Basic needs
Using educational software is a requirement for almost all children. Most CD-ROM packages cost no more than standard textbooks and the learning experience gained from them can be much more exciting than reading from plain pages.

However: ‘Don’t imagine these packages will avoid the need for textbooks,’ says one teacher I know. ‘Even though children find the software fun to use, they can’t take their computer to bed. Most children I know do their last-minute revision snuggled up between blankets with books in hand.’

Encyclopaedias
Even so, educational software clearly has tremendous benefits. Online encyclopaedias are especially useful. In the past, you needed a hefty bank balance and a reinforced steel bookshelf to store multiple printed volumes. Now you can get the entire Encyclopaedia Britannica – and more – on a single CD-ROM. It’s a fraction of the price of the printed version, and you can update the CD online via the website.

Other leaders in the field are Microsoft’s Encarta, and Grolier who produce more concise encyclopaedias. For less than £100 you can equip your children with a huge library of information filled with colour, animation and rich sound effects. Books are often part of the package, so you get a total multimedia experience in the bargain.

If you don’t want to spend much money, you’ll find many computer magazines with promotional cover CDs, which often have encyclopaedias on them. Some of the disks will be out of date – i.e. newer versions are soon to be published, hence the free giveaway. But the information they contain will still be relevant – historical facts and basic general knowledge will be accurate. Some sections, such as current affairs, will be a bit dated but hey – it’s free.

Personal best
My favourite is Encarta. It incorporates a Research function that allows children to compile their own documents and summarise their searches. It’s fully compliant with the needs of the National Curriculum and has a Study Centre where children can check they’ve understood the set subjects at every stage. It’s an excellent feature, especially for self-sufficient children.

Where to start
Begin at your local library. Most have computers available for short periods of time –an essential resource for children who have limited equipment at school or no computer access at home. The educational software available on them is often up to date, and libraries can tell you themselves which packages work best.

Shop around
Since there’s quite a range of online stores from where you can buy software, you’ll have to shop around. A good bet is to start with the publishers’ websites. They often have demonstrations of the software, which you can either view online or download. And most publishers will offer you the chance to buy online as well – though again, you may have to shop around for the best prices. Here are some of the most well known:

• If you’re hunting for software on specific educational stages like SATs, GCSEs and A-levels, you’ll find a very clear guide at Europress, one of the largest educational software groups in Europe. Their programs are widely used and produced to very high standards – both technically and educationally. And as well as getting software demonstrations, screen shots and reviews, you’ll find information about the company, who it serves and how to order products.

• Granada is another publisher worth a look. Like Europress, it’s a large and renowned group providing software to 95% of British schools. Their website is a major educational resource, offering advice and guidance as well as several hundred software packages. Take a look at the demos – there aren’t too many – and follow the links to independent reviews. You’ll also find reviews from teachers and pupils, so you can suss out what ‘real users’ think about the programs.

• Letts Educational is part of the Granada Group, and is the market leader when it comes to revision guides for GCSE and A-level. You can buy their CD-Rom study aids on the Granada Learning site, which is definitely worth bookmarking.

• The Times newspaper is another useful resource. There are no online reviews, though, so all you can do here is browse through a catalogue and buy what you want.

Online shops
One of the best shopping resources on the Web is The Learning Store. Here, you’ll find a detailed index of CD-Roms and books. Click on a product title and you’ll get a description, a review and the opportunity to buy.

eDream is pretty much the same, offering excellent reviews on products that cover the whole of the National Curriculum.

Here’s a useful tip of my own. If you take part in the Computers for Schools promotion, go to Tesco.com to get your education software. They have a great selection of products and, depending on how much you spend, you’ll also get more vouchers towards the scheme.

National Curriculum
Educational software should follow the content guidelines of the National Curriculum for SATs, GCSEs and A-levels. If you want to check what the guidelines are for each subject, go to the National Curriculum’s website www.nc.uk.net

Be warned though, it’s a slow site. Rich images and heavy designs means you’ll have to be patient. But once you’ve found your way through, there is plenty of useful information to hand. There are no reviews of suitable educational software, which is a shame, but the links lead to useful resources and relevant websites.

You can rest assured that the programs from the main publishers follow the National Curriculum guidelines – but A-levels are outside the National Curriculum. This means course work will depend upon which examination board your son or daughter is being tested by.

The A-level software and books from Europress, Granada and The Times, will cover the core subject but may not be specific enough for your son or daughter’s examination. Hence, A-level students may need to consider additional resources for their subjects, such as websites and revision books. Even so, the programs available will certainly help.