Step Back On To The Career Ladder By Becoming A Legal Secretary.

As readers of this blog know, I spent over 13 years working as in marketing and PR for various law firms, rising to Marketing Director in the last post I held before leaving to have Caitlin and Ieuan.

I have to admit, with hindsight, leaving my job entirely was possibly not the best thing to do because, after nearly 10 years out of the workplace, it seems as if it would be a real challenge to return - at least to the level where I once was.

I'm not complaining and I am now a full time blogger and perfectly happy with my lot but I do know other mums who feel as if their career has stalled or, if like me, they've given up work, feel stepping back on the career ladder would be a Herculean task.  And what about those of us who are 'empty nesters', looking for a new phase of life now that the kids have left for university or to start jobs?

There are, however, ways to do it but it requires grit, determination and the frequent need to retrain or adopt some self study.  Of course there are costs involved which you may have to fund yourself but, in general, I firmly believe any investment in education is always going to be worth the money.

To give you an example from the profession I left, becoming a legal secretary is a great route back into the job market place and one which, if you work hard and are diligent about learning as much as possible, can take you to the top - partnership in law firm terms.  

It's a great way to develop your career - particularly where law firms offer services such as conveyancing or private client work such as family law (wills, probate, divorce, child issues).

Not only can you find jobs at solicitors' offices and barristers' chambers, there are job opportunities at law courts, local authorities, government bodies, the police or even estate agents.

So what does a legal secretary actually do?

As the name implies, legal secretaries carry out secretarial tasks that are specific to law.  For example, they may help with the writing of legal documents, conduct research and read legal articles, as well as general secretarial duties such as answering the phone and dealing with correspondence.

You might also deal with clients and go out and about delivering documents or accompanying solicitors to courts or police stations - depending on the field of law you are employed to assist with.

As a legal secretary you can expect to earn anywhere from £18,000 as a starting salary (starting around £25,000 in London) up to £45,000 as an experienced legal secretary and, as mentioned previously, it is possible to use the legal secretary role as a launch pad to higher paid and related careers.

If this is for you, you will need a training course where the qualification is recognised by The Law Society and the Solicitors' Regulation Authority - ideally Legal Secretary Training which is CPD accredited.

CPD is a type of ongoing study which is a requirement for solicitors and other professionals to ensure that their knowledge basis is kept current so that they can offer the best service and client care.

The key skills you need to make sure your course covers are:-

*MS Office (especially Word).  You will be doing a lot of typing and possibly also audio typing.

*A thorough grounding in the legal system 

*Customer care

*The various kinds of legal forms

*Contracts - types and how they may be formed and breached.

Ideally you also want to make sure that your course is taught by a qualified lawyer in a hands-on, practical classroom environment.  The law is continually changing and it is vital that you are taught by someone who is up to speed with this.

You can find a good intensive course where you can cover the basics in a one week (with home assignments) or assisted learning with in house tutor sessions supported by home assignments over one month.

Before you sign up for a course though, you should make sure that you have a good general level of education with good written and spoken English.  You will also need previous PA or secretarial experience or, if you have none, starting off with a general secretarial / PA course will give you the necessary grounding.

The beauty of private courses too, is that you are not relying on fitting your study around the academic year - you can start at any time.

As a way back into the work place, becoming a legal secretary is certainly worth considering and the rewards are certainly there for those who are determined to rise to the top.

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FREE - The Ultimate Guide To Revision From Tutora.co.uk

No matter what age you are, or at what stage in your academic career, exams are a fact of life - and can be one of the most stressful times to get through.

Everyone has their own way of dealing with revision and the accompanying pressure but sometimes it's all too easy to succumb to panic or to leave your exam preparation to the very last minute.

Tutora.co.uk, the online platform which allows students and parents to connect directly with talented and trusted tutors, has published The Ultimate Guide To Revision.

Free to download or read online, the Guide contains 9 chapters containing a wealth of expert advice, tips and how-to's.

The chapters are:-

1. How to start revision
2. How to create a revision timetable
3. How to create the perfect study space
4. Revision techniques
5. How to be productive during revision
6. How to make the most of your study leave
7. Exam tuition
8. How to deal with exam stress
9. Exam day

As a mum of two school-aged kids and having been an English Tutor myself, I am proud to have contributed some of the advice readers of my blog have already discovered when it comes to the joys of studying and exam-taking!

The Guide contains a wealth of expert advice from contributors such as:-

*Bradley Busch, Psychologist and Director at InnerDrive.
*Scott Woodley, Co-founder of Tutora.
*Dan Lever, Managing Director at StudentHut.
*Lucy Parsons, Academic Coach at Life More Extraordinary
*Keith Clifford, Marketing and Content Director, Revision World Networks Ltd.
*Eleni Cashell, editor of Whatuni.com.
*Matt Jones, Education Officer at Tutora.
*Sophie Coulthard, Associate Director of Judgement Index.
*Giorgio Cassella, Marketing Manager at Tutora.

In short, it's a fabulous free resource I suggest you check out as soon as possible now that we are well and truly in exam season.

You can find the guide on this link:-  https://tutora.co.uk/guides/the-ultimate-revision-guide.

Please share with anyone you know who is studying and parents will find this a useful guide to coach and encourage their kids.

If you have any questions either relating to the Guide or about revision in general, pop a comment below and I'll make sure the relevant expert answers your question.

And if you found the guide useful, be sure to let me know.

Good luck with your exams!

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Parents - Stress Free Revision Tips For Your Child

It's that time of year again when exams loom and schools start to circulate exam timetables and remind parents about the importance of getting our kids revising as early as possible.

You may recall that last year, there was a great deal of press coverage about parents protesting about the stress some of their children were feeling when faced with Year 6 SATS.  In fact, some parents were so incensed they pulled their children out of school on the day of the test.

Here in Wales we have the National Reading and Numeracy Tests which Caitlin (now 9 and in Year 4) and Ieuan, (aged 7 and in Year 2) will be sitting in the second week of May.  These tests enable recording of a child's academic performance on a database so that this can be compared to the national average.

I can see no point in pulling your child out of school in protest.  It will not change the system and nor will it help the child to cope with the stresses Academia places on all of us for as long as we are students. The most sensible approach, I think, is to view these examinations as a 'learning curve'.

These tests offer a chance for our children to begin to learn how to deal with examination stress and to make the vital psychological link between effort and results. These tests are also a chance to learn other skills, such as revision, planning and even self-care in the face of times of worry and pressure.

If our children learn these skills early on then, arguably, GCSEs, and A Levels may be slightly easier to cope with.

What is important, I think, is how we as parents explain all this and how we help our children to understand what the results mean.

Whilst an exam result is an indication of intelligence and effort, it is a marker in the sand.  Because the results are calculated taking into account the performance of your child's peers.

There are other variables such as how the child felt on the day. For example, are we really saying hay fever sufferers who gave a poor performance on the day of the test due to summertime sniffles are less intelligent? And what about those children whose teachers have been absent and replaced with a totally disinterested supply teacher?

We need to explain to our kids that the result of their test will be an indication of their current ability and no more. With the proviso, of course, that they need to give their best effort. Once that is done they can do no more.

We must also be careful not to communicate our own stress about their performance to our youngsters. After all, exams can be retaken.

As a nation we are not the economic powerhouse we once were, largely because we are not as competitive as, say China.

I am not saying we should hot-house our children as is the way in some parts of Asia but we do need to teach our kids that competing is a vital skill if you want to move up the career ladder.

Our children will need to compete for university and college places.  They will need to compete for jobs.  We do them no favours if we don't at least begin to explain how the world works in this regard.

In classes of mixed ability which we now have, the pace seems to move to accommodate the slowest child and, although this makes sense from the point of view of developing a strong social community where each individual is valued, the trade off is an environment where those who could benefit from extra attention don't get it and teaching staff have to struggle to cope with behaviour that is often driven by far more than just occasional naughtiness.

Some parents think that if a child is not particularly academic it is not fair to subject them to tests which may dent their self-confidence.

But surely with the right attention and tuition, overcoming learning challenges may actually boost the confidence of these children.

There are, after all, enough hugely successful entrepreneurs whose own academic performance was dismal.  Richard Branson, and Steve Jobs to name but two.

So how can parents help their kids?

I wrote a practical guide to revision which you and your children may find helpful.  "Revision Tips To Show Those GCSEs Who's Boss". You can read it here.

But here are some things we, as parents, can do.

Don't over-react

If you make these exams / tests the be-all and end-all you will add undue pressure on your child. Hence, Ieuan's school is very wisely calling the Year 3 testing a 'Quiz'.

Make sure you familiarise yourself with your child's curriculum and study topics

Our school sends out regular term updates so we know what our kids are studying and what their learning outcomes are.  If you have been working with your child throughout the academic year, you will be better placed to help them with their revision.

You will also feel a bit calmer because you will know what needs to be covered.

Invest in some study guides

There is a lot of age-appropriate / Key Stage learning material you can buy or download.  In Wales, past tests can be downloaded free of charge from the Learning Wales website.

There are also websites such as Twinkl which, for a nominal monthly subscription offer a great range of educational resources.

Set a regular study timetable

Design a timetable which has study 'periods' of about 45 minutes and help your child work through his topic book or a past paper.

All gadgets stay off until the homework is done (even if it means changing the WiFi password!).

Add an incentive

Whether this is extra family time - such as a trip to the cinema or to a favourite local attraction, make sure you prioritise down time too.

Ban Late Nights

For you and your children.  You'll need your sleep to cope with an emotional, antsy child and to keep your patience in the face of the inevitable "I don't want / need to revise" rebellion.

Improve your diet

Mainlining on take-aways and high sugar foods will make you all feel low and under par.  Now is the time for some proper home cooked meals.

Buddy up

Why not form a little study group with your child's best buddies and their parents.  You may find it more effective to get the kids studying in a more relaxed atmosphere.  They can then do a fun activity once the work has been done, football, swimming or some other form of stress relieving exercise.

Work with the school

If your child is really struggling, don't be afraid to talk to your child's teacher to see if there is the possibility of any extra tuition or support.

It may be there is a gap in your child's knowledge (perhaps something that was covered when your child was off sick) that can be easily filled by a fact sheet or online resource.

Exams, tests, whatever blood-pressure-inducing terminology we apply to them, are designed to put us under pressure to see how we perform.

Watch for signs of extreme anxiety / depression

If you feel that your child is really suffering physically or mentally through exam stress, you need to get your child to open up and talk about their fears.  It may be worth taking them to see your GP if their anxiety symptoms are becoming unmanageable.

If they won't talk to you, perhaps they will talk to another trusted adult or perhaps an older sibling who has gone through the pressures they are facing.

As parents there is a lot we can do to help our child and, in doing so, help ourselves to feel a little more confident too.

We just need to remember that exam results do not define who we are and certainly don't dictate who we will become.

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How Can You Improve Your Child's Education?

Education is one of the most important aspects of any child’s life, and it is also something which a great many parent worry over for many years. In all likelihood, you are keen to ensure that your children’s education is the best it possibly can be, because you know how important it is for their later life that this is the case. But it is one thing wanting it, and quite another knowing how to make it happen. 

Let's look at some of the things that you might want to think about if you are keen on improving your child’s education on the whole. Knowing these should help to keep them in the right kind of attitude while improving their learning.


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Choosing The Right School

One of the most important things of all is ensuring that your child is actually attending the right school in the first place. The quality and the nature of the school has a huge and direct impact on your child’s education, and it is worth remembering that if you want to improve their education as much as possible. 

You will need to decide whether you want them to go to a state school or one of the private schools on educators.co.uk, by way of example. But beyond knowing what kind of schooling to give them, you also need to look at your options in your local area in particular too. Go for something that you know has a strong track record; this will ensure that your child gets the best possible education.

Getting Involved In School Life

Something that makes a huge difference is if you as the parent show a great deal of interest in your child’s school life from the start. The more separation there is between home and school, the more likely it is that they will not work quite as hard or get quite the right benefits, so make sure that you are doing everything you can to keep involved in the school. 

This could mean being particularly active and becoming part of the PTA, for example, or you might just decide that you want to help them with their homework. 

If you do the latter, however, be sure not to actually do the work for them, but rather help them reach the answer by themselves. This is much more beneficial in the long run.


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Home Education

Some parents decide on a home education either in lieu of normal education or in addition to it. Both of these options do have a surprising number of benefits, and you might find that your child is keen on it too. However, you will need to bear in mind the possible drawbacks. For example, your child’s social life might not be quite as full if you educate them solely at home. But you could make up for that by taking them out to local events and so on, so it isn’t the end of the world. Whatever you decide on, be sure that your child is happy with it themselves.

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3 Things To Consider With Your Child's Education

Many parents develop a love-hate relationship with their children's education. Naturally, it has to be appropriate, and it can be a drama if your child doesn’t perform as well as you had hoped.  As parents we all derive great personal pride when our children do well.

Far more important, however is the question of how well your child's education is preparing them for adult life.

Will they leave school equipped for higher education and with a clear idea of the kind of job that will excite and motivate them? 

In the end, our role as a parent is to make sure that our kids have all they need in life, and this includes an education that allows plenty of room for self-growth. 

Here are three areas in which you can help them best. 

How Are Your Kids Doing In School?

First of all, the unavoidable parents’ evening at your child’s school is the best way for you to take the temperature. Parents’ evening is often a bit of an ordeal for many parents, but this is a necessary step to finding out first hand how your child is doing. 

A lot of parents will use the evening as a way of sharing their parenting opinions with the teachers, but it's important to attend for the following reasons.

The teacher is there to give you an overview of your child’s social interactions, school performance, and overall behaviour. This is the evening in the year during which you can find out from an adult specialised in working with children, whether yours are having difficulties making friends, getting their heads around maths, or sitting quietly in class. 

This is an important step on your parenting journey to help them and a key opportunity to find out where the issues are and discuss possible solutions with the teacher and other parents.

Consider The School Equipment

If you are still in the process of choosing your child’s future school, or if you are visiting the school for an appointment with the teacher, then make sure you take the time to look around. 

Do they have modern playground equipment for schools in the playground? Are they using digital technology in the classroom? Is there a computer room, and if so, what types of computers are there? 

Schools need to provide a healthy mix of modern equipment to help your child get prepared for the modern life. For some children, the school is the only place where they can get to see a digital tablet or read a book. So it’s important that they can use relatively current equipment so that they are best prepared for the active world that awaits them. 

Help Them To Discover Their Passion

Finally, as a parent, it is your role to help your child develop his or her passion. Passions are notoriously difficult to find, so help your children by planning cultural outings such as an afternoon at the museum or theatre, even an art gallery or how about a library?

You could even plan a cultural holiday abroad, but it's probably best not to do that in term time unless you have the permission of the head teacher!

There are plenty of things that you can do to help your child broaden their horizons. But as you do, you are getting them one step closer to defining a future path that they will love. 

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The ONE Question You REALLY Want To Ask At Your School's Parents' Evening

This week it's Parents' Evening at our children's school and since the Husband has managed not to be in the same postcode district as usual, the task falls to me.  At least Caitlin and Ieuan are finally in the same school and on the same site!

I have to be quite honest here.  Attending Parents' Evening is not my favourite thing to do.

Even though I love to see their artwork on the walls and thumb through their project books, spending 30 minutes past your allotted time for 5 minutes with their teacher doesn't seem the most effective way of gauging their progress.

And, by the way, if you're one of those parents who feels compelled to discuss your holiday / DIY / the cat's health with teacher, please try tuning in to the huffing and tutting of the irritated queue of parents pretending not to listen behind you.

It's a form of parent one-upmanship which is amusing and annoying in equal measure.

But as I squat like Pocahontas with intestinal problems on one of those mini chairs, I find myself rehearsing the questions I'd really like to ask but don't dare in case I come across as a babbling neurotic.

These are the questions I reckon we'd all really like to ask.

Does my child have friends?

Are they being picked on and would you tell me if they were?

How do they compare with their classmates?

[Remind me - have we completely banned any form of competition in schools now and replaced it with a new set of stickers - "Well done, you managed to exist again today"?]

Do they seem happy during the school day?

Now that my child has formed an emotional attachment to you, do you promise not to leave?

Do they eat their dinner?   Do they eat their vegetables?  Are they using cutlery?

Why does my child never get a decent role in the school play?

Now that all weaponry in school plays has been banned, how do I explain what goes on in the Armed Forces?

Why is so much learning screen based? Can't they risk bronchial problems through chalk dust inhalation like we had to?

And all of the above can be neatly summarised in this ONE question.

Do you think I'm an OK parent?

Because that's what it's really about, isn't it?

Most of the time parents' evening is not so much about your child's academic performance as it is a barometer of your parenting skills

This is why Facebook this week will be awash with "well done Timmy, mummy is so proud you have got an A level in Astrophysics and you're only in year 3" type posts.

How this makes parents of children who are struggling feel, I dread to think, but there it is again, that element of competition.

I've an idea.  Why don't we let our kids compete a little bit more and then perhaps the focus of parents evening might be more about their performance and a little less about ours.

Do I get a sticker?

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Choosing The Best School For Your Child

Our child’s education is extremely important to us as parents. Chances are you’ve been thinking about your child’s schooling before they were even born!

A good education puts them on a good path and sets them up for being a successful adult.

Here are a few things to consider when it comes to education

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Move to a New Area

Since schools work on a catchment area basis, you will need to be living locally to the best ones in order to be considered. It can seem like an extreme reason to move, but if you’re serious about your child’s education, then it’s one option. Check out the Ofsted reports and grades from different schools nearby to help you decide on one. From there you can find somewhere to live. The best schools tend to have higher exam result scores, and more satisfaction reported by both parents and students.

Look Into Private Education

Private schools tend to have better exam results than public schools. On top of this they’re more selective in the students they allow meaning the classes tend to be made up of intelligent and hardworking children. The class sizes are smaller, the extracurricular activities are more varied, and research has suggested that the teaching is better too. Probably due to smaller class sizes and children being easier to deal with, teachers aren’t so stretched or stressed. There are scholarships and funding available for a lot of private schools so if your child is gifted it may well be worth applying, even if you can’t afford the fees.

Employ a Tutor

If you can’t afford a private education and your child doesn’t quite make the cut for a scholarship, how about hiring a tutor? This could either help your child get ahead, or allow them to catch up in areas where they’re struggling. While tutors aren’t cheap you generally only have them for a couple of hours a week, so it’s something you could work into your budget much more easily than a full private education.

Consider Boarding Schools

Boarding school is so much more than just a school. It’s a chance for your child to explore various extracurricular activities, learn to be more independent and develop bonds with peers that run far deeper than they would at a regular school. Prep school boarding offers beautiful accommodation, often on large grounds in old mansions and manor houses. So you get peace of mind that your child is in a nice place and being looked after well.

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Consider Home Schooling

While schooling and the education system is generally very good, it doesn’t suit every type of child. There are a whole host of reasons you might consider homeschooling. Bullying can be an issue for some children, which can hugely affect their education. If this is a problem for your child and you’ve not been able to get it resolved, then you may consider homeschooling. Perhaps your child has certain needs which aren’t able to be fully met in the traditional way with a classroom full of other kids. Maybe they just learn better in a homeschooling environment. There’s no doubt that one on one teaching is effective- something your child will never experience in a regular school.

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Review: A Fuss Free Way To Find The Perfect Private Tutor For Your Child At Tutora.co.uk

Many years ago I use to be an English Tutor.  I taught basic literacy and English Literature up to GCSE 'O' Level.

Finding the right tutor for your kids can sometimes be quite challenging!

An English Graduate myself, I have retained my love of classic literature and am a firm believer in the importance of kids having a good standard of written and spoken English.  If we can instill in them a love of literature too, so much the better.

As our schools get fuller and staff are not always able to give individual pupils the attention they need, hiring a tutor is an obvious solution.

You can hire a tutor for almost any subject you can think of, science, language, business but understandably maths and english are two of the most popular.

Time poor parents may struggle to know where to find the best tutor to work with their child but at Tutora.co.uk, who specialise in providing private tutors for home tuition, it is easy to locate a tutor close by and to ensure that they are fully qualified and security (DBS checked). They have over 3000 expert tutors from £15/hr and cover the major cities and surrounding areas in the UK.

Simply enter your chosen subject and your postcode and you will be presented with a list of tutors local to you with all the information you need about their qualifications, what their travel policy is (some will only travel within a set radius) and whether they are DBS checked.

You can then message them direct to book a lesson which can cost from £15 an hour upwards depending on where you live and how experienced your tutor is.

Some of the tutors already have reviews against their name which gives you an idea about the sort of person they are, however, there's no substitute for meeting your chosen tutor and seeing if they get on with your child.

When I was tutoring, I found that the most important thing was to listen to the pupil and to work out the best way to encourage them.  When you're a teenager, you often need to be listened to and to have your confidence boosted.  It was amazing how often my pupils hadn't received any positive feedback - they were only told what they had done wrong.

The other shocker was that the Shakespearean plays on the syllabus were often not read from beginning to end and never read out loud in class.  It's pretty obvious that the best way to appreciate a drama is to perform it!

Some kids will respond well to a strict tutor, some will rebel and pay no attention to them.  Others prefer someone who can use friendliness, humour and a coaching approach to get the best out of them.

The first tutor you choose may not necessarily be the right one but with Tutora there are plenty to choose from if your first choice doesn't work out.

You can also register a tutor yourself free of charge.  To get started you complete your profile, which is your chance to tell parents and students why you would be the ideal tutor for them or their child. You need to write your bio, mentioning your experience and expertise in your chosen subject and add a clear photo.

You will be asked to upload a copy of your ID - either a driving licence or passport and if you have a DBS check you can send it to Tutora to add to your profile.  If you don't have one, they can help you get one for £50.  It is not obligatory to register as a tutor with them but, as a parent, I would certainly be looking for tutors who are DBS checked.

You will also need to add your payment details and set your rate. There's a quiz for you to complete before your registration is complete. Tutora will take a commission of between 15% and 25% based on the number of sessions you have taught in the last 12 months. The higher this number, the lower the rate of commission.

Tutora.co.uk was founded by Scott Woodley and Mark Hughes.  Whilst working as a teacher in Sheffield, Scott was often asked by parents of children in his class to recommend good tutors. As I'm sure many of you know if you've tried to find a good tutor, this can take ages.

Scott joined forces with Mark, a Technology Analyst and long-time friend and the two created a website that brings parents and tutors together without having to pay large sums to tuition agencies, scour through endless message boards or worry about finding the right person for them.

I was impressed by how simple Tutora is to use and, if I weren't so busy blogging I'd be registering as an English Tutor with them.

If you're looking for the right tutor for your kids to help them get to grips with the next key stage or to cope with an increase in homework, or if GCSEs are looming,  my recommendation would be to find a tutor now.

In my English tutor days, I was often called in with 6 weeks to go before exams - that's really not enough time to build the kind of relationship you need to encourage a youngster who has had their confidence dented or to help them read through and analyse core texts.

The sooner you start the better.

You can find out more about Tutora at www.tutora.co.uk.

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Parents: Do You Want To See An End To The Traditional Primary School Report?

Research from Capita SIMS has revealed that over half of parents (57%) feel primary school reports are either too generic or do not contain enough information about how their child is doing.

Capita SIMS is the leading supplier of information systems to the education sector, providing a range of software and services to schools and local authorities to help raise standards and reduce administration.

The survey,  undertaken by Opinion Matters, interviewed 1014 parents with children at state primary schools in England, as well as  850 teachers at state primary schools in England.

More than a third of primary school teachers (35%) agree with the findings, despite the fact that schools are now recording more information about the children they teach than ever before.

Knowing whether their child is happy and confident in class tops the list of information parents want to know from teachers, suggesting that mums and dads do not just want academic results on their reports.

And although three quarters of parents (74%) stated that it was very important to have information on happiness and confidence, less than half (46%) reported actually receiving it from their child’s primary school.

Teachers too felt information on a child’s happiness was crucial, with 75% stating it was very important for parents to have this information.

The results suggest that primary schools’ communication with parents needs to evolve.

Phil Neal, a director at Capita SIMS, commented "The vast majority of parents believe teachers are doing a great job, but the research does indicate that information about how a child is doing in school needs updating.

“Schools should look at the type of information they send home. Details such as whether a child helped a friend in class or is working hard on a particular project is often just as important as test results".

Jayne Mullane, headteacher at Mersey Vale Primary School in Stockport, said: “We need to listen to parents to find out what information they want to receive. In my school, parents gave us feedback on our reports and we changed them as a result. They now include information about how much effort a child makes in class as well as details of academic performance.”

A guide for parents and schools is available, entitled, ‘Could do better: is it time to change the school report?’ It can be downloaded from www.capita-sims.co.uk/evolution, and contains a list of questions parents should ask schools about pupil progress and tips for schools on improving reporting.

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Questions I Have About Home Schooling

Just lately I am hearing more and more about parents who have pulled their kids out of mainstream education in order to teach them at home.

Home schooling is not an easy option

Now I can fully understand this if there are medical and social reasons for doing so.  For example, if a parent is unwell and unable to take their child to school and is not receiving sufficient support in order to assist the child.  Or if the child is being bullied and the school refuses to deal with the situation.

If that happened to my children, I would not think twice about home schooling or "Elective Home Education" as the Government calls it.

But there seems to be a 'home schooling movement' whose rationale for adopting this form of education is about following a trend.

A few months back I read a blog post from a home schooling parent (the child was around 5 or 6) who listed their "learning outcomes" for the day as walking round a park, looking at daffodils and meeting friends for coffee.

Those, to me, are not learning outcomes - no matter how many rather fetching Instagram pictures it creates.

I wonder what teachers think about this new trend.  I imagine they feel incredibly frustrated by the fact that their training is considered almost irrelevant by some parents.

I worry that home schooled children are missing out.

I can hear the howls of indignation from here but surely there is more to a child's education than running barefoot in the park with a handful of other kids whilst their parents chat and play with their phones.

Early years education sets the scene for later learning - and academic performance.  Whilst the system is not perfect, at least it creates a roughly level playing field upon which our children's educational growth can be measured and, hopefully, improved.

I have to say at this point that the Government's latest plan to turn schools into 'academies' seems hopelessly out of touch with what schools must surely be wanting - better funding, better training, more support.  The academy approach seems to be an enormous sticking plaster for a system which would work a hell of a lot better if only the Government would stop meddling with it (and I'd apply the same argument to the NHS).

Currently the law states that all parents have a duty to ensure that their children receive an efficient, full time education suitable to their age, ability and aptitude, either by regular attendance at school or otherwise (under Section 7 of the Education Act 1996).

This means that parents may educate their children at home if they fulfil certain conditions.

You will also be offered regular appointments by your Local Education Authority to see how you are getting on but you do not have to accept these.

After that, you are on your own as regards the curriculum you set - and that includes all costs as well as examination fees, should you wish your child to sit them.  No grants will be made available.

I have previously worked as a Home Tutor for both Early Years and GCSE students and tutoring required an in-depth knowledge of the school curriculum and a great deal of lesson planning and reading around the subject.

And that was just for a few hours a week!

These are the questions I find myself asking.

Won't home schooled children miss out on social interaction?

Surely it's about mixing with a wide variety of children of different ages and backgrounds that teaches us valuable skills about fitting in when we go on to college, university, our first job.

School is the place where life-long friends can be made

Are all parents sufficiently able to teach their child the information on the 'mainstream' curriculum?

Would it be unreasonable to suggest that if you were a complete academic duffer yourself, you might not be the best teacher for your child?

How will you know how your children are progressing compared to their peers?

You may feel it doesn't matter but much of success in life depends on competition.

How do home schooled kids compare with those who have a mainstream education when it comes to university and jobs?

There are many stories about entrepreneurs who have been academically poor and gone on to create vast business empires.  Success is not impossible without an education but I reckon it takes an awful lot longer unless you have the business mind of Richard Branson or Steve Jobs.

How will home schooled kids feel about the educational opportunities they have missed out on?

None of us have a crystal ball of course but I'll bet some of the current home schooled children may well grow up wondering why they are excluded from well established school social networks and why their friends seem to be fitting in much better.

Choosing elective home schooling for your child is a very personal choice but the consequences of that choice if home schooling is ineffective, may have long-term consequences we parents might not be around to see.

As for me,  it's a case of "never say never".

More information about Elective Home Education can be found at www.gov.uk/home-education.

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At What Age Is It Safe For Your Child To Walk To School On Their Own?

With the happy news that 8 year old school boy Connor Beck has been found safe after going missing on his way to school, you can practically hear a collective sigh of relief from parents across the land.

When is the right age to let your child walk to school on their own?

Connor, for reasons yet unexplained spent his day yesterday hiding in a bush next to the school where he was found around 5 pm.  His disappearance had sparked a full scale police search.

But I'll bet his parents are today reviewing their decision to let him walk to school on his own.

This raises the obvious question - at what age is it safe to let your child walk to school alone?

Caitlin is 8 and Ieuan is 7 in June and although their school is a brief 10-15 minute walk away, there is no way I would let either of them go unaccompanied.

And, frankly, after the recent horror stories of April Jones and Milly Dowler, I think it may be a very long time indeed before I feel confident enough to let them go.

For a start, there is the danger from main road traffic, although there is a wonderful lollipop man (are we still allowed to call them that?) who is on patrol close to Caitlin's school.

Although Caitlin and Ieuan are in the same school, they are on different campuses with a 5 minute walk between them.  The daily start and finish times are staggered to allow time for parents and children to walk between the two sites.

Already some parents are letting their Year 3 children (who finish earlier) walk the 5 minute walk between the two sites to meet their parents and siblings, relying on the nous of the child and the supervision of the lollipop man.

There is no denying that, for the working parent, the school run is a hellish dash.  Parking around both school sites is restricted, although you get the usual crew who seem oblivious to the meaning of a double yellow line (the bigger the vehicle, the more colour blind they seem to be, I find).

You also get those who happily do a three point turn in the face of on-coming traffic, forcing everyone to slow down or take evasive action.

Even if it's pouring with rain, there is little point taking a car because parking is incredibly difficult.

Despite the fact that we are lucky enough to have a lollipop man, there have been at least 2 road traffic accidents involving injury to kids in the past year.

So whilst I understand the pressure, personally, I won't take the risk.

And then there is the risk of violent crime.  Now I know that statistically the likelihood of abduction or worse occurring is slim.  But how could you live with yourself if something did happen?  Even knowing it wasn't my fault, I would forever wish I had been there to protect my kids.

But we have to be pragmatic.  We are going to have to let them go at some point, aren't we?  We cannot keep them under house arrest in the event that something terrible may happen.

Already, kids spend too much time inside on iPads because many parents are too terrified to let them play outside unsupervised.

When I was my daughter's age, my sister and I spent most of our time cycling up and down the cul-de-sac we lived in.  The Husband used to play in a nearby quarry with his mates.

So what can we do?

- Teach your kids about "Stranger Danger"

- Consider enrolling your kids in a self-defence class like Tae Kwon-Do

- Buddy up with a fellow parent and keep a look out for each other's kids in the event that you're late picking them up

- Talk to the school about ways to get personal safety on the agenda

- Talk to the Council if street lighting is poor or inadquate

-  Talk to the school bus companies to check that drop off points are as safe as possible.

I am sure that there are many other things that could be done to improve safety for those kids who do walk on their own to school.

Whilst I am against giving young kids mobile phones due to the possible damage to their developing brains from handset radiation, this is one situation where a cheap pay-as-you-go handset may well be worth the risk.

I walked to school on my own when I was about 10 or 11 and that is quite early enough in my book. You may well feel differently or simply be unable to do the school run and get to work on time.

Employers need to step up to the plate here and examine how family-friendly they are.  I find that many firms will happily claim to be "family friendly" but it's a different matter if you have to be late a couple of mornings or have to leave because your child is sick.

Let's be honest.  There is absolutely no reason why many job roles need to be carried out between 9 am and 5 pm.  If you are in a sales role, then that is different but many administrative functions can be carried out on a more flexible schedule.

It might be worth talking to your Human Resources Department to see if there is anything that could be done to improve the flexibility of your working hours.

When to let your children walk to school on their own is a very personal (and tricky!) decision but if we talk to the schools, the council and the police (e.g. a local community police officer), much can be done to make things a little safer.

As parents, we should also be working together to look out for one another's children.

And we shouldn't be afraid to speak up and report anything we see that is even vaguely suspicious.

I bet little Connor Beck's parents are hugging him even tighter today.

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Why Is It Cooler To Learn Coding Than Poetry Writing?

Now this might be a very obvious question and, since the Husband makes a living from computer coding, I'm probably on a sticky wicket flying the flag for poetry.

Dylan Thomas - The Great Welsh Poet & Writer

But whilst I understand that we are an economy reliant to a huge degree on technology and scientific advancement,  it's a bit of a shame that we can't muster up a little more enthusiasm for the verbal artistry required to write a good poem.

Particularly on St. David's Day as I sit with the daffodils being blown about in the wind and rain here in Dinas Powys, I find myself thinking of the great Welsh poet and writer, Dylan Thomas (I named my daughter after his wife, Caitlin) and his well loved play for voices "Under Milk Wood".

"To begin at the beginning: It is spring, moonless night in the small town, starless and bible-black, the cobblestreets silent and the hunched, courters'-and-rabbits' wood limping invisible down to the sloeblack, slow, black, crowblack, fishingboatbobbing sea".

His love of language shines through every thing he writes and to me "Under Milk Wood" is closer to a poem even though it is technically a play.  Thomas truly paints pictures with words.

Poetry connects us to our feelings in ways that prose does not.  You could argue that poetry is form of coding which talks straight to our hearts and accesses reservoirs of feeling never quite touched by other forms of fiction.

Poetry is a more challenging form of literature-writing because you have to condense your thoughts and feelings in to images which speak large to your readers.  Not only this, but the construction and rhythm of your poem adds to the meaning.

Poetry is meant to be read out loud.

In the same way that, to me, a true appreciation of a Shakespeare play can only be achieved when the text is performed, or at the very least read aloud.

How can you not love this?

"If you can fill the unforgiving minute 
With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run, 
Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it, 
And—which is more—you’ll be a Man, my son".  

(If, by Rudyard Kipling)

or

I wander'd lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o'er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host, of golden daffodils;
Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.

(Daffodils by William Wordsworth)

or

Let us go then, you and I,
When the evening is spread out against the sky
Like a patient etherized upon a table;
Let us go, through certain half-deserted streets,
The muttering retreats
Of restless nights in one-night cheap hotels
And sawdust restaurants with oyster-shells:
Streets that follow like a tedious argument
Of insidious intent
To lead you to an overwhelming question…. 
Oh, do not ask, “What is it?”
Let us go and make our visit. 

(The Lovesong of J. Alfred Prufrock by T. S. Eliot)

Before we had the written word, we had songs and sagas. Ancient themes of love, loss, survival - the keystones of the human experience, are all captured in poems across the ages.

I hope that we continue to teach poetry in our schools and to give it as much importance in the curriculum as no doubt coding and all things IT will come to have.

My old secondary school loans all its pupils iPads, whilst I remember English lessons on sunny afternoons watching the motes of chalk dust swirl in the light as we took turns to read poems and stories out loud.

Our challenge, as I see it, is to preserve our literary past whilst embracing the technological future.

Growing youngsters often struggle with their feelings and literature can provide a safe, enjoyable safety valve.

Good poetry is almost a form of hypnosis.  You could argue the same about playing games on an iPad.

But whereas one is often soulless, the other can sometimes connect you to your soul.

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New software helps alert schools to cyber bullying, sexual abuse & radicalisation

Our children are spending increasing amounts of time online, particularly in school and, whilst we can protect our kids at home, it has crossed my mind on more than one occasion to wonder what they get up to whilst using the internet away from home.

Whilst we have signed internet 'policies' and permission forms to agree to this use at school, it's good to know that software is being developed to help schools and colleges with their duty to protect their students' online safety.

Located near Peterborough in Cambridgeshire, UK software developer NetSupport Ltd, has developed new technology that not only helps to keep students safe on the web by monitoring and restricting the scope of their internet use, but also provides them with an avenue to report any concerns they may have – in confidence – to a trusted member of staff.

And with children aged between 8 and 15 now spending more than twice as much time online at school and at home as they did a decade ago, there is now more of a need for this kind of protective measure than ever.

The software’s release supports the new Government proposals announced on 22nd December 2015 to strengthen the current Prevent duty legislation – obliging schools to introduce filtering technology and monitor pupils’ internet use more closely to safeguard and promote their welfare and prevent them “from being drawn into terrorism.”

Using advanced neurolinguistics technology, the product’s comprehensive keyword monitoring feature provides schools with an insight into what students are typing (both online and in programs such as Word) and draws on an extensive database of keywords and phrases covering the spectrum of safeguarding topics: from cyber bullying, sexual abuse, eating disorders and pornography to the potential for radicalisation.

This means staff can be alerted to activity by students who are potentially open to physical or emotional harm and allows them to take the appropriate action.

Ensuring students can report any anxieties they might have is key to an effective safeguarding policy. The new “Report a concern” feature of NetSupport DNA’s safeguarding module provides a simple and accessible way for students to initiate contact with trusted members of staff for help or guidance.

NetSupport has worked with internationally-operating organisation, the Internet Watch Foundation, to ensure the keywords supporting the technology are as comprehensive and relevant as possible. In addition, the company has collaborated closely with its local authority, Peterborough City Council, and school safeguarding leads, as well as conducting its own research with groups of students on the language that they use every day.

To learn more about NetSupport DNA,visit www.netsupportdna.com/education where product video tours, walk-throughs and a range of supporting resources are available.

Any advance in the technology needed to keep our children safe online is surely to be applauded and it will be interesting to see what level of adoption software such as this attracts - and what level of reporting is acted upon and shared with parents.

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My Guide To Thinking About Your Child's Education

My kids are all in school now, and I have been thinking about their education for a long time. It's something you start thinking about almost right away, once you're not quite as much of a zombie after the baby's born. Education begins at home, but eventually (for most children) it will move to a classroom too. Of course, they'll continue to learn at home. But their school will influence them significantly. From picking a preschool to sending them to university, there are some significant decisions to make. The younger they are, the less able they are to have their own input. So how they're educated is entirely up to you, their parents. Here are some of the things I think you should take into account.

School Philosophy 

One of the things you should consider when you're looking at schools is their philosophy. This might be something that you need to think about more with private schools than with state ones. However, even state schools are run by individuals. And they will have different approaches to education. Figure out what the school is all about, what their aims are and how they inspire their pupils to learn. Of course, it shouldn't take a lot of figuring out. Good schools will make these things clear on their website and in their literature.

woodleywonderworks

Study Options 

Many parents accept the standard path set out for pupils in the UK. In primary school, they complete their SATs. Then they do their GCSEs and possibly move on to A Levels or another qualification. Remember that students now have to stay in education or training until they're 18. However, there are other options for their study. For example, some schools offer the International Baccalaureate, while others provide vocational qualifications. If you are temporarily in the UK or intend to move abroad soon, some international schools offer foreign qualifications.

Learning Styles 

It's important to think about your child and how they learn, and not just about the school. There needs to be a good match between you, your child and the school. You should consider how your child learns and how you want them to learn. For example, when choosing a nursery you might think about Montessori or a forest school, where they learn outside. Chilton Cantelo School and other independent establishments tailor learning towards each pupil. They will often provide dedicated support for children with learning difficulties. And they will have support available for those who are considered gifted and talented.

Socialisation

Another thing to consider is your child's social skills and opportunities. Some parents think about homeschooling their children. If you think you might want to do this, do you have ways they can socialise with others their age? Other parents opt for boarding school, which means they would be learning to socialise outside of their family. Are large classroom sizes in state schools right for your child? Or would they make friends better in smaller classes?

There's a lot to think about when you're deciding on your child's education. There are some life-changing decisions to make, so try to start thinking about it as soon as you can.

Thanks for reading Mother Distracted.  I really appreciate your support and I'd love it if you could share this post across social media. If you’re new to Mother Distracted, why not join me on the Mother Distracted Facebook page, tweet me on @lindahobbis or follow me on Instagram.

For loads more parenting advice, just visit the parenting section of my blog.

*collaborative post

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Are The Record A Level Results A Smokescreen?

After another year of 'record' A level results in which pictures of leaping teenagers filled the papers, the collective sigh of exasperation from those of us churned out by the UK Education System in the 70's and 80's could probably be heard on the continent.

The arguments about the dumbing down of examination standards and the number of 'silly' subjects offered in colleges and universities continues apace (a degree in Fashion Knitwear anyone?) but actually, does the subject really matter that much anymore?

If most students are leaving with multiple A grades, how are universities and employers supposed to select the most appropriate candidates for courses and jobs?  What is the point in an examination system which does little to aid selection?

Of course pupils have worked hard and in no way do I want to detract from their efforts and the stress they have just gone through to achieve their grades.

But, really, I can't escape the feeling that somehow, somewhere, we are letting them down.  That something is not quite right.

If you wanted to be cynical, you could say that it is in the Government's interest to keep pass rates high so that our children are funnelled through the system to Universities where they do not impact on unemployment figures.

But isn't this just deferring the problem?  Where are the apprenticeships which teach a trade?  Can't we find something better to offer those kids who don't really want to go to university than shift work in a call-centre, shovelling fries or a 'zero hours' contract from retailers who treat their employees like a cheap and endlessly replaceable resource?

And what a start to your working life to be saddled with a huge student loan and debts from the cost of living added on to boot.

The irony, of course, is that in a few years nobody will give two hoots about the A Levels achieved. The focus will be on degrees and experience.

An employer who needs to fill a vacancy quickly is more likely to choose the candidate with previous experience than the bright young star with a shiny collection of A Grades.  

Past experience supervising work experience candidates and trainees has also taught me that even if they are well qualified, sometimes kids have absolutely no concept of what it is to work - even the basics like dressing appropriately, turning up on time, meeting deadlines and treating seniors with respect.

I could tell you tales of interns caught watching adult websites on the office PC or playing computer games on their Nintendo DS when they thought the boss wasn't looking.

Perhaps an increased focus on getting our young people ready for work (for those opportunities that actually do exist) would be more useful than the A Level pressure cooker which produces one seemingly homogenized candidate soup.

I think the 'record A Level results' celebration which happens every year now is a massive smoke screen.

And when the smoke finally clears, there'll be far fewer young people jumping for joy.

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Revision Tips To Show Those GCSE's Who's Boss

It's the time of year again when revision stress wreaks havoc in family homes and our youngsters (and sometimes not so youngsters) feel the nightmare of the approaching exam season.

You will find reams written on the subject of revision and mine include some of the common sense basics.  

But I've also included what worked for me.  I studied the old 'O' and 'A' Levels, got a Degree in English Literature and later spent a couple of years studying Administration for Personal Assistants (sadly no James Bond included) and Chartered Institute of Marketing qualifications, so I have done plenty of studying and completely understand that lurch of the stomach when you contemplate the moment when you are asked to turn your paper over. 

I have also tutored in English to GCSE standard and understand how confidence sapping and stressful the revision process is if you don't grab it by the scruff of the neck and show it who's boss.   I have also seen the consequences of leaving your revision until the last minute - clue, not great grades.

So let's, um, revise some of the things you need to do: 

1.  Plan your revision timetable.

As well as studying, allocate time within it for eating, sleeping and some leisure activities (yes, browsing Facebook, Twitter and Snapchat is not classed as revision!).  Filling it with wall to wall studying is unrealistic and will make you just want to bin  / delete the whole thing.

2.  Start weeks before.  Not days.

As soon as you have the dates for the exams, arguably even sooner, you should be starting your revision.  Re-read your course notes.  Make sure you have actually read the set texts and re-read them.  I remember in University being told by one (possibly over zealous) English lecturer that you don't really 'know' a novel until you have read it at least FIVE times.  Clearly, this may not apply to non-fiction texts but I don't think it's that bad a maxim to apply!

3. Break your revision sessions into chunks of approximately 45 minutes with a 15 minute break per hour. This is because your brain and your memory need a rest to absorb your learning.

4. And do something in the break - get up and move around.  Make a coffee (better, have some water) and a protein based snack.  

5. Build in a reward - whether it's an episode of your favourite soap or current box set passion but give yourself a clear objective.  "I will watch Game of Thrones when I have re-read the first three chapters of my textbook".  Sitting in your room painting your nails whilst staring vacantly at your notes does not count.

6. Write it down. I found it invaluable to test myself by writing my answers and thoughts down on paper (or typing them up on a PC).  There's something about seeing your notes in writing that helps cement them in your brain.

7.  Get a blackboard and play teacher. No, I haven't lost it, honest.  It's amazingly effective if you pretend to be the teacher in front of a class (or your favourite celebrities) and teach them your study topic.  You may want to pretend you're a world class lecturer at an international conference.

Go on, see if you can talk clearly about your topic for 15 minutes and illustrate your points with quotes / facts / figures on the blackboard.  From MEMORY.  

You could even get someone to record your lectures on camcorder

8.  Make a Mind Map. All in the spirit of making it a bit more fun,  the theory goes that using visual cues will help you remember more effectively.  A mind map is a simple diagram you make with lots of branches demonstrating related ideas.  Why not start each session by drawing a mind map and you may find you include ideas you had forgotten or that may be genius inclusions even your teacher or lecturer has not considered.

9.  Record it. I once learned the whole of Shakespeare's Macbeth almost word for word.  I did this by recording the whole play on an old fashioned tape recorder (tricky doing all the parts, I can tell you) and then I used to play it to myself whilst going to sleep.

Never underestimate the power of the subconscious. You'll find information coming to you effortlessly rather than having to struggle to recall it.

You could do something similar by recording the key facts you need to know and then playing them back through the day or just before you sleep.  Possibly not the most exciting track on your iPod but just consider the fabulous career getting your qualifications may lead you to.

10. Revise on the move. Having your notes recorded means you can listen to them anywhere - on your morning commute, whilst waiting to see the dentist etc.

11. Make it mini. If you prefer something written down, challenge yourself to note down key facts on postcards and whip them out for a quick run through during the day.

12. Flashcards are king. Or, create full A4 size flashcards with important points on and get your relatives to test you on them (hey, why should you be the only one to suffer)?

13. Buy / lend past exam papers.

If you can afford copies of past papers, please contact your local exam board and get them - even if it's just for the past 2 years.  You'll get a sense of what the questions are like and, if you know what came up last year, you may be able to guess what will come up this year.  NOTE:  you still need to revise everything but just give a bit more emphasis to the themes which may appear.

14.  Have a mock (we won't mock). Sit those papers.  Recreate the exam scenario.  Desk, watch, water, fruit pastilles - the whole shebang.  Do the paper to time.  Get the cat to invigilate.

15.  You are the evil examiner. Now that you have sat the paper - be absolutely ruthless.  Mark yourself as harshly as possible.  Penalise yourself for spelling mistakes and grammatical howlers.  Be honest.  Would you have passed?  If you're not sure, take the paper in and ask your teacher or lecturer.

16.  Prepare the night before. Not by cramming, not by panicking but by having a decent meal and an early night.  Reread your flashcards, listen to one of your home-made recordings, try to relax.

Remember, there is no such thing as failure.  If you don't pass this time then you have learned what not to do next time.  

And if you have tried your best with your revision and you can honestly say you did the best you could, pat yourself on the back and tell yourself this is just one step towards success.  And even Rome wasn't built in a day.

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