When the nation’s school pupils went into lockdown earlier this year, the BBC launched Bitesize Daily – the home-schooling initiative comprising its biggest ever commitment to online learning.
Now, with schools open once again, the corporation has relaunched its long-running Live Lessons strand to help primary-aged children make a smooth transition from home to classroom.
Using a range of famous guests and themes to bring numeracy and literacy to life, the interactive live broadcasts will air on a weekly basis until the end of November.
Hosted by Radio 1’s Katie Thistleton, Hacker T. Dog from CBBC and Bitesize Daily’s Mr Smith, the first show aired on September 14, and featured top-flight footballers Theo Walcott and Georgia Stanway to help students learn about wellbeing and resilience.
Once broadcast, each episode will be available for four weeks via BBC iPlayer, together with help for teachers in the form of curriculum-relevant resources and suggested activities.
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“BBC Live Lessons are a fantastic way to bring the curriculum to life and, in this first broadcast, we hope children will learn some really valuable strategies for looking after their own wellbeing,” said the head of BBC Education, Helen Foulkes.
“We are incredibly proud of what has been achieved so far this year with Bitesize Daily providing home schooling support, and we’ll continue to support children and teachers as they transition back to school this autumn.”
Pirates, space and gardening are among the themes set to feature in shows for key stage one pupils, while those in key stage two can expect programmes exploring the environment, Black History Month, and ‘His Dark Materials’. The latter will feature Lewin Lloyd, star of the BBC’s forthcoming adaptation of Philip Pullman’s renowned trilogy.
For further info and full timetable, please visit bbc.co.uk/live-lessons