Book reviews - revision guides Schofield and Sims

Schofield & Sims is a leading educational publisher, providing books that teachers, parents and tutors can trust for use at the primary level. All their books can be purchased through their website. Their books have been updated to take account of the new (2014) curriculum and the revised SATS tests.

Early Years

'Schofield & Sims Get Set Early Years is a comprehensive and engaging early years scheme that aims to bridge the gap between play and formal learning, helping all children to become school-ready by the end of Reception. Comprising twelve activity books and three accompanying teacher's guides, Get Set Early Years covers all the Early Learning Goals (ELGs) for Literacy, Mathematics and Understanding the world.' Each activity book in the series covers the same key features, giving consistency and guaranteeing comnprehensive and successional coverage.

	Get Set Literacy Teacher’s Guide: Early Years Foundation Stage, Ages 4-5 These invaluable aids to planning include detailed teacher's notes for each unit (with supporting photocopiable resources); talking points and termly vocabulary lists to develop language skills; links to show each unit's corresponding pages in the activity books; cross-curricular links to highlight each unit's curriculum coverage and an observation form to record evidence of the Early Learning Goals. Perfect for busy teachers. A useful bibliography offers plenty of scope to extend learning. The activities in the teacher's guide explore a wide selection of topics including letter sounds, reading high-frequency and tricky words, writing letters and words, rhyme, story-telling, vocabulary and more. These link to the activities in the activity books, making for seamless integration. The Teacher's Guide is well set out and easy to use, with a comprehensive contents page which means topics can be located easily. A comprehensive and excellent value book.
	Get Set Literacy: Letter Sounds, Early Years Foundation Stage, Ages 4-5 This early phonics book introduces children to phonics through exploring the single letter sounds. Following the structure of Letters and Sounds, this book takes young learners through each phoneme, from 's' for 'sun' to 'qu' for 'queen'. Helpful guidance for parents and carers is found at the end of the book, with tips, vocabulary and extension activities for every individual sound. This is excellent as it is such a help to parents to ennsure they get the best from the book; the extension activities are fun to do and can be incorporated into daily routines. The layout of the activity books is a little text-booky, but the activities are carefully selected to motivate children which overcomes that issue well; children will enjoy using the book as a colouring book too. Get Set Literacy: Phonics, Early Years Foundation Stage, Ages 4-5 moves forward children's understanding of phonics, with the idea that a group of letters can make a single sound. It guides children through the initial digraphs and trigraphs, from 'ff' as in 'huff' to 'ure' as in 'sure', as well as introducing high-frequency and tricky words through a series of enjoyabke activities, carefully structured to give children short bursts of activity without being overwhelmed.
	Get Set Literacy: Writing Letters, Early Years Foundation Stage, Ages 4-5 Learning to write starts with mark making and this book starts with fun activities which include straight lines, curvy lines, zigzag lines and more, to set children on the right path towards the shapes and movements needed for writing letters. The letters are then introduced one by one, grouped by formation family, for example the straight-down team, for ease of learning. This is an idea that will appeal to young children. They will enjoy the activities which include tasks such as drawing fun hair, decorating underpants and colouring toys. Clear uncluttered layout is perfect for the age group. From this book, children will progress on to Get Set Literacy: Writing Words, Early Years Foundation Stage, Ages 4-5 which develops children's ability to write simple words beginning with CVC spellings; digraph, trigraph, high frequency anbd tricky words follow before moving on to captions and sentences in a smooth and logical progression.
	Get Set Literacy: Reading and Rhyme, Early Years Foundation Stage, Ages 4-5 This book makes good use of perennially popular nursery rhymes and fairy tales to offer exciting and motivating activities to support classroom teaching. The familiarity of rhymes and stories is a good way to capture children's interest. Children's vocabulary, early comprehension and story-telling skills will be developed through the book, and the familiarity will encourage quick progression. This book also covers different characters and settings, opposite and similar words, captions and rhyme. Colourful covers give the books immediate appeal; inside, the pages are mainly black and white with blue decorations. The pages offer good opportunities for colouring.
	Get Set Mathematics Teacher's Guide: Early Years Foundation Stage, Ages 4-5 Use the Teacher's Guides to support and make best use of the workbooks. Each teacher's guide provides detailed teacher's notes for each unit with supporting photocopiable resources; talking points and termly vocabulary lists to develop language skills; home links to show each unit's corresponding pages in the activity books; cross-curricular links to highlight each unit's curriculum coverage and an observation form to record evidence of the Early Learning Goals. The work is set out term by term and then laid out by concept for easy reference. The activities in the teacher's guide explore a wide range of topics including counting and writing numbers to 20, adding, subtracting, patterns, 2D and 3D shapes, position, size, length, capacity, time, money and more. A selection of free supporting downloads is also available from the Schofield & Sims website. Put together, this all adds up to a really valuable resource for busy teachers.
	Get Set Mathematics: Shape and Pattern, Early Years Foundation Stage, Ages 4-5 This workbook develops children's recognition of colour, pattern and shape, both mathematically and in relation to the world around us; the latter is a good way to encourage children to be observant about the workld around them and to learn to apply maths practically. This book explores topics such as 2D and 3D shapes, repeating patterns and symmetry. The child-friendly illustrations will inspire conversation and encourage mark-making. Also available is Get Set Mathematics: Space and Measure, Early Years Foundation Stage, Ages 4-5 which introduces the ways in which things can be measured. There are plenty of activities to support learning and these are practically based to include scenarios familiar to children.
	Get Set Mathematics: Counting, Early Years Foundation Stage, Ages 4-5 These two books support the work done through the Teacher's Guide and ensure a complete coverage of the work done in Reception, as children gradually move towards more formal learning. It develops children's early understanding of numbers, providing practice in counting, recognising and writing numbers, and sequencing up to 20. This book introduces young learners to numbers through a variety of fun activities, including count the objects, write the number, complete the picture and follow the sequence activities. The inclusion of key vocabulary for each topic area ensures children use the correct terminology from the start, giving a consistency of approach. Also available is Get Set Mathematics: Adding and Subtracting, Early Years Foundation Stage, Ages 4-5 which explores the topic with an array of activities, including write the missing number, colour by number, draw one more and complete the number sentence activities. All the pages feature plenty of illustrations to make the work enjoyable; these books represent excellent value too.
	Get Set Understanding the World Teacher’s Guide: Early Years Foundation Stage, Ages 4-5 Covering the entire Reception class curriculum on Understanding the World, this book gives teachjers all they need to teach about People and communities, The world and Technology; each section is presented as a term's work. The clear contents page then shows the smaller topic areas, making this an easy to use book. Useful guidance to the subject is given at the start of the book and each unit sets out learning objectives, imnportant vocabulary and creative activity ideas, as well as cross-curricular and home links. Go activity sections encourage deeper exploration and are ideal for differentiation in the classroom. Termly vocabulary lists are really useful, as is the recommended reading list. The activities in the teacher's guide explore a wide selection of topics including the body, friendship, communities, jobs, animals, environment, weather, transport, toys, electricity, inventions and more. A selection of free supporting downloads is also available from the Schofield & Sims website. A comprehensive and excellent value book.
	Get Set Understanding the World: People, Early Years Foundation Stage, Ages 4-5 Get Set: People is one of a set of three titles which support Understanding the World in Reception. The book encourages children to explore the differences between themselves and others, developing their understanding of the world as a diverse place full of different people and traditions. This book covers topics such as clothes, hobbies, friends, families and communities. The wide range of activities ensure there is plenty to appeal to all learning styles, and they also stimulate discussion. The helpful notes and tips for parents and carers ensure the best possible use of the book to support learning; they include teaching tips, key vocabulary and extension activities. Perfect for home educators too.
	Get Set Understanding the World: The World, Early Years Foundation Stage, Ages 4-5 Encourage children's understanding of and interest in the world around them, as they immerse themselves in their surroundings, exploring the similarities and differences between places, objects materials and living things. This book covers topics such as animals, mini-beasts, plants, habitats, weather, environments and holidays. The presentation is clear and uncluttered, making the book very accessible and user-friendly; the activities really do involve the child at every stage. The series is completed by Get Set Understanding the World: Technology, Early Years Foundation Stage, Ages 4-5 which introduces children to the variety of technologies that are used in the modern world, both in familiar settings, such as school and the home, and in less familiar settings, such as the world of work; another book which really encourages observation and discussion. The book also explores differences between technology in the past and present day.

11+ English

	11+ English: Rapid Tests 1 6 -7 years by Sian Goodspeed This progressive series is designed to build speed and fluency in preparation for the 11+ and other school selection tests. By starting work early, good learning habits will be instilled and these tests are valuable supplements to all English learning, especially for children who need more of a challenge. The book contains 18 double-page tests, 6 each on comprehension; grammar and punctuation; and spelling and vocabulary. Each test has a target time of 12 minutes; at this stage, although working quickly is important, it's often more valuable to allow children additional time if necessary - as their confidence and knowledge builds, they will naturally speed up so don't stress them out over timing at this stage. The book includes a progress chart for recording scores and tracking improvement and this forms a valuable record, especially if you ask your child to retake the tests at a later date - seeing improvement is always encouraging.
	11+ English: Rapid Tests 2 7- 8 years by Sian Goodspeed Written by an experienced tutor, the tests exactly reflect what children need to cover. This includes a wide range of topics, ensuring that children have the skills and knowledge to succeed in any of the major providers' tests - including CEM and GL, as well as SATS and entrance exams set by independent schools. Example questions are included to familiarise children. The tests are clearly set out, easy for children to follow and the answers are easy to relate to the questions; it's a practical well-designed series. The book is divided into three sections, with two sets of questions on each of comprehension; grammar and punctuation; and spelling and vocabulary.
	11+ English: Rapid Tests 3 8 -9 years by Sian Goodspeed The choice and variety of the comprehension questions in each book is very good. For example, in this you will find The Chase, a poem by Roger McGough, a non-fiction text on polar bears, an extract from Shoo Rayner and Roald Dahl books and a poem by the author; these will engage children's attention and ensure they are well prepared for all question types. Every book in the series includes a practical separate pull-out answer booklet with explanations and Action notes for all tests; these provide really useful extra information, so do make full use of this feature. In addition, a selection of free downloads, including English puzzles, is also available from the Schofield & Sims website.
	11+ English: Rapid Tests 4 9 - 10 years by Sian Goodspeed The wide range of topics covered ensures that children have the skills and knowledge to succeed in any of the major providers' tests - including CEM and GL. The answers are included in a pull-out section in the middle of each book; these include many helpful hints on tackling questions. The relatively short nature of the tests - the target time for these tests is 10 minutes - makes them ideal for regular independent work sessions, and they do not seem too daunting to tackle. English Rapid Tests Book 4, as with all the books, includes a Progress chart for recording scores and tracking improvement.
	11+ English: Rapid Tests 5 10 - 11 years by Sian Goodspeed The sustained repetition found through the series reinforces learning and ensures that children using Schofield & Sims resources fulfil their academic potential. There is a huge benefit for children in following a course like this from start to finish, as you can be sure the full syllabus is covered and that progression is regular and consistent. Children gain confidence from familiarity and respond well to it. The progressive nature of the books means you can select the right level for your child and ensure they make steady progress - every child is different, so don't hesitate to choose a different age group if needed - it's best to build confidence and these books do that excellently.
	11+ English: Rapid Tests 6 11 - 12 years by Sian Goodspeed As well as perfect preparation for 11+, CE and SATS, it would also be good for children to work through during the long summer holiday, to keep them on track for the start of secondary school. The relatively short format of each tests makes it easy for children to just tackle one, without feeling over-pressurised, thus keeping their interest fresh. !An excellent series that gives comprehensive coverage, with short tests that will not overwhelm a child. Perfect to work through systematically, and good practice for any test or exam that children will take. Excellent value too! Teachers and tutors can take advantage of the special price available to them on the Schofield and Sims website.

11+ Maths

	11+ Maths: Rapid Tests 1 6 -7 years by Rebecca Brant Rebecca Brant is an experienced tutor, so these books can be relied on to provide ideal preparation for 11+. The first in the series is designed for children in KS1 (Year 2). It may seem very early to begin 11+ preparation, but building up a solid foundation is essential, so that children approach tests with confidence and familiarity. The Schofield & Sims Maths Rapid Tests are short, timed tests designed to build speed and fluency in preparation for the 11+ and other school selection tests.The book is in three sections - each has number and place value; addition and subtraction; multiplication and division; measurement; geometry; statistics. The indivudual topics are followed by five mixed tests.
	11+ Maths: Rapid Tests 2 7- 8 years by Rebecca Brant This book moves on into KS2, and by following the course through the six books, children are guaranteed a smooth and logical progression through the work they need to know, The topics covered are the same as for the previous book. The target time for each test is 1 minutes; this is important, as most 11+ tests will be timed. However, at this age and especially at the beginning of the book, it's best to build up children's confidence - they can always redo the test under timed conditions. Each test takes just one page and there are spaces to answer in the book, as well as for the score, time taken and whether the target is met. THis is good for motivating children, who like to see their progress.
	11+ Maths: Rapid Tests 3 8 -9 years by Rebecca Brant The questions are based on the type of questions children will encounter in the 11+, but they are also really useful to reinforce work done in school or at home, and to prepare for Common Entrance exams. The topics are number and place value; calculation; fractions and decimals; measurement; geometry and statistics. The mixed questions are excellent to accustom children to changing topics rapidly. A selection of free downloads, including maths puzzles, is also available from the Schofield & Sims website.
	11+ Maths: Rapid Tests 4 9 - 10y years by Rebecca Brant The wide range of topics covered ensures that children have the skills and knowledge to succeed in any of the major providers' tests - including CEM and GL. Each book contains 36 single-page tests and the answers are included in a pull-out section in the middle of each book; these include many helpful hints on tackling questions. The relatively short nature of the tests makes them ideal for regular independent work sessions, and they do not seem to daunting to tackle. In this book, the target time is 10 minutes. The topics are The topics are number and place value; calculation; fractions, decimals and percentages; measurement; geometry and statistics, followed by mixed tests - each is in three progressive sections. Maths Rapid Tests Book 4 includes a Progress chart for recording scores and tracking improvement.
	11+ Maths: Rapid Tests 5 10 - 11 years by Rebecca Brant The topics covered are the same as Book 4. This progressive nature is excellent for ensuring children cover the required work systematically, buidling up a really solid foundation before moving on. The three sections in each book help parents and teachers assess the right level for each child; it's essential to ensure full understanding before moving on, even if you may feel progress is slow. Each book has a practical introduction to help make the best use of the book. Clearly laid out pages are easy to use and will build confidence. Target time is 10 minutes.
	11+ Maths: Rapid Tests 6 11 - 12 years by Rebecca Brant Six tests cover the individual topics as listed above, and these are followed by six mixed tests, each in three sections. As well as perfect preparation for 11+, CE and SATS, it would also be good for children to work through during the long summer holiday, to keep them on track for the start of secondary school. Target time is 8 minutes, so it's not too much to ask!An excellent series that gives comprehensive coverage, with short tests that will not overwhelm a child. Perfect to work through systematically, and good practice for any test or exam that children will take. Excellent value too! Teachers and tutors can take advantage of the special price available to them on the Schofield and Sims website.

Dictionaries

	Picture Dictionary: EYFS/KS1, Ages 4+ THis is just perfect as a first dictionary. Over 400 words are featured in a clear typeface; each word is accompanied by a colour illustration. The alphabet runs along the top of each spread, with the appropriate letter highlighted for easy location. High Frequency words are shown on bold. With 10 words to each page, the portrait format of the book makes it clear and simple to use. There are useful features at the back of the book - verbs, opposites, colour (all illustrated) plus days, months, numbers and a complete word list. It's really important that we encourage children to use dictionaries from as early as possible, and this colourful dictionary teaches the basic principles whilst making it fun. Ideal for both school and home use.
	First Illustrated Dictionary: KS1, Ages 5-7 This dictionary is the next step up from the Picture Dictionary and is suitable for KS1; it will also be useful in the early stages of KS2. All Schofield and Sims dictionaries support the National Curriculum, and it's good to see the progression offered, as children mature and their skills increase. The words included reflect contemporary usage and interests (the dictionary was revised in 2013), and also provide full support for children as they explore classic texts. This dictionary includes 2000+ words, and provides short forms, irregular plurals and help with pronunciation 500+ words are illustrated in a similar style to the Picture Dictionary, helping children to be comfortable with the format. The alphabet is displayed along the side of each page, and the first and last words for each spread are featured at the top. The layout is clear and attractive, with plenty of white space to make for easy use. To encourage good skills, the dictionary includes concise instructions on 'How to use this book', with labelled diagrams. A clear, colourful and appealing dictionary to encourage learning.
	First Dictionary: KS1/KS2, Ages 5-9 Continuing the progression, this is suitable for late KS1 and early KS2 pupils. This sizeable dictionary contains over 5000 headwords, carefully matched to the requirements of the curriculum. Where words have several meanings, these are clearly differeniated; plurals are also given as are derivatives. Some help with pronunciation is given eg for gnat, gnome. The definitions are simple and concise with just the right level of detail. To develop skills, it features an introduction for children and instructions on 'How to use this book' There's a highlighted an alphabet strip on each page and guide words indicating the first and last words on each spread. Useful additional features include high frequency words, pronouns, opposites, synonyms and numbers, as well as a selection of lists of topic words, including transport, time and school.
	First Thesaurus: KS1/KS2, Ages 5-9 This thesaurus complements the First Dictionary and I would recommend that pupils use them side by side. The format and layout are just the same, so children will find it easy to use the two together. Introductory material helps children to make the best use of this resource. It includes over 200 headwords, 10,000 synonyms and 500 antonym pairs. There are clear guide words indicating the first and last headwords on each spread as well as an alphabet strip. Usefully, the thesaurus includes additional lists of topic words on the themes 'All about you', 'Animals', 'Plants', 'Food, drink and cooking', 'Your home' and 'Things to wear'. It's really good to encourage children to use a thesaurus to develop their vocabulary and to make their writing more interesting and this includes all they need to get started.
	Schofield & Sims Complete Primary Dictionary This is a completely dictionary that provides highly specific definitions written in language that children will easily understand. It uses easy and accessible language to define the different senses, phrases and idioms related to each entry; the large numbers of examples used means that children are given an excellent grounding in exactly how to use the words. Highlight boxes under words give additional information such as synonyms, antonyms and alternative spellings. The dictionary is wider in scope than many, and includes new words, older words found in children’s classics and words relating to a wide variety of traditions; it even identifies and defines common American words that children may encounter. The words that children will encounter across the National Curriculum are fully covered. A box for each letter explains letter shape origins; the cultural factors that have shaped the English language are also included. This is a large format for a dictionary, and this allows for all these practical aspects to be included, making it really comprehensive; unfortunately, it is a little unwieldy to my mind, as I like to see children with a dictionary they can easily carry around. However, that aside, it is an excellent resource, especially for the classroom shelf.

Grammar

	Grammar and Punctuation Book 1: Year 1, Ages 5-6 Schofield and Sims publish excellent progressive series of books, which parents and teachers can use to give them confidence that they are covering all the requirements of the National Curriculum in the correct and logical order. The series includes six pupil books and six accompanying teacher's guides - one for each primary school year. It is vital that children learn correct grammar right from the start of school, so this book gives an excellent start. This book consists of 15 double-page lessons covering the National Curriculum requirements for Year 1. Featured topics are words and sentences; capital letters; full stops; spacing; the joining word ‘and’; question marks exclamation marks; singular and plural;; describing word; linking words; verb endings and the prefix ‘un–’. The Pupil books do not include answers - these are available in the accompanying Grammar and Punctuation Book 1 Teacher's Guide: Year 1, Ages 5-6.
	Grammar and Punctuation Book 2 Teacher's Guide: Year 2, Ages 6-7 Teachers can trust Schofield and Sims books to support their teaching, assuring them that they are covering the entire curriculum. Schools will also respond well to the fact that the books, both pupil and teacher ones, are exceptionally good value. Each of the Teachers' Guides includes detailed lesson plans with a short 'focus text' to help teach each learning point in context; answers to all the questions in the corresponding pupil book, with annotations to help you identify areas where pupils may need further revision; reinforcement activities for each lesson, including ideas for applying each grammar or punctuation point to other areas of the curriculum; short dictation exercises to assess whether children have understood the learning point; an end-of-year test, covering all the grammar points in the pupil book, with detailed mark scheme and analysis sheet plus a comprehensive glossary of grammatical terms to support teacher development. A useful introduction explains how to make best use of the book, and these are customised to each Teachers' Guide. Grammar and Punctuation Book 2: Year 2, Ages 6-7 accompanies this. Topics covered are sentence types; verbs (past and present tense); joining words; the progressive form; commas in lists; apostrophes used for possession and shortened forms; nouns and noun phrases; plural nouns and verbs; adverbs, adjectives and suffixes.
	Grammar and Punctuation Book 3: Year 3, Ages 7-8 Schofield and Sims Grammar and Punctuation is a comprehensive programme for teaching grammar and punctuation while also building on vocabulary, reading and writing skills. Every pupil book in the series has the same valuable features, so teachers and parents can follow a consistent teaching pattern; children respond well to familiarity too. The books include; a user-friendly summary of the key learning point for each lesson; plenty of practice, from short 'Try it' activities that check understanding to more in-depth questions that require children to compose their own sentences; regular revision pages to reinforce learning and help you identify strengths and weaknesses; varied writing tasks to promote the application of new knowledge; a self-evaluation checklist to encourage pupils to assess their own learning and a glossary to support the confident use of grammatical terminology. The layout is easy to follow and good use is made of colour to help with this. The 30 single page lessons cover conjunctions; comparative adjectives; the articles; ‘a’ and ‘an’; adverbs; prepositions; direct speech; past and perfect verb forms; main and; subordinate clauses; pronouns; nouns with prefixes and suffixes; headings and paragraphs and word families. is the companion title.
	Grammar and Punctuation Book 4 Teacher's Guide: Year 4, Ages 8-9 Each lesson has one page of teaching suggestions - teach, practise (with a link to the Pupil Book), apply and assess. Facing this is a page of answers, which are accompanied by additional hints on marking, and extension ideas. Analysis sheets allow teachers to assess the writing tasks and there are also pupil checklists for children to assess their own work. Book 4 covers adverbials; determiners; word classes; co-ordinating and subordinating conjunctions; apostrophes for plural possession; pronouns to avoid repetition; Standard English; the perfect form of verbs; negative sentences; adjectives with prefixes and suffixes; direct speech and question tags. Use this alongside Grammar and Punctuation Book 4: Year 4, Ages 8-9.
	Grammar and Punctuation Book 5: Year 5, Ages 9-10 Through structured lessons, stimulating focus texts and engaging practice activities, children not only learn the correct terminology and usage of grammar and punctuation, but also develop the skills, knowledge and confidence to apply them successfully in their own writing. Progressing through the series, the very useful glossaries get more complex with each book. The book includes three revision tests and three writing tasks for a well-rounded approach which helps check progress. Topics include fronted adverbials; relative clauses; expanded noun phrases; modal verbs and adverbs to express possibility; conditional sentences; verbs with prefixes and suffixes; commas to avoid ambiguity; auxiliary verbs; linking ideas across paragraphs; Standard English; double negatives and parenthesis (brackets, commas and dashes). Grammar and Punctuation Book 5 Teacher's Guide: Year 5, Ages 9-10
	Grammar and Punctuation Book 6 Teacher's Guide: Year 6, Ages 10-11 The coverage of everything teachers need is exceptional, even down to including assessment and record-keeping resources. This ensures that busy teachers can rely on the series to give them all they need in one convenient good value package; school prices are available on the Schofield and Sims website.The books for Year 6 cover active voice and passive voice; synonyms and antonyms; formal and informal vocabulary, including the use of Standard English; colons and semicolons in lists; linking main clauses using colons, semicolons and dashes; the subjunctive form; hyphens to avoid ambiguity; word classes and homonyms and layout devices (bullet points and tables). Complete the series with Grammar and Punctuation Book 6: Year 6, Ages 10-11. Adding to the value are the free downloads available on the Schofield and Sims website https://www.schofieldandsims.co.uk/free-downloads/grammar-and-punctuation/d26. An excellent series.
	Schofield & Sims Complete Primary Dictionary This is a completely dictionary that provides highly specific definitions written in language that children will easily understand. It uses easy and accessible language to define the different senses, phrases and idioms related to each entry; the large numbers of examples used means that children are given an excellent grounding in exactly how to use the words. Highlight boxes under words give additional information such as synonyms, antonyms and alternative spellings. The dictionary is wider in scope than many, and includes new words, older words found in children’s classics and words relating to a wide variety of traditions; it even identifies and defines common American words that children may encounter. The words that children will encounter across the National Curriculum are fully covered. A box for each letter explains letter shape origins; the cultural factors that have shaped the English language are also included. This is a large format for a dictionary, and this allows for all these practical aspects to be included, making it really comprehensive; unfortunately, it is a little unwieldy to my mind, as I like to see children with a dictionary they can easily carry around. However, that aside, it is an excellent resource, especially for the classroom shelf.

11+ Progress Papers

	Progress Papers in Non-Verbal Reasoning 1 by Rebecca Brant Verbal and non-verbal reasoning are often found in 11+ and Common Entrance exams, but the majority of children will not be taught how to tackle these questions at school. This series of books will therefore be really useful for parents preparing their children for these exams. The book contains 7 papers divided by topic into sets demonstrating the most common question types - these question types are featured in this series are: nets of cubes, matrices, codes, similarities, hidden pictures, reflected pictures, combined pictures, series, analogies and odd ones out. The layout is ideal for giving children experience of the types of paper they will encounter - and practice will definitely reap dividends.
	Progress Papers in Non-verbal Reasoning 2 by Rebecca Brant The papers can be useful in assessing ability, monitoring progress and giving practice in weak areas; with so many different question topics, practice is the key to success, so these books will prove invaluable in exam preparation. Each paper in the book has spaces for marking, with 50 points available for each paper. Non-verbal reasoning can be a very useful discipline for children, even if they do not use it for exam preparation. The questions are based around drawings, shapes and codes; to answer the questions, pupils need to draw on logic and thinking skills to identify similarities, differences and sequences; mathematical reasoning and deductive powers also come into play. This means that experience in non VR will help a wide range of children.
	Progress Papers in Non-verbal Reasoning 2 by Rebecca Brant "The Schofield & Sims Progress Papers provide rigorous all-round practice for the end of Key Stage 2, and may also be suitable for some younger and older children. The series is designed for use as revision or extension work, or as preparation for the 11+ examinations, including those set by CEM (Durham University) and GL Assessment. The papers are intended for children to work through systematically with an adult who can provide assistance and diagnose key issues. Covering the 10 most common non-verbal reasoning question types, the Progress Papers in Non-verbal Reasoning develop children's logic, deduction, geometry, spatial awareness and problem solving skills. Questions increase in difficulty, providing a clear measure of progress. Every book includes seven papers, each containing 50 questions, with a total of 50 marks is available per paper. A double-page spread of worked Example questions appears at the front of each book, illustrating how to complete each type of question. Pull-out answers make scoring easy and include detailed explanations, colour-coded pictures and advice for adult helpers. The total mark per paper can be turned into a percentage result and added to the Progress chart at the back of the book following marking." An invaluable series for exam preparation and valuable also in developing thinking and reasoning skills.
	Progress Papers in Verbal Reasoning 1 by Patrick Berry Give any pupils who may sit Common Entrance or 11+ exams much-needed practice with this comprehensive series of books. Most schools will not prepare for these exams, so it is up to parents to ensure children are well-prepared. There are 6 papers in each book, each with 100 questions, divided into groups of 5 by topic. The papers can take between 45 - 70 minutes to complete, so it's a good idea to break this up into smaller chunks. Once pupils reach Book 3, they would benefit from completing whole papers. The question types featured in this book include: synonyms, antonyms and word meanings; jumbled words and missing letters; letter and number sequences; true statements and sorting information; number connections, graphs and tables; and analogies and odd ones out.
	Progress Papers in Verbal Reasoning 2 by Patrick Berry The question types featured in this book include: synonyms, antonyms and word categories; jumbled words and word chains; alphabetical order and word codes; true statements and sorting information; number connections, graphs and tables; and time problems and mixed-up sentences. The papers are laid out to replicate exam papers, and marking is facilitated by the pull-out central section. The Progress Chart can be used to record marks and measure progress; with this type of question, the more practice the better, so it would be well worth children doing the papers more than once - maybe in Year 5 and in Year 6. These books are an excellent way to gain experience and thereby build confidence.
	Progress Papers in Verbal Reasoning 3 by Patrick Berry "The Schofield & Sims Progress Papers provide rigorous all-round practice for the end of Key Stage 2, and may also be suitable for some younger and older children. The series is designed for use as revision or extension work, or as preparation for the 11+ examinations, including those set by CEM (Durham University) and GL Assessment. The papers are intended for children to work through systematically with an adult who can provide assistance and diagnose key issues. Covering over 40 question types, all of them indexed in a useful Topics chart, the Progress Papers in Verbal Reasoning develop children's logic, critical thinking, vocabulary, spelling and problem solving skills. Questions increase in difficulty, providing a clear measure of progress. Every book includes six papers, each containing 100 questions, and a total of 100 marks is available per paper. Pull-out answers make scoring easy and the percentage result generated may be added to the Progress chart at the back of the book following marking." The question types featured in this book include: synonyms, antonyms and word meanings; jumbled words and missing letters; letter sequences and symbol codes; true statements and mixed up sentences; letters for numbers and position problems; and time problems and sorting information. As you can see, there is a big variety of question types, and children really do benefit from working through as many questions as possible, making this sequence of books an excellent support for 11+ and CE.
	Progress Papers in English 1 (of 3): Key Stage 2, Ages 9-12 by Patrick Berry If your child is taking the 11+ (including CEM and GL) or sitting Common Entrance exams, this series of books will be invaluable. If not, you will still find the books well worth having for revision and reinforcement of work - how about during the summer holidays before starting secondary school? The Schofield & Sims Progress Papers are designed for use as revision or extension work, or as preparation for the 11+ examinations, including those set by CEM (Durham University) and GL Assessment. Progress Papers in English develops children's grammar, punctuation, spelling, vocabulary, comprehension and composition skills. This book includes six papers and a comprehensive set of pull-out answers. The topics covered include: abbreviations, alphabetical order, antonyms, homonyms, comparative and superlative, word choice, word meanings, homonyms, apostrophes for abbreviation and possession, similes, nouns, parts of speech, past tense, direct and indirect speech and joining sentences. There are 6 papers, each with a skills section followed by comprehension and a short writing task. The generous number of questions makes these books really good value for money - I am very impressed.
	Progress Papers in English 2 (of 3): Key Stage 2, Ages 9-12 by Patrick Berry Topics include abbreviations, antonyms, homophones, prefixes, odd one out (by meaning), word choice, word groups (by meaning), word meanings, adjectives, adverbs, nouns, verbs, popular phrases, proverbs, sayings and direct and indirect speech; the papers are clearly laid out into sections of 5 on a specific topic (there are 60 questions on each paper). Every book in the series includes comprehension passages with examples of fiction, non-fiction and persuasive text; a stimulating and varied selection of short writing tasks and progress and topics chart to track progress. The answers are given in a pull-out section and these will be extremely useful for the adult to work through with the child as they include detailed answers, explanations and alternatives. The guidance on the short writing task section particularly caught my eye, with its excellent advice. The range of questions covered in each paper will benefit every child, whether taking 11+ and CE, sitting SATS or revising work.
	Progress Papers in English 3 (of 3): Key Stage 2, Ages 9-12 by Patrick Berry Here are 6 more papers, extending learning from the previous titles - an additional topic included is unscrambling sentences. The multi-choice presentation of the comprehension papers throughout the series is excellent to see - so many papers do not cover this angle and children do need to become familiar with the technique, the appearance of the paper and the fact that they are not as simple as they seem! The books are also useful for extension work; the series is designed for children from 9 to 11+, but (as always) teachers and parents are the best placed to know what children need, so these books may suit younger or older children too, according to ability - the beauty of the progressive approach offered by the books is the opportunity to see exactly what the student needs. They also over a range of genres so pupils get good experience of different forms of writing. All in all, this is an exceptional series of books which will be highly valuable to parents and teachers.

Reasoning

	Rapid Reasoning Tests: Verbal Reasoning 1 (Ages 6-7, Key Stage 1) by Sian Goodspeed Rapid Reasoning Tests provides short, effective, timed tests in reasoning. Written by experienced teachers and designed for independent use, this series is ideal to use in schools or at home - especially as many schools do not cover these skills in the curriculum. Each book contains pull-out answers. Verbal Reasoning 1 is a collection of short, language-based problem solving tests including age-appropriate questions, providing opportunities for children to practise and master verbal reasoning skills in preparation for the 11+ and other school selection tests. The first of six verbal reasoning books in the Rapid Reasoning Tests series, this book covers the following question types: word and letter patterns; vocabulary; spelling; number patterns and problem solving. Follow this with Rapid Reasoning Tests: Verbal Reasoning 2 (Ages 7-8, Key Stage 2) covering word and letter patterns and vocabulary.
	Rapid Reasoning Tests: Verbal Reasoning 3 (Ages 8-9, Key Stage 2) by Sian Goodspeed This is a series which needs to be worked through progressively as each book builds on previous learning. Verbal Reasoning skills are valuable to all pupils, not just those sitting Common Entrance and 11+ exams, as they develop a range of key skills which will help in all areas of learning. This book covers the following question types: similarities and differences; missing and hidden shapes; cubes; codes and combinations. Rapid Reasoning Tests: Verbal Reasoning 4 (Ages 9-10, Key Stage 2) covers covers word and letter patterns and vocabulary..
	Rapid Reasoning Tests: Verbal Reasoning 5 (Ages 10-11, Key Stage 2) by Sian Goodspeed Verbal Reasoning 5 is a collection of targeted tests, each with a target time of 10 minutes to aid exam preparation. The fifth of six verbal reasoning books in the Rapid Reasoning Tests series, this book covers the following question types: word and letter patterns, spelling, number patterns, problem solving and vocabulary. The tests are clearly laid out, with a worked example for each question type; answers can be written straight into the books. Rapid Reasoning Tests: Verbal Reasoning 6 (Ages 11-12, Key Stage 2) covers word and letter patterns and vocabulary.
	Rapid Reasoning Tests: Non-verbal Reasoning 1 (Ages 6-7, Key Stage 1) by Rebecca Brant Non-verbal Reasoning 1 is a collection of short, problem-solving tests based on pictures and patterns. Each timed test includes age-appropriate questions, providing opportunities for children to practise and master non-verbal reasoning skills in preparation for the 11+ and other school selection tests. The first of six non-verbal reasoning books in the Rapid Reasoning Tests series, this book covers the following question types: similarities and differences; missing and hidden shapes; cubes; codes; combinations.All the books include answers in pull-out sections. Rapid Reasoning Tests: Non-verbal Reasoning 2 (Ages 7-8, Key Stage 2) extends the work on the topics of Book 1.
	Rapid Reasoning Tests: Non-verbal Reasoning 3 (Ages 8-9, Key Stage 2) Rebecca Brant It is important for children to have as much practice as possible in both verbal and non-verbal reasoning as familiarity with the question types is a huge help when it comes to tests and exams. These short tests can be fitted into a schedule easily, whether at home or at school, and the timed element of the tests encourages children to work quickly - although in the early stages, I would not be too pedantic about this as the key is giving confidence so timing becomes more significant in the later stages. This book and Rapid Reasoning Tests: Non-verbal Reasoning 4 (Ages 9-10, Key Stage 2) covers the same question types as books 1 and 2 and builds on skills learnt.
	Rapid Reasoning Tests: Non-verbal Reasoning 5 (Ages 10-11, Key Stage 2) Rebecca Brant Non-verbal reasoning tests come in many forms, and this series of books addresses the common types, giving children plenty of practice to develop confidence. The question types are varied and the tests clearly laid out, each on a single page. By the time pupils reach Rapid Reasoning Tests: Non-verbal Reasoning 6 (Ages 11-12, Key Stage 2) they will have an excellent grounding for any tests and exams they face, as well as for moving on to secondary school with well-honed reasoning skills - the books also give a good basis for CAT testing, commonly carried out in many schools in Year 7. They also offer excellent value for money!

Calculation

	Written Calculation: Addition by Steve Mills Each book in this new series is fully compliant with the 2014 curriculum and uses methods recommended in the National Curriculum This progressive book takes pupils through each step in learning addition from two digit addition to decimal addition. Principles are clearly explained by use of a worked example, then there are plenty of questions for children to try. More than simply an answer book, Written Calculation: Addition Answers has a reminder of the principles in the Pupil Book. The answers are laid out to replicate the layout of the Pupil Book, making correlation between the two easy.
	Written Calculation: Subtraction by Steve Mills The column method of subtraction is explained in this book, which assumes a level of pre-knowledge clearly outlined on the back cover. There are 18 steps, each with explanations, questions, word problems and a self-evaluation rating. One thing that strikes me about this entire series is the attention given to layout - this helps children to see how to lay out their work clearly and neatly and provides an excellent foundation for all future work. To make recognition easy on the shelf, each book and its answer book have a matching colour band on the spine. This title is supported by Written Calculation:Subtraction Answers. As with all the answer books, this has a durable shiny cover making it suitable for repeated use.
	Written Calculation: Multiplication 1 by Steve Mills This book leads pupils through the necessary steps for mastering the column method of short multiplication and begins to prepare them for long multiplication. As with each pupil book in the series, there are three Check-up tests and a Final test to monitor pupils’ progress and quickly convert scores to percentages. Go to the Schofield and Sims website and you can see sample pages from every book. To accompany this book, there are Written Calculation:Multiplication 2 which leads pupils from short multiplication to long multiplication and assumes completion of Multiplication 1. Pupils should have an understanding of the value of digits up to and beyond four-digit numbers and experience of multiplying single-digit numbers together. Written Calculation:Multiplication 2 Answers completes the set.
	Written Calculation: Division 1 by Steve Mills There is consistency in approach throughout the series which gives pupils confidence and reassurance; each book uses 18 carefully structured steps of learning to guide the learner towards full mastery of each written method.The first book in the group on division leads pupils through the necessary steps for mastering short division. Pupils beginning this book should have an understanding of the value of digits in two- and three-digit numbers and experience of multiplying and dividing small numbers. Pupils who have learnt their times tables and related division facts will find written division easier. Written Calculation:Division 1 Answers supports this book and, as with all the answer books, includes a Group Record Sheet for that all-important recording. Written Calculation:Division 2 builds seamlessly on Book 1, moving pupils on to long division. As with the entire series, layout is clear and uncluttered and explanations straightforward. Written Calculation:Division 2 Answers completes the set.
	Written Calculation Teacher's Guide by Hilary Koll and Steve Mills The perfect support to the pupil books,this is in full accord with the 2014 National Curriculum and helps teachers plan a whole-school approach to written calculation. Assessment tests are included to facilitate assessment of pupils’ progress. There is guidance on working through a step, to help develop pupils’ conceptual understanding plus planning sections for each of the six books, including: Learning objectives, Summary of the steps, Prerequisites and Teaching notes. An invaluable resource to enhance the pupil books and to ensure consistency of teaching across the year groups. An extensive range of free downloads is available on the Schofield and Sims website to ensure the requirements of the NC are filled.
	Written Calculation Teacher's Resource Book by Hilary Koll and Steve Mills This Teacher’s Resource Book contains supplementary, photocopiable resources to help teachers integrate Written Calculation in school. The questions correspond to the steps in each of the Pupil Books, offering opportunities for pupils to develop their conceptual understanding of written calculation. These questions are ideal for further practice, revision or homework. Answers are provided at the back of the book. Planned and written as a cohesive entity, this is an excellent series to cover all aspects of written calculation. Check out the Schofield and Sims website for prices for teachers.

Times Tables

	Times Tables Practice 1 by Ann Montague-Smith A good foundation in tables is essential for maths, so give your KS1/Early KS2 child plenty of practice so that they have immediate and accurate recall. Times Tables Practice gives children extensive practice in all the times tables relevant to the age group, providing enjoyable activities with attractive illustrations that will hold their attention throughout. It's not just boring questions but plenty of picture questions to go along with the number questions. Times Tables Practice 1 covers the x2, x3, x4, x5 and x10 times tables. The activities are structured in sections that initially look separately at the different tables, and then move on to mixed questions after the basics have been learnt. There are also number problems. If children do just one page a day, they will soon reinforce their learning and the engaging activities mean they won't get bored.
	Times Tables Practice 2 Ann Montague-Smith Build on the work done in the previous book with this,which covers the x6, x7, x8, x9, x11 and x12 times tables and it suitable for use in KS2. The activities encourage children to: practise counting; build the multiplication table; memorise and manipulate number facts; improve their rapid recall skills and derive related division facts. Again, the approach is lively with plenty of picture questions to keep children's interest high. Timed activities are included to build children's confidence and to prepare them for classroom tests - this is useful as it means children will get used to working quickly. Activities at the end of the book ensure children have grasped all the times tables facts.
	Learn Your Times Tables Book 1 by Hilary Koll Times tables are an essential part of learning and these books go way beyond rote learning and simple recitation of the tables. This book focuses on x2, x3, x10, x5, x3 and x4 with activities grouped in separate sections for each of the times tables, with mixed tests at the end. Children can use the book at home or in school and the ideas, games and activities at the start are good for use in either situation. There are facts and rhymes to help children memorise the times tables plus engaging activities to provide plenty of practice. Cut-out flashcards are included plus ideas for using these. There are pull-out answers in a central section.
	Learn Your Times Tables Book 2 by Hilary Koll Following on from the book above, and with the same mix of practice, facts, rhymes and activities, this book covers the x6, x7, x8, x9 x11 and x12 tables, as well as revising the x3 and x4 tables. Clear layout and plenty of space devoted to each table means the book is easy to use; the lively range of activities makes learning fun and means the facts will be remembered - I like the illustrations of the hands for the 9x table - always a tricky one, but this technique makes it easy to remember. Throughout the book, there are plenty of practice questions Test yourself mixed questions at the end enable children to monitor their own learning - answers are included.
	Times Tables Tests Book 1 Key Stage 1 by Hilary Koll A thorough knowledge of times tables is essential and the sooner children establish this, the better. Using books like this provides that essential support and just a few minutes a day really pays dividends. This book concentrates on 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 10 times tables, doubling and halving, simple fractions, coins and sums of money and units of measurement. Schofield and Sims books concentrate on providing plenty of practice without all the extras some other publishers include - this is a good approach for pupils who are focused and means that every book provides a really good amount of practice material in an easy to follow format. To save time (and effort) get this too - Times Tables Tests Answer Book 1 (of 2): Key Stage 1, Years 1 & 2
	Times Tables Tests Book 2 Key Stage 2 by Hilary Kol The Times Tables Tests series helps to secure children's knowledge and application of essential multiplication and division facts and to develop their understanding of number vocabulary. Progress Tests enable children to see their achievements build over time. Times Tables Tests 2 focuses particularly on: the times tables up to 12x12; doubling and halving/squares and square roots; fractions; finding the mean; units of measurement for length/mass/capacity. This wide range of topics shows just how vital a good grounding in times tables is. The book is clearly laid out and easy to follow and there's plenty of variety in the questions including plenty of word problems. Adults will probably want this too - Times Tables Tests Answer Book 2 (of 2): Key Stage 2, Years 3 - 6

11+ Mathematics Progress Papers

	Mathematics 11+ Progress Papers 1 by Patrick Berry The series is designed for use as revision or extension work. It also offers valuable practice in preparation for the 11+ examinations (including those set by CEM at Durham University). The pull out answer sheet makes checking the answers easy - and no chance to cheat! Topics covered are: simple calculations, long division and long multiplication; estimation, averages, probability and problem solving; prime numbers, factors and multiples; fractions, decimals and percentages; ratio, proportion and basic algebra; shape properties, angles and degrees; graphs, charts and coordinates. A really useful feature is the fact that the papers are split into sections with clear labelling to show the topic being covered eg simple addition and subtraction, pie charts and simple multiplication are the first topics in the first paper of this book. There are 8 papers in all and the questions increase in difficulty as the book progresses..
	Mathematics 11+ Progress Papers 2 by Patrick Berry The topics covered are the same as in Book 1 but as the series progresses from Books 1 to 3, so the questions are increasingly hard. this progression enables teachers and parents to assess the correct level for pupils and give the appropriate work. The layout is clear and uncluttered and will help to familiarise children with the layout of test papers, as papers exactly replicate common layouts; papers include spaces for marking as well as clear indications of where to write answers. The introduction tells parents and teachers how to use the book. This book contains 7 papers, each with 100 questions divided into topics with 5 questions for each. These three books have been revised to ensure they cover the 2014 curriculum.
	Mathematics 11+ Progress Papers 3 by Patrick Berry Having the whole series to hand means that work can be set at just the right level for each of the range of topics covered by the books and earlier work can be consolidated by working through the books. A very useful topic chart is provided at the end of each book - this lists each of the key topics and indicates in which paper the questions can be found. This is excellent, as so often children need to reinforce specific topics rather than undertake a full paper, especially in the early stages of revision. This book has 7 question papers and the layout of these is excellent, with room to complete the answers. A progress chart allows pupils to see how they are doing. An excellent series to provide pupils with all the revision they need - the books are suited to children of 10 to 12.

Spelling

	Spelling Book 1 Key Stage 1 by Carol Matchett This is Book 1 in a progressive series which will take your child right through from Year 1 to Year 6. There is a real value in following through progressively, as this means every aspect is covered in the correct sequence. The activities systematically introduce and revise spelling conventions, suggest strategies for remembering common 'tricky words' and teach pupils how to monitor their own spelling. This intensive practice will enable children continually to develop, consolidate and improve their skills, encouraging them towards effective spelling for life. Book 1 covers: segmenting words into phonemes and selecting from alternative spelling; using spelling rules for adding s and e; adding suffixes ing, ed and er where no change is needed to the root word; dividing words into syllable and applying spelling guidelines (for example, ck, tch, ve, dge).
	Spelling Book 2 Key Stage 1 by Carol Matchett This is an affordable series allowing parents to support their child's spelling throughout primary school. All the answers are included at the back of each book in the series. Book 2 covers: segmenting words into phonemes and selecting the correct spelling from alternative; learning new ways to spell phoneme; distinguishing between homophone; adding prefixes and suffixes to spell longer word; applying rules for adding suffixes and learning spelling guidelines. There are plenty of activities to ensure learning has been successful - the format is Remember - Try it - Read-cover-write and there are also three revision sections.
	Spelling Book 3 Key Stage 2 by Carol Matchett Book 3 covers: spelling words by adding prefixes and suffixes; using rules for adding suffixes; applying guidelines for endings where pronunciation may mislead; learning and applying guidelines relating to alternative spellings of phonemes and spelling words with apostrophes. All the books in the series are supported by the Teacher's Guide and the Teacher's Resource book which are reviewed below, but they stand alone as useful books as well.
	Spelling Book 4 Key Stage 2 by Carol Matchett This book covers: using further prefixes and suffixes; using rules for adding suffixes beginning with vowels; spelling a range of homophones; developing an understanding of word structure and word origin; learning guidelines for alternative spelling of phonemes and learning guidelines relating to the spelling of endings. The format described for KS1 continues and there are tick boxes at the end of the pages so children can check progress. The revision pages are especially useful to ensure knowledge has been retained. All the books include answers.
	Spelling Book 5 Key Stage 2 by Carol Matchett Book 5 - using further prefixes and suffixes and applying rules for adding suffixes; spelling words with silent letters; using knowledge of word structure and word origins; learning to spell difficult words; learning guidelines for word endings and distinguishing between homophones and other words that are commonly confused. Systematic learning is guaranteed by following these books which offer a goodly number of activities to ensure learning is really strong.
	Spelling Book 6 Key Stage 2 by Carol Matchett In Year 6, children learn about further prefixes and suffixes, further rules for adding suffixes; using knowledge of word structure and word origin;s spelling difficult words; learning guidelines relating to word endings and distinguishing between homophones and other words that are commonly confused. An excellent series for use both at home and in the classroom, especially when complemented by the books below. Clear and easy to follow and just enough on each topic to provide a basis for learning at home to support school work.
	Spelling Teacher's Guide by Carol Matchett Using this Teacher's Guide will add enormously to the value of the six books in the series for pupils and covers Years 1 to 6. It suggests how best to introduce each learning point or 'focus'; clarifies the detail of the focus and exactly what should be taught and provides activities to reinforce and help children to remember spellings. There are a vast number of ideas here and each page of the pupil books has its own section including focus, teach, practise, apply and assess suggestions. These ensure that teachers gain maximum teaching value from the books, giving their pupils the best possible opportunity to reinforce learning.
	Spelling Teacher's Resource Book by Carol Matchett This book includes resources for revision and extension work; reminders and prompts - which encourage pupils to use spelling strategies when writing and assessment and record-keeping resources to support on-going and periodic assessment - busy teachers who have to keep many records will particularly welcome this! Together, the eight books in this excellent series provide a really comprehensive resource for classroom use, giving teachers the reassurance that they are teaching all the required spelling patterns in a logical order and giving plenty of ideas to increase learning.

English

	English Skills Introductory Book: Years 2-3, Ages 6-8 Set the scene with this introductory book. It revises topics from the KS 1 curriculum and is ideal to use with children at the end of Key Stage 1 or to ensure all skills have been remembered before the start of work in KS2. It includes: exercises covering grammar, punctuation and sentence formation; writing tasks to encourage children to apply what they have learnt in their own writing; and proofreading tasks to check understanding. Topics covered include: sentence formation and punctuation; compound nouns; verb tenses; commas in a list; common suffixes; alternative spellings of letter sounds; and common spelling patterns. It's an excellent way to ensure children are ready to tackle KS2 work.
	English Skills Book 1: Year 3, Ages 7-8 This is the first in the series which progressively covers all children need to know to reach the targets at the end of Year 6. The books contain a series of short tests on various topics, ideal for both school and home use. Each book in the series includes exercises covering grammar, punctuation and sentence formation; writing tasks to encourage children to apply what they have learnt in their own writing; proofreading tasks to check understanding; a Progress chart for pupils to record their own achievements and a Glossary to support the confident use of literacy terms. Topics covered include: homophones and homonyms; main and subordinate clauses; conjunctions; prefixes; apostrophes in contractions; inverted commas in direct speech; tense; and spelling rules. Follow on with English Skills Book 2: Year 4, Ages 8-9 which covers fronted adverbials; expanded noun phrases; determiners; pronouns; apostrophes for plural possession; Standard English verb forms; vocabulary and grammar improvements; and spelling rules and exceptions.
	English Skills Book 3: Years 4-5, Ages 8-10 Topics covered include: pronouns and possessive pronouns; linking adverbials; correcting misuse of apostrophes; suffixes to change word class; word families; and spelling rules and exceptions for adding prefixes and suffixes. Each book has a Progress Chart at the end, to enable children to assess their own understanding - a key part of today's learning. In English Skills Book 4: Year 5, Ages 9-10, pupils will reinforce learning in relative clauses; formal and informal language; modal verbs and adverbs to show possibility; adverbials; pronouns for cohesion; punctuating a parenthesis; and vocabulary for effect. These books are exceptional value - no gimics, just straightforward learning, clearly presented; and to make them even better value, a selection of free supporting downloads is available from the Schofield & Sims website. Answer books are available for each book and there is also a Teachers' Guide to go with the series.
	English Skills Book 5: Year 6, Ages 10-11 Children in Year 6 will be preparing for SATS and this book provides excellent support, covering use of a colon, semi-colon and dash between clauses; sentence variation; question tags; colons and semi-colons in lists; the active and passive voice; ellipsis; editing sentences for effect; and vocabulary and grammar for formal writing The varied question types will give children confidence for tests and exams.English Skills Book 5: Year 6, Ages 10-11 completes the series, focusing on text cohesion, non-finite verbs, the subjunctive, punctuation to avoid ambiguity, spelling rules and exceptions and vocabulary and grammar for effect. The consistent approach which is gained by working through the series is excellent to support children's learning in full knowledge that everything has been covered. Schofield and Sims regularly revise their books, so you can be sure they are fully up-to-date with the curriculum. Parents can be reassured that they are supporting the right topic at the right time by following this comprehensive series
	Key Stage 2 English Revision Guide by Carol Matchett The Schofield & Sims Revision Guides help children to revise for national tests by guiding them through what they have learned on a topic-by-topic basis. Closely matched to the National Curriculum, this book will help children to revise what they have learnt at school right through KS2, in preparation for the end of key stage tests. Clearly presented examples clearly explain the topics and colourful illustrations help make revision enjoyable. The precisely targeted practice questions highlight any gaps in understanding, allowing for further reinforcement as necessary. The Key Stage 2 English Revision Guide covers the statutory requirements for Key Stage 2 English. The comprehensive glossary encourages the correct spelling and use of subject vocabulary, and can be used to check children's understanding of the terms and their use.
	Key Stage 1 English Revision Guide by Carol Matchett Another attractive book which makes good use of colour, drawings, cartoons and diagrams to make the topic approachable and understandable. It covers all the areas required by the National Curriculum, and is an very useful guide to have to hand from the start of KS1, to ensure children have a full and accurate grasp of all the key concepts. The explanations are clear and concise, and very easy to understand This is a guide to the techniques, although each page does include a 'test yourself' box; there are also useful 'Remember' boxes which highlight key topics. Schofield and Sims practice books are invaluable to reinforce learning.
	Key Stage 1 English Practice Papers by Carol Matchett As your child gets closer to the SATS test in the summer term, reinforce their learning and identify any areas of weakness by doing practice papers; but please don't make these a chore or get your child stressed by doing them. If approached in the right way, they will find the extra revision reassuring and helpful. These four timed papers are created in the format of the actual papers as set from 2016, so give children an ideal preparation. There are two reading papers (one 30 minutes and one 40 minutes), and two grammar, punctuation and spelling papers (15 and 20 minutes). Being used to the format also increases confidence when they sit down to do the tests. The books feature full instructions and detailed mark schemes. Each section is cross-referenced to the Key Stage 2 English Revision Guide (above).
	Key Stage 2 English Practice Papers by Carol Matchett As your child gets closer to the SATS test reinforce their learning and identify any areas of weakness by doing practice papers. These three papers are created in the format of the actual papers, so give children an ideal preparation. Being used to the format also increases confidence when they sit down to do the tests. Closely matched to the National Curriculum test frameworks, the book includes full instructions for use, as well as guidance on equipment and timings, in order to familiarise children with the format of a formal test. Papers on reading (1 hour), and grammar, punctuation and spelling (45 minutes plus 15 minutes for spelling) are included, along with detailed mark schemes to indicate whether a child is meeting the expected standard. The additional comments and guidance are really useful to use after tackling the paper, to help your child improve. It's valuable at this age to have timed tests, so children become accustomed to working to a fixed time.
	Grammar (Understanding English KS2) by Carol Matchett Understanding English is a series of learning workbooks, each of which features explanations, teaching points, exercises, answers and 'Now you try!' extension activities to ensure that learning is secure. The books are newly updated to ensure complete compliance with the requirements of the new curriculum introduced in 2014. This is a complete course in grammar which makes an excellent reference guide to have available through KS2 - and beyond. The book covers adjectives, nouns, comparatives and superlatives, singular and plural, pronouns, verbs, adverbs, tenses, conjunctions, active and passive sentences, informal and formal speech, prepositions and clauses. Words are not just shown in isolation - the book shows how they can be put together in sentences and text It offers a variety of different approaches, allowing parents and teachers to choose the best for their children. Two pages are given to each topic - the first covers the basics and the second page takes understanding to the next level - this approach makes it easy for parents and teachers to give children work at the appropriate level. There is some fascinating background information about the English language which further aids understanding.
	Spelling (Understanding English KS2) by Carol Matchett This book explains a variety of spelling strategies, including learning how to spell specific words, remembering spelling rules and checking for mistakes; there is an explanation to introduce each topic. Fascinating facts about the development of English spelling, plus plenty of activities and examples, make this a very useful book to support learning and to prepare for the English SPAG test. Topics covered are prefixes and suffixes, using a dictionary, syllables, tricky words, word structure, word families, and homophones. The layout is easy to follow and the work can be done in short 'chunks' so children do not get bored. The 'Did You Know' facts are a super way to interest children and they will love to show off their knowledge - I really like these as they will capture children's interest.
	Punctuation (Understanding English KS2) by Carol Matchett Punctuation - an area which puzzles many adults, let alone children. So this clearly explained book which explains how to use all the main punctuation marks will be a great resource for parents and teachers. Good punctuation is as important as good spelling - a badly punctuated sentence can be very confusing. Full of examples and activities, the book also contains fascinating facts on how punctuation developed. The proof reading exercises are an excellent way for children to revise learning. The book includes full stops, capital letters, apostrophes, inverted commas, dashes and hyphens, direct speech and dialogue, parenthesis, bullet points, exclamation and question marks, colons and semicolons - a comprehensive guide. These are workbooks - they are designed to help children practise their skills rather than to actually teach those skills although each topic is introduced with a short explanation which provides a useful summary.
	Non-fiction (Understanding English KS2) by Carol Matchett I am really pleased to find a book focusing specifically on non-fiction; so often the emphasis is on fiction writing but children need to experience and understand all forms of writing. After all, in everyday life, we come across much factual writing, including using reference books, instructions, newspaper articles and reports, all of which are covered in this book. There are interesting sections on skim reading, fact and opinion, technical words, summaries, discussions and explanations. Children will be helped to make their own writing appropriate to each of non-fiction and there are plenty of practical examples to reinforce learning. Answers are not included, as adults should assess the answers based on the child's age and ability; there will be many 'right' ways to answer each question. The 'Now you try' section gives lots of ideas for extension work.
	Fiction (Understanding English KS2) by Carol Matchett This book covers genre, dialogue, structure, themes, conventions, traditional tales, fables, play scripts, story openings, modern fiction, language for effect and book recommendations. It encourages creative writing - something many children find challenging - by giving ideas of the features that make for a captivating story. These include the use of character, suspense, setting and plot to make for interesting writing; it includes ideas for planning stories and plenty of stimulating questions and exercises to help creative writing. The consistent approach taken across each book in the series makes them easy for children to navigate; each book uses a single colour to enhance the black and white text - this makes the pages attractive without being cluttered. Good use is made of appropriate illustrative material as well.
	Vocabulary (Understanding English KS2) by Carol Matchett A wide vocabulary will stand children in good stead throughout life. This stimulating book will give an excellent foundation and really encourage children to enjoy language in all its rich variety. Verbs and adverbs, nouns, adjectives, using a dictionary, onomatopoeia, synonyms, antonyms, word origins, homographs, formal and technical words, idioms and similes are all included with explanations as to their use and how to make the best of them. There are plenty of activities included and these help children learn how to use words and widen their language. The activities really encourage children to think about words and how they are used and help greatly in preparing for tests and exams.
	Poetry (Understanding English KS2) by Carol Matchett Poetry is a superb way to help children to enjoy the beauty of language and appreciate the wonder of words. Encourage their interest with this stimulating resource which covers learning poetry by heart, performing poetry, writing poetry, reading poetry aloud, similes, metaphors, poetic language, personification, haiku, free verse, nonsense poetry and shape poems - all the National Curriculum requirements. The book takes a detailed look at the features that make poetry so special, such as rhyme, rhythm, sound effects and imagery. With clear explanations and practical activities, it will help pupils appreciate the poetry of others and learn to write their own.
	English Practice (Understanding English KS2) by Carol Matchett Once your child has practised the skills in the Understanding English, reinforce those skills with this book which brings them all together - it really gives the maximum benefit when used alongside the others in the series. It makes focused revision easy, as the questions are set out in sections relating to the 7 other books in the series, making it really simple to find the right area. It includes cross-references by page to the relevant study books in the series. The book will help children, for the Key Stage 2 Spelling, Punctuation and Grammar tests, as well as those taking 11+ and CE. Not just test revision, though - it's an excellent way to reinforce learning throughout KS2, with its progressive approach. The questions are varied and clearly laid out. The pull-out answer section at the back of the book is easy to use to check children's work.

VR/Non VR

Understanding Reasoning: Non-Verbal Reasoning: KS2 by Rebecca Brant

Non Verbal reasoning is a key part of many selection tests; additionally, it is a valuable skill which helps develop thinking abilities. Generally, it is not covered in school, which makes books like this essential to help children prepare for 11+ and similar tests. This covers Identifying shapes and patterns; Missing shapes and patterns; Rotating shapes/patterns; and Codes and logic. It's not just a series of tests - each type of question is clearly explained with a series of worked examples to develop understanding; there are also useful hints and practical activities to enhance understanding. Answers are included and these are detailed. Familiarity is key to getting these questions right and this book provides both instruction and practice - excellent.

Understanding Reasoning: Verbal Reasoning KS2 by Sian Goodspeed

Verbal Reasoning actually includes many of the topics routinely taught in school, just under another name, so the exercises in this book will benefit everyone, not just 11+ students. Topics include Alphabet and word patterns; Vocabulary; Spelling; Mathematical questions and Problem solving. As with the NVR book, there are explanations for each type of question, enabling children to tackle the questions with confidence; for those taking 11+ and similar exams it ensures familiarity. The hints are useful and easy to memorise; parents will appreciate the detail in the answers which will enable them to help children if their answer is incorrect. Clear and easy to follow with well thought out questions.

Handwriting

Handwriting Practice 1 by Carol Matchett

This book takes your child methodically through letters, starting with lower case letters of the alphabet grouped by difficulty. It then covers capitals, tall letters, tricky letters. These are followed by writing exercises which cover a variety of interesting topics - rhymes, writing notes, messages and an invitation. The clear easy to follow format of the book enables children to work independently, and workbook style exercises consolidate learning. Focus points on each page highlight key points for adults. Correct letter formation is shown by coloured dots and arrows indicating how to form each letter shape; dotted lines to write over; and guidelines indicating the height and length of letters.

Handwriting Practice 2 by Carol Matchett

This book builds on the learning in Book 1, with a focus on joining letters. The different ways used to join letters are clearly shown and then the child is able to practise firstly by following the dots and then by writing independently. Learning builds up step by step in a way that develops confidence and allows just short bursts of learning if that suits your child. Then there are real-life copying tasks to reinforce learning and show the practical value of good handwriting. The book is easy to follow, with clear uncluttered pages - attractive but not distracting. Good value too with plenty of exercises to do.

Phonics

	Sound Phonics Rhymes for Reading by Carol Matchett Ideal for use in school, this is a useful collection which saves busy teachers trawling through books and websites to find suitable resources. It includes 60 photocopiable, phonically decodable rhymes suitable for children through the EYFS and KS1, making it a resource with many years use. The poems are divided into those suitable for Phases 2, 3 and 4; they will also be useful outside phonics lessons. There are extensive teaching notes which include advice on using the rhymes in shared and guided reading; suggestions for practical follow-up activities; ideas for making links to writing; phonic knowledge charts to summarise the graphemes and tricky words in each rhyme and discussion charts to encourage reflection and develop understanding; the charts link to phonic knowledge and tricky words giving an excellent guide for curriculum planning. A good value resource.
	Sound Phonics Teacher's Guide: Early Years/Key Stage 1 by Carol Matchett Make the best use of all the Sound Phonics materials with this Teacher's Guide. There are detailed teaching notes for each phase with practical activities for each learning point. The activities are interactive and multi-sensory - supporting materials are provided in the accompanying Teacher's Resource Book. This book gives guidance on introducing key skills and knowledge; ways to practise and apply phonic skills; integrated revision of points covered earlier; assessment activities and resources and glossaries of phonics terminology.
	Sound Phonics Teacher's Resource Book by Carol Matchett An extensive range of photocopiable resources including word cards, games, picture cards and display material. Set out in three sections - General resources that can be used in different ways across the Phases; Activity book resources aligned to specific sound; Assessment resources that accompany the assessment tasks in each sound. Useful further resources are available from the free downloads section of the Schofield & Sims website - these materials are updated as necessary to meet the requirements of the National Curriculum. Taken with the Teacher's Guide (above) this is a really comprehensive resource which takes teaching through from Sound Phonics Phase 1 to Phase 6 and links perfectly with the books. Clear, well explained and comprehensive.
	Sound Phonics Phase One (Book 1 of 10): Early Years Carol Matchett Sound Phonics prepares children for full fluency in reading, writing and spelling through intensive practice in phonics, and is fully compatible with any incremental phonics programme. The carefully graded activities teach early literacy skills through listening and speaking, and support a multi-sensory approach. This book focuses on developing the child's awareness of environmental sounds, recognising the separate sounds in words (through rhymes/songs/games), sound discrimination, rhythm/rhyme/alliteration, oral blending and segmenting. It introduces the sounds of words rather than individual letters, which is correct at this stage. Many of the activities are based on familiar rhymes, so children will respond well. The value of this carefully graded series of books is that it shows parents the progression of learning phonics - something that is hard for many parents to understand.
	Sound Phonics Phase Two (Book 2 of 10): Early Years/Key Stage 1 Carol Matchett Ideal for supporting phonics in Reception, this book covers: practising letter Sets 1 to 5; recognising letter shapes (supported by pictures and finger tracing); encouraging the use of 'sound talk' when segmenting words for spelling; separating words using 'sound buttons' before blending for reading and practising 'tricky' words. It covers the beginning of the Letters and Sounds programme used in schools and thereby gives children an excellent head start.
	Sound Phonics Phase Three Book 1 (Book 3 of 10): Early Years/Key Stage 1 Carol Matchett This covers: revising letter Sets 1 to 5 and practising letter Sets 6 and 7; developing letter formation by tracing over enlarged letters; saying and then blending sounds to support reading; segmenting words to support spelling and using rhymes to practise letter names - children will enjoy the many familiar rhymes the book uses. Sound Phonics Phase Three Book 2 (Book 4 of 10): Early Years/Key Stage 1 covers revising letter Sets 4 to 7 plus four consonant digraphs; practising 14 vowel digraphs developing letter formation by tracing over enlarged letters; saying and then blending sounds to support reading segmenting words to support spelling.
	Sound Phonics Phase Four (Book 5 of 10): Early Years/Key Stage 1 Carol Matchett Continue your child's phonic learning with a range of engaging activities encompassing consolidating knowledge of the 42 phonemes; saying and blending sounds in a word using 'sound buttons' to support reading; using phoneme frames to support segmenting for spelling and counting phonemes to boost confidence in spelling and forming letter shapes independently. Each activity takes just a short time and enables parents and teachers to ensure the child has a firm grasp of each concept before moving on to the next - there is a range of activities for each concept.
	Sound Phonics Phase Five Book 1 (Book 6 of 10): KS1, Years 3 - 6 Carol Matchett Children in Phase 5 are learning to revise Phase Three graphemes; practise 19 new graphemes for reading (including some split digraphs); 'to sound out' words without 'sound buttons' and to practise spelling through counting phonemes, recognising spelling patterns or applying spelling rules. A range of activities, short and focused, many focusing on a specific grapheme, ensures there is an opportunity to consolidate learning. The books are excellent value and the progression makes it easy to link in with school work.
	Sound Phonics Phase Five Book 2 (Book 7 of 10): KS1, Years 3 - 6 Carol Matchett As children mature, their grasp of phonics grows, helped by the solid foundation given by the earlier books in this excellent and easy to use series. Here they learn alternative pronunciations of 14 known graphemes; reading longer texts 'sounding out' words without 'sound buttons'; practising spelling through counting phonemes and recognising spelling patterns or applying spelling rules. Sound Phonics Phase Five Book 3 (Book 8 of 10): KS1, Years 3 - 6 covers alternative spellings of 23 sounds; learning spelling patterns; 'sounding out' words without 'sound buttons' and practising spelling through counting phonemes, recognising spelling patterns or applying spelling rules.
	Sound Phonics Phase Six Book 1 (Book 9 of 10): KS1, Years 3 - 6 Carol Matchett Now the focus turns to spelling choices (particularly with long vowel sounds); common word endings and how these affect the base word using prefixes and suffixes and encouraging independent reading and writing through short stories/poems..
	Sound Phonics Phase Six Book 2 (Book 10 of 10): KS1, Years 3 - 6 Carol Matchett By the time your child reaches this book if you have followed the progression in this series, s/he will have an excellent grasp of phonics which will prove invaluable. The final book in the series covers; revising word endings covered earlier and practising five further word endings; using prefixes and suffixes; revising long and short vowel sounds; learning themed topic words that help increase written vocabulary and encouraging independent reading and writing through short stories/poems.

Comprehension

	Early Comprehension Book 1: Key Stage 1 Anne Forster Early Comprehension is a series of graded activity books that develop children's ability to make sense of pictures and text - through activities such as story sequencing, reading for meaning and traditional comprehension work. This book covers: what happens first/before/next?; telling a story based on a set of pictures; reading captions and identifying how a story ends. As is appropriate for this age group, all the activities are picture-based - there is colouring, matching and sequencing, all designed to facilitate understanding in preparation to moving on to texts.
	Early Comprehension Book 2: Key Stage 1 Anne Forster Matching pictures with captions; reading simple instructions; riddles and speech bubbles are the areas of learning covered in this book. As before, much of the work is done through pictures but there is an increasing amount of text which asks questions based on the pictures. If children are unfamiliar with the words, there are sufficient clues in the text to help them. This series does not come with answers, but they are simple enough to work out! As with other sets of workbooks from Schofield and Sims, the gradual progression is invaluable, especially for parents who may be unsure of the correct order in which to introduce concepts.
	Early Comprehension Book 3: Key Stage 1 Anne Forster It's easy to just associate comprehension with fiction texts, but children need to understand the full range of texts, so this book which includes advertisements, invitations, notices, newspaper articles, book covers and fiction and non-fiction texts gives an excellent range. There are still plenty of amusing pictures to keep children interested.
	KS2 Comprehension Book 1 Celia Warren This provides a collection of stimulating texts, together with questions that both build comprehension skills and widen vocabulary. Children are encouraged to pay close attention to literal meaning, make inferences and deductions, observe how writing is structured and identify literary devices. Book 1 is ideal for children who are new to written comprehension and includes simple contemporary texts; gripping tales both classic and contemporary; informative non-fiction reports covering diverse topics; a playscript based on The Wizard of Oz and memorable poems from a range of poets. Each passage shows the number of marks to award for each point, making for easy marking. For the answers, you will need KS2 Comprehension Teacher's Guide.
	KS2 Comprehension Book 2 Celia Warren Once again, children are offered a wide range of texts which are gradually increasing in length and complexity of the questions. This includes excellent examples of broadsheet journalism and an instructional text 'How to make a wormery'; extracts from classic fiction, including 'Treasure Island' and 'Alice's Adventures in Wonderland'; a playscript adapted from a Sherlock Holmes detective story plus thought-provoking poetry from Charles Causley, Walter de la Mare, Valerie Bloom and Edward Thomas.
	KS2 Comprehension Book 3 Celia Warren Passages include another excellent choice - adventure stories from Roald Dahl, Mark Twain, Anthony Buckeridge and Kenneth Grahame; a biography of Falklands soldier Simon Weston and further non-fiction from Jacqueline Wilson and Emmeline Pankhurst; evocative poems from some of the best British poets (such as Lewis Carroll, Robert Browning and Gina Douthwaite); a letter written by Stevenson as a teenager and an introduction to the writing of J.R.R. Tolkien and William Shakespeare. The progression offered by the books allows parents to reinforce work where needed - there is absolutely no harm in going back to an earlier stage - whilst having an awareness of the level of expectation. Be guided by your child, not by the age range on the book. This is an excellent series which offers great value for money.
	KS2 Comprehension Book 4 Celia Warren This includes non-fiction texts covering the discovery in Russia of a long-extinct mammoth/shells and their origins/the life of explorer Robert Scott; the 'last letter' from Scott to his widow; classic poetry; an extract from 'Hamlet' by William Shakespeare; fiction passages and biography/autobiography. It is suitable for Year 6 and 7. The progression offered by the books allows parents to reinforce work where needed - there is absolutely no harm in going back to an earlier stage - whilst having an awareness of the level of expectation. Be guided by your child, not by the age range on the book. This is an excellent series which offers great value for money.
	KS2 Comprehension Teachers' Guide Celia Warren This is a comprehensive supporting volume that includes far more than simply the answers. Whilst primarily designed for use in schools, it will also be invaluable for use at home, as it contains much useful guidance on teaching comprehension. Each activity in the four books is covered - there are answers to the questions, plus an introduction to the text and a wide range of further activities which include a speaking and listening activity for each text. The group record sheets help teachers with that all-important record-keeping.

Telling the time

Telling the Time Book 1: Year 1, Age 5-6

We can expect children to learn to tell the time easily but in fact, it is a complex subject that can be tricky for them to grasp. This progressive set of books is ideal to introduce the concepts of this essential skill in the order in which they will be taught. The approach breaks the topic into a sequence of easily manageable concepts that children can approach at their own pace. Telling the Time Book 1 supports the National Curriculum requirements for Year 1 and covers the following topic areas: times of day (morning, noon, afternoon, evening); basic units of time; comparing and sequencing events in chronological order (earlier/later; first/next; yesterday/tomorrow); telling the time to the hour, half hour and quarter hour; the days of the week and months of the year; calendars; and seasons. Each topic occupies a two page spread, with clear well-sized clock faces, and plenty of questions to ensure a thorough understanding.

Telling the Time Book 2: Year 2, Ages 6-7

Moving on, this book covers counting in fives; telling the time to five minutes; units of time (minutes, hours, days); ordering and comparing intervals of time; digital time; comparing analogue and digital clocks; and problem-solving using time. Each of the three books in the Telling the Time series provides: large, clear clock faces for easy counting; colour-coded hands to aid recognition of hours and minutes; Learn panels that explain time-telling in simple steps; fun general-knowledge facts to enrich learning; targeted practice, including counting activities, matching exercises and drawing the hands on the clock plus answers to all the practice questions in the book. Clear and easily understood.

Telling the Time Book 3: Years 3-4, Ages 7-9

By now, children will have a good grounding and should be ready to move on to more advanced concepts, but do ensure they really are ready for the progression and have understood all the work in the preceding two books. All the National Curriculum requirements for Years 3 and 4 are met - reading and writing the time to the nearest minute; converting between analogue and digital 12- and 24-hour clocks; comparing durations of events; Roman numerals; timetables; time zones; and solving problems involving converting between units of time (including seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks, months, years). As with all the series, the layout is clear and this book makes good use of colour as well as the attractive illustrations used throughout. An excellent way for parents to ensure they are teaching in the correct sequence and for teachers to cover the curriculum.

FRACTIONS

	Fractions Book 1: Year 1, Ages 5-6 This is the first in a comprehensive series of six books with accompanying Teachers' Guides, that provides a complete progression in fractions, then moving on to include decimals and percentages. The structured series helps children to develop a deep, secure and adaptable understanding of fractions, building up to decimals, percentages, ratio and proportion. Children will respond well to the consistent approach and familiarity. Each pupil book provides - full curriculum coverage; a user-friendly summary of the key learning point of each unit; plenty of practice, from quick questions that help pupils gain confidence to more challenging problems that build conceptual understanding and reasoning skills; regular revision tests to reinforce learning and identify strengths and weaknesses; a self-evaluation checklist that encourages children to assess their own learning; and a glossary to expand mathematical vocabulary. This book supports the National Curriculum requirements for Year 1 and covers the following topic areas: recognising and naming halves and quarters of numbers, shapes, objects and sets; starting to use fraction notation for halves and quarters; identifying and combining halves and quarters; and simple problem solving. Fractions, Decimals and Percentages Book 1 Teacher's Guide: Year 1, Ages 5-6 contains supporting lesson plans, answers to all the questions in the pupil book, and a range of assessment and record-keeping resources.
	Fractions Book 2 Teacher's Guide: Year 2, Ages 6-7 Designed to accompany the Pupil Book, the Teachers' Guides give teachers all they need to teach the topics. Teachers' Guides include full instructions for use; detailed lesson plans for each unit with accompanying Graphics; clear links to the corresponding pupil book, flagging possible areas of difficulty; practical resources, including photocopiable cards and posters; answers to all questions in the corresponding pupil book; assessment and record-keeping resources. The Pupil Book is Fractions, Decimals and Percentages Book 2: Year 2, Ages 6-7. By following a progressive series such as this, parents can be sure they are covering all children need, and they can choose a workbook suited to their child's ability, even if this means a year behind or ahead of the recommended age. Book 2 covers the following topic areas: finding halves, quarters and thirds of shapes, sets, lengths and numbers; writing simple fraction notation; counting in fractions; understanding that fractions join to make wholes; making 1/2, 1/4 and 3/4 turns; recognising the equivalence of 1/2 and 2/4; and problem solving. Added value is given to the whole series by making use of the excellent range of free downloads is available from the Schofield & Sims website.
	Fractions Book 3: Year 3, Ages 7-8 The content is divided into units, which make it easy to find the appropriate topic. Unit 1 is Recognise quarters as fractions of shapes; the book progresses to Unit 18 Solve problems with measures. Each two page spread includes a key point, get started, now try these, and challenge, giving a good clear progression in learning. This comprehensive programme supports a mastery approach to teaching and learning this tricky area of maths, covering absolutely everything primary age pupils need to know on the topic. Topic areas are: using unit and non-unit fractions; comparing and ordering fractions with the same denominator; finding equivalent fractions using a fraction wall; counting in tenths; adding and subtracting fractions with the same denominator; and problem solving Fractions, Decimals and Percentages Book 3 Teacher's Guide: Year 3, Ages 7-8 includes a comprehensive introduction with a coverage chart for the National Curriculum so teachers can track and record their coverage of the subject. It also gives a clear overview of all the contents, so teachers can be sure to get the best out of the book. The Teachers' Guides are thorough and really cover everything needed.
	Fractions Book 4 Teacher's Guide: Year 4, Ages 8-9 Following the useful introduction, the Teachers' Guides follow the same units as the pupil books. The Teachers' Notes for each unit include starting point, spot the mistake, good to go and pupil book practice, which links to the Pupil Book. These are comprehensive and will give all teachers confidence in addressing fractions, decimals and percentages with their pupils. There is a vast amount of information included, but the layout is clear and it is easy to find the required information. Answers to the Pupil Book are included as well as assessment and mark-keeping resources.Fractions, Decimals and Percentages Book 4: Year 4, Ages 8-9 accompanies the Teachers' Guide, following the same order. Book 4 supports the National Curriculum requirements for Year 4 and covers the following topic areas: recognising families of equivalent fractions; adding and subtracting fractions with the same denominator; counting in hundredths; recognising simple decimal fraction equivalents; dividing one- and two-digit numbers by ten and one hundred; rounding decimals to the nearest whole number; comparing decimals up to two decimal places; and problem solving.
	Fractions Book 5: Year 5, Ages 9-10 Fractions, Decimals and Percentages Book 5 supports the National Curriculum requirements for Year 5 and covers the following topic areas: comparing and ordering fractions; adding and subtracting fractions with different denominators; finding equivalent fractions; multiplying mixed numbers and improper fractions by whole numbers; writing decimals as fractions; recognising thousandths; rounding decimals to one decimal place; understanding percentages; and problem solving. Added value is given to the whole series by making use of the excellent range of free downloads is available from the Schofield & Sims website. Teachers will need Fractions, Decimals and Percentages Book 5 Teacher's Guide: Year 5, Ages 9-10 to support the Pupil Book.
	Fractions Book 6 Teacher's Guide: Year 6, Ages 10-11 These comprehensive Teachers' Guides are a fabulous resource, covering the entire topic curriculum for the year in great depth, with all the supplementary material teachers will need. Clear and easy to use, each Teachers' Guide includes full instructions for use; detailed lesson plans for each unit with accompanying Graphics; clear links to the corresponding pupil book, flagging possible areas of difficulty; answers to all questions in the corresponding pupil book and assessment and record-keeping resources. Excellent value too, as are the Pupil Books. Alongside this is Fractions, Decimals and Percentages Book 6: Year 6, Ages 10-11. Together, these books provide a comprehensive and easy to follow complete course.

Mental Arithmetic

	First Mental Arithmetic Teacher's Guide by Ann Montague-Smith This guide is indispensable for teachers using the First Mental Arithmetic series with their class. It includes guidance on choosing the most appropriate book for each child, highlighting the fact that children progress through the series by ability not by age; two Entry Tests are included to help choose the most appropriate book for each child. Photocopiable assessment resources as well as diagnostic support are a key part of the book. There are very useful Maths Facts copymasters including number lines from 0-20, 1 to 100 chart, days of the week, abacuses and word cards with numbers as words from one to ten - these practical resources are ideal for busy teachers. The book-specific Language of Maths glossaries to photocopy and distribute to the children are based on each of the books in the series and again, are a really useful resource.
	First Mental Arithmetic Book 1 (of 6) by Ann Montague-Smith First Mental Arithmetic provides carefully graded questions that develop children's essential mathematics skills; the series is designed to be used according to a child's ability not just by expectations for the age. They are a downwards extension of the Schofield & Sims bestseller Mental Arithmetic. Book 1 includes: counting, adding and subtracting, 2D shapes and counting patterns. and 3D shapes days of the week word problems. The three check-up tests allow for further reinforcement and checking of learning. The answer book is available at First Mental Arithmetic Answer Book 1 (of 6): Key Stage 1
	First Mental Arithmetic Book 2 (of 6) by Ann Montague-Smith The full benefit of the books can be ensured by following the progression through the series, according to children's ability. The level of work is carefully planned to match the work done in school, so you can be sure you are keeping your child on the right track. In Book 2, children will learn vocabulary of addition and subtraction; telling the time, 3D shapes, number bonds and word problems. Many of the questions are pictorial but there are no gimics here - just straightforward practice questions to give children plenty of practice. The answers are easy enough to work out, but you can buy First Mental Arithmetic Answer Book 2 (of 6): Key Stage 1 is available.
	First Mental Arithmetic Book 3 (of 6) by Ann Montague-Smith As with each in the series, the book is divided into sections with sessions within each section. Each session is ideal for a short focused practice session - just enough to keep children interested without feeling it is a chore. Help your child with numerals to 10; addition and subtraction; symmetry; halves and quarters and telling the time with Book 3 - the answers are here First Mental Arithmetic Answer Book 3 (of 6): Key Stage 1.
	First Mental Arithmetic Book 4 (of 6) by Ann Montague-Smith This book is marked for key stages 1 and 2 - the beauty of the progression through the books is that you have the opportunity to find out your child's level - that is the key factor, not what is being done in class. Build confidence by ensuring your child has grasped the principles of mental arithmetic. Book 4 includes: reading and writing two digit numbers; multiplication and division; halves, quarters and three-quarters; sorting objects, measuring lengths and reading scales. The short sessions are perfect for classroom and home use, giving lots of valuable experience of a wide range of questions. First Mental Arithmetic Answers Book 4 (of 6): Key Stage 1/Key Stage 2 gives the answers.
	First Mental Arithmetic Book 5 (of 6) by Ann Montague-Smith Each section has 30 questions divided into groups of 10. The questions are varied in format and language so children get plenty of experience. Question types covered include questions using pictures or simplified language; questions using relevant mathematical vocabulary and symbols; word problems or questions that test understanding of mathematical concepts. The regular Check-up Tests are there to identify gaps in understanding and it's important to use these and make sure children have fully understood. Just Facts questions help secure knowledge of addition, subtraction, multiplication and division facts. Each book has a Language of Maths glossary at the start to help develop children's number - these are specific to the book. To accompany this - First Mental Arithmetic Answer Book 5 (of 6): Key Stage 1/Key Stage 2.
	First Mental Arithmetic Book 6 (of 6) by Ann Montague-Smith This book covers the key subject areas of number, measurement, geometry and statistics, including multiplication, division, fractions, greater than (>) and less than (<), block graphs and right angles. There are 36 single-page sessions, each presented in a unique three-part format comprising: questions using pictures or simplified language; questions using relevant mathematical vocabulary and symbols; word problems or questions that test understanding of mathematical concepts Clear, easy to use and perfect for building confidence both in the classroom and at home. Children enjoy the challenge of mental arithmetic - just doing a few questions a day keeps it fun but still provides essential reinforcement. First Mental Arithmetic Answer Book 6 (of 6): Key Stage 1/Key Stage 2
	Mental Arithmetic Introductory Book by T R Goddard This book acts as a bridge from Key Stage 1, covering all four number operations, as well as sequences and simple money problems. It includes 36 one-page tests, each presented in a unique three-part format comprising: questions using pictures to develop basic maths skills, questions using symbols and patterns, and questions using simple and consistent language. This variety ensures that children are familiar with a range of question types and gives them confidence for any tests. Achievement Charts monitor progress as pupils work through the book and Just Facts questions provide additional practice. The book is perfect to use at the end of KS1 to ensure all areas of mental arithmetic are understood, and for teachers to use in the first few weeks of Year 3 to check understanding and remembering. A separate accompanying answer book,Mental Arithmetic Introductory Book Answers , contains correct answers to all the questions, making marking quick and easy.
	Mental Arithmetic Teacher's Guide by Anne Montagu-Smith Mental Arithmetic is a highly differentiated series of graded books, proven to raise children's attainment. The series is based on ability (rather than age) so that books can be matched to the needs of each child. The books are also assessment-linked so that children can record their progress and see achievement build over time. The Teacher's guide Book is the essential companion to the pupil books. It includes two Entry Tests to assess pupils' level to ensure the correct book is used; a chart also helps with this. The photocopiable assessment resources enable teachers to do the essential tracking and they also include diagnostic support. General resources can also be photocopied and these include Maths Facts and glossaries..
	Mental Arithmetic Book 1 The books don't tell you how to do the questions - there are plenty of books available to do that - but they do offer what is of huge value: practice. Every book does include a really useful section on The Language of Maths. In Book 1, children practise place value (tens and units), times tables, telling the time, giving change and simple fractions. You could do a test a day (there are several tests in each section) or just a 10 question block from each test - be guided by your child and make sure they keep engaged with the activity. All the books in the series are an excellent classroom resource. Mental Arithmetic Answer Book 1
	Mental Arithmetic Book 2 Book 2 covers the key subject areas of number, measurement, geometry and statistics, including fractions, decimals, times tables, units of length, mass and capacity, geometric shapes and co-ordinates. The book includes 36 one-page tests, each presented in a unique three-part format comprising: questions where use of language is kept to a minimum; questions using number vocabulary; questions focusing on one- and two-step word problems - this is an excellent way to ensure children are familiar with all question types. Clearly set out, the books are just what children need for practice. Parents are reassured that they are helping their child in line with what is being done in school and there are plenty of opportunities to practise any areas which are proving a little harder to understand. Mental Arithmetic Answer Book 2
	Mental Arithmetic Book 3 This book covers the key subject areas of number, measurement, geometry and statistics, including negative numbers, Roman numerals, decimals, equivalent fractions, time tables, digital and analogue clocks, problem solving and classifying shapes. Consistency is guaranteed throughout the series - every book uses the same method of practising the 4 basic number operations and challenging children to do more complex one- and two-step problems involving logical thinking and application of knowledge previously introduced. Book 3 includes: numbers to ten thousand, 10ths/100ths, multiplication and division tables and averages. It really is worth getting the whole series, both for working through year-by-year and as revision aids. The Progress Tests allow parents and teachers to monitor learning as pupils work through the book and the Check-up Tests help to to identify any gaps in understanding. The answers are in Mental Arithmetic Answer Book 3
	Mental Arithmetic Book 4 Book 4 Structured according to ability rather than age, the series allows children to work at their own pace, building confidence and fluency; ideally, follow on from the First Mental Arithmetic series. Mental Arithmetic 4 covers the key subject areas of number, measurement, geometry and statistics, including Roman numerals, square numbers, equivalent fractions, problem solving, reflection, translation and line graphs. Each book is divided into several sections, allowing the parent or teacher to choose how much work to tackle in each section - this also allows for differentiation in the classroom. The layout is clear and simple, with the focus on giving a variety of question styles. It's well worth buying the accompanying answer books, to make checking quick and simple. Mental Arithmetic Answer Book 4
	Mental Arithmetic Book 5 Mental Arithmetic 5 covers the key subject areas of number, measurement, geometry, statistics, ratio and proportion, and algebra, including negative numbers, Roman numerals, decimals, equivalent fractions, times tables, digital and analogue clocks problem solving and shapes. It's a comprehensive list that will stand children in good stead for SATS, 11+ and Common Entrance exams. Make your life easier by buying the accompanying answer books - there is one for each in the series. Mental Arithmetic Answer Book 5 (Book 6 of 7): Key Stage 2, Years 3 - 6
	Mental Arithmetic Book 6 Book 6 consolidates previous learning, with plenty of practice questions just like the rest of the series. It also moves children on to more complex topics including profit and loss, spreadsheets and mathematical investigations. The answers are in Mental Arithmetic Answer Book 6 Mental arithmetic is a skill we all use virtually every day. It can make a huge difference to children if they have a ready grasp of mental arithmetic and they will reap dividends in all areas of maths. This practical and extremely good value series is an excellent way to give your child this solid foundation.

Maths

	Understanding Maths: Fractions (Series of 9): by Hilary Koll and Steve Mills The Understanding Maths series reinforces skills at Key Stage 2 of the National Curriculum, and the books have been fully updated to reflect the 2014 changes. Each book focuses on a particular topic with explanations, teaching points, exercises, answers section and glossary of terms. The Fractions book steadily builds an understanding of fractions and how they can be represented and used to solve problems. 'Did you know?' facts explain some of the history behind the development of fractions. Equivalent fractions; comparing and ordering fractions; common denominators; simplifying fractions; mixed numbers and improper fractions are the areas covered. It's easy to follow and takes children at a steady rate through a topic which can seem a little daunting. The great thing about this series is the continuity it offers teachers and parents, who can have confidence that the whole curriculum is covered in a straightforward and easily assimilated way.
	Understanding Maths: Multiplication and Division (Series of 9): KS2 by Hilary Koll and Steve Mills Multiplying and Dividing describes and uses the relationship between multiplication and division to develop both mental and written methods for calculations. Fascinating facts help to build a deeper understanding of the subject. The Multiplying and Dividing book includes: covers the following areas: long multiplication, long division, partitioning, factors and multiples, doubling and halving, finding remainders, square and cube numbers, word problems, distributive law and inverses. The language used is clear and understandable and parents will find this a reassuring way to brush up on their own skills so that they can help their children. Children will see the practical value of maths as they use their knowledge to answer real-life questions. They will use both written and mental calculations, ensuring they gain experience of both.
	Understanding Maths: Decimals & Percentages (Series of 9) by Hilary Koll and Steve Mills Each separate topic has a short and clear explanation of the principles, followed by plenty of practice questions. The questions are fun and meaningful, relevant to everyday life, and clearly laid out. The book concludes with a final test, so children's understanding can be checked; there are also plenty of progress tests throughout the book, as with all in the series. Topics covered are: ordering, rounding and comparing decimals, adding and subtracting decimals, finding percentages mentally, and with a calculator, estimation, problem solving, and converting fractions to decimals and percentages. Thought-provoking facts foster a love of learning beyond the National Curriculum - it's good to see this way of stimulating interest.
	Understanding Maths: Geometry and Measurement (Series of 9): by Hilary Koll and Steve Mills This book explores the simple geometry of 2-D and 3-D shapes and coordinates and the use of metric and imperial measurements It covers the following areas: triangles, circles, symmetry, angles, co-ordinates, length, mass, capacity, time, area and volume. Pupils' interest is stimulated by thought-provoking facts to foster a love of learning beyond the National Curriculum. Throughout the series, regular Progress tests and a Final test track children's development The balance between teaching explanations and tests is excellent throughout the series; don't skip over the tests, because it's important to ensure children have fully understood before moving on. This series is excellent for helping parents to understand what is involved in each topic within the curriculum so they can support the work done in school in full confidence that they are teaching the right way and at the right level.
	Understanding Maths: Number Patterns and Algebra (Series of 9) by Hilary Koll and Steve Mills This volume develops skills in recognising, explaining and making predictions in simple number patterns and sequences. It also introduces simple algebra to explain some of the patterns found. Examples and practical activities promote confidence in pattern recognition. Topics covered factors, multiples, fraction sequences, prime numbers, odd and even numbers, negative numbers, Roman numerals, cube and square numbers, term-to-term rule, unknowns and variables, and simple algebra. As well as the questions on each topic, each of the Understanding Maths series includes progress tests and a longer final test to allow parents and teachers to monitor understanding.
	Understanding Maths: Statistics (Series of 9): KS2 by Hilary Koll and Steve Mills Parents are often reluctant to help their children with maths, as they feel that teaching methods will be different from their own experience. They can use this series with total confidence, because the instructions are clear and easy to follow and harmonise with the way the subject is taught in today's schools. Statistics meets the National Curriculum requirements for Key Stage 2 maths, and covers the following areas: bar charts, Venn diagrams, grouped data, averages, co-ordinates, 2-D and 3-D shapes, angles, length, mass, capacity, area and perimeter, timetables, distance charts, scatter graphs, pie charts, converting units, and misleading statistics - each has its own explanatory page which includes activities to test and reinforce learning.
	Understanding Maths: Addition and Subtraction (Series of 9): KS2 by Hilary Koll and Steve Mills This is an area of maths where constant practice really helps. Adding and Subtracting describes the different ways to add and subtract numbers, using both mental and written methods - this is useful as children will know how they are learning in school and can work at home to support the same method.. Fascinating facts explain how numbers work, which can be used to help make arithmetic easier. Topics covered include the following areas: patterns in calculations, partitioning, finding small differences, inverses, missing number questions, word problems, decimals and questions with long numbers.Word problems are included, with four pages devoted to this important area; it's good to encourage children to practise this area, as reading skills are paramount.
	Understanding Maths: Problem Solving (Series of 9): KS2 Hilary Koll and Steve Mills Problem Solving develops strategies for solving different mathematical problems: reading and deciphering the question, choosing appropriate operations, spotting patterns, systematic recording of information, and deciding on a solution. It covers the following areas: choosing operations, solving word problems, number puzzles, scaling, time, large numbers, negative numbers, square numbers, shape puzzles, money problems, fractions, decimals, percentages, ratio and the distributive law. This is an excellent series to support maths throughout KS2; it covers the whole KS2 maths curriculum and facilitates looking at specific topics. I recommend that parents buy the whole series to give comprehensive coverage - then the books are at hand ready to help with those tricky bits of homework.
	Understanding Maths: Practice (Series of 9): KS2 Hilary Koll and Steve Mills The final book in the series provides further reinforcement of topics introduced in books 1 to 8 of the Understanding Maths series, to ensure that learning is really secure. Practice contains numerous questions on each of these topics, to give children the support they need when preparing for the Key Stage 2 tests. Every page in the Practice book is cross-referenced with the other relevant Understanding book so that children can easily refer to them if they need help. The questions are split into topic areas which reflect the eight books in the series. Use this book to test understanding of the rest in the series and then refer back for any areas of difficulty, especially leading up to the KS2 tests.. An excellent series to support maths throughout KS2
	Number Puzzles: Key Stage 2 by Ann Montague-Smith This is a great way to make maths fun - try it with your child and you will see what I mean. All the puzzles involve numbers and logic, helping children to develop problem-solving strategies and essential mathematics skills. Some are reasonably simple but others are quite challenging. Children are guided by worked examples and the useful hints help problem solving. The answers are supplied. The puzzles include Sudoku, Kakuro, arithmagons, magic squares, Latin squares, multiplication pyramids and grand totals. Good for use at home but also an excellent book to have in the classroom to use when children finish their work early. A good balanced variety of puzzles and plenty of each.
	Key Stage 1 Maths Revision Guide by Hilary Koll and Steve Mills The Schofield & Sims Revision Guides help children to revise by guiding them through what they have learned on a topic-by-topic basis. A glossary defines key words related to the subject. Helpful 'Test yourself!'questions check understanding and show if further learning is required. 'Remember' boxes highlight key learning points. The KS1 Maths Revision Guide includes: number and place value; calculation; fractions; problem solving; measurement; geometry and statistics. The book makes good use of colour - enough to make it clear and attractive to children without being too busy and overwhelming. A Curriculum chart is available online www.schofieldandsims.co.uk for all the revision guides. These charts are updated as necessary to meet National Curriculum requirements, so you can be sure the latest information is available to you. Each one shows how the revision guide covers the required content for the key stage.
	Key Stage 1 Maths Practice Papers by Hilary Koll and Steve Mills The Maths Practice Papers are similar in appearance and content to the Key Stage 1 mathematics tests with papers on arithmetic and mathematical reasoning. The papers help children to prepare for the tests - the best way to give your child confidence is to make sure they know what to expect. The books feature full instructions (I found these very good with a high level of detail) and detailed mark schemes. Each section is cross-referenced to the separate Key Stage 1 Maths Revision Guide, which children and adults can refer to for help, so it is excellent to use the two together.
	Key Stage 2 Maths Revision Guide by Hilary Koll and Steve Mills The book is matched to the National Curriculum and each topic is covered in a one or two page spread, clearly set out, with good use of boxes and diagrams which make it very easy to use. There are a few 'Test yourself' questions on each topic - just enough to check understanding; answers are included. This is a perfect book to help parents refresh their own skills so they can help children, and it allows for reinforcement of all the key topics. Helpful 'Remember' highlight key points. It covers: number; fractions, decimals and percentages; ratio and proportion; calculation; problem solving; algebra; measurement; geometry and statistics. The explanations are clear and easy to follow and there is plenty of detail to ensure a thorough understanding. These revision guides pack in an enormous amount of information and it's well worth having a copy of this to hand right through KS2, to support children and answer questions on how to teach specific topics.
	Key Stage 2 Maths Practice Papers by Hilary Koll and Steve Mills This contains sample maths papers in a similar format to the KS2 SATS tests taken in Year 6. There is one arithmetic paper, followed by two reasoning papers, and the layout reflects the layout of the real SATS tests. The books feature full instructions which enable parents to help familiarise their child with the way the tests are taken. The detailed mark schemes include very helpful comments which facilitate further work on the question style; this is an excellent feature and it's well worth spending time going over these points. Each section is cross-referenced to the separate Key Stage 2 Maths Revision Guide, making this a valuable pairing and practical to use together. Make sure that any areas of difficulty are reviewed and your child will be able to approach the tests with confidence.

	Key Stage 1 Science Revision Guide Penny Johnson This Revision Guide help children to revise their KS1 science by guiding them through what they have learned on a topic-by-topic basis. The book is illustrated throughout by colourful diagrams and pictures that help learning and make the book appealing to use - I am very impressed with the look of the pages with their clear layout and good use of colour. The very useful glossary defines key words related to the subject and is an excellent revision aid in itself. Helpful 'Remember' boxes highlight key points, and 'Test Yourself' boxes are perfect for parents and teachers to use with children. The KS1 Science Revision Guide includes living things; plants; animals; seasons and materials plus answers to the 'Test yourself!' questions.
	Key Stage 2 Science Revision Guide by Penny Johnson This reviews what children have learned through KS2 on a topic-by-topic basis. There are sections on Living things and their habitats; animals; evolution; materials; rocks; light; sound; earth and space; forces and electricity. The Working Scientifically section is especially interesting and ties in perfectly with the way science is now taught. Again, the book is impressive for its excellent presentation and good use of colourful pictures and photographs. A few short questions on each topic allow for assessment of knowledge and understanding. The extensive glossary is a brilliant resource - if children know and understand all these terms, they will be well prepared for science tests and KS3 learning. A really practical guide that will be useful right through KS2.
	Key Stage 2 Science Practice Papers Some schools will be required to take KS2 science SATS tests; whether they are or not, these papers will be excellent for checking understanding at the end of KS2. Closely matched to the National Curriculum test frameworks and with questions that reflect the national tests, the tests include full instructions plus guidance on equipment and timings, in order to familiarise children with the format of a formal test. Papers on biology, chemistry and physics are included, along with detailed mark schemes to indicate whether a child is meeting the expected standard. The mark schemes include helpful comments and guidance, and cross-references to relevant information in the corresponding Key Stage 2 Science Revision Guide (reviewed above) are included. Ideal for test practice and reinforcement of learning.
	Understanding Science: Forces and Electricity KS2 Penny Johnson The Understanding Science series has been revised to be completely relevant for teaching the new curriculum introduced in 2014. reinforces skills and knowledge at Key Stage 2 of the National Curriculum. Each book focuses on a particular topic with explanations, teaching points and practical tasks to enable pupils to apply their learning. Forces influence every aspect of your life, making things go faster or slower, rise or fall, float or sink. Equally important is electricity - a form of energy that helps you with many everyday tasks. Magnets; friction, gravity and weight; air and water resistance and electricity are covered in a simple straightforward manner, with plentiful use of diagrams, practical examples and 'Did you know?' facts. Clear layout, uncluttered pages and plenty of illustrations make for an attractive book which will encourage learning.
	Understanding Science: Our Bodies KS2 Penny Johnson The human body is a wonderful thing and with the aid of this book, children will understand what makes us and how to keep our bodies healthy. Our bodies are amazing: they gradually develop as we grow and they enable us to do so many exciting things. The book includes: human life cycles, puberty, human digestive and circulatory systems, teeth, muscles, skeletons, diet, pulse rates, drugs and medicines. Work done in school can be consolidated at home and revised for any tests that the school may do. The presentation is consistent through each book in the series - they all include thought-provoking facts to foster a love of learning beyond the National Curriculum; a scientific investigation table to highlight opportunities for pupils to practise working scientifically; a combined Index and glossary to define key terms introduced in the text and a complete set of answers at the back of the book.
	Understanding Science: Using Materials KS2 Penny Johnson Using Materials describes how to investigate materials and how they are used. It also explains the differences between natural and manufactured materials and encourages children to think about the differences. Each topic has some simple, well illustrated questions to check understanding. The topics are properties and uses of materials, thermal conductors and insulators, solids, liquids, gases, volumes, rocks, soil and fossils. This book explains the different types of materials, their specific features and how they can be investigated. Materials are all around us and the book makes good use of this fact with plenty of simple activities to help pupils' understanding.
	Understanding Science: Animals and Plants KS2 Penny Johnson Animals and Plants come in all shapes and sizes, but have you ever wondered exactly how they relate to their surroundings and to one another? This book describes and explains the key features that they share and highlights some important differences between them. Plants, plant life cycles, flowers and fertilisation, seed dispersal, germination, asexual reproduction, living things and their habitats, fossils, animal life cycles, food chains, evolution (an important strand of the new curriculum), adaptation and inheritance are explained clearly and succinctly in this guide. Every book in the series includes really excellent illustrations - not there just to make the books look attractive (although they do that too) but to impart information in a visual way that pupils will find it easy to remember.
	Understanding Science: Changing Materials KS2 Penny Johnson Children are fascinated by the way materials can change, so build on that fascination and help them to understand the scientific principles behind the changes in this practical and easy to understand book - there are plenty of practical and simple experiments to reinforce learning and have fun at the same time. Topics include evaporation, condensation, the water cycle, burning, filtering, melting, solidifying and dissolving. The questions, as with the whole series, really encourage children to think about what they are learning. The 'Did you know' boxes contain additional information which will really interest children and which offer great opportunities for discussion and stimulation for further research Each book can, of course, be used as a stand-alone to reinforce specific topics - either way, I highly recommend them.
	Understanding Science: Light, Sound and Space KS2 Penny Johnson This book explores the science of light and sound and how we experience them through shadows, reflections, vibrations and music. It also answers some tricky questions about the Earth, Sun and Moon, widening our understanding of our world and its neighbours in space. Light and sound travel, reflection, shadows, vibration, noise, pitch, volume, the Earth, Sun, Moon and solar system are all covered, together with explanations of the importance of light and sound and the ways in which they can be changed - and hands on activities to demonstrate. As I review Schofield and Sims' books, I am increasingly impressed by how comprehensive the coverage is. The combination of 'Understanding...' books with revision guides and test papers does ensure complete coverage of all children need to have a solid basic understanding of the concepts - and all at excellent value. The benefit of having the whole set of these books at the start of KS2 is that the way science is taught means that topics are introduced in one year and then that knowledge is built on year-on-year, so having all six books to hand at the start of Year 3 will pay dividends.

Book reviews - revision guides Schofield and Sims

Early Years

Get Set Literacy Teacher’s Guide: Early Years Foundation Stage, Ages 4-5

Get Set Literacy: Letter Sounds, Early Years Foundation Stage, Ages 4-5

Get Set Literacy: Writing Letters, Early Years Foundation Stage, Ages 4-5

Get Set Literacy: Reading and Rhyme, Early Years Foundation Stage, Ages 4-5

Get Set Mathematics Teacher's Guide: Early Years Foundation Stage, Ages 4-5

Get Set Mathematics: Shape and Pattern, Early Years Foundation Stage, Ages 4-5

Get Set Mathematics: Counting, Early Years Foundation Stage, Ages 4-5

Get Set Understanding the World Teacher’s Guide: Early Years Foundation Stage, Ages 4-5

Get Set Understanding the World: People, Early Years Foundation Stage, Ages 4-5 Get Set: People

Get Set Understanding the World: The World, Early Years Foundation Stage, Ages 4-5

11+ English

11+ English: Rapid Tests 1 6 -7 years by Sian Goodspeed

11+ English: Rapid Tests 2 7- 8 years by Sian Goodspeed

11+ English: Rapid Tests 3 8 -9 years by Sian Goodspeed

11+ English: Rapid Tests 4 9 - 10 years by Sian Goodspeed

11+ English: Rapid Tests 5 10 - 11 years by Sian Goodspeed

11+ English: Rapid Tests 6 11 - 12 years by Sian Goodspeed

11+ Maths

11+ Maths: Rapid Tests 1 6 -7 years by Rebecca Brant

11+ Maths: Rapid Tests 2 7- 8 years by Rebecca Brant

11+ Maths: Rapid Tests 3 8 -9 years by Rebecca Brant

11+ Maths: Rapid Tests 4 9 - 10y years by Rebecca Brant

11+ Maths: Rapid Tests 5 10 - 11 years by Rebecca Brant

11+ Maths: Rapid Tests 6 11 - 12 years by Rebecca Brant

Dictionaries

Picture Dictionary: EYFS/KS1, Ages 4+

First Illustrated Dictionary: KS1, Ages 5-7

First Dictionary: KS1/KS2, Ages 5-9

First Thesaurus: KS1/KS2, Ages 5-9

Schofield & Sims Complete Primary Dictionary

Grammar

Grammar and Punctuation Book 1: Year 1, Ages 5-6

Grammar and Punctuation Book 2 Teacher's Guide: Year 2, Ages 6-7

Grammar and Punctuation Book 3: Year 3, Ages 7-8 Schofield and Sims

Grammar and Punctuation Book 4 Teacher's Guide: Year 4, Ages 8-9

Grammar and Punctuation Book 5: Year 5, Ages 9-10

Grammar and Punctuation Book 6 Teacher's Guide: Year 6, Ages 10-11

Schofield & Sims Complete Primary Dictionary

11+ Progress Papers

Progress Papers in Non-Verbal Reasoning 1 by Rebecca Brant

Progress Papers in Non-verbal Reasoning 2 by Rebecca Brant

Progress Papers in Non-verbal Reasoning 2 by Rebecca Brant

Progress Papers in Verbal Reasoning 1 by Patrick Berry

Progress Papers in Verbal Reasoning 2 by Patrick Berry

Progress Papers in Verbal Reasoning 3 by Patrick Berry

Progress Papers in English 1 (of 3): Key Stage 2, Ages 9-12 by Patrick Berry

Progress Papers in English 2 (of 3): Key Stage 2, Ages 9-12 by Patrick Berry

Progress Papers in English 3 (of 3): Key Stage 2, Ages 9-12 by Patrick Berry

Reasoning

Rapid Reasoning Tests: Verbal Reasoning 1 (Ages 6-7, Key Stage 1) by Sian Goodspeed

Rapid Reasoning Tests: Verbal Reasoning 3 (Ages 8-9, Key Stage 2) by Sian Goodspeed

Rapid Reasoning Tests: Verbal Reasoning 5 (Ages 10-11, Key Stage 2) by Sian Goodspeed

Rapid Reasoning Tests: Non-verbal Reasoning 1 (Ages 6-7, Key Stage 1) by Rebecca Brant

Rapid Reasoning Tests: Non-verbal Reasoning 3 (Ages 8-9, Key Stage 2) Rebecca Brant

Rapid Reasoning Tests: Non-verbal Reasoning 5 (Ages 10-11, Key Stage 2) Rebecca Brant

Calculation

Written Calculation: Addition by Steve Mills

Written Calculation: Subtraction by Steve Mills

Written Calculation: Multiplication 1 by Steve Mills

Written Calculation: Division 1 by Steve Mills

Written Calculation Teacher's Guide by Hilary Koll and Steve Mills

Written Calculation Teacher's Resource Book by Hilary Koll and Steve Mills

Times Tables

Times Tables Practice 1 by Ann Montague-Smith

Times Tables Practice 2 Ann Montague-Smith

Learn Your Times Tables Book 1 by Hilary Koll

Learn Your Times Tables Book 2 by Hilary Koll

Times Tables Tests Book 1 Key Stage 1 by Hilary Koll

Times Tables Tests Book 2 Key Stage 2 by Hilary Kol

11+ Mathematics Progress Papers

Mathematics 11+ Progress Papers 1 by Patrick Berry

Mathematics 11+ Progress Papers 2 by Patrick Berry

Mathematics 11+ Progress Papers 3 by Patrick Berry

Spelling

Spelling Book 1 Key Stage 1 by Carol Matchett

Spelling Book 2 Key Stage 1 by Carol Matchett

Spelling Book 3 Key Stage 2 by Carol Matchett

Spelling Book 4 Key Stage 2 by Carol Matchett