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Homework, home schooling, study and research

Home schooling

Cheshire West and Chester council have information and advice about home schooling Elective home education | Cheshire West and Chester Council. Click on Resources for all the materials and further support.

BBC also provide a really useful support page Home education - BBC Bitesize.

See primary and secondary school sections below for useful links.

Primary school

  • BBC Bitesize for Primary: resources and support for all primary school aged children, including early years.
  • Cbeebies Radio: listening activities for younger children
  • DK Find Out: Dorling Kindersley activities and quizzes
  • Kidslingo: multi award-winning language classes online via live video - in French and Spanish
  • National Geographic Kids: activities and quizzes for younger children
  • Oxford Owl for Home: free resources for primary age including phonics, spelling and maths activities. Guide to Oxford reading tree also provided
  • Red Ted Art: easy arts and crafts for younger children
  • Science learning at home: range of topics provided by Jodrell Bank to enhance learning about science.

Secondary school

  • British Council: resources for English language learning.
  • Duolingo: learn languages for free (not available via Internet Explorer browser)
  • GCSE and Secondary resources (BBC): for ages 11-16 years. Site is listed by key stage and qualification. Also provides study support.
  • Seneca: free revision resources for GCSE and A level.
  • No Fear Shakespeare – Spark Notes: provides the full text of Shakespeare's plays and sonnets side-by-side, with translations into modern English. It also provides summaries of each play as well as a guide to the main characters, themes and significant quotes. Also offers links to further study.

Further education and research

Library subscriptions

Your library card number will be required to access:

  • Access to Research: articles from academic journals and conferences (available for use in the library only)
  • British Newspaper Archive: hundreds of historic newspapers from all over Britain and Ireland, including copies of the Chester Chronicle, Cheshire Observer, Northwich Guardian and Winsford and Middlewich Guardian. (available for use in the library only).

Other webpages:

  • Futurelearn: access to 100s of free courses (only pay to upgrade if you need a certificate)
  • Openlearn: free taster courses aimed at those considering open university but accessible to all
  • The Skills Toolkit: new digital learning platform developed by the Department of Education, linking to a variety of websites and opportunities. Free, high quality digital and numeracy courses available.
  • Library Hub Discover: access to details of materials held in many UK national, academic and specialist libraries. Search a database of 169 UK and Irish academic, national & specialist library catalogues (replaces the COPAC and SUNCAT)
  • WorldCat: books, journals and media collections of more than 10,000 libraries worldwide

Consumer research

Library subscriptions

Your library card number will be required to access:

  • Which? Online: Online edition of Which? Magazine (available for use in the library only)
  • Which? Consumer rights: sample letters, step-by-step guides on how to make a complaint and guidance on relevant legislation (available for use in the library only)
  • Which? Trusted Traders: Provides details of local tradespeople that have been assessed by Which? (available for use in the library only)

Other webpages

  • Cheshire Trading Standards: trading standards for businesses and consumers within Cheshire West
  • Citizens Advice: provides a wide range of tips and advice on the most common issues and how to solve them. Advice can be provided online or by telephone
  • Citizens Advice Consumer Service helpline: Citizens Advice Consumer Service provides consumer advice and refers complex enquiries, urgent enquiries and those requiring further action to our Regulatory Services department
  • Consumer rights: Gov.uk service which details consumer rights in England and Wales
  • Food Standards Agency: Independent government department responsible for food safety and hygiene across the UK
  • Good Garage Scheme: aid to finding local, independent garages. Garages are rated using feedback provided by members of the public. Customer comments are posted on the website
  • Martin Lewis' Money Saving Expert: advice on the cheapest ways to buy all sorts of goods and services
  • Ofcom: regulator for TV, radio and telecommunications

Business research

Library subscriptions

Your library card number will be required to access:

  • Access to Research: ideal for small businesses and research. Over 1.5 million academic articles from over 8,400 academic journals and conferences available, for free (available for use in the library only).

Other webpages