Warwickshire &amp; West Midlands


<p>When it comes to choosing a school for your child, we&#8217;re spoilt for choice on our patch, so just how do you choose the right one? Who better to help navigate the minefield than someone with more than 20 years experience working with primary-aged children? We picked the brains of <a href="https://warks.muddystilettos.co.uk/kids/school-reviews/school-reviews-honest-hallfield-school-edgbaston/">Hallfield School</a>&#8216;s deputy head and head of pre-prep, Lizzie Sanderson. Read on for her advice&#8230;</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="666" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2023/01/Untitled-design-1346.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-52000" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2023/01/Untitled-design-1346.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2023/01/Untitled-design-1346-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2023/01/Untitled-design-1346-768x511.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2023/01/Untitled-design-1346-788x525.jpg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption>Lizzie Sanderson with Hallfield pupils</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-do-i-know-if-co-ed-or-single-sex-education-is-best"><strong>How do I know if co-ed or single sex education is best?&nbsp;</strong></h2>



<p>Part of our role as educators is to prepare children for their future in global society, and a large part of that is how to work alongside the opposite sex. I think if you are in a single sex environment, particularly at a younger age, you are not learning those key skills. There are a lot of single sex schools in Birmingham, so <a href="http://bit.ly/3YhE99P">Hallfield</a> (based in Edgbaston) stands out as a co-ed school from ages three months to 13 years. As we go through life, we work with people of different ages, genders, races and religions, making it so important to nurture these relationship skills from a young age. I think both sexes have a lot to learn from each other and certainly at this age it’s especially important to be in a co-ed environment. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>What&#8217;s most important: facilities or academic results?&nbsp;</strong></h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="666" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2023/01/Untitled-design-1341.jpg" alt="School pupils on bench" class="wp-image-51995" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2023/01/Untitled-design-1341.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2023/01/Untitled-design-1341-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2023/01/Untitled-design-1341-768x511.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2023/01/Untitled-design-1341-788x525.jpg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>In short, both! But above anything else, the most important thing is that your child is happy at school – if they are happy, they will do well wherever they are.</p>



<p>At Hallfield, I think a combination of the facilities, teaching, and the opportunities we provide help enrich a child’s experience at school. I’m a firm believer the best quality teaching will provide the best quality results, but before we can even aspire to get these results, we’ve got to have a happy child.</p>



<p>As a parent coming to visit for an open day, or private tour, it’s important to consider the school from your child’s point of view rather than just your own – put yourself in their shoes: what will appeal to them? At Hallfield we provide the most wonderful environment for the children with things like a beautiful creative cottage to inspire reading; specialist teachers; the forest school and a wealth of other activities. At such a young age, we don’t always know what each child is going to be interested in, or good at, so it’s vital to provide opportunities for them to find things that they are naturally drawn to and explore them. If we are allow children to excel in these specific areas, we are also helping to build confidence in them, and that confidence allows them to try things that they perhaps aren’t so good at or drawn to. Let’s face it, not everything in life is easy or enjoyable, so it’s another way of building their resilience and preparing them for the future in a gentler way.</p>



<p>For pre-prep in particular, a nurturing environment is key and at Hallfield we are proud of the relationships staff have with each of our pupils by greeting children by name and checking in to see how they are. We might be a larger school, but we are also an incredibly close-knit family, and know the children individually.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>What should I be looking for when I visit a school?</strong></h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="666" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2023/01/Untitled-design-1343.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-51997" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2023/01/Untitled-design-1343.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2023/01/Untitled-design-1343-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2023/01/Untitled-design-1343-768x511.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2023/01/Untitled-design-1343-788x525.jpg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>For parents to look at how the children are behaving &#8211; do they look happy and engaged? How’s their behaviour? What’s the relationship like between the teachers and the children – when you’re walking down the corridor, do they interact and how? At the end of the day, parents are putting their trust in us to look after their children, so it’s incredibly important for them to see as much of what goes on in the school as possible.</p>



<p>At Hallfield, we feel that trust and work hard with each child to ensure they’re treated as an individual. We want to know what they’ve done at the weekend; and want them to feel they can approach us and make them feel safe – we’re not just there to teach. Not every day is perfect and throughout a child’s school journey, there will always be bumps in the road. They need to have trust in us to help them overcome any obstacles they might face.</p>



<p>We say we&#8217;re in a partnership with parents and we very much are – this also includes offering wraparound care, including Breakfast Club and After School Club. We encourage parents to book their children in to these, but also have that flexibility if something has dropped into their diary last-minute. We can reassure the child where possible, let them know that they’re staying on a little longer and having their tea with us before Mum or Dad picks them up. This all stems from the importance of always making the children feel safe. On top of this, we provide a huge variety of clubs for our children, which have stemmed from parent feedback. Things like ballet, martial arts, fencing, and Lego and by doing them after school, it gives parents a break from taking them to clubs over the weekend and leaving all-important quality time as a family.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Our headmaster always tells prospective parents that the final decision in choosing a school for their child is a balance between your heart and mind. You know your children and can be blown away by a school, but it’s always important to ask yourself whether your ideas align with it and whether it’s something you want for your child: is it good enough for them? Do you love everything about the school? If the answer is yes, then you know you’re alright. If you’re not sure, it’s time to re-visit that decision because as a parent, you only ever want what’s best for your child and above all else, their happiness is the most important thing.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>What is a good ratio of creative subjects compared to English/ Maths/ Science?</strong></h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="666" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2023/01/Untitled-design-1345.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-51999" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2023/01/Untitled-design-1345.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2023/01/Untitled-design-1345-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2023/01/Untitled-design-1345-768x511.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2023/01/Untitled-design-1345-788x525.jpg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>In pre-prep, we have English and Maths lessons daily, but aim to provide as many different opportunities as possible for the children, breaking the day up in to manageable chunks and leaving them enriched. We’re always very conscious when planning the timetables to ensure the children can be creative every day and there’s a balance of self-selected activities as well. With this combination of  opportunities, we can steer learning in the direction that each child needs, identify their individual next steps and support them to move on.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>How far in advance should I book a tour?&nbsp;</strong></h2>



<p>As soon as you possibly can. Schools change over time, so you could be looking at somewhere just after your child is born but not wanting them to start until they’re four – a huge amount can change over that time.&nbsp;Another important consideration is the leadership team and whether this has changed since the last time you visited. A school can change its headteacher and leadership team and become a very different place, so it’s really important to look at the school, meet the team and see the relationships they have with the children.</p>



<p>At Hallfield we consistently strive to ensure the child&#8217;s experiences and opportunities are the best they can be and that the pupils are at the heart of it all. I think if, as a parent, you can find a school that does this, it gives you the confidence to follow it through.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Is it best to come to an open event or private tour?</strong></h2>



<p>Both! If you can &#8211; they provide different opportunities. At our open morning, you’ll be shown around the school and facilities, as well as having time to speak with teachers and hear a speech from the headmaster. As a parent, you want to be able to see the children and the experiences they are having in the school; watch how they interact with each other and the teachers; spend some time with the people who are going to be caring for your child and ask as many questions as you like. That’s where a private tour really comes in to its own. </p>



<p>On a private tour, the current pupils are often our best advert for Hallfield: they’ll hold the door open as you’re walking around; come and chat to us when we’re in the classroom and tell us what they’ve been up to; make eye contact; are polite and respectful – all things they do day in, day out, but for a prospective parent, it can help make that decision a little easier.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The big first day is coming up (I&#8217;m not crying, you&#8217;re crying!) &#8211; how do I prepare my child for starting school?</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="666" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2023/01/Untitled-design-1344.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-51998" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2023/01/Untitled-design-1344.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2023/01/Untitled-design-1344-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2023/01/Untitled-design-1344-768x511.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2023/01/Untitled-design-1344-788x525.jpg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>I strongly encourage parents to send their children to foundation, as they can start on a part-time basis and build up from there – they could start with two days, then three, and so on. This gives them a gentle introduction to school life, while also having time at home, otherwise it’s a huge adjustment going from full-time at home to being full-time at school – it’s a tiring experience!</p>



<p>Bedtime routines are hugely important to establish from an early age, wherever possible. Introduce a calming environment beforehand, read a bedtime story and have a set time they need to settle down by. It’s such a shock to the system when children start school full time and exhausting for them, so having these routines in place is key.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Allowing your children to dress themselves; teaching them which shoe goes on which foot; how to do buttons up; how to recognise their own name for their coat peg are all important aspects to consider. As teachers, we don’t have the time to teach every pupil these things – we’ll help where we can, of course, but parents have that time at home to start instilling these skills from a young age. Even things like using cutlery, table manners, how to look after themselves when going to the toilet and carrying their own bag in and out of school – it all helps with their independence.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong><em>Want to check out Hallfield?</em></strong></h2>



<p>Hallfield is hosting its open open morning on Saturday 11 February. Click <a href="http://bit.ly/3YhE99P">here</a> to book or call 0121 454 1496.</p>


How to pick the best pre-school for your little one

You may also like