Premier League Primary Stars home-learning hub is supporting children, parents and teachers during lockdown

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Premier League Primary Stars, a primary schools programme created by the Premier League and supported by 110 professional football clubs, has seen downloads of its free curriculum-linked education resources soar during lockdown.

These fun and engaging football-linked activities, available through the programme’s new Home Learning Hub, have been downloaded more than 20,000 times by families and teachers since March. The resources have all been designed to educate, entertain and encourage families to keep learning and stay active and connected with one another, whether at home or at school.

Among the most popular has been a maths and spelling game called Solve, Shoot, Score which features animations of Premier League footballers and has had more than 31,000 plays since schools closed.

Families from across England and Wales have taken part in weekly Family Challenges, which encourage home learning and have been supported by celebrities, including best-selling author-illustrator and Children’s Laureate Cressida Cowell, mathematician Rachel Riley and TV presenter Dan Walker. The challenges, which can be done at home or at school, will continue for the rest of the academic year. Following each Challenge, a ‘Star of the Week’ who has shared their work is celebrated and featured in the Premier League Primary Stars community gallery.

Other popular activities on PLPrimaryStars.com include maths puzzles, which use data from Premier League football stickers, as well as opportunities for children to practise their football skills by watching examples from football players and club coaches.  

Through the programme’s #GetInTouch campaign, children have sent older relatives, friends and neighbours, who may be isolated during the Coronavirus pandemic, heart-warming stories, letters and drawings.

Children taking part in Premier League Primary Stars activity have also been given the chance to join a live Q&A event hosted by CBBC presenter Ben Shires and featuring Dan Freedman, best known for his hugely popular series of Jamie Johnson football novels. Freedman has tasked children with creating their own fictional character that could be part of a football-themed story.

To take part in this Challenge, families can download a free activity pack filled with top tips and ideas to get started. Children who submit their original characters for the Challenge will be in with a chance of receiving a special Premier League Trophy visit for their primary school, when it is safe to do so.

As part of the Friday Family Challenges, children have:

  • Expressed their feelings about lockdown through poetry and spread messages of kindness
  • Been creative by penning short stories and drawing pictures of people who inspire them through the ‘My inspiration drawing challenge’ 
  • Written letters to older family members, friends and neighbours through the Connecting generations pack 
  • Kept moving with the help of Super Movers active learning routines

Nick Perchard, Head of Community at the Premier League said: 

“We want our new home-learning resources to inspire children and families across the country to keep learning, remain active and stay connected with friends, family and neighbours. 

“We have been working with teachers and parents to create these resources for a home or school environment. Every resource supports the curriculum and is designed to educate and entertain children by connecting learning to the real world of sport.

“Our clubs and celebrity supporters have been excited to get involved and to see the children’s impressive work.

“We hope that these resources have helped teachers and parents who have been doing an incredible job to support their children’s learning during the Coronavirus pandemic.”