Ensure SATs success Test for success is the most effective CD-ROM study programme for Key Stage 2. Packed with interactive questions giving full explanations and immediate feedback, this disc provides a valuable learning tool that helps focus revision and ensures SATs success. Covers all areas of Key Stage 2. Windows 98/ME/XP/Vista. Ages 7 to 11.

Young children love going to parties and with the help of this new interactive CD-ROM, they can now go to a fun party with the likes of Goldilocks, Humpty Dumpty and Little Bo Peep. Based on Janet and Allan Ahlberg's best-selling story books, The Jolly Postman's Party is packed with games and activities to keep children (aged four to eight years) happily entertained for hours. They can create joke pictures of themselves and their friends and sign them into a guest book. Bake cakes by clicking on the right ingredients. There is also an opportunity to play testing memory games. When the lights go out in a room, you have to remember where the objects were and when they come back on again, click on the ones that have moved from their original positions. This is an ambitious CD-ROM with enchanting illustrations. Probably one of the most entertaining games is helping the Jolly Postman to burst balloons with his catapult so he can find the letters hidden inside. Compared to other children's software, The Jolly Postman's Party is a bit difficult to install and some of the games are fairly complicated. But you can adjust the levels to make them easier and there is plenty of good technical support available if you do get stuck. [+]

The Times Education Series GCSE English is an interactive CD-ROM set in Rowan Crescent in the town of Lakehurst, where the residents are ready and willing to help students with the speaking, listening, reading and writing skills required at Level 4 of the National Curriculum. The program, written by practising teachers, is divided up into 16 chapters which include formal and informal letters, report writing, persuasive description, preparing notices and leaflets, writing letters of complaint, giving a talk-there's even some old-fashioned essay writing. In each instance, the substance of the chapter relates to one of your neighbours in the street so, for example, you may find yourself helping the kid next door organise their homework essay, or correcting old Mrs Simmons' formal letter to the council, designing a newsletter or giving an eye witness account to the police concerning an accident in the Crescent. Personalising the individual exercises like this makes it more interesting, though it would be even more successful if you could actually see the other residents, rather than just hearing their voices. Each chapter includes exercises and teacher's tips to help you get things right and you can print out the exercises to practice away from the computer. As well as navigating the program by chapter you can also search for specific words such as "nouns" and "adjectives" and concentrate on them no matter where they appear in the program. Alternatively, you can play one of five grammar games which cover spelling, plurals, apostrophes, parts of speech and difficult or confusing words (like 'sweet' and "suite"). These are simple, arcade-style games that can be played fast or slow (depending on your confidence levels) and are designed to help improve your skills in the five different English language areas. GCSE English covers all UK examination board syllabuses and is a useful brush-up and revision tool. In addition, by setting it in an imaginary street, the authors have made it much more interesting than a traditional text book-an important consideration when it comes to attracting and then maintaining a student's interest. [+]

The Book of Pooh, A Story with a Tail is one of a range of titles for young children developed and designed by Disney. Children must help Eeyore find his lost tail, as they extend their knowledge through experience and discovery in an atmosphere of fun and enjoyment which hopefully will lead to their imaginative and creative development. Though the manufacturer recommends this program for 2-5 year-olds, it is worth noting that mouse control is essential and that help will be needed at all stages, but this will create lots of opportunities for interaction. There are five learning activities, and all have three levels of difficulty. Parents can follow progress in the games by accessing the progress charts which also include information on activity completion (which when done successfully results in finding Eeyore's missing tail). While all the fun is taking place many skills can be learned, very often without your child even realising. For example: numbers, letters and word association, pattern, shape and colour recognition, rhyming, critical thinking and memory skills, analytical and creative thinking, following directions, problem solving and spatial awareness. All the time children receive help and encouragement from Winnie-the-Pooh and friends. Play "Bounce" with Tigger, join Pooh and Eeyore at the "Alphabet Stream", help Rabbit and Owl bake in Rabbit's kitchen and then learn how to ice the goodies, sing a song with Kessie, Pooh's new friend, or help Piglet complete a story. An excellent instruction pamphlet accompanies the CD-Rom and this should be read by helpers before commencing the game, particularly the "Game Basics" page, which shows how to access the games and explains how to print out 30 activities, including cut-outs, colouring pages, mazes and more, all of which allow for learning and fun to continue once the PC is turned off. [+]

The Book of Pooh, A Story with a Tail is one of a range of titles for young children developed and designed by Disney. Children must help Eeyore find his lost tail, as they extend their knowledge through experience and discovery in an atmosphere of fun and enjoyment which hopefully will lead to their imaginative and creative development. Though the manufacturer recommends this program for 2-5 year-olds, it is worth noting that mouse control is essential and that help will be needed at all stages, but this will create lots of opportunities for interaction. There are five learning activities, and all have three levels of difficulty. Parents can follow progress in the games by accessing the progress charts which also include information on activity completion (which when done successfully results in finding Eeyore's missing tail). While all the fun is taking place many skills can be learned, very often without your child even realising. For example: numbers, letters and word association, pattern, shape and colour recognition, rhyming, critical thinking and memory skills, analytical and creative thinking, following directions, problem solving and spatial awareness. All the time children receive help and encouragement from Winnie-the-Pooh and friends. Play "Bounce" with Tigger, join Pooh and Eeyore at the "Alphabet Stream", help Rabbit and Owl bake in Rabbit's kitchen and then learn how to ice the goodies, sing a song with Kessie, Pooh's new friend, or help Piglet complete a story. An excellent instruction pamphlet accompanies the CD-Rom and this should be read by helpers before commencing the game, particularly the "Game Basics" page, which shows how to access the games and explains how to print out 30 activities, including cut-outs, colouring pages, mazes and more, all of which allow for learning and fun to continue once the PC is turned off. [+]