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[AnnMumsnet]

As you may or may not know, we have been working with Pearson Education over the last year or so.

Pearson is an educational publisher - they have provided many worksheets here for example, and free e-books [link], as well as working with MN to provide information on curriculum review as well as lots more see here.

Some Mumsnetters have been reviewing the books - for KS1 and KS2 (and Scottish equivalents too). These books (and more) are for sale in the Pearson shop on Mumsnet (and elsewhere).

They say "you have fed back that you like support we are giving you monthly, we've had 100s of positive MN reviews of the packs of books in the shop, and there's been some fantastic feedback from Mnetters that our books have really helped their children learn to read"

HOWEVER...we're not seeing loads of visitors to the shop!

Please take a couple of minutes to let us know why. For example....

~ Where do you normally buy books from for your child and why do you buy from there? Do you use the library a lot or borrow from elsewhere?
~ Are you looking for resources to buy to help your child? Or does the free service give you all the support you need?
~ Is it that you've not found the shop, or if you've gone there is it too difficult to find your way around? Or any other issues with it?
~ Are you not actually interested in buying stuff when you're on Mumsnet - or are we just showing you the 'wrong' resources?
~ Have you bought from MN via Pearson - if so how was it?

Any feedback is welcome.

Everyone who adds a comment will be entered into a prize draw where one winner will get a £50 John Lewis voucher as a thank you.

Thanks, MNHQ

PS: here's the link to the Pearson shop on MN if you want to check it out

[heliumballoon]

Joins the chorus of "I didn't know the shop was there".

DD (4) has four shelves of books and barely a single one bought new by me. All charity shops, jumble sales or gifts. or overdue library books. I simply would not buy her a new book unless I was after something very very precise like a book recommended on MN as helping with separation anxiety (eg The Kissing Hand) or having a new sibling (eg Waiting for Baby). Or if I found myself in Nickel's shop obviously!! The concept of a) shelling out lots of £ and b) buying a slightly random bundle of books just doesn't appeal.

I think also that the "give your child an early start" stuff doesn't resonate with every MNetter. You'll see many threads about whether it is important to teach your DC to read before they start school. My personal experience is of a friend who beavered away with all of these early reading books before reception, only for her DD to be bored rigid on arrival at school. I prefer to try to instil a love of books in my DD which involves giving her £2 to choose her own at a jumble sale rather than me selecting improving books for her. I'd be a more likely Pearsons customer once she starts school, I think, especially if she encountered difficulties.

[ScorpionQueen]

~ Where do you normally buy books from for your child and why do you buy from there? Do you use the library a lot or borrow from elsewhere? I buy them on Amazon, supermarkets, school book fairs, charity shops, anywhere I can get a bargain.

~ Are you looking for resources to buy to help your child? Or does the free service give you all the support you need?
I am always interested in helping my children, whether they want me to is another thing. KS2 SATS are coming up next year but do I want to make DD resent me for adding to her workload? I don't know.
:)

~ Is it that you've not found the shop, or if you've gone there is it too difficult to find your way around? Or any other issues with it?
I haven't been to the shop and now feel bad for Mumsnet and Pearson so will have a look as soon as I've done this...

~ Are you not actually interested in buying stuff when you're on Mumsnet - or are we just showing you the 'wrong' resources?
See above
~ Have you bought from MN via Pearson - if so how was it?
Not yet but I might if the prices are competitive.

[gegs73]

Where do you normally buy books from for your child and why do you buy from there? Do you use the library a lot or borrow from elsewhere?
From Amazon, Waterstones full price if book tokens or from charity shops. We also visit the library.

~ Are you looking for resources to buy to help your child? Or does the free service give you all the support you need?
No not looking at resources

~ Is it that you've not found the shop, or if you've gone there is it too difficult to find your way around? Or any other issues with it?
Not found the shop, didn't know about it.

~ Are you not actually interested in buying stuff when you're on Mumsnet - or are we just showing you the 'wrong' resources?
Not interested in buying stuff on mumsnet.

~ Have you bought from MN via Pearson - if so how was it?
No but would do if something I wanted and it was cheaper

[PuzzleRocks]

Forgot to add Scholastic offer a percentage kick back to DD1's school which is a big incentive for me to purchase from them.

[devilsadvocaat]

~ Where do you normally buy books from for your child and why do you buy from there? Do you use the library a lot or borrow from elsewhere?

We buy from our local bookshop, amazon mostly. We also use the library.

~ Are you looking for resources to buy to help your child? Or does the free service give you all the support you need?

I find there is enough free stuff online on this and other sites to support learning.

~ Is it that you've not found the shop, or if you've gone there is it too difficult to find your way around? Or any other issues with it?

Have seen the shop. I don't generally buy book schemes. I find it better to teach high frequency words using flash cards, puzzles and games for letter sounds. School provide books for readingschemes. I can use dr Suess or other simple books.

~ Are you not actually interested in buying stuff when you're on Mumsnet - or are we just showing you the 'wrong' resources?

The only thing I would buy is the online books, however, you use them for such a limited time it doesn't seem worth it.

~ Have you bought from MN via Pearson - if so how was it?

Nope!

[Finocchio]

~ Where do you normally buy books from for your child and why do you buy from there? Do you use the library a lot or borrow from elsewhere?

We did use the local library a lot but it shut.
I usually buy from charity shops, 2nd hand bookshops, Amazon, Book people.

~ Are you looking for resources to buy to help your child? Or does the free service give you all the support you need?

No, I feel I know a lot about children's books already, I read a lot as a child, I'm very interested in children's books so I keep up with new books and I talk about them to people.

~ Is it that you've not found the shop, or if you've gone there is it too difficult to find your way around? Or any other issues with it?

Haven't been there.

~ Are you not actually interested in buying stuff when you're on Mumsnet - or are we just showing you the 'wrong' resources?

I'm always open to discussions about books. Including buying books.

~ Have you bought from MN via Pearson - if so how was it?

No. have not done this.

[iloveberries]

i buy books from car boots/school jumble sales or sometimes book sales at work...

i always ask for books for DS bday and christmas..

never heard of Pearsons!

[Hulababy]

~ Where do you normally buy books from for your child and why do you buy from there? Do you use the library a lot or borrow from elsewhere?

Amazon - for ease, often lower cost, quick free delivery
Waterstones - in town so convenient, gift vouchers often for there
Charity shops - for reading books, more so when Dd was younger and books much shorter, etc.

~ Are you looking for resources to buy to help your child? Or does the free service give you all the support you need?

Always looking for idea, not only got 10y DD but also for the y1 children I work with.

~ Is it that you've not found the shop, or if you've gone there is it too difficult to find your way around? Or any other issues with it?

I didn't know it existed until now. Have had quick look and looks simple enough.

~ Are you not actually interested in buying stuff when you're on Mumsnet - or are we just showing you the 'wrong' resources?

Wouldn't have known to look but may be interested at various times.

~ Have you bought from MN via Pearson - if so how was it?

No.

[AlmaMartyr]

I had no idea there was a shop! I'll have a look.

I mostly use Amazon, Abebooks and BookPeople for books. Amazon is cheap, Abebooks is great for hard to find stuff and I love the BookPeople sets. We use the library a lot as well, if there's something they particularly like then I try to buy it.

I'm always looking for helpful resources for the DCs so keen to try anything really.

I'd definitely consider buying from the shop now I know it's there!

[CervixWithASmile]

I didn't know the shop was there either, or that Pearson did anything like this. I buy my children's books from Amazon just because it's easy and the store my payment info and post quickly. We do use the library but infrequently.

[lagoonhaze]

~ Where do you normally buy books from for your child and why do you buy from there? Do you use the library a lot or borrow from elsewhere?

We borrow alot from the library and the school. If buying we look for the best price so amazon normally wins as its free delivery

~ Are you looking for resources to buy to help your child? Or does the free service give you all the support you need?

I would be looking for free sites as we cant really afford to be buying in resources at the moment.

~ Is it that you've not found the shop, or if you've gone there is it too difficult to find your way around? Or any other issues with it?

I didnt know it exisisted!

~ Are you not actually interested in buying stuff when you're on Mumsnet - or are we just showing you the 'wrong' resources?

I use my ipod so many just use chat. When I come onto laptop I look around abit but we are so skint at mo its just basics such as food we spend on money on at moment!

~ Have you bought from MN via Pearson - if so how was it?


N/A

[EggsOvaryZee]

~ Where do you normally buy books from for your child and why do you buy from there? Do you use the library a lot or borrow from elsewhere?

Use the library about once a month. Buy all my children's books from Amazon.

~ Are you looking for resources to buy to help your child? Or does the free service give you all the support you need?

I did not know of their exsitnce. At the moment I would probbably be looking at free sites until DS statrd school and I was mroe aware of his needs.

~ Is it that you've not found the shop, or if you've gone there is it too difficult to find your way around? Or any other issues with it?

Not found it, not well advertised.

~ Are you not actually interested in buying stuff when you're on Mumsnet - or are we just showing you the 'wrong' resources?

I would buy if it was easy and simple.

~ Have you bought from MN via Pearson - if so how was it?
Haven't done.

[welliesandpyjamas]

~ Where do you normally buy books from for your child and why do you buy from there? Do you use the library a lot or borrow from elsewhere?

I almost always use the library, and rely on using the inter library borrowing service for anything not stocked in my nearest branch. Bought books tend to come from Amazon because it's quick and not too expensive. Any other bout books are usually presents.

~ Are you looking for resources to buy to help your child? Or does the free service give you all the support you need?

I tend to use a mixture of common sense amd online resources. Sorry, don't know what you mean by free service.

~ Is it that you've not found the shop, or if you've gone there is it too difficult to find your way around? Or any other issues with it?

I went googling pearson books the other day and found it quite difficult to find anything aimed at parents. I found the global site and the aite for teachers but didn't find anything obviously aimed at parents.

~ Are you not actually interested in buying stuff when you're on Mumsnet - or are we just showing you the 'wrong' resources?

No, I don't come on MN to buy although sometimes the adverts to catch my eye.

~ Have you bought from MN via Pearson - if so how was it?

No, I haven't.

[ImaginateMum]

I am terrible for not clicking through to things. Probably bad as I am not supporting a source of income...

~ Where do you normally buy books from for your child and why do you buy from there? Do you use the library a lot or borrow from elsewhere?

We buy books from BookPeople, Amazon, Book Depository, shops, charity shops. We go to two different libraries a lot and frequently request via Interloan. We also go to the French children's library in town.


~ Are you looking for resources to buy to help your child? Or does the free service give you all the support you need?

I haven't looked.

~ Is it that you've not found the shop, or if you've gone there is it too difficult to find your way around? Or any other issues with it?

Never found the shop.

~ Are you not actually interested in buying stuff when you're on Mumsnet - or are we just showing you the 'wrong' resources?


Don't really associate MN with shopping.

~ Have you bought from MN via Pearson - if so how was it?

N/A

[aftereight]

~ Where do you normally buy books from for your child and why do you buy from there? Do you use the library a lot or borrow from elsewhere?
Usually buy from Red House or Book People or the Works, and occasionally at full price from local (fantastic) bookshop

~ Is it that you've not found the shop, or if you've gone there is it too difficult to find your way around? Or any other issues with it?
Tbh, I didn't know that the shop exists, although I usually access MN via my phone, so that may be the reason

~ Are you not actually interested in buying stuff when you're on Mumsnet - or are we just showing you the 'wrong' resources?
I'll have a look now - am interested in buying via MN if the product & price are right

~ Have you bought from MN via Pearson - if so how was it?
No, but now I know about it I may well do so.

[Bluebell99]

I use the library a lot and request books I want from other libraries. I buy books from Amazon, the book people, the works, less usually from whsmiths or waterstones, sometimes tescos. I try not to buy books at the full rrp. I also get lots of books second hand from charity shops. I will go and have a look at the shop after I've posted. I wasn't aware that it was there.

[onfriday]

~ Where do you normally buy books from for your child and why do you buy from there? We buy from the charity shops a lot and sometimes from amazon or eBay
Do you use the library a lot or borrow from elsewhere? We borrow from the library at least weekly - the children also go to the library with the school.
~ Are you looking for resources to buy to help your child? No, so far the school has provided all we need.
Or does the free service give you all the support you need?
~ Is it that you've not found the shop, or if you've gone there is it too difficult to find your way around? Or any other issues with it? i've not looked at the Pearson online shop
~ Are you not actually interested in buying stuff when you're on Mumsnet - or are we just showing you the 'wrong' resources? don't consider mumsnet a place to shop.
~ Have you bought from MN via Pearson - if so how was it? no

[Chopstheduck]

I hadn't seen the shop before but now I have, the books look good but my thoughts are

1. I don't want to pay for delivery. I can get free delivery on Amazon or I can pick books up when I go to town.
   
2. The books do seem a bit pricy. The SATS books are £3.99 for the study and then £3.99 for the practice.
   

I've been buying sats books lately. The 10-11 ones that I just quoted the price for, I bought the Collins SATS versions, for around £4 each from amazon that covered both study AND revision and were delivered for free.
I recently bought some from WHSmith too, and was rewarded with a voucher for money off my next spend.

[Chopstheduck]

And £10 for three fiction books! I can get sets of ten for £10-15 in Costco!

[chrisrobin]

~ Where do you normally buy books from for your child and why do you buy from there? Do you use the library a lot or borrow from elsewhere?
We borrow books and audio books from the library and from school. We buy childrens books from the bookshop in the high street and from the supermarket. I like to involve the children in the books they buy and to encourage DS1 to think about what he wants to read, hence we buy 'in person' rather than over the internet.

~ Are you looking for resources to buy to help your child? Or does the free service give you all the support you need?
I find resources on the internet and the school are good at giving resources for home learning. I do buy books as well though.

~ Is it that you've not found the shop, or if you've gone there is it too difficult to find your way around? Or any other issues with it?
I didn't know the shop was there.

~ Are you not actually interested in buying stuff when you're on Mumsnet - or are we just showing you the 'wrong' resources?
I'm not interested in buying fiction books over the internet as I like the boys to be involved but may buy resource books.

~ Have you bought from MN via Pearson - if so how was it?
No.

[swallowedAfly]

seeming simple isn't it - if you're charging delivery and you are not the cheapest you are not going to get savvy people buying from you because they know better. and parents who are buying study guides and resources for their children tend to be of the savvy variety.

so cut your prices and don't charge for delivery or accept you're just not in the competition.

[Chandon]

~ Where do you normally buy books from for your child and why do you buy from there? Do you use the library a lot or borrow from elsewhere?

Online from Amazon and Waterstones, but I pick these sort of books up in WHSmith mostly.

~ Are you looking for resources to buy to help your child? Or does the free service give you all the support you need?

I have looked around and ended up with some online stuff, the Nessy game, some Carol Vorderman books and KipMcGrath tutoring program

~ Is it that you've not found the shop, or if you've gone there is it too difficult to find your way around? Or any other issues with it?

Never even heard of it until now,

~ Are you not actually interested in buying stuff when you're on Mumsnet - or are we just showing you the 'wrong' resources?

Don't really associate MN with shopping, it is for a "break" from my work, something to "read"

~ Have you bought from MN via Pearson - if so how was it?
not yet

[Becaroooo]

Didnt know the shop was there.

Off the top of my head I would say that its a pricing issue.

Books are great BUT I can get the same thing on amazon/the book people for half the price or less!

[HolyCameraConfusionBatman]

I hardly buy any books for my DC because they get so many as gifts from other people plus we're members of the library. I buy books from the book people or redhouse as gifts for other kids because it's the cheapest place to buy them.

With learning to read type books we have enough from the school (4 a week) and the library. IMO it's not worth buying them because they race through them so quickly and they don't have a good enough story to make them want to read them once they've mastered that level.

I didn't know mumsnet were working with Pearson Education and I had no idea about the shop until I saw this thread.