INDEX education A line-up of school footwear Starting school... continued from page 59
game whereby the child tries to remember all the items on a tray. Listening skills can be improved by finding rhyming words; imitating animal sounds; playing ‘I spy’ and guessing sounds while blindfolded. Language skills can also be improved by using guessing games, making up stories together, describing things and cutting up sequences of pictures in order to talk about what might happen first, second etc. For an imaginative parent,
there is no limit to the amount of educational activities that can be found – but the games should never become a chore. If a child grows weary it means you have probably overdone the exercise – just a few minutes per day is ample time for fun without frustration.
There are many practical skills that a child should acquire before starting school too. They should be capable of undressing and dressing independently; taking themselves to the toilet;
eating their lunch efficiently; opening a book and turning pages correctly and socialising with their peers. If they do all this and even hold a pencil correctly and write their own name, they are sailing merrily ahead and will feel confident and empowered from Day One. Schools are very much aware of the vulnerabilities of not only new children, but of their parents too. A typical approach is expressed by Michele Baldwin, Assistant Headteacher
at Claremont Primary School in Tunbridge Wells: “We take great care to ensure all children joining the school feel nurtured and valued; we want every light to shine. Our staff appreciate that starting school is a big step for both the children and their parents.We offer the children an opportunity to spend an afternoon in their new classrooms prior to joining the school, so they can meet their new teachers and some of the children who will be in their class. We offer curriculum meetings as well as social functions for the new parents, too, to ensure they feel part of our community. Our classrooms are friendly and welcoming and our aim is to ensure that all the children feel safe and secure, coming into school with a smile on their faces.”
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For more tips on starting school for primary-age children, see our Parenting page.
Key role for Mead Head
ANGELA CULLEY, Headteacher of The Mead School, Tunbridge Wells, which educates children between the ages of three and 11, was recently named as Chairman Elect of the Independent Schools Association (ISA) at the organisation’s conference, held in Bristol in May of this year. ISA is an Association of 300 accredited national and international independent schools. Mrs Culley takes up the post of Vice Chairman this coming January and will be Chairman for the year 2013. She says “This is a huge honour, for both myself and The Mead; a recognition and acknowledgement of the considerably high standards of education we offer the pupils entrusted to our care”.
Star Pupil Jessica Leale, Hilden Oaks School
JESSICA LEALE, aged nine, is a testament to what Hilden Oaks school in Tonbridge is all about: it’s a nurturing environment that encourages all pupils to fulfil their potential. Joining Hilden Oaks in Year 3, Jessica settled in quickly and is a very popular member of her class. She lives in Tonbridge with her
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two sisters and parents both of whom are teachers. This friendly and helpful member of the school gives 110 per cent to everything that she does. Hilden Oaks is proud of its academic results and Jessica is testament to this, achieving excellent scores in her Year 4 exams. She was also selected to represent the school in Walthamstow Hall’s annual Maths
Challenge competition. Jessica loves sport and is a member of the Rounders ‘A’ team. She also came third in this year’s sports day high jump – an event in which she had never participated before. Art and piano are also on Jessica’s list of accomplishments and she enjoys attending Art Club as well as working towards her Grade 1 piano exam.
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The INDEX magazine september 2011
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