Study shows kids benefit from bedtime reading

ALEADING children's charity has published a survey that clearly shows the benefits of bedtime story sessions. Parents who share a bedtime story with their children everyday can make a big difference to how they perform in the class-room, according to The Children's Society. The research, which questioned more than 1,000 teachers, revealed that 94 per cent of respondents could clearly distinguish between a child who read at home with their parents, and one who didn't. Teachers cited higher reading ability (68 per cent) and increased vocabulary (66 per cent) as the most noticeable differences in children who are read to at home. They also noted higher levels of confidence (32 per cent) and better concentration (19 per cent) among children who read with their parents.The survey was commissioned as part of National Bedtime Reading month, which calls on parents to read more with their children by sharing bedtime stories.Read

Driving parents to deceit

IT'S inevitable that kids' tiredness will have detrimental side effects on the parents, but according to a new survey from Worlds Apart of more than 4,500 parents, Mums and Dads are now turning to deceit to cover up their failure to enforce a sensible bedtime routine.Read

Pupils give Christmas to children around the world

Pupils could not keep a lid on their joy at helping someone else for Christmas by filling their charity shoeboxes to the brim with goodies.Read

Their message is clear: no bullying!

Children spelt it out loud, clear and personal - bullying will not be tolerated.Read

Make school crossing safe, families demand

Parents and children will be staging a protest over the lack of a safe crossing outside Hobbayne Primary School, in Greenford Avenue, Hanwell.Read

Spring's here - and it's not just wishful thinking

After six months of designing and painting, schoolchildren can finally see all their hard work come together in a spring mural, writes Paloma Kubiak.Read

Children urged to get ready to cook real food

Youngsters cooked up a feast of delights during a healthy schools week to raise money for charity.Read

Parents get a bye after rule change

A deadline for applications for secondary school places across Ealing has been extended at the last minute after a school accused of promoting "social segregation" was ordered to change its admissions policy.Read

Science exhibition shows youngsters how force works

Inquisitive youngsters at a primary school in Ealing hosted their annual science exhibition recently.Read

Pupils pledge to feed the world

Pupils gave a boost to the needy by collecting donations to celebrate Harvest Festival.Read

Pupils prepare for Uni life, minus the two-minute noodles

Pupils were visited by a kitchen on wheels as part of an initiative to change the way they think about food, writes Ali Khalid Mir.Read

Democracy in action at Brentside High School

Pupils voted for new heads of houses after a school set up a new Harry Potter-style system to foster friendship across all ages.Read

SATs are a 'shambles'

A headteacher has dubbed the SATs results delay a 'shambles', after it emerged five schools were still awaiting their final grades.Read

New sixth form centre for £7m

More than £7m will be spent on a state-of-theart new sixth form centre at Featherstone High School in Southall.Read

End SATs tests as result still awaited

Teachers and governors are being asked to sign a petition demanding an end to controversial SATs tests at the centre of a marking fiasco which has left one Ealing school still waiting for results.Read

Funding reprieve for special needs group

A support organisation for parents of special needs children which faces having its funding withdrawn has won a reprieve after angry protests.Read

Dictionary gift from Rotary helps primary pupils

Pupils were almost lost for words when Ealing Rotary presented them with 30 illustrated dictionaries.Read

Engineering student wins top award after work experience

A teemager breezed his way through a work-experience placement and was presented with an award for his achievement.Read

Future is back to vocations

Despite the annual attention lavished on A-level results, more teenagers than ever are shunning them in favour of practical courses which help prepare them for the world of work. Read

Getting ready to take some 30,000 calls for university

A team of students and staff are manning a special hotline to help potential students find a place at university.Read

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