We're on the home straight and finally emerging out of lockdown, but it's a staggered return for many and in the meantime we still need to be creative with how we home school our kids.

Tutoring company Smart Achievers director Julie Bradley, has offered some simple lockdown teaching tips.

1. Do some vigorous exercise before school
There's lots of studies to support doing physical activity before any learning exercise but the premise is it improves concentration levels. Keep it fun too, such as crazy dancing to some music.
2. Start a learning session with a game as a mental warm-up
With concentration in mind again, games such as Uno, Connect 4 or other card games, provide a nice way to ease your child into learning mode. It helps children feel happy and happy kids learn better.
3. Sit your child on a chair that does NOT swivel.
It's no surprise to anyone that the location of where your child is learning is important, but also the desk and chair they use. The novelty of swivel chairs is distracting to kids and will take their eyes off their task. A tidy working space is also advisable.
4. Make sure their tools are ready to go
Similarly, it's important their workspace is set up for the start of class-time, like at school. This means have tools like glasses, pencils, sharpeners, erasers etc ready and organised, as a tidy working space free of distractions helps.
5. Turn off distracting noises
There's plenty of distractions inside every home, namely the TV or radio, or devices such as laptops, tablets or phones. Turn them off, put them on silent and move them well away from the workspace.
6. Have set and regular feeding, exercise and break times
Maintaining a routine is important in life and home schooling is no different. Be regimented with regular feeding/recess/lunch breaks, along with set times for exercise and games breaks.
7. Get your child prepared
Having a planned day is one thing but sticking to it is another. The need for a toilet break or a thirsty and/or hungry child is a quick way to de-rail those plans. Sort that before learning time.
8. Stay positive
If a child makes a mistake when reading ask them to “try that again”, “sound out the word” or “read the base word first and then the whole word".
9. Challenge them
Ask them to count forwards and backwards orally to the 10th factor eg 2s to 20 and 20 to 2.
10. Check they can SAY the alphabet
Lots of children can sing the alphabet but can they actually say it? The tune has meant some letters have blurred into one word, like 'Elemenopee' or 'Elmo' This is an easy one to fix at home.