Reception Ready? - Headmaster Sophie Baber, preps us for the start of school

Ready for Reception?

Sophie Baber, Headteacher of Brookham School, Hampshire preps us for reception...

The more preared a child is for their first day of reception, the easier the transition will be for both child and parent. This can be exciting for all, if not a little daunting, but a child’s first experience of school is important, and it’s in everyone’s interests to ensure that the transition is as smooth as possible. As a parent, you play a crucial role in making sure your child approaches school with a spring in their step. But this doesn’t mean starting a rigorous routine of phonics and maths. Sophie Baber feels that reading is the most important skill to help your child be ‘reception ready’. "If there is one word that your child should be able to read when they start school, she says, their name is top of the list. It will be printed on every available surface in class. Their register label, table, chair, pegs, books and obviously their uniform, beautifully labelled by you, will all be adorned with their name in a variety of fonts. The first letter is the starting point, but don’t stop there. Teachers are, by nature, organised creatures, so Isabel, Isabella and Isabelle will have their coat pegs positioned neatly all in a row. While these parents are bound to become your best friends, you may not want the daily stress of returning various items of clothing. Follow the school’s example, and label everything. If it doesn’t move, put your child’s name on it. Just remember to use the same name that you’ve put on your child’s registration forms. There is little point teaching your child to read Teddy when every label at school will say Edward. Just as important is engendering a love of language. This starts with the good old-fashioned nursery rhyme. You have probably been singing 'Twinkle Twinkle Little Star' and 'Baa Baa Black Sheep' for the last four years. But what about 'Hickety Pickety' or 'Sing a Song of Sixpence? Nursery rhymes are great fun to sing, while having the added bonus of being key to building the foundations for learning phonics. The more a child hears, the more they tune in their ears to phonic rhyming patterns. Speaking of tuning in the ears, learning to listen is another vital prerequisite to reading and autumn is a wonderful time to practice listening. Residing in the garden listening to the wildlife and the birds singing is a lovely way to encourage a young child to practice sound discrimination. This skill will, in turn, help a child learn the units of sounds in words as their auditory discrimination becomes more finely tuned. Teach your child to love books – this is one of the greatest gifts you can give. Cuddling up for the bedtime story should be a treat for both of you, and the big bonus is that you are doing a huge amount to support your child’s learning at the same time. You will be modelling how to hold a book, turn the pages, use the illustrations to support the text but, most importantly, you are filling your child with a wonderful array of language. But what should you be reading? The honest truth is, it doesn’t matter, it’s whatever sparks your child’s interest and imagination. Just read!" Find out more about Highfield and Brookham Schools at highfieldandbrookham.co.uk.

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Mighty Merger

Bryanston and Knighton House pre-prep and prep school have confi rmed arrangements to complete a formal merger of the two Dorset schools with eff ect from September 2021. Th e move will increase the agility, strength in depth and operational effi ciencies of both schools and follows Bryanston’s acquisition of the land and buildings of the neighbouring Knighton House campus last year. Th e merger will help to ensure both schools are well placed to rise to the new challenges and constantly evolving priorities within the world of education with confi dence. In advance of the new academic year, a new headmaster has been appointed at Knighton House and arrangements are being made for an experienced fi gure from the prep school sector to join the governing body of Bryanston. “Th is is an exciting and signifi cant development for both schools,” says Julian Greenhill, Chair of Bryanston Governors. “As next door neighbours, Bryanston and Knighton House have enjoyed a close and productive relationship over many decades. Th e decision to proceed with a merger is a logical and forward-looking step that will enrich the experience and deliver signifi cant benefi ts for all pupils. It will also enable both schools to build on their respective strengths and to capitalise fully on shared resources, facilities and expertise to provide a complete, distinctive and compelling educational off ering for children from 3 to 18 years old.” From September, Knighton House will be renamed Bryanston Knighton House, and all existing teaching and support staff at the school will be TUPE-transferred to Bryanston. Will Lockett, a former housemaster at Bryanston, has returned to Dorset and been appointed as the new Headmaster of Bryanston Knighton House. For the past six years he was Headmaster of Abberley Hall coeducational prep school in Worcestershire where he played an instrumental role in forging a new strategic relationship with Malvern College.

Gardens Grow

Hampshire Gardens Trust is delighted to announce the launch of its new ‘Garden Plans for Schools’ project which aims to inspire young people to take a closer interest in their surroundings by giving them an opportunity to become directly involved with growing vegetables, fruit and fl owers. Th is exciting new initiative has started its fi rst pilot scheme with the creation of an ‘Edible Playground’ at Oliver’s Battery Primary School and Nursery School just outside Winchester. Th e Mayor of Winchester, Councillor Vivian Achwal, who attended the offi cial grand opening of the ‘Edible Playground’ last Friday, says “It is so important to encourage children to develop healthy eating habits, so understanding of their local environment and where their food comes from is crucial.” For more information: hgt.org.uk

Th e Lex Factor

Clayesmore, a co-educational, all through day and boarding school, will be introducing LEX; a bold and ambitious weekend programme to equip every Clayesmorian with the essential skills to live their lives well. Clayesmore has torn up the rule book of a traditional 6 day a week independent education, and replaced academic lessons on a Saturday with a supercharged weekend of trips, experiences and events. All designed to enable pupils to seize new opportunities, develop new skills and provide them with memories and mastery to draw upon forever. ‘It has become abundantly clear that alongside a strong core academic curriculum, young people need more than ever to be outdoors; developing an appreciation and a passion for the environment with all the opportunities for physical fi tness, exhilaration, adventure and sheer good fun that includes!’ Jo Th omson, Head of Clayesmore Th e initiative will aim to ignite new interests, enable meaningful accomplishments and equip young people positively to thrive in a modern world. LEX will also combine practical and theoretical learning with emotional and physical wellbeing, adventure and achievement all the while aiming to provide a bridge to adulthood, and give pupils the edge they need to prosper in this increasingly challenging world.