5 best teaching resources for Key Stage 2

Searching for the best teaching resources for Key Stage 2? Look no further, this blog post has been written specifically for you.

In 2026, SEND and wellbeing are seen as the top priorities across UK primary schools, while funding and staffing remain the biggest challenges. Schools’ remits continue to grow, and teachers and school leaders are expected to deliver more with fewer resources against a backdrop of rising costs. As a result, value for money, curriculum-linked and cross-curricular resources are more important than ever. Features that save planning and marking time are no longer a luxury but essential if teachers are to maintain any kind of work-life balance.

This blog explores some of the most widely used teaching resource platforms in UK primary schools at Key Stage 2, focusing on their practicality, inclusivity and the level of support they provide.

Our approach

Below is a table comparing each teaching resource against the criteria we believe matter most in Key Stage 2 classrooms: quality, engagement, ease of use and suitability for all learners. We’ve chosen these because teachers consistently tell us they want resources that fit seamlessly into the classroom, support a wide range of needs and genuinely reduce workload.

Here’s what we found:

Key Stage 2 teaching resources comparison

Blank cells indicate that the feature is not a core focus of that teaching resource.

A closer look at each platform

BBC Bitesize

BBC Bitesize is a free, trusted platform offering curriculum-aligned videos, quizzes and explanations. It works well for revision, lesson starters and independent learning, but does not provide full lesson planning.

IXL

IXL is an adaptive practice platform for maths, English and science. It supports personalised learning and reduces marking through instant feedback and data insights, making it a strong supplementary tool in Key Stage 2.

Twinkl

Twinkl offers a vast library of printable worksheets, planning documents and classroom materials across all subjects. Its strength lies in breadth and flexibility, although resources often need adapting to match specific schemes of work.

Discovery Education Espresso

Discovery Education Espresso focuses on multimedia-rich learning across subjects. It is particularly strong for whole-class teaching, using videos and interactive content to bring topics to life and reduce preparation time.

Busy Things

Busy Things is an online subscription service designed for children aged 3–11 and their teachers. It’s truly cross-curricular and brings together interactive activities, curriculum-linked learning and SEND support, helping teachers save planning time while keeping pupils engaged day-to-day.

A full subscription includes:

• Over 1,600 engaging activities and games, searchable via the Curriculum browser or by keyword search
• 14 subjects in all (including maths, English, science, computing, history, geography and more), providing broad and deep curriculum coverage
• Teacher tools to assign and automatically mark activities
• A Resource maker, including customisable Multiplication Tables Check and maths SATS practice papers
• An activity to printable converter
• An A.I. lesson planner to automate part of the lesson planning process
• A dedicated Account Manager to provide support and advise on best practice throughout the school’s subscription

Interested to try Busy Things in your school?

Take a 21-day free trial to explore the multi-Bett Award-winning platform. We’ll provide login details that you can share with your colleagues (and classes if you’d like to) and can also provide an online webinar for individuals and groups. Just follow the links to get started.