KS1 teachers-do have have any subscriptions and do you rate them?

[rollonthesummer]

My school has Espresso (which I don't rate) and Phonics Play (which I do) but I am a member of the Twinkl FB page and there are lots of things on there I'd use but it's all Platinum stuff and my school has no funding (or none to spend on things like that, anyway!). I really object to spending that much out of my own pocket though!!

Can I be nosy and ask
1.What have you got subscriptions to?

1. Do you pay or your school?
   
2. Do you rate it?
   

Thank you!

[Linds53]

I have Twinkl and use it all the time. It is expensive though.The time it saves me makes it worth it, though I don't know if I will be able to afford to renew when the time comes, so I'm trying to download masses of stuff this year! I find the powerpoints really time saving and they can be adapted.

[ladygracie]

Twinkl - use all the time.
Phonics play - again use all the time.
Hamilton - use for literacy only.

[ladygracie]

Sorry, didn't answer your qu. Phonics play and Hamilton are paid for by school. Twinkl is paid for by me.

[toomuchicecream]

Personally I don't have any subscriptions at the moment. The school has Phonics Play and Twinkl, both of which I use regularly and would miss hugely if I didn't have. We cancelled Espresso as it was just soooo expensive and less that half the teachers in the school were using it. Which is a shame, as the videos were lovely.

When I get some money in the ICT budget I want to get Purple Mash subscriptions, at least for the KS1 children as I had it at my last school and really miss it. And when the current subscription to Maths Frame I'm using (login given to me by a student teacher last year) runs out, I'd like to buy a school subscription for that, if the money is in the Maths budget. I really, really like the visuals on Mathsframe but as it's mostly a KS2 resource, it pains me to buy it for my year 1 class. Having said that, the stuff that is relevant is really, really good. I'm hoping my ex-student renews her subscription...

I used to use a former colleague's TES iboard subscription but when it ran out I didn't miss it. Can't think of any others that I have/have had. I agree that Twinkl is expensive (used to use a subscription paid for by my old TA at my last school) but there's so much on there I think I'd probably pay for it if I ran out of people to borrow a log in from!

[KittyandTeal]

Wow, I've never worked in a school that would pay a subscription for a website.

I have (it's not my job shares turn) paid for phonics play and twinkl, both are brilliant.

In the past I've paid for Hamilton but I found most of the planning was pitched too high for my classes

[rollonthesummer]

It irritates me that they advertise Twinkl as being £3.99 a month, but you can't pay it monthly (I would join at £3.99 a month FWIW!).

I see it's now £47 for a Platinum membership, but £69 for a Platinum Plus!!

[Snazarooney]

Twinkl

[rollonthesummer]

Do you rate Twinkl? Do you pay for it yourself?

[Lowdoorinthewall]

I paid for my own Twinkl Platinum+ which my whole Base uses. Worth every penny IMO.

[WombatStewForTea]

I LOVE twinkl and use it for lots of stuff. My colleagues have twigged and are using it too. I paid for it myself but want to look into school paying for it next year.

[rollonthesummer]

I thought every teacher had Twinkl!

It's quite a lot of money to pay out of your own pocket though :(

[WombatStewForTea]

It is! I think if they allowed monthly subscriptions they'd have more people buying in! But I guess there'd be nothing to stop you downloading loads then cancelling your membership.

[HeartsTrumpDiamonds]

I'm a bursar. All our EY and KS1 teachers love Twinkl. We also have espresso and Purple Mash, some phonics ones and Collins Big Cat / Treasure House. Little Linguist and some others for French. I am sure there are some I am forgetting - I don't use them, I just pay the bills! Would never dream of having teachers pay for them but then we are very lucky to have the budget.

[melonribena]

I pay for Twinkl and its worth every penny. I use it everyday!

[Ilikesweetpeas]

School pay for Purple Mash, espresso, education city, help kids learn and poisson rouge. Reading this I'm aware I'm very lucky! I use all of these weekly.

[rollonthesummer]

I wonder if twinkl could do some sort of payment where you agree to pay monthly but if you leave before the 12 months is up, you are automatically billed for the remaining amount?

[Hulababy]

We have Twinkl - useful for some resources/displays though not as convinced for worksheets; sometimes it is better to make your own.

We also have Purple Mash but not sure if fr much longer. We rarely use it and no longer send passwords home etc. I am not convinced on the whole. Some of the easier stuff is okay for Foundation. I never use it in my computing sessions, which is the main time the children have ful computer access.

We used to have Education City but not sure we do now.

We have Bug Club - for reading. The children enjoy that and use it during iPad time and at home.

[Lowdoorinthewall]

Hula, 5 years ago I would definitely have agreed with you about Twinkl but now I would say it is great for worksheets and assessment materials.

[Hulababy]

I guess it may be the specific topics I have looked for.

[DolphinsPlayground]

You can get twinkl discount codes if You are paying for it yourself and not as a school. The one offered on Monday was only £30 for the year. (Platinum Classic plan)

[Yellowmellow2]

We cover the cost of the Twinkl and Classroom Secrets subscription in my school. I wouldn’t expect staff to pay for it out of their own pockets.

[roundtable]

Primary stars (maths) is good for KS1. Much more accessible than Classroom Secrets imo.