For Linda McIver, the culture and character of a school trumps its academic reputation every time. We have a remarkable primary school. It’s not just “our daughter’s school” – it’s ours, and that tells you something about the atmosphere. We were pretty sure about this school...

To help your kids become safe and responsible online users, check out these tips. Set the ground rules Establish rules about the types of content or information your child should report to an adult – for example, telling you about any swearing or bad words they find online.Set...

Leanne Torres finds her daughter’s first day of school is a big adventure for them both. If I try really hard, I can just about remember my first day of school. Maybe it’s the photo that triggers my memory – there I am with my big...

After some initial anxiety, Donna Webeck draws the line at forcing her son to write before he is ready. His H appeared more like a spirograph than the eighth letter of the alphabet. On we went for another 10 painful minutes until it became clear I...

Dyslexia is a complex and much misunderstood condition, writes Karen Thomson. A number of experts refer to dyslexia not as a disability but rather an alternative way of thinking, or a ‘learning preference’. However, as reading and writing underpins most subjects taught in school, dyslexic children...

Michaela Fox learns about the serious side of fun in the pre-school years. Before my daughter turned two, she could recognise and recite every letter of the alphabet. “She’s gifted,” people would say. I wondered if they were right. She showed a natural inclination for learning, and...