Education

Padworth College – Your Pathway to Excellence

Established in 1963, Padworth College is a day and boarding school offering a highly personalised education, preparing students aged 14 to 19 years for entry to leading universities. Students study I/GCSEs and A Levels, with the EPQ also available in the Sixth Form.

Crispin Dawson, Principal, effective September 2022 comments: “Padworth College is a wonderfully welcoming and warm community. Every time I have visited I have been struck by the warmth of the relationships amongst staff and between students and staff. When class sizes are small, our teachers can get to know the students really well; they understand how each individual learns and can tailor lessons around them and their needs. It also means the relationship between teacher and student is strong and when students know that their teachers really care, they are motivated to put in that little bit more, and so get the best from themselves.

If you are interested, do come and see me. I would love to tell you more about what makes Padworth special and how we can help your child excel.”

www.padworth.com

More than a day at School – Discover a world of opportunities on your doorstep

Downe House is celebrating 100 years at its campus in Cold Ash by offering Centenary Bursaries (up to 100%) for local day pupils. Downe House offers a world class girls’ education and, in response to growing demand, we are delighted to be welcoming more day pupils from September 2023.

Our day pupils are fully integrated members of the School community and their boarding house too. As well as enjoying the same bespoke pastoral care and academic support as the boarders, they benefit from an extended day and can join in all the enrichment and extra-curricular opportunities in the evenings and at weekends; many of our day pupils take the chance to have supper and socialise with friends, staying until 8.30pm and, occasionally, beyond!

Heather Brough Pavilion

Headmaster of Dolphin School, Adam Hurst, is delighted to announce that the Heather Brough Pavilion opened its doors to pupils this term! It is a modern, eco-friendly building, with light, airy and inspiring learning spaces.

Taking a prominent position at the front of school, it is a wonderful new development, enjoyed by pupils, staff and parents alike.

The new Pavilion delivers approximately 3000 sq ft of new teaching space, including a beautiful library, art room, music room, two further classrooms and WC facilities.

It also boasts a lovely outdoor decking area, overlooking a pond on one side and the school’s tennis courts on the other.

Please contact us if you would like to visit, explore our exciting new facility, and learn more about what makes Dolphin a truly unique school. www.dolphinschool.com

Open Days: September/October

Cheam School, Headley, Newbury, RG19 8LD 01635 268242 I www.cheamschool.com Friday 14 October, 10am–12:30pm

Horris Hill School, Newtown, Newbury, Berkshire, RG20 9DJ 01635 40594 I www.horrishill.com Tuesday 6 September, 9:30am–11am: Nursery celebration stay and play Saturday 24 September, 9:30am

Kidmore End Primary School, Chalkhouse Green Road, Reading, RG4 9AU 0118 357 3149 I www.kidmore-end.co.uk Wednesday 21 September, 9:30am–11am Tuesday 4 October, 9:30am–11am

Leighton Park School, Shinfield Road, Reading, RG2 7ED 0118 987 9609 I www.leightonpark.com Saturday 24 September, 9am–11am Tuesday 11 October, 6:30pm–8:30pm: Sixth form Friday 14 October, 9am–11am

Luckley House School, Luckley Road, Wokingham, RG40 3EU 0118 978 4175 I www.luckleyhouseschool.org Saturday 5 October, 9am

Reddam House, Bearwood Road, Sindlesham, Wokingham, RG41 5BG 0118 974 8300 I www.reddamhouse.org.uk Saturday 1 October, 9:30am–12pm

St Joseph’s College, Upper Redlands Road, Reading, RG1 5JT 0118 966 1000 I www.sjcr.org.uk Wednesday 21 September, 9:30am–11:30am: Years 7-10 Thursday 6 October, 6pm–9pm: Years 7-10 Tuesday 18 October, 6pm–9pm: Sixth form

Meet the Head: Waverley School

I was privileged to be able to visit Waverley School in Wokingham at the end of last term to chat to the Head, Mr Guy Shore, there.

Meet the Head

Special feature

Mr Shore became Head at Waverley School in 2015, having worked at St George’s School, Windsor Castle, before that, and since then he has built the school’s reputation and increased numbers from 96 to 140 children. They have added a nursery, and they maintain a busy sporting calendar with weekly fixtures and house events – the three houses are named after planets!

Waverley School is non-selective and has a welcoming, friendly feel, where staff know all the children in the school, whether or not they have worked directly with them. Mr Shore’s dog, Luna, was present during our conversation; she is always available for children and staff that want to sit with her and de-stress, and children are not shy about peeking into the office to greet Mr Shore from the playground on occasion! I asked about some of the curriculum-based and fundraising events that children have been involved with over the past few years, and I especially loved the “surround the school in silver” fundraiser image of rows and rows of silver coins laid out in the playground!

What makes Waverley School special in your view?

Children learn best where they are secure, celebrated and encouraged – a really similar setup to a family. It was at Waverley that I recognized a unique warm, friendly family feel, which has just become stronger over the years. Being a single form entry school, with only 21 children in each class, everyone knows everyone well. It has always been a priority here to really get to know our children, and help them develop their passions.

We share three simple values with everyone who is part of Waverley: we are honest, we’re kind, and we do our best. It sounds straightforward, but we really feel it transforms the experience of working at Waverley for adults and students alike.

How do you promote good communication with parents?

There’s no substitute for face-to-face communication. It’s just so important to be there so that parents can share their child’s day-to-day needs. Every morning and after school, rain or shine, I will be on the gate to welcome the children into school and talk to any parents who need to discuss anything.

Have there been any major changes at the school in the last few years?

As a school we have had a much bigger drive and investment in the technology area in school. During the pandemic when children and staff were working from home we noticed how both staff and pupils’ computer skills had improved due to having to work remotely. We did not want them to regress with this, so we invested in Chromebooks for all pupils from years 3-6 and a bank for year 2 to use in school. The children now use these as a part of their everyday teaching, with homework tasks being set weekly and children handing work in electronically.

In what ways do the older children at Waverley School look after the younger ones?

All the children apply for roles of responsibility within the school, from Head Boy and Girl, Deputy Head Boy and Girl, House Captains, Vice House Captains and prefects. All the children complete applications for these roles and are then interviewed. From this, positions of responsibility are appointed, and all the children take these roles seriously. They help supervise lunch duties and help children in their early days at school with their trays and where to empty them, walk them down the corridors and set a good example for them to follow.

The house system acts as another family that the children belong to, and all children from Reception to Year 6 are part of a house and have fortnightly meetings, sometimes house lunches or even teambuilding charity events where across all age groups the children all work together.

In what ways does the school work with the local community or other organisations?

We encourage our young people to be outward facing and have a sense of community – they are the citizens of tomorrow. This shows itself in any number of small ways throughout the school year, for example our Year 6 pupils write to NHS workers who have to work on Christmas Day, and the letters are shared out at the Royal Berkshire Hospital, and the doctors and nurses read them on Christmas Day.

What are your favourite places to visit in the local area?

At the weekend I like to either run or walk our school dog, Luna, in Swinley Forest nearby. I always find it such a peaceful place to visit, and it is a great way to relax at the end of a very busy week.

To contact the school, e-mail admissions@waverleyschool.co.uk or visit waverleyschool.org.uk

If your school is interested in appearing in our Meet the Head feature, we would love to hear from you. Please contact Lesley for more information: editor@familiestvw.co.uk

Farquhar’s celebrate 10 years helping children pass the 11+

Farquhar’s Vocabulary Resource has been helping children pass the 11+ since 2012. The resource consists of a set of vocabulary-building flash cards which are highly recommended by tutors and schools for CEM and GL preparation.

Creator Mary Farquhar says

“I have been delighted with all the positive feedback I have received over the years from teachers, parents and students and feel privileged to have been able to help so many children secure their grammar school place. When visiting tutor centres and attending workshops and information evenings, it has been a pleasure to share my 11+ knowledge and meet so many parents and bright and enthusiastic students.”

We asked Mary what makes her resource so valuable for 11+ preparation?

“The vocabulary element of the exam is really challenging and the sheer volume of vocabulary needed can be quite daunting, even for the most able child. My comprehensive flash card sets are structured in order of difficulty (Level 1-3) which enable children to build up their vocabulary – instilling confidence as they work towards the level required for the 1_QAS__Families_TVW_180X130_ September+October 2022_Editionexam.

I’ve always focused on creating childfriendly definitions which have been stripped back to their simplest form (you shouldn’t need a dictionary to understand a definition!). These clear and concise definitions ensure children can fully grasp the meaning of a word, ready to recall quickly under exam conditions.” A comprehensive resource Having evolved to keep up with the demands of the exam, Farquhar’s comprehensive resource includes 6 different packs, each with 200 key words and over 1,000 synonyms: • Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3 provide the foundations of a broad vocabulary • Opposites 1 and Opposites 2 focus on synonyms and antonyms • The sixth pack supports work on tricky compound words. Each pack can be purchased individually or as part of the full boxed set. A recent addition to the range is a childfriendly quiz game, aiming to add fun and variety to 11+ preparation. The quiz game offers a fresh approach to help children improve the homonym and vocabulary-based general knowledge which underpins so many 11+ questions. A quick round makes the perfect “break” from paper-based practice! For more information visit: www.vocabularyflashcards.co.uk

KIND HEARTS FIERCE MINDS STRONG SPIRITS

Queen Anne’s is an independent day and boarding school for girls aged 11 to 18

OPEN MORNING - Saturday 17 September

SIXTH FORM OPEN EVENING - Tuesday 27 September BOOK YOUR VISIT: qas.org.uk

A Microsoft Showcase School Day and boarding Full and flexi options available Paddington to Reading in just 26 minutes An extensive transport network, across Oxfordshire and Berkshire

New term teething troubles

By Liat Joshi-Hughes The autumn term has begun and your child has started or returned to school. What kind of challenges might occur over the next few months while your child copes with the changes that September brought with it? And how should you deal with them?

Here we look at some common ‘teething troubles’ and what you could do to help.

My child is having trouble making friends

Perhaps they’re in a different class or their closest friend has left the school and they’re struggling to adjust and find a new bestie or gang. Regardless, there are a couple of things you can do to boost your child’s friendships. Firstly, of course, talk to your child’s teacher and ask if there’s anyone they think your son or daughter might particularly gel with. Next up, invite them over for a playdate or arrange to meet them and their parent in the park. If confidence is an issue, role play approaching potential friends with your little one…take it in turns.

My child can’t manage this year’s curriculum

Primary school learning is much more of a double act these days, a partnership between parents and teachers. Again, go and have a chat with the teacher to try and understand your child’s level and find out what you can do to support your little one’s reading, writing or maths at home.

This needn’t be anything formal, just reading a little more together or encouraging them to do some basic adding up when you’re at the shops or baking. For writing practice, could they write a postcard to their grandparents or other relatives?

My child is struggling to behave appropriately

With each move up a year at primary

VOCABULARY FLASH CARDS 11+ VERBAL REASONING VOCABULARY FLASH CARDS Expand your child’s antonym and synonym knowledge and achieve a higher 11+ score A comprehensive vocabulary resource with child-friendly definitions and a list of synonyms www.vocabularyflashcards.co.uk

school come new privileges but also new expectations of behaviour. So, perhaps in Reception, children were not expected to sit still for very long, but now they’ve moved to Year 1, they have to stay still and listen more. As ever, do catch up with their teacher to find out what they can do to support your child with the change but also look at practising at home.

My child is grumpy after school

It’s common to greet your child at the school gate expecting to catch up on news of their day and instead being faced with a grouchy monster. Even if this wasn’t happening in the summer term last year, your daughter or son might be finding the new school year more tiring for whatever reason, or they could be hungrier due to a growth spurt. So first up, check these basics. If they’re getting tired, look to adjust their bedtime, if possible. A giveaway here is if the grouchiness tends to happen towards the end of the week. If it’s hunger, give them a snack for the journey home if you can.

Should neither of these be the cause, the grouchies could be down to something they’re finding difficult to handle or upsetting at school and they’re deflecting their stress or anger onto you. Spend some time trying to tease out what might be going on. Are they having issues with friends or being bullied perhaps? Talk to their teacher to find out if they’re aware of any problems too.

Liat Hughes Joshi is a journalist and author who specialises in writing about parenting and family life. Her most recent book Help Your Child Cope with Change is published by Vie.

A Luckley House School Education Past and Present

While a lot has changed over the past 20 years, stepping inside Luckley feels very familiar. Our distinctly Christian education, small size, outstanding pastoral care and flexibility remain characteristically unique to Luckley past and present.

In 2013 the School was renamed from Luckley-Oakfield to Luckley House and two years later, became fully co-educational. Retaining the School’s core values, today Luckley is modern and dynamic whilst continuing to be shaped by the individuals it serves.

A first-class professional theatre replaces the old swimming pool and allows for spectacular performing arts events, specialist speech and drama classes, and a forum for debating and public speaking. An expanded sports offering, including our new floodlit all-weather pitch and scholars’ programme offers sporting excellence, and the Simon Richmond Music Centre caters for music and music technology, with a recording studio.

Thames Valley West

20 YEARS 2002-2022

Understanding phonics

By Emma Lewry Phonics is one of those things that feels like a secret club - some people understand it and to others it’s gobbledegook! If you have a child at school, they’re part of ‘the club’ and they may look askance at you when you ask what a digraph or blending is.

For you and anyone who has a child due to start school, here are some tips to get you closer to full admittance of the phonics club!

What is phonics?

Phonics is a way of teaching children to read and later write. It is based on the fact that letters and groups of letters make sounds and when we put those sounds together they make words.

English is a tricky language and sometimes the same letters make different sounds.

For example, ‘i’ can sound short as in ‘fish’ or have a longer sound like ‘eye’ in ‘find’.

There are different groups of letters that make sounds: a digraph is two letters that go together to make one sound e.g. ‘ch’ in chop.

A trigraph is three letters together making one sound e.g. ‘ear’ in ‘near’.

As children develop their knowledge, they build up and put together all of the sounds they recognise in order to read and write.

Best Academic Progress in Berkshire Fully Co-Ed Since 1993

Annual Open Morning: 9.00am, Sat 24th Sept Weekday Open Mornings: 9.00am, Fri 14th Oct & 11th Nov Taster Days for Year 7 Entry: Thurs 13th Oct & Tues 15th Nov Book online at www.leightonpark.com/visit-leighton-park Top Tips

• Practise recognising the sounds. • Help children to spot when two or three letters work together to make one sound e.g ‘ai’ in ‘rain’ and ‘igh’ in ‘light’. • Your child will be taught phonics in a specific way at school so ask them to teach you. It’s a great way for them to test their understanding. • Read, read, read! • Practise blending - this can be the key to unlock entry to

‘the club!’ • If you’re stuck or worried, ask your child’s school for help.

Supporting children learning to read can be as frustrating as it is magical.

I hope these tips help you to join the Phonics Club!

Blending can be the key

Once children have learned the separate sounds, they then have to ‘blend’ them together to make the full word. For example, they hear or read ‘c’, ‘a’, ‘t’ and need to put the sounds together to make ‘cat.’

This skill can be a real stumbling block for children because they are working so hard to recognise the sounds that they can’t put them together easily.

Oral blending is the skill to practise here. Oral blending means hearing separate sounds and putting them together without reading the letters too. It’s really helpful to practise lots of oral blending with your children from as young as the age of 2.

For example, say separate sounds, a bit like a robot, and get your child to blend them together to make the word. You can do this in sentences e.g. put on your ‘c’, ‘oa’, ‘t’ or let’s go to the ‘p’, ‘ar’, ‘k’.

Try I spy with whole words split up or hide some pictures for children to hunt for. The idea is you say the sounds of the object in the pictures separately and they blend them so they know what they are hunting!

Emma Lewry is an Early Years teacher, headteacher and mother of two. Emma co-owns Every Day’s a School Day (www.edasd.co.uk) which guides families through starting school with courses, groups and a school starters planner.