INTRODUCING THE CAMBRIDGE PRIMARY AND LOWER SECONDARY RESOURCES – FOR PARENTS

Introducing the Cambridge Primary and Lower

Secondary resources
Dear parent,

As a school we have recently started using resources from Cambridge University Press and you may have seen
your child bringing the books home.
The books use an active learning approach to help children develop the skills they need to succeed – instead
of giving your child the answers, this approach helps them understand how to discover the answers themselves.
This means they will do lots of practical activities in the classroom, working individually, in pairs and small groups

to discuss, investigate and explore topics and ideas. The teacher will still be there to make sure your child is
learning everything they need to, but they won’t be giving them information to memorise.
Your child will work on a number of projects as they progress through their books. These projects give them
the chance to draw together everything they have learnt about a topic and helps us check their understanding.

How does active learning help my child?

Research shows that children learn better if they are actively involved in finding something out, rather than
listening and trying to memorise the information. An active learning approach helps them develop the skills
to apply their knowledge to a range of problems.
It also helps them develop the communication, collaboration, critical thinking and problem-solving skills which
they will need to succeed in life beyond school.

What changes will my child see?

Their classroom may look different; they are likely to be sitting around tables to encourage discussion and
group work instead of in rows.
They may also notice that more of their time is spent talking in pairs or groups as they do activities together.
Finally, they will be doing more in the classroom. This may be planning and carrying out an experiment to
discover how plants grow in science, doing a presentation about their favourite book in English or investigating
3D shapes in Maths.

What else is different about Cambridge resources?

Whatever the subject, the resources are written to help your child develop their English skills – there are lots
of activities to encourage speaking and listening, plenty of support for grammar and the books include photos,
diagrams and illustrations to help your child understand topics and concepts. Key vocabulary is clearly pulled
out and explained, helping them to develop the language they need to study in English.
As teachers, our job is to help each child achieve their potential. Supporting each child’s strengths and development
areas can be challenging in a diverse classroom. Cambridge resources include lots of activities
which can be adapted to suit all children and guidance on how to assess each child’s understanding of a topic.

© Cambridge University Press 2021 1

 INTRODUCING THE CAMBRIDGE PRIMARY AND LOWER SECONDARY RESOURCES – FOR PARENTS

This helps us create a learning plan tailored to your child’s needs. While your child may not do all activities in the
books, we will guide them through the books to best support their learning.

How can I help with my child’s learning?

You don’t need to be a teacher to help your child learn – there are some simple things you can do at home
to support what they are doing at school.
 Encourage them to be curious and help them find answers to their questions.
 Read with them and listen to them read – this will help develop their English skills and encourage them to read
for fun.
 Ask them what they think of the book they are reading – this helps develop their comprehension, analysis and
communication skills.
 Ask them what they’ve done at school today. Talking about what they have learnt helps them build on their
understanding.

We’re looking forward to working with you and your child over the coming year and thank you for your support.

Best wishes,
School leadership team

© Cambridge University Press 2021 2