your Gifted and Talented Child
Brilliant Activities for Gifted and Talented Children: That Other Children Will Love Too (Brilliant Activities)
The activities cover many types of creative and critical thinking skills to enable children to develop their cognitive processes, allowing room for creativity and open-ended answers.
Some of the activities can be stretched out for days, whilst the Brainteaser section can be used for quizzes, family activities or just to spark interest.
Children are encouraged to think on six levels: knowledge; comprehension; application; analysis; synthesis; and evaluation.
Further Resources
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Why we home educate
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It's no great secret, we actually enjoy and value the time spent with our children. As for the physical act of educating them, well we've been doing that since the moment they entered the world. We taught them to speak their first language, recognise...
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Self-confidence for children
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Asked that question, of all the parents I have ever spoken to, the answer is invariably, 'I want him to be happy.' Not, 'I want him to be top of the class,' or 'I want her to get into the best school.' So what is the magic ingredient? What makes...
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How to Protect Your Child From Bullies
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I truly believe that it is our responsibility to impart the skills of self-preservation to all of our children. My Book shows you how to do this. For 35 years I have taught kids in inner cities, African townships and rural England, have been the hea...
More Educational Resources for Parents
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Raising Boys
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Boys are different - have you noticed? What are the most important issues in raising boys? What parenting advice will be the most useful for families with boys? Why are boys vulnerable and how do we overcome this vulnerability?
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Quick Chess
The ultimate strategy game.
Quick Chess
You start off on a 30 square board and play games such as Rampaging Rocks and Mean Queens. Once you have built confidence you can use the booklet to advance through the levels and develope a thorough understanding of the game. QuickChess includes a full chess set and full sized 64 square board. Age 6+
Quick Chess
You start off on a 30 square board and play games such as Rampaging Rocks and Mean Queens. Once you have built confidence you can use the booklet to advance through the levels and develope a thorough understanding of the game. QuickChess includes a full chess set and full sized 64 square board. Age 6+
Junior Scrabble
Junior Scrabble
Choose one of two levels to suit the age group of the players: young children can start with "Words and Pictures", a game specially created to help with word formation and recognition. "Rainbow Scrabble" is more challenging and is intended for children aged seven and older, having been specially formulated to introduce players to the adult version of Scrabble, though with a far simpler scoring system.
As with the classic version, the idea is to build up words from random tiles, but the junior version is brighter, easier to understand and altogether more appealing for youngsters. All in all, a family game which can make learning extremely enjoyable.
Choose one of two levels to suit the age group of the players: young children can start with "Words and Pictures", a game specially created to help with word formation and recognition. "Rainbow Scrabble" is more challenging and is intended for children aged seven and older, having been specially formulated to introduce players to the adult version of Scrabble, though with a far simpler scoring system.
As with the classic version, the idea is to build up words from random tiles, but the junior version is brighter, easier to understand and altogether more appealing for youngsters. All in all, a family game which can make learning extremely enjoyable.
Bedlam Cube
Bedlam Cube - Retro
* The Bedlam Cube, a British invention, has 19,186 different solutions!
* Everytime it is attempted it is different and becomes addictive
* It is educational and improves spatial awareness & hand eye co-ordination.
* The Bedlam Cube consists of 13 unique geometric shapes
* It is a personal challenge, the hardest & most addictive 3-D Puzzle Ever...come and enter the world of Bedlam!
Bedlam Cube - Retro
* The Bedlam Cube, a British invention, has 19,186 different solutions!
* Everytime it is attempted it is different and becomes addictive
* It is educational and improves spatial awareness & hand eye co-ordination.
* The Bedlam Cube consists of 13 unique geometric shapes
* It is a personal challenge, the hardest & most addictive 3-D Puzzle Ever...come and enter the world of Bedlam!
Bedlam Cube - Retro
Mastermind
Mastermind
This is the classic code-cracking game which develops strategic and logical thinking.
It's an interactive thinking game - a great game to develop problem solving skills. For clever clogs only!
This is the classic code-cracking game which develops strategic and logical thinking.
It's an interactive thinking game - a great game to develop problem solving skills. For clever clogs only!
Rummikub
Tomy Rummikub Game
With rules similar to gin rummy, Rummikub is a classic tile game that's guaranteed to get at least a million kid-hours of use in any family.
Players take 14 numbered tiles and try to get rid of them as fast as possible by creating runs (for example, 7-8-9) and sets (7-7-7).
The most fun aspect of the game--and the part that's best for creative strategic thinking--is that you can pilfer from and rearrange the efforts of other players in your attempts to part company with more tiles. (Amazon Review)
With rules similar to gin rummy, Rummikub is a classic tile game that's guaranteed to get at least a million kid-hours of use in any family.
Players take 14 numbered tiles and try to get rid of them as fast as possible by creating runs (for example, 7-8-9) and sets (7-7-7).
The most fun aspect of the game--and the part that's best for creative strategic thinking--is that you can pilfer from and rearrange the efforts of other players in your attempts to part company with more tiles. (Amazon Review)
Connect 4 Advanced
Connect 4 Advanced
This game will have you thinking on a whole new level. Playing this game, like its counterpart, can take minutes or half an hour. Either way it's extremely fun and, if you lose, will leave you staring at the board wondering how on earth you didn't spot the line!
Be warned, this game is not as easy as Connect Four but much more fun!
This game will have you thinking on a whole new level. Playing this game, like its counterpart, can take minutes or half an hour. Either way it's extremely fun and, if you lose, will leave you staring at the board wondering how on earth you didn't spot the line!
Be warned, this game is not as easy as Connect Four but much more fun!
Amaze
Amaze
Amaze is the hand-held maze that changes as you play. Once you set up one of the sixteen different maze challenges the fun begins! As you follow the path with the attached stylus, you can clear the way by pushing the red bars to the right or left. But watch out sometimes the obstacles can't be moved back, creating a dead end or endless loop. Great for travel, rainy days or just anytime you want a good challenge.
Manufacturer's recommended age 8 years +.
Amaze is the hand-held maze that changes as you play. Once you set up one of the sixteen different maze challenges the fun begins! As you follow the path with the attached stylus, you can clear the way by pushing the red bars to the right or left. But watch out sometimes the obstacles can't be moved back, creating a dead end or endless loop. Great for travel, rainy days or just anytime you want a good challenge.
Manufacturer's recommended age 8 years +.
Junior Pictionary
Junior Pictionary Mania
The outrageous game of drawing and doing for kids! Choose your teams and it's ready, steady, draw. From classic to crazy, this fast-paced, frenzied game has you drawing sketches and doing wacky stunts while your teammates guess the answer. Be the first to earn 3 tiles from the Winner's Circle and you win. This is one game that's sure to draw on every skill you have! 2 or more teams.
The outrageous game of drawing and doing for kids! Choose your teams and it's ready, steady, draw. From classic to crazy, this fast-paced, frenzied game has you drawing sketches and doing wacky stunts while your teammates guess the answer. Be the first to earn 3 tiles from the Winner's Circle and you win. This is one game that's sure to draw on every skill you have! 2 or more teams.
Articulate for Kids
Articulate for Kids
This game can also be played with the adult version.
Articulate - the spectacularly successful description game can now be played by kids as young as 6 and as old as 12.
Articulate Junior is the same fast moving, lively, gripping fun as the adult version. Played in teams, the idea is to describe as many card entries as possible to your team mates in 30 seconds without giving "begins with" or "sounds like" clues.
This game can also be played with the adult version.
Articulate - the spectacularly successful description game can now be played by kids as young as 6 and as old as 12.
Articulate Junior is the same fast moving, lively, gripping fun as the adult version. Played in teams, the idea is to describe as many card entries as possible to your team mates in 30 seconds without giving "begins with" or "sounds like" clues.
Tri-ominoes
Regular Tri-ominos
The classic triangular domino game. Players score points by matching numbers on the three-sided playing pieces.
Triominos combines strategy, luck and exciting new challenges every time you play! For 2-6 players.
The classic triangular domino game. Players score points by matching numbers on the three-sided playing pieces.
Triominos combines strategy, luck and exciting new challenges every time you play! For 2-6 players.
Challenging resources
Challenging Resources for Able and Talented Children 
This wonderful resource has been written in response to the continuing phenomenal demand for practical materials that inspire, motivate, challenge and stretch able children.
Games for Thinking (Stories for Thinking)
Brilliant Activities for Gifted and Talented Children: That Other Children Will Love Too (Brilliant Activities)
Gifted and Talented in the Early Years: Practical Activities for Children Aged 3 to 5
Teaching Children to Think
Help Your Talented Child: An Essential Guide for Parents
Values for Thinking
Teaching Children to Learn
Head Start: How To Develop Your Child's Mind
Every primary teacher should be forced to read these books (only joking!)
Mozart for Baby
What is all the fuss about Mozart being played to babies? Recent studies have indicated that exposure to classical music might increase a baby's intelligence - the "Mozart Effect."
Regardless, it is clear that the more music your baby hears and the more "musical" connections his/her brain makes, the more music will play a role in later life.
This wonderful resource has been written in response to the continuing phenomenal demand for practical materials that inspire, motivate, challenge and stretch able children.
Games for Thinking (Stories for Thinking)
Brilliant Activities for Gifted and Talented Children: That Other Children Will Love Too (Brilliant Activities)
Gifted and Talented in the Early Years: Practical Activities for Children Aged 3 to 5
Teaching Children to Think
Help Your Talented Child: An Essential Guide for Parents
Values for Thinking
Teaching Children to Learn
Head Start: How To Develop Your Child's Mind
Every primary teacher should be forced to read these books (only joking!)
Mozart for Baby
What is all the fuss about Mozart being played to babies? Recent studies have indicated that exposure to classical music might increase a baby's intelligence - the "Mozart Effect."
Regardless, it is clear that the more music your baby hears and the more "musical" connections his/her brain makes, the more music will play a role in later life.
More resources
by Coral_Milburn_Curtis
Hi! I'm Coral, headteacher and CEO of Scholasticus Education Ltd, which provide Educademy master-classes and after-school clubs for gifted and ta...
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