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Money Lessons

Our initiative offers financial education to school children in Key Stages 2 and 3 (years 3 to 9, ages 7 to 14).

Learn about Money Lessons and download the resources.

Our aim

It’s important that children are offered digital skills and financial education. We want to help them understand the value of money, budgeting, and staying safe online.

Money Lessons aims to empower children and young people. By giving them the knowledge, skills, and confidence to take charge of their lives. And build a secure future for themselves and their families.

Money Lessons aligns with the Financial Education Framework. And supports the Personal, Social, Health and Economic (PSHE) and Citizenship elements of the Department for Education (DfE) National Curriculum.

Show transcript

[00:00]

Music starts

Visual of Nationwide Branded slide with the words saying 'Money Lessons' 'Supporting financial education'.

[00:05]

Visual of a map of the UK

'In the UK only 40% of children say they've had financial education in school'

[00:12]

'Financial education gives children the tools...'

[00:17]

'to develop good money habits they can take into adulthood'

Visual of a plant growing.

[00:22]

'Those who have had financial lessons at school are more likely to...'

[00:29]

Visual of a piggy bank with money going in.

'Save up regularly. Have a bank account.'

Visual of some bank cards

'Be confident managing their money'

[00:42]

'It also enhances financial wellbeing'

Visual of some hearts on the screen

[00:47]

'A lack of financial literacy makes it more difficult for young adults...'

[00:52]

'to take control of their money'

Visual of some money

[00:57]

'For educators our modules can'

[01:00]

'enhance existing curricula'

[01:04]

'Or can be extra curricular'

Visual of a girl giving a 'thumbs up' hand gesture.

[01:08]

'Bringing the curriculum to life'

Visual of a red heart with the heart beating.

[1:15]

Closing visual 'Money Lessons'

'Supporting financial education'

Music ends.

Who can use Money Lessons?

Money Lessons is designed primarily for teachers, with ready-made lesson plans that allow them to focus on teaching rather than planning. It can also be used by community group leaders, charities and anyone supporting young people to learn about money, including colleagues who deliver sessions as part of their volunteering.

Supporting Special Educational Needs

It's our goal to provide financial education for everyone – regardless of learning style. That’s why all our content has been designed to be Special Educational Needs (SEN) friendly.

We’ve worked with child psychologists and SEN teaching specialists. And have ensured that all modules are suitable for those with additional learning needs.

Our Money Lessons content includes:

  • a mix of different ways of learning
  • simplified language
  • visually stimulating imagery
  • ways to support collaboration
  • a pace suitable for all
  • additional opportunities at the end of the lesson plans.

Working with Widgit

The SEN versions of activity handouts include Widgit symbols to help with understanding.

These symbols help those with communication difficulties of all ages. Including those with:

  • autism
  • learning difficulties
  • speech impairments
  • English as an additional language (EAL).

Awarded the Quality Mark

All our Money Lessons have been given the Quality Mark. It’s the UK’s only accreditation for financial education resources. And is awarded to resources that support high quality teaching about money for children and young people.

Download Money Lessons modules

The modules are broken down into Key Stages. There are 4 modules within each stage. These should ideally be delivered in order, to build on from each other.

Each Money Lesson comes with a:

  1. Lesson plan

    These are your delivery notes and will include:

    • learning overview and objectives
    • a summary session which will allow you to find out what has been learnt
    • future additional opportunities which could be set as homework/additional work
    • your feedback link/QR code.

  1. PowerPoint presentation

    These will follow along with your Lesson Plan and may include videos.

  2. Activity Handouts

    Most modules have physical activities where printed handouts are required.

  3. SEN

    Most Activity Handouts come with a SEN (Special Educational Needs) alternative. These offer simplified activities.

Which Key Stage are you interested in?

Lower Key Stage 2 (years 3 and 4)

Module 1: Ways to pay and earning money

Understanding the different methods available for paying for things and how money is earned.

Module 1: Ways to pay and earning money

Module 2: Keeping records and your money safe

The different ways you can keep track of your money, how you can keep it safe and some of the risks associated.

Module 2: Keeping records and your money safe

Module 3: Attitudes and emotions

Influences on spending, needs and wants and the different attitudes, emotions and feelings associated.

Module 3: Attitudes and emotions

Module 4: Helping others

Why it's important to help others, and how peoples spending decisions can support this.

Module 4: Helping others

Upper Key Stage 2 (years 5 and 6)

Module 1: Managing money

How to keep financial records, budgeting and keeping track of spending, saving and borrowing.

Module 1: Managing money

Module 2: Keeping your money safe

The financial risks associated with money, including scams, money mules and the emotions that come with this.

Module 2: Keeping your money safe

Module 3: Influences & value for money

What influences peoples spending, understanding value for money and being able to make comparisons on price.

Module 3: Influences & value for money

Module 4: The role money plays in our lives

How choices about money can affect your life, that earnings are taxed, and how that money is used in the community.

Module 4: The role money plays in our lives

Key Stage 3 (years 7 to 9)

Module 1: Managing money

Budgeting, financial paperwork and understanding credit and debt.

Module 1: Managing your money

Module 2: Managing risks and emotions

How to protect money and the impacts of being a victim, risk and reward and different types of insurances.

Module 2: Managing risks and emotions

Module 3: Becoming a critical consumer

Understanding advertising, peer and media pressure, calculating and comparing costs against value for money.

Module 3: Becoming a critical consumer

Module 4: The role money plays in our lives

Career choices and the role work will play in the future. Finances, taxation and public spending.

Module 4: Understanding the role money plays in our lives