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See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Shocked that MN recommend that parents use a website run by a twice convicted paedophile

18 replies

Feenie · 14/08/2017 16:37

Seriously, MN? Sparklebox? Come on.

www.mumsnet.com/books/teach-your-child-to-read?utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=Post&utm_campaign=Teach+them+to+read

His second conviction was directly related to this website - and even clicking through gains him revenue from advertising. This really needs rethink.

OP posts:
Feenie · 14/08/2017 16:38

a rethink

OP posts:
QOD · 14/08/2017 16:40

You just linked to his click bait site? Who are you talking about? It mentions Bear zgrylls
Link to what you say he's done?

Feenie · 14/08/2017 16:49

No - I've linked to MN's page that recommends Sparklebox

news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/8462650.stm

He is still a registered director and profits from this site, although he is now out of prison.

OP posts:
JigglyTuff · 14/08/2017 16:53

I've checked every link on that page and none of them go to sparklebox, nor is it mentioned on the page Confused

thepatchworkcat · 14/08/2017 16:59

There's a link to Twinkl but Twinkl isn't Sparklebox and is not related to it afaik?...

JigglyTuff · 14/08/2017 17:00

No, it is linked to it at all

LemonRedwood · 14/08/2017 17:01

No, Twinkl isn't related to Sparklebox.

LemonRedwood · 14/08/2017 17:03

I can't see a Sparklebox link either.

Saucery · 14/08/2017 17:06

Which link leads to Sparklebox, please?

GinIsIn · 14/08/2017 17:06

But it doesn't recommend it? Confused

delilahbucket · 14/08/2017 17:06

What you will be looking at op is a Google AdWords for the website. MN has no control over these ads. Google usually shows ads that are relevant to your internet searches.

KatherineMumsnet · 14/08/2017 17:08

Hi OP,

Thanks for flagging this - we've removed the link from the page now.

Feenie · 14/08/2017 17:19

Thank you, Katherine, much appreciated and very speedy.

Aside from the paedophile website link, it also contains some very questionable reading advice, actually. I wonder who wrote it?

Delilah and Fenella - it most certainly was recommended, as in 'you could try worksheets from x with your dc'.

I think you're probably seeing the page without the link now.

OP posts:
Jessicabrassica · 14/08/2017 19:44

This story first broke in 2010 so it's hardly news. It is a resource widely used in schools though. Our children often get worksheets from this site as homework. Our county reviewed the content of the site and the educational content is sound so they unblocked it and teachers continued using it.

AlexanderHamilton · 14/08/2017 19:48

Whenever I see a school that has sparklebox resources it makes me think badly of them.

JigglyTuff · 14/08/2017 20:00

I'm very glad but it's all a bit odd because it definitely wasn't on the original page that you linked to for me.

Feenie · 14/08/2017 20:27

The issue, Jessica, is not whether this is a new story, but rather whether MN wish to recommend and link to a twice convicted paedophile's website (and the speed at which they replaced the Sparklebox link with a Twinkl one tells you everything you need to know there).

I'll remind you again that his second offence related directly to this website.

Many LEAs still block it for that reason and obvious others.

OP posts:
LemonRedwood · 14/08/2017 21:45

Which LA are you in Jessica? I am very, very surprised that a school and local authority allows its teachers to use resources that benefit a convicted paedophile

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