As educators we're passionate about inspiring and empowering our students. In fact, helping children understand more about our world is an incredibly rewarding career. But often, the most rewarding elements are not around the transfer of facts and methods of how things are done; they are in bringing the best out of students; in helping them overcome challenges and have a positive outlook on life. There is an array of people skills, characteristics and traits that will help children develop into happy, successful adults. These traits not only aid academic achievement but are, arguably, even more important.
23 February, 2015
Proactive teachers are always on the hunt of the best resources to share with their pupils. With a lot of hype surround enterprise education, particularly at a primary level, and with few tried and tested resources available, it can be a difficult task to find the best. Naturally, we think Clever Tykes produces the best enterprise resources for primary schools! But what is it that makes them good? If you already have the Clever Tykes books and resources or if you're looking for more ways of inspiring and empowering students, what should you be looking out for in other enterprise resources?
17 February, 2015
There are mixed opinions about the impact of Dragons' Den and The Apprentice on business and the kind of role models the Dragons and Lord Sugar provide impressionable children and young adults.For the purpose of this blog we will refer to Dragons' Den as DD and The Apprentice as TA and the comments explain how they portray the unhelpful lesson outlined.
01 February, 2015
Opening a bank account for a child is an important milestone in growing up and is a great step in learning more about how the world works. Understanding exactly why you want you child to have a bank account is very important as to make sure you're not simply opening one because little Jimmy across the road now has one! Choosing to open an account for your child, whether it's mainly for saving money, earning and spending or so they can have their own debit card, should be just that - a conscious choice because it is a significant step.
17 January, 2015

There has been intermittent coverage surrounding the lack of children with disabilities in fiction and media, generally. At Clever Tykes, we are passionate that every child, regardless of their background, grows up believing they are capable of anything and achieving their goals. For release Code-it Cody shows...

01 December, 2014

Tommie Rose became just about the UK's most (in)famous entrepreneur last week with the breaking news that he'd amassed some £14,000 by selling sweets at Buile Hill High School in Salford before being promptly suspended. Naturally, this caught the eye of the Clever Tykes teams...

28 November, 2014
Clever Tykes fought its way through a crowd of 1000 other entrants to make it to the Pitch final 2014 where only 20 fully trading companies remained. The Pitch 2014 involved a bootcamp phase for the first time and Ben had pitched against 49 other business in the London heat to make it to the grand final. The final posed a fresh challenge after only having to complete 90 second pitches at the bootcamps, contestants had 3 minutes to deliver their pitches along with the optional use of props and slides. The panel of four judges also had the opportunity to ask questions to each of them.The Pitch 2014The final of the Pitch 2014 was held at the event's birthplace in Bristol where contestants had travelled the length and breadth of the UK including businesses from Edinburgh, Newquay, Manchester, Birmingham, London and Bristol itself.
24 October, 2014
Clever Tykes is incredibly passionate about enterprise education and has carried out extensive research to determine exactly what enterprise in primary schools looks like in today's society. Why is it that, even though enterprise is not statutory at the primary level, some schools regard it as an incredibly important part of their curriculum?Given that there is no requirement of primary school to adopt enterprise, it's understandable that the quality and quantity of primary enterprise education varies massively from school to school and between local education authorities. The common theme in schools with a good standard of enterprise education is a proactive and forward-thinking headteacher. Headteachers have the power to adopt and implement enterprise if they are passionate about developing certain skills and attitudes in their pupils - the old adage, where there' a will; there's a way rings true.
18 October, 2014

Social mobility or, rather, social immobility is a prevalent issue in many societies and the UK is no exception. There are many viewpoints on exactly what causes social immobility and even more on exactly how it should be tackled. The ability to be enterprising and...

17 October, 2014

  • I am a huge advocate of the entrepreneurial messages and characteristics that you are driving. I think it is a fantastic idea to instil the idea of entrepreneurship into children from a young age. This is a great way to open children up to the idea of not always following conventional paths and giving them the belief and confidence from an early age to pursue their own creative business ideas and ventures.

    James Caan, CBE – entrepreneur and former Dragon

  • The Clever Tykes series are such a wonderful way to introduce ‘enterprise’ to children from a young age – I can’t recommend them highly enough, and strongly urge parents to read along with their child as there is no doubt the stories will stimulate lots of questions and interest!

    Lorraine Allman, Author and Founder of Enterprising Child

  • I found Walk-it Willow easy to read and full of lovely messages that children can take from it. It touched on taking responsibility, problem solving, admitting mistakes and also the work it takes to run a small business. Willow is entertaining but very human. A lovely story.

    Naomi Richards, The Kids Coach, parent and life coach for children