July 24, 2020 / Ben / 0 Comments
It is
essential in these days of mobile devices that children are still given the
opportunity to immerse themselves in books and reading not only for the
enjoyment it brings but also because In our primary schools children are
expected to reach a good level of reading ability by the time they enter key
stage two at the age of approximately seven. This presents a huge challenge for
some children who may be reluctant to read not only books, but any printed
material and it can also be worrying for parents and teachers who are often
searching for ways to inspire and encourage reading.
The demands
of learning to read can be taxing to young children but one approach is to
resist the temptation to insist that they read every day even though it is
encouraged by many schools. Children need to be shown that there is a purpose
to reading whether it be reading the instructions to a favourite game or
reading a recipe to make a cake. This type of incidental reading can encourage
children to read without them being aware that they are reading.
By encouraging
the reading of magazines and comic books a reluctant reader can be inspired to
read and although the vocabulary may not be extensive in this type of
literature, they may tap into the child’s interest especially if the reading
material about a hobby they enjoy.
June 26, 2020 / Ben / 0 Comments
How long has
it been since you visited a library? For many people, the answer will be I cannot
remember because it has been so long ago, so is it time to see these large,
often old and draughty buildings closed for good?
The purpose of
libraries was originally to give the general population access to books
irrespective of social class or financial status. This meant that expensive
books used for extending knowledge, gaining information or simply to provide
entertainment were readily available to borrow for a few weeks at a time for no
cost. This is still the case today as libraries provide a service that many
people, some who struggle financially, rely on.
In more
recent times with the growing use of technology libraries have evolved to
provide individuals without internet access at home a place where they can use
a computer to send emails and carry out research.
In many
towns the library has also become a hub for meetings and training courses
giving it a new lease of life and providing a much needed service to the
community so perhaps libraries have not had their day after all but have moved
with the times and are as relevant now as in the past.
May 27, 2020 / Ben / 0 Comments
With the UK
still under lock down, the postal service seems to have been struggling a bit.
As the majority of shops are shut most people are turning to online shopping to
get their supplies. Places such as Ebay, Amazon and clothing retailers have
seen a huge spike in traffic and purchases through their sites and this has had
a knock on effect on the postal service.
Some retails
send mail out via the Royal Mail and others have their own delivery drives or
use third party couriers to dispatch items. It seems that all logistical
companies have been hit and with social distance rules that have to be adhered
to and staff members self isolating, this has just added even more pressure to
the situation.
The Royal
Mail had said that they were going to cut out Saturday deliveries for now to
catch up on mail in the sorting office, but this only seems to have happened in
some areas.
If you have
ordered something online, most retails are cutting the cost of their delivery
charges and stating that delivery times are expected to take longer than usual
at present. If this is not the case and you paid for delivery within a certain
time which didn’t happen, I would contact the company and ask them to refund
you the delivery fee paid.
April 17, 2020 / Ben / 0 Comments
With so many
of us not being able to get out other than to do a weekly food shop, many of us
are missing our bit of retail therapy. It may even be that you do not like
shopping, but if you need items that you cannot get from the grocery store you
may have to participate in a bit of online shopping. If you are not sued to
online shopping then you may worry about security. If you use one of the big retailers
and ensure that you are on the genuine site then the security level is usually
pretty high.
Paying with
a credit card for higher cost purchases or using PayPal will also give you a
bit of added protection.
When shopping
online you may think you are less likely to impulse buy but because you often
do not realise how much stuff you have added to your basket until the end, if
your not careful you can easily get a bit carried away. Many retailers have
tempting sales on at the moment which makes it even more likely that we will
spend too much.
Always decide before hand how much you can
spend and be sure not to go over that.
March 27, 2020 / Ben / 0 Comments
Since the
Coronavirus pandemic, the way people shop is changing. When it first became
apparent that this was going to hit the UK, many people started to stock up on
essentials such as food, cleaning products and toilet rolls. This led to many people
panic buying and buying in bulk. Now that the UK is on lockdown, people are
only supposed to go out for food when it is essential. This means that trips to
the local shopping centres are no longer permitted. The only stores that are
open are those that supply food and medicine and supplies for people in certain
trades.
Many
supermarkets are restricting what how many of a certain item you can buy now to
try and stop the panic buying and ensure that there is enough stock for everyone.
Some supermarkets have also put a restriction on how many people can go into
the shop at one time, meaning often there is a one in one out policy in place.
Shopping has
certainly changed very drastically for now and no one knows exactly when it
will return to normal. Shopping can no longer be the enjoyable outing it once
was for many, now it is purely an essential trip that has to be done at certain
times.