THE UK’s online classroom – the Oak National Academy - is launching a range of fun and educational activities for millions of children to enjoy during half-term next week.

Backed by the Government, the Oak National Academy was created a month ago in response to the coronavirus lockdown and provides a plan of video lessons and learning materials for teachers, parents and their children.

Now it is launching Oak Activity Club – half-term activities that children can enjoy on their own or with their families. The activities, which will be uploaded to Oak National Academy’s website each day of half term, will provide entertainment and structure to their day.

Oak National Academy has been joined by a number of partners to provide the activities:

? Cook-alongs with Bite Back 2030 and Jack Deane, head chef at the Jamie Oliver Cookery School

? The Scouts will be helping pupils explore The Great Indoors - showing how to make slime, polish pennies and cook billy-can breakfast beans

? Jamie’s Farm will bring the countryside to young people, showing how to feed animals, build fences to protect crops and shear lambs, and give great ideas about how to make healthy choices

? With VotesForSchools, young people can debate, vote and comment on pressing issues of the day

? Advice on how to get into universities with The Brilliant Club

? The Oak National Academy Art Club

The Oak National Academy has delivered eight million lessons to over two million children. It now offers over 200 lessons a week, the equivalent of more than three hours a day for primary school students, and four to five hours a day for secondary.

Matt Hood, Principal of Oak National Academy, said:

’When we set up Oak we wanted to offer students as wide a range of subjects as possible to study.

’But as we approach half-term we want to support families in the fantastic job they’ve been doing to keep their children entertained, healthy and learning. The range of activities are brilliant and will mean they can enjoy their week off school work with fun and engaging sessions that will also provide structure.

’We are very grateful to all our partners for creating such fantastic resources, which we hope will be enjoyed by children up and down the country.’