Shops & subscriptions ideal for home educators

Shops & Subscriptions

There are countless places to buy resources for home education, from textbooks to science equipment - and some fantastic 'through your letterbox' subscriptions too. Some of these subs. may have reduced prices through home ed discount groups, usually found on Facebook so do have a check before buying. These are a few of my own recommendations. I'd love to hear yours, too. Do add them in the comments below.

If anything on this list has an affiliated link, it will have this symbol 🖐️. Read my full disclosure here.

Shopping

  • CGP books are highly rated for all key stages. We particularly enjoyed their KS2 history and geography workbooks. They cover the whole curriculum (register as a parent, and you save up to 35% off your orders): CGP Books
  • I shop a lot in The Works in my local Exeter branch, mainly for art and craft supplies. My son draws A LOT, and I can pick up good quality sketchpads here for great prices: The Works
  • Natural, toxin-free toys, Waldorf-inspired magazines, and craft materials: Conscious Craft
  • Tried and tested lab/science equipment ideal for a home ed setup: Sparking Stem
  • Fun card games, jigsaws, and board games, that teach world history: History Heroes
  • Zatu Games have a huge selection of board games (which teach so many useful skills) at good prices: Zatu
  • Educational toys for all ages and also for those with SEND: STEM Education Toys
  • Smart and educational 3D printers: AOSEED
  • Online bookshop with millions of titles: AbeBooks

 

Subscription boxes - with so many online resources, it's fab to receive something 'real' in the post sometimes!

  • MEL has very high-quality hands-on kits for STEM, Chemistry & Physics. They suit ages 5 to 16+. They're not cheap at around ÂŁ20 each, but they run regular offers that reduce the price. We have loved the physics and chemistry ones, they help facilitate the kind of science that is not always easy to teach at home: MEL Science 🖐️
  • USA-based Kiwi Co. has amazing boxes for all ages. They offer STEM, geography, and art crates. We were lucky to have a 'Tinker Crate' year subscription gifted to us by a relative, and my son was super engaged by all of them. They are expensive as you have to factor in shipping to the UK - but the contents are perfectly designed and top-notch quality. Again, they run offers (like on Black Friday): Kiwi Co
  • USA-based Curiosity Box is a subscription for premium science toys, experiments, and collectables delivered 4 times per year.  Pricey but very cool, put together by science YouTubers: Curiosity Box (USA) 🖐️
  • My son loves watching videos on YouTube by Mark Rober (our favourite is his ninja squirrel maze here). His STEM Engineering boxes look great, but they only ship from the USA, which does push the price up: Crunchlabs
  • Educational DIY electronics STEM kits. Expensive but very cool gadgets that teach about software and hardware. Age 9+:  CircuitMess 🖐️
  • Mysteries in Time are ideal for introducing primary-age history topics. Explore eras like the Egyptians, Ancient Greece, Victorians, and WW2. The boxes have a storybook, crafts, and a magazine with facts & activities. Aimed at ages 6-11: Mysteries in time 🖐️
  • Monthly story language box (age guide 4-9) in French, Spanish, Italian or German: One Third Stories
  • Fun science boxes for ages 6-12. They are a good introduction to science at primary age, covering topics in the KS1-KS2 national curriculum. Everything you need is in the box and has lab equipment you can use again: Letterbox Lab
  • A range of subscriptions and one-off boxes for 4-11-year-olds with UK curriculum-linked science activities: The Curiosity Box (UK)
  • Seasonal nature-based activities in a monthly subscription box, aimed at 3-6 yr olds: Mud & Bloom
  • Letters from Afar posts real letters globally. Each month delivers an illustrated letter, field notes, and a map about a different country & culture: Letters from afar
  • Banjo Robinson the cat sends a letter and activity pack from a different country each month. This link will give you a free trial; enter code HOMEEDDAILY to redeem: Banjo Robinson 🖐️
  • A monthly book club for ages 5 to 14. They send a book along with book club-style questions and activity ideas. Parrot Street (review here) has created a discount code just for us. You can get 15% off your first subscription, it should apply the discount automatically; if not, simply enter HOMEED15 at checkout: Parrot Street 🖐️
  • Bi-monthly nature-based book club for ages 0-16, with a book and its study activities: littlerobineducation
  • Letters from different historical figures who have made an outstanding contribution to the world: Post From The Past 🖐️
  • The same company as above, but instead a monthly letter from a different famous world landmark: Landmark Letters
  • The Little Crafters company sells STEM subscription boxes. They also offer content aligned to Children's University hours & AQA accreditation: Little Crafters Boxes

 

Magazines - we love educational magazine subs. some of these sell back-issues too.

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