.. Top Tips for.
Spring Open Days
De-Stressing Term Time Routines
Ballard School Friday 8 February & Friday 22 March, 9am–12pm www.ballardschool.co.uk
Bournemouth Collegiate School Prep: Tuesday 26 February, 9.30am–12pm Senior: Friday 15 March, 9.30am–12pm www.bournemouthcollegiateschool.co.uk
Clayesmore School
Do you ever wish the school routine was a little less demanding, easier to cope with and didn’t involve so many “Don’t forgets…” and “Remember to…”? Here are some tips for making the all-important stress points of the school week a little easier.
Before School
Night Before
Saturday 2 March, 10.30am–12pm www.clayesmore.com
Durlston Court School Friday 25 January, From 9.15am www.durlstoncourt.co.uk
At Weekends
Tip 1: Crucial 10 Minutes
Tip 1: Get Homework Done
Tip 1: Don’t Over Schedule
Try getting up 10 minutes earlier. This may give you a chance to grab a cup of tea or coffee, have a shower and get dressed in less of a rush than usual, and should give you just enough time to gather your thoughts and make sure you have everything.
Beware your child’s pleas to do homework after dinner. They can be too tired and often end up in bed later than is ideal or struggling to switch off and go to sleep. Try to give your child 30 minutes to wind down after school, but then it’s homework time!
Having too much scheduled activity at the weekend often means children don’t get to replenish their energy before Monday. Try to make sure there’s chill time for everyone.
Tip 2: Have a Checklist
Tip 2: Do Preparation with your Child Before Bed
Create a written or verbal checklist for your child’s school morning routine. A checklist could include: eating breakfast, getting dressed, brushing teeth and hair, packing lunch and water bottle, putting on shoes and coat. A plan of their weekly school routine is handy too so that you know when school library books are due back, which day is swimming or games and so on.
Put dirty items in the laundry and lay out the remainder for the next day. Check all homework and sports kit are bagged up for the next morning. Make showers/baths part of the night time routine, rather than obstacles to overcome in the morning. Having a really good chat with your child before bed will settle them more easily – it helps them to offload their minds.
Tip 3: Use Devices
Tip 3: Build in Quiet Time
Set reminders on your phone for special tasks such as remembering to give your child signed permission slips or leaving early for a school club. Think about an alarm for children who struggle to wake up. Set a timer for tasks such as 15 minutes to eat breakfast or 5 minutes for showering, so that you can keep your children on schedule.
Children normally need at least an hour of unwind time after dinner, if they’re to go to bed and to sleep quickly. So, try to set half an hour (minimum) of quiet activity such as reading or drawing before bedtime.
Open Day Sat 2 March 10am-12.30pm
Tip 2: Get the Homework Done Part 2 Don’t let homework hang over the heads of the family all weekend. Try dividing the work into two parts and schedule one just after breakfast on both Saturday and Sunday.
Tip 3: Plan the Schedule Take time to chat about the week ahead at dinner on Sunday evening. Check emails from the school to see what’s happening in the coming week, and take notes of extra sport/ music practices, Book Club books, late finishes, early starts etc on your calendar.
Tip 4: Do your Prep Make packed lunches, sort snacks, fill in permission slips, ensure you’ve written in your child’s homework or reading diary, if they have these.
Nursery to Year 2: Friday 1 February, 1.30–3pm Whole School: Saturday 2 February & Saturday 9 March, 10am–12pm www.fsmschool.com
Hanford School Saturday 9 March www.hanfordschool.co.uk
Leweston School Thursday 31 January, 10am–12pm Friday 22 March, 2–4pm www.leweston.co.uk
Milton Abbey School Lower School: Saturday 2 March www.miltonabbey.co.uk
Moyles Court School Saturday 2 March, 10am–12.30pm www.moylescourt.co.uk
Port Regis School Saturday 9 February, 9.30–11.30am www.portregis.com
Sherborne School Saturday 9 February & Saturday 23 March www.sherborne.org
Sherborne School for Girls Friday 8 February & Friday 1 March, From 10am www.sherborne.com
St Mary’s School Friday 15 March, 10.30am–1.30pm www.stmarys.eu
Sunninghill Preparatory School Friday 8 February, 9.30am–12pm www.sunninghillprep.co.uk
Talbot Heath School Kindergarden, Pre-Prep and Junior: Friday 8 March, 9am–12pm www.talbotheath.org
See The Amazing Every Day at Moyles Court At Moyles Court (day and boarding from age 3 to 16 years) we believe that being confident, happy and stimulated leads to a successful academic experience. Smaller class sizes, individualised learning, great teaching, stimulating curriculum, after school provision, tailored transport and excellent pastoral care provide your children with the best possible start in life. Richard Milner Smith, Headmaster says: “Our core values are at the heart of our fabulous school and
familiesonline.co.uk
Forres Sandle Manor School
every child benefits. We offer individualised learning, a flexible approach to travel and wrap around care – making us accessible to so many families who want their children to be happy, learning and achieving in our glorious New Forest setting.” Moyles Court School is holding an Open Morning on Saturday 2nd March from 10am-12.30pm – please do come and find out what amazing work happens here every day. Call 01425 472 856 or visit www.moylescourt.co.uk.
Families Dorset 9
