Starting school: A parent's guide to laying the foundations of lifelong learning
Starting school is one of the most significant milestones in a child's life – and for many parents, one of the most emotional. It marks the beginning of a child's educational journey, their growing independence, and their first steps into the big world. A child's early years are critical to their future academic success and happiness, and the right school is a vital part of this, laying the foundation for the people they will become.
At Blackheath High School GDST, a leading independent school for girls aged 3-18 in the heart of Southeast London, we understand just how important this transition is, not just for children, but for parents too.
'We all want the very best for our children,' says Dr Kathy Weston, education researcher, parenting expert and Blackheath High advisor, 'and the more we can support them through early transitions, the better.' Her research shows that when children are helped to see change as an opportunity rather than something to fear, they are more likely to approach school with excitement and confidence, building emotional resilience and a love of learning that lasts.
Dr Weston will be joining Head of Blackheath High Junior School, Laura Comerford, at an information evening on 18 June for parents preparing for the transition to school. The event, open to all families, will share top tips for choosing the right school, insights from the latest research, and practical advice on how to support your child emotionally and academically during the transition to school.
At Blackheath High School, curiosity, creativity, and individuality are nurtured from the very beginning. Our youngest girls enjoy specialist lessons in French, Music, Art, Drama, PE, and DT, along with the unique adventure of Forest School, where they can explore the natural world and build confidence through hands-on learning. Girls can join Nursery from age three and are supported through the transition into Reception with dedicated settling-in sessions, taster days to familiarise them with their new home, and highly qualified staff who are experienced in supporting our youngest pupils with their first steps on their educational journey.
Head, Ms Comerford, explains the approach: 'Starting school isn't just the beginning of an education - it's the start of a lifelong love of learning. We encourage parents to start preparing their children for this new step in small but meaningful ways – establishing routines, reading books about starting school, and having calm, open conversations about what to expect. It is also important to go into the school so children can get used to their new environment, making the transition smooth and enjoyable. This not only helps children feel ready but also starts building a sense of excitement and pride in this big new step.'
Blackheath High School is part of the Girls' Day School Trust (GDST), the UK's leading network of independent girls' schools. Ms Comerford continues: 'We've created an environment where girls can truly thrive - where they build confidence, discover their voice, and develop a lifelong love of learning. Our Junior School lays the foundations not just for academic success, but for a lifetime of confidence.' GDST research supports this, showing that by the age of nine, four out of five girls in GDST schools feel more confident in overcoming challenges and taking risks than their peers elsewhere.
Join us at Blackheath High Junior School, Wemyss Road on Wednesday 18 June from 6-7.30pm. Booking is free - sign up here: Blackheath_High_Reception_Information.eventbrite.co.uk
If you would like to see more of Blackheath High Junior School and see how it might be the perfect environment for your daughter, book one of our open events - blackheathhighschool.gdst.net/3751/open-days-1.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hamilton Spectator
7 hours ago
- Hamilton Spectator
Stouffville to Unveil New Baker Hill Park on June 17
A long-anticipated park in Stouffville's growing Baker Hill neighbourhood will be officially unveiled next week, offering residents a wide range of outdoor amenities and inclusive play spaces. The Town will host a grand opening event for the new Ward 4 park at 4 p.m. on June 17, during which its official name will be announced. The 1.2-hectare green space, located at 401 Baker Hill Blvd., is already open to the public and forms part of a broader subdivision development. Positioned adjacent to York Region District School Board's new French Immersion school , Spring Lakes PS, the park is expected to serve both local families and students. Spring Lakes PS will open this September, offering French Immersion programming to students from across Stouffville. The park's final design was shaped in part by community input gathered during a public meeting held on Jan. 25, 2024. Additional considerations included budget limitations and long-term operational needs identified through the planning process. The project was led by Northern Lights Landscape Architects, with the Town providing project oversight. Amenities include both junior and senior playgrounds with accessible features, a full basketball court that doubles as a seasonal skating rink, a tennis court, four pickleball courts, a pavilion, seating areas, and walking paths. Accessible playground elements were made possible through donations from the Stouffville Lions Club and For Little Monkeys Charity, an organization supported by the Whitchurch-Stouffville Legacy Fund. The charity hosts fundraising events and supports initiatives benefiting neurodivergent children and their families. 'The Town gratefully acknowledges the contributions of the Stouffville Lions Club, as well as For Little Monkeys Charity with funding from the Stouffville Legacy Fund,' Town spokesperson Glenn Jackson said in comments to Bullet Point News. 'Their generous donations supported the installation of equipment specifically designed for neurodivergent users and children with accessibility needs.' Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Yahoo
9 hours ago
- Yahoo
Hidden roots of queer culture in Acadiana's history
LAFAYETTE, La (KLFY) — The acceptance of LGBTQIA+ members has a deeper rooted history than most people realize, even here in Acadiana, and now has evolved into celebration and awareness. According to , historian and tribal councilmember of the Atakapa-Ishak Nation, he said that what is defined as queerness of today was a norm amongst indigenous people of the Americas before European colonization. He said colonial French military, other European settlers and religious officials would record openly gay and trans people amongst indigenous nations such as Atakapa-Ishak, Natchez, Houma and Choctaw who lived across Louisiana. 'Queer people have always lived in the area.' Darensbourg said. 'Our tribe's first contact with Europeans was in 1528, when we rescued Cabeza de Vaca and his companions who were shipwrecked in the Gulf of Mexico. The Spaniard noticed among us what he called a 'devilish thing,' namely, same-sex marriage and what we would now call openly trans people.' Caddo Parish back LGBTQ+ Pride Month with support from community Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Darensbourg shared how indigenous culture had a different perspective on gender and sexuality that were outside heteronormativity and European ideals. In his research, he noted how some indigenous people recognized the existence of more than two genders, engaged in homosexuality, identified as transgendered and held leadership roles outside gender norms. For instance, there was a young woman chief in Lafayette in the early colonial period by the name of Quitachoulabenacky. 'The indigenous people have been here for many thousands of years.' Darensbourg said. 'And those were also the first queer, trans people, the first openly queer, openly trans people, first people to have same-sex marriage here. And it was a perfectly normal part of our societies. That only ended when the Europeans arrived.' Following European colonization, openly gay and trans people amongst the indigenous peoples and other groups were silenced and marginalized. Since then, the LGBTQIA+ acceptance and visibility in Acadiana has evolved over time, according to Brandi Ortiz Comeaux, of the . 'This deep, pre-colonial history of acceptance and visibility reminds us that queerness is not new or foreign to this land.' Comeaux said. 'It is a testament to resilience, hidden strength, and enduring community that queer individuals have continued to find ways to connect, support each other, and express their identities, even through periods of forced conversion and societal pressures. Today, we are seeing a beautiful blossoming of that history, with more visible community building and a growing sense of collective pride and belonging.' As a generation of gay and lesbian people ages, memories of worse — and better — times swirl Founded in 2021, the Acadiana Queer Collective is an organization dedicated to creating safe, inclusive spaces for LGBTQIA+ members and allies here in the south. Comeaux said there are many examples of queerness in Acadiana culture that calls back to the roots of southern identity and community. 'It's in the resilience and adaptability that mirror the spirit of Acadiana's history,' Comeaux said. 'It's found in the deep family bonds and chosen families that are so central to both queer and Southern life. It's seen in the music, art and food where individuals express their authentic selves, contributing to the rich tapestry of our region. The very nature of 'making a way out of no way' in Acadiana resonates deeply with the queer experience of forging identity and community.' Comeaux said the goal of AQC and members of the LGBTQIA+ community is not to take up space but provide space for those who need it and that these people hope for a future where their existence is not questioned and their rights are not debated. 'The one message we want Acadiana to know about the queer community is this: We are your neighbors, your friends, your family, and your fellow Louisianians,' Comeaux said. 'We contribute to the unique culture, economy, and spirit of Acadiana. We seek the same things as everyone else: love, belonging, safety, and the opportunity to live full, joyful lives. Our presence enriches Acadiana, and our celebration is an invitation to greater understanding and unity for all.' Pride Month started; here's what to expect Darensbourg said that if we take the time to educate on the history of Acadiana and those who live in it we can create voices of the past into the future. 'One of things I would suggest if you're talking about the gay–trans history of an area or indigenous history of an area try to find people talking about it within those communities,' Darensbourg said. 'Try to find historians and writers talking about it from within those communities. Because you'll find the knowledge that people have are not new things, we have found out they are things people have been wanting to tell the world for a long time and listen to those voices.' Axelrod on RFK Jr.'s vaccine moves: 'Genuine catastrophe in the making' Day two of Rocco's Jello Shot Challenge: LSU stays in top spot Hidden roots of queer culture in Acadiana's history Bodies hanged from highway overpass in Juarez House passes DOGE cuts Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Boston Globe
9 hours ago
- Boston Globe
The surrendered sword that gave birth to America returns to Virginia
It was the sword that 'represents the birth of America,' Caroline Stanley, Britain's Countess of Derby and a Cornwallis descendant, said at the museum last week. Advertisement Though they cannot be absolutely certain, experts think this was the sword that signified the end of the Revolutionary War, Morando said, a physical object that symbolized victory over British oppression after six years of bloody conflict. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up The sword is part of a new museum exhibition, 'Call to Arms: The Soldier and the Revolutionary War,' that celebrates the Army's 250th birthday Saturday and the nation's 250th next year. The exhibition opened June 7 at the museum in Fort Belvoir, Va., about 15 miles south of D.C. It is set to run through June 2027. The British surrender came as the forces of Washington and his French allies trapped the main part of Cornwallis's Army at Yorktown, a village on the York River in southeastern Virginia. The exhibition includes a large collection of muskets, pistols — two of which belonged to Washington — exquisitely etched powder horns, rare uniforms, tattered battle flags, and mannequins clad in period garb that represent actual war participants. Advertisement The latter include a life-size model of Native American soldier Daniel Nimham, of the Wappinger people, who served in the Stockbridge Indian Company. He, his son, Abraham, and 14 other Indians were killed in an ambush by British Loyalists in 1778, the museum says. One of the faded flags is that of the 1st Rhode Island Regiment, which included a large contingent of Black soldiers, many of whom were enslaved and agreed to fight in exchange for their freedom. One of them was Cato Varnum, who is shown as a life-size figure wearing the regiment's white uniform and black hat. He joined the regiment at age 16. Another flag, that of the German Ansbach-Bayreuth Regiment in the employ of the British, was the last banner surrendered at Yorktown, Morando said. The white flag bears the image of the Brandenburg red eagle under the Latin motto 'For the Prince and the Country.' More than 2,000 hired German soldiers surrendered with the British, the museum says. Morando has assembled artifacts from institutions around the country, as well as military museums in Britain, France, and Canada. From Britain came the sword, which has been lent by the countess, who said her family has owned it for generations. She watched last week as it was mounted in a museum display case. Morando said that there is no concrete proof that this was the Cornwallis sword presented at the ceremony but that there is 'a lot of supporting evidence.' Advertisement In paintings depicting the surrender, the sword is 'just a simple British officer's sword. And that's what this is. There's nothing fancy. Just a standard English dress sword from that time period.' 'I honestly believe this is Lord Cornwallis's sword,' he said. 'Whether or not it was the sword that was presented, you can make arguments for and against. Looking at the research, looking at the documents, looking at the images, and paintings, you can make a strong argument that this indeed is the surrender sword.' The countess said, 'It's never left the family.' 'It was always in my father's dressing room,' she said in an interview. 'Probably not being looked after in the way that it should have been looked after. It was in a coat stand with … umbrellas and stuff like that.' 'Even though he knew how important it was … it's always been much more of a sentimental item,' she said. The sword, which is on loan for six months, is believed to have been given to Cornwallis in his youth by an uncle who was a general, she said. The sword dates to the 1750s. By 1781, Cornwallis was 42 and a battle-tested leader when he surrendered his army at Yorktown. The ceremony that Friday afternoon took place in front of thousands of soldiers — victors and vanquished. Washington was present. So was the French commander, Rochambeau. Cornwallis was not. He was either too embarrassed or was ill, historian Jerome A. Greene wrote in his 2005 book 'The Guns of Independence: the Siege of Yorktown, 1781.' Although the countess said, Cornwallis and Washington met privately later, the British general's absence at the surrender annoyed the Americans. Advertisement 'We are not to be surprised that the pride of the British officer is humbled,' wrote James Thacher, a doctor in Washington's Army, according to Greene. 'They have always maintained an exalted opinion of their own military prowess [and viewed] the Americans as a contemptible, undisciplined rabble,' Thacher wrote. Cornwallis instead sent one of his subordinates, Gen. Charles O'Hara. As the ceremony began, O'Hara tried to offer the sword to Rochambeau, even though O'Hara knew Washington was the allied commander, Greene recounted. Rochambeau pointed O'Hara to Washington. But when O'Hara tried to surrender the sword to Washington, the latter directed him to one of his subordinates, Gen. Benjamin Lincoln. If Cornwallis was sending a subordinate, he would surrender to a subordinate, Greene wrote. Lincoln took the sword, held it for a moment, and gave it back. A few weeks after the surrender, a French soldier wrote his mother: 'I know now that I have been an actor in events which the world and history will never forget.'
