On IE-Today, Victoria Playford, Headteacher at The Mulberry House School in London, discusses the difficulties of educating younger children remotely, and gives advice on how to overcome these. With A-level and GCSE exams being the forefront of the media's attention, Victoria explains that focus must also be applied to the other end of the spectrum, those children between the ages of two and seven.

'The progress made between two and seven is rapid and transforms children from toddlerhood when they are heavily reliant on adult supervision to the brink of their junior years when the majority are becoming responsible and independent children.'

Whilst almost all pupils in the UK are currently at home with their families, it is the younger pupils, those who have recently begun adapting to being at school every day, who have been thrown into a 'difficult and confusing time' by being sent home. The first piece of advice, given by Victoria, is to set out a routine and keep some general rules similar to that of school rules: 'All of our children are expected to be in uniform for school registration at 8.45am. Putting on their uniforms helps children to ‘be in the school zone’, mentally prepared for the day ahead.'

Although a lot of pre-prep students are too young to take part in the remote learning structure that older children are capable of, Victoria suggests that parents follow the school's advice; 'We suggested a draft timetable to parents, which mirrors the learning their children have been doing in school, and suggested themes and activities.'

The article goes on to list other tips and advice given, including setting up a good workspace for the children, setting rules and a sense of justice if these rules are broken. But ultimately, Victoria Playford commends the students and parents for their hard work during such trying times and explains that they will be reviewing what has and has not been working on a consistent basis.

'Children have faced the new challenges with remarkable resilience, and I am in awe of the effort and dedication of their parents'.

Read the rest of the article here: https://ie-today.co.uk/Blog/educating-pre-prep-children-during-lockdown/

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