Blog Posts
11+ Preparation Blogposts
What is the 11+ CEM Select Exam?
What is the CEM Select Exam? CEM Select is a computer assessment designed for selective independent schools, partially-selective state schools and grammar Schools. They are used for 11+, 13+ at Year 7 entry and in other year groups for late transfer. CEM Select...
Getting your Child Interested in the News
Why is it important to encourage your child to be interested in the news? Awareness of the world: The news provides information about current events, both locally and globally. It helps children understand what is happening in the world, including social, political,...
Preparing for 11+ Interviews
Interviews can be a daunting time for children, especially for those who feel they lack confidence in these situations, but they needn’t be! Have a read of our blog post all about helping your child to prepare for their 11+ interview. Why do schools interview...
How to prepare your child for the 11+ at home!
Preparing for the 11+ examinations is hard work. The top schools are highly competitive and they are looking for the children who ‘stand-out’ from the rest. As tutors, we do everything that we can to help your child reach their full potential in English, maths, VR and...
What is the London 11+ Consortium?
In 2022 the Consortium introduced a new bespoke assessment process, for entry in September 2023 onwards, which goes beyond testing cognitive ability alone and seeks to discover a child’s potential in creative and critical thinking, analysis, synthesis and...
What is the 11+ examination?
The 11+ examination is a test which your child might take in the last year of primary school if you are considering sending them to a state-funded grammar school OR a private independent school for secondary school. It tests academic ability. What is the...
Creative Writing Blogposts
Assessing Children’s Writing and Raising the BAR
How best to assess a child’s writing level has long been a source of debate. The 2014 National Curriculum for primary level English splits writing into three main categories: Transcription (spelling and handwriting) Composition (ideas and structure) Vocabulary,...
Igniting Writing: Why it Matters in 2024
In July 2023, the National Literacy Trust published a report entitled, Children and Young People’s Writing in 2023. The report summarises the findings from their 2023 Annual Literacy Survey, which was completed by 71,351 children and young people aged 5-18 in schools...
10 Summer Holiday Creative Writing Ideas for KS2
10 Summer Holiday Creative Writing Ideas for Key Stage 2Here are a few ideas to keep your children writing over the summer holidays! Happy writing! My Favourite Summer Memory: Write about your most cherished memory from a past summer holiday. Describe the...
11 Plus Creative Writing Tasks List
The questions your child might be asked in an 11+ creative writing assessment is endless but here is a list which you could use to guide you. These tasks are all taken from real 11+ papers, from schools including Latymer Upper, St Pauls Girls, The Perse School,...
Christmas Creative Writing Ideas
10 Summer Holiday Creative Writing Ideas for Key Stage 2 Here are a few ideas to keep your children writing over the summer holidays! Happy writing! My Favourite Summer Memory: Write about your most cherished memory from a past summer holiday. Describe the location,...
How to get your Child Writing
Charlotte and I both taught as primary school teachers for over ten years, teaching from Reception all the way through to year 6, and additionally specialising in 11+ preparation. We have tutored for even longer, supporting children on a 1:1 basis as well as in small...
Reading and Comprehension Blogposts
Summer Holiday Reading Challenge
Reading challenges can be a fun and effective way to encourage children to read more and improve their reading skills. Here are a few ideas for reading challenges that you can use with your primary school-aged children: The Reading Bingo Challenge: Complete...
Reading with your Children
Why is reading so important? It broadens vocabulary. It allows children to immerse themselves in a different world. It gets their creative juices flowing and stimulates thinking imaginatively. It expands their understanding of the world around them. It expands their...
Children’s Magazines
Children’s magazines are a great way to get your child into reading and to encourage a love of learning! There are some fantastic magazines out there for all different ages. Magazines cater for a wide variety of interests and are packed full with interesting...
Phonics Blogposts
Phases 4-6 Phonics
How is Phonics Taught? Phonics is taught in phases, starting in the preschool setting and continuing until year 2. Phase 1 is usually covered in the preschool setting as well as in Reception and is all about speaking and listening. Following on from this, Phase 2...
Phase 3 Phonics
How is Phonics Taught? Phonics is taught in phases, starting in the preschool setting and continuing until year 2. Phase 1 is usually covered in the preschool setting as well as in Reception and is all about speaking and listening. Following on from this, Phase 2...
Phase 2 Phonics
How is Phonics Taught? Phonics is taught in phases, starting in the preschool setting and continuing until year 2. Phase 1 is usually covered in the preschool setting as well as in Reception and is all about speaking and listening. Following on from this, Phase 2...