Marks and Spencer offers free digital learning resources for UK families
M&S has launched a series of free online learning resources, spanning food, fashion and business studies and offering children the opportunity to get insight into working at the retailer.
These are pitched at parents, carers and teachers of primary and secondary aged children to download at home as schools across the UK remain closed during the latest coronavirus lockdown.
They have been created by the M&S Company Archive, which is based in Leeds – the birthplace of M&S – and is home to over 71,000 items, dating from 1884 to the present day.
The four digital resources focus on the likes of the history of food, the science behind textiles, the process of designing packaging and delivering for customers as a business.
They feature short films, printable worksheets and fun, practical tasks, from pitching business ideas to creating food packaging to inventing garments of the future.
Caroline Bunce, Education & Outreach Officer at M&S Company Archive, says: “So many school children have enjoyed learning about the world of food, fashion and retail through the thousands of items held within our archive.”
“As schools remain closed, we know families and teachers are looking for more ways to help kids learn at home.
“And that’s why we’ve teamed up with experts to create a new fully digital programme that brings our rich history of innovation and product design and development to life through fun educational videos, interactive packs and activity sheets.”
Robert Fairbairn, Careers Lead at Oastlers School, Bradford has been using the business studies resources for GCSE pupils.
He comments: "They are invaluable as they help learners link curriculum activities with real life experiences of an established UK brand that they can recognise and relate to.”
“They are adaptable enough to be used within a range of subjects, both for learners that attend school and those working remotely during the current lockdown restrictions.”