Blog Posts
11+ Preparation Blogposts
11+ Exams Checklist for Parents
Struggling to engage your child with reading?Join our next online Children's Book Club — six sessions, lively discussions, creative challenges & just £12.50 per class. Click below to register your interest and receive 10% off your first purchase. "My daughter...
11+ Independent School Exams Explained
Choosing the right school Choosing the best secondary school for your son or daughter can be one of the most important decisions that you have to make as a parent. Bright Light Education can help make this transition from primary to secondary school as smooth as...
11+ Grammar School Exams Explained
Choosing the right school Choosing the best secondary school for your son or daughter can be one of the most important decisions that you have to make as a parent. Bright Light Education can help make this transition from primary to secondary school as smooth as...
The best things you can do to help your child succeed at school
Discover 10 expert-backed ways to help your child succeed at school, from building strong reading habits to accessing high-quality tutoring and enrichment programmes. Learn how Bright Light Education can support your child’s academic journey.
Adaptive Tests and How to Prepare for Them
Adaptive tests have become increasingly popular, particularly for 11+ independent school examinations where they have the facilities for each child to have their own device and take their own test online. They are not currently used by any grammar schools in their...
What is the CAT4 Test?
What is the CAT4 Test? Understanding the Cognitive Abilities Test. If you're a parent, educator, or student in the UK or some international school systems, you may have heard about the CAT4 tests. But what exactly are they? Here, we will explore what CAT4 tests are,...
Creative Writing Blogposts
The best things you can do to help your child succeed at school
Discover 10 expert-backed ways to help your child succeed at school, from building strong reading habits to accessing high-quality tutoring and enrichment programmes. Learn how Bright Light Education can support your child’s academic journey.
What are the writing genres and their features in Key Stage 2?
Key stage 2 Writing Genres Explained During Key Stage 2, your child will be exposed to a wide range of writing genres from creative writing through to journalism. Here are the main writing genres your children will learn during primary school education and their key...
The Benefits of Creative Writing Courses for Children
Why are Creative Writing Courses Important for Children? Children study English often during their time at school. So you may be asking yourself -Â why are creative writing courses important, then? Well, we're going to explain how the latest figures show children are...
Igniting Writing: Why it Matters in 2025
In July 2023, the National Literacy Trust published a report entitled, Children and Young People’s Writing in 2023. The report summarises the findings from their 2023 Annual Literacy Survey, which was completed by 71,351 children and young people aged 5-18 in schools...
Assessing Children’s Writing and Raising the BAR
How best to assess a child’s writing level has long been a source of debate. The 2014 National Curriculum for primary level English splits writing into three main categories: Transcription (spelling and handwriting) Composition (ideas and structure) Vocabulary,...
10 Summer Holiday Creative Writing Ideas for KS2
10 Summer Holiday Creative Writing Ideas for Key Stage 2Here are a few ideas to keep your children writing over the summer holidays! Happy writing! My Favourite Summer Memory: Write about your most cherished memory from a past summer holiday. Describe the...
Reading and Comprehension Blogposts
Black History Month Books for Kids
Struggling to engage your child with reading?Join our next online Children's Book Club — six sessions, lively discussions, creative challenges & just £12.50 per class. Click below to register your interest and receive 10% off your first purchase. "My daughter...
15 Book Club Activities that make reading fun for Key Stage 2
Struggling to engage your child with reading?Join our next online Children's Book Club — six sessions, lively discussions, creative challenges & just £12.50 per class. Click below to register your interest and receive 10% off your first purchase. "My daughter...
The Complete Guide to Online Book Clubs for Children
Struggling to engage your child with reading?Join our next online Children's Book Club — six sessions, lively discussions, creative challenges & just £12.50 per class. Click below to register your interest and receive 10% off your first purchase. "My daughter...
Phonics Blogposts
Phases 4-6 Phonics
How is Phonics Taught? Phonics is taught in phases, starting in the preschool setting and continuing until year 2. Phase 1 is usually covered in the preschool setting as well as in Reception and is all about speaking and listening. Following on from this, Phase 2...
Phase 3 Phonics
How is Phonics Taught? Phonics is taught in phases, starting in the preschool setting and continuing until year 2. Phase 1 is usually covered in the preschool setting as well as in Reception and is all about speaking and listening. Following on from this, Phase 2...
Phase 2 Phonics
How is Phonics Taught? Phonics is taught in phases, starting in the preschool setting and continuing until year 2. Phase 1 is usually covered in the preschool setting as well as in Reception and is all about speaking and listening. Following on from this, Phase 2...