THE National Literacy Trust launched a free online zone for parents seeking ideas and guidance for educational activities while their children are home from school.

The charity, which runs Swindon Stories in partnership with Swindon Borough Council and WHSmith, created Family Zone which brings together some of the UK’s most exciting literacy resources and activities in one place.

Swindon Stories manager Anish Harrison said: "We want to support Swindon parents as much as possible during this unique time.

"We're providing them with access to a wide range of exciting activities to engage their children at home, while continuing to provide the literacy support we know Swindon need.

"We hope our Family Zone has something for everyone – from tips on building your very own reading den, to live story times with famous children’s authors."

Over the coming weeks and months, the charity will be developing and publishing new and innovative content on Family Zone that will keep families engaged and motivated to learn and share stories together.

Visit literacyfamilyzone.org.uk

Resources and activities for families to enjoy together at home include:

• Simple and fun Small Talk videos to help parents chat, play and read with their young child

• Top tips for enjoying audiobooks as a family

• A guide to building a reading den at home

• A Reading Miles Global Challenge to encourage children to read around the world

• Activity sheets based on popular children’s books, including Where’s Wally?, as well as playful learning activities featuring much-loved CBeebies characters

• Exciting author videos, including live stories with author Steve Antony, draw-along sessions with illustrator Rob Biddulph and poetry workshops with Sarah Crossan

Anish Harrison, Swindon Stories Manager, said: