Deciding what is the best education for your child can be daunting. Our blog offers news, views and thought leadership articles to help you stay informed.
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Prioritising safety in a digital learning environment
24th May 2021We’re so proud of the way our pupils have responded to being back in the classroom since we re-opened last term. There is clear enthusiasm for face-to-face collaboration, and we have witnessed a boost of renewed energy in lessons. The last period of home learning was undoubtedly a tough time for both children and parents yet the ways in which the St. Margaret’s pupils responded to that change was uplifting. Our 1-to-1 device programme means that all Prep children now have their own personal device for ongoing use and will continue to build their digital literacy and independence in learning.
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Impact of COVID on young children’s language & communication: Are you worried that your Reception child has fallen behind?
10th May 2021A recent COVID impact study reports that children aged 4 and 5 years old (Reception) are struggling with language and communication development. The schools surveyed by the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) are also reporting their concerns around their pupils’ personal, social and emotional development. At St. Margaret’s our Reception children benefit from small class sizes, high staff-to-pupil ratios and specialist teaching. Following the first lockdown last Summer, our Nursery team assessed each child on their return to school in June and liaised closely with the Reception team over each child's learning journey. Children were then assessed again when they came into Reception in September, with the teaching then tailored to focus on key academic and developmental areas, at a suitable pace. The children that were new to the school were provided extra support where necessary to help them settle in and catch up.
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Now is the best time to invest in your child’s future: Are you thinking of moving from state to independent education?
29th March 2021There has never been a trickier time to be a parent of a school age child. Lockdowns, online learning and being stuck at home 24/7 has been a very challenging time for both children and their parents. In this strange new educational landscape, you might be rethinking what to do about your child’s schooling. Perhaps their current school’s home learning programme has left you concerned, or you’re worried they have fallen behind and need a more personalised teaching approach.
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Choosing a School: A guide for first-time school parents
26th November 2020Choosing your child’s first school can be a daunting time, and even more so during the current climate when it’s not possible to visit and see the school in action. To help, our Head of Early Years, Mrs Louise Laurie, suggests five things to look for.
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The best start in life: five things to look for when choosing a nursery
20th October 2020Choosing a nursery is a huge decision. We know how difficult it is for parents to leave their children in somebody else’s care, especially during a global pandemic. Added to the abundance of information out there, it can all get a bit overwhelming! Mrs Louise Laurie, our Head of Early Years, suggests five things to look for to give your child the very best start in life.
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Private education: Is it right for your family?
8th October 2020It can be a minefield when making decisions about your child’s education, with a whole host of options available including state school, private school, single sex school, boarding school, the list goes on. Ultimately, you need to review your options based on what is right for your individual child and your family.
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Creating a firm foundation: The benefits of starting education early
3rd July 2020Here at St. Margaret’s Prep, the benefits of children starting education early are clear. Our educational journey is inspired by research into early education which suggests that children starting pre-school from as young as 2-3 years old may be better equipped with language acquisition and social skills.
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Virtually Open: Supporting our children in this new world of online teaching and learning
15th April 2020These are uncertain times as a parent. As well as not being able to tell your child what is or is not going to happen in the coming weeks, you will also need to oversee their learning at home. It is natural that you may feel anxious about this. Children have infinite capacity to adapt and technology does not scare them. The staff are working extremely hard to continue to bring our children stimulating and stretching lessons through other means. They will very much still be developing the skills they need for the future.
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Starting 'big' school: A guide for parents
6th April 2020School allocation day is always an anxious time for parents, but during the current school closures, you might be having doubts about your choices, about what happens next or you might just want someone to speak to. Head of Early Years, Louise Laurie has some advice for preparing your child for Reception.
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Accelerate your child’s learning: the benefits of learning modern languages at a young age
16th July 2019The world is more connected than ever with advanced technology and travel options, the better the communication is, the stronger these connections become. Learning modern languages can be great preparation for the future in our young people amongst other academic and developmental reasons. In today’s modern world, people are much more mobile and they’re not necessarily staying in the same country that they were born in. The world is becoming multilingual and preparing younger generations for this is more important than ever. In this blog article, we will be explaining what some of these advantages are and how they can accelerate learning for younger children.
