Help your children to manage and develop their own learning outside of the classroom with an online course, building skills and knowledge in a way that works for them.
Preply | Variable
Preply is an online resource connecting you directly with private tutors. There are a plethora of subjects available: everything from English and Maths to Mandarin and Computer Sciences. Choose your learning preferences and get matched with tutors who fit your budget and schedule. You are able to watch their intro videos, read through their profile and reviews, and chat with them to make sure they are the right fit for your child.
Children’s University | £3.50 per month
Children’s University is an award scheme for children that encourages them to take part in learning outside of the classroom, allowing them to track their progress through stamps and certificates. Stamps are awarded for taking part in all kinds of activities, including clubs, activities done with the family, or even alone. Children can keep a log of everything they do, and each hour of participation takes them one step closer to their next certificate.
Centre of Excellence | £147 per course
Many of our readers may know Centre for Excellence as a tool for professional development in adults, but there’s also a section of the website entirely dedicated to children’s courses. Here you can not only find courses on more mainstream subjects such as history or biology, but also more niche interests such as steam engines, dinosaurs, or space, if your child has a particular passion you’d like to help nurture. The courses provide a certificate at the end, adding to your child’s qualifications.
Class Central | Price variable
Class Central operates a little bit differently than the other options on this list, in that it collects together different courses available across the web, rather than providing its own courses. The service started as a way to keep track of the free online classes being offered by Stanford University. The best part is that the majority of the courses are entirely free of charge, though there are some paid courses available too. Help your kids learn chess, new languages, or even programming!
Khan Academy | Free
While it is centred around an American schoolchild’s course of study, Khan Academy is still a great resource for kids in the UK. With practice exercises, instructional videos, and a personalised learning dashboard, children can study at their own pace, outside of the classroom. The service is a not-for-profit, and completely free, subjects covered include maths, science, arts and humanities, economics, and language arts.