Back To School Guide: WestLondonMum.co.uk

It doesn’t seem to matter how many years I’ve been out of school, for me, the new year starts in September – perhaps that’s the eternal student in me, but there is something so exciting about the new school year and all the possibilities it holds.

In our inaugural Back to School Guide we talk to Bryony Dodd from Stepping Stones nursery and Karen Frazer from St. Stephen’s Primary school, who give some great tips on how to make the transition from nursery to primary school and primary to secondary respectively — as seamless as possible. We also dive into the world of PTA fundraising — a necessity for most schools nowadays — and compile a great list of fundraising ideas to help increase your PTA’s profitability. Lastly, William Stadlen from Holland Park Tuition discusses tutoring and how to decide if it’s the right option for your child.

On the website over the next couple of weeks we’ll also be showcasing some great ‘back to school’ ideas for mum too – be sure to check it out regularly.

Enjoy the last few weeks of summer!

Monique McGoey-Rabone

Contributors Monique McGoey-Rabone Elisa Freeling Annabelle King Michael Stadlen Sponsors Active Learning The Life Centre Nannies + Us Stamptastic West London Kitchens Swimming Rocks

When in the year should my child have help from a tutor — is tuition only there to help prepare for exams?

Children are only ever a couple of years away from an exam, so the majority of tuition courses are structured with a particular exam or set of exams in mind,whether it be the 7+ or 8+ entrance exams, A-Levels, the French Baccalauréat, or US SATs. However, other extra-curricular courses of tuition are increasing in popularity.

Private tutoring in French, Spanish, Arabic, and Mandarin reflects the influx of foreign families into London as well as the cosmopolitan nature of modern London parents. Vocal and instrumental music tuition services also help to provide a well-rounded education.

What if the tutor’s work conflicts with work done at school?

The tripartite relationship between the school, the private tuition agency and the family is one that requires careful and constant consideration. Private tuition will only hinder the child if it fails to support the carefully laid foundations of classroom teaching. The best tuition agencies, therefore, seek to make contact with the child’s school, so as to develop a tailored and comprehensive course of tuition that will fully reinforce — and not interrupt — the child’s education.

My child is ahead of the class, do they need a private tutor?

Not every child requires the support of a private tutor. If your child is lucky enough to be both enjoying and succeeding at school, then there is no urgent need for your child to work with a tutor. However, even in these cases, private tuition can still prove to be extremely beneficial to your child’s education.

Whilst the most common view of private tuition involves children who are struggling at school, many children who are at the top of their class also use tutors.

These high-ability children can benefit enormously from the attention of academic specialists who are able to provide them with the kind of focussed challenges that the classroom teacher – with the interests of twenty or thirty other students to manage – sometimes cannot.

How to pick a tutor

The most valuable indication of the reliability of a tuition agency is their “word of mouth� reputation. As with any service provider, the opinions and impressions of their clients are highly valuable, so it is worth trying to source testimonials regarding any prospective tuition agency. Find out how your chosen provider selects their tutors; this will give a good indication of their approach and the levels of care they offer. And finally, make sure that your tutor has a recent DBS (formerly CRB) check.

William Stadlen is Director and Lead Education Consultant at Holland Park Tuition & Education Consultants. Holland Park sources private tutors for all subjects at all ages and levels, and provides educational advice concerning school and university issues via one-to-one consultation.

HAVE A GREAT SCHOOL YEAR!