Month: November 2021

What is Early Years Tuition?

We consider private tuition to be a powerful catalyst for early years development. Striking a healthy balance between learning and fun – Early Years tuition is proven to improve cognitive development, logical and verbal reasoning. Sessions typically take place in-person, however, online or hybrid options are available at the family’s convenience.

Naturally, each child’s sessions are designed differently, however, families usually choose for tuition to be comprised of a combination of the following subjects:

• Science and Mathematics
• History and Civilisation
• Nature
• Literature, Music and Culture
• Sport

Additionally, children are taken to museums, the theatre, and even sporting events to stimulate an awareness of culture, and early enthusiasm for learning outside of academia. Whilst London offers plenty of opportunities to absorb culture, we also work internationally, and are willing and able to offer Early Years tuition wherever you may be based.

Measuring the Success

Before an assignment begins, we are often asked how parents will know whether Early Years tuition is making a difference. At 11 plus, 13 plus,  GCSE, A-Level and University level, measuring success is more straightforward, with grades, school, and tuition reports acting as a Litmus Test for progress. However, at Early Years level the standard for success is fluid, with traditional indicators for success likely to change on a weekly basis. This is why we routinely consult the parents, nannies and close relatives of each child we work with to ensure that expectations are not only met, but exceeded on a truly holistic level.

We understand each child is different, but no child is too young to benefit from the undivided attention of an education professional, who can deliver sessions which are both interactive and fun.

Contact Think Tutors

Introducing a professional tutor into your family is a big decision, and we take the necessary steps to ensure it is done in the right way. Beginning with an interactive assessment, our tutors are keen to develop a lasting, trusting relationship with your child to ensure future success is maximised.

If you are considering Early Years tuition for your child, or would like to learn more, please do get in touch. We also provide other services, such as Homeschooling, Admissions Advisory, Summer courses, Easter courses, 7/8 plus tuition and 13 plus tuition.

Tailor For Age-Appropriate Learning

Exposure to news should be tailored depending on age. Children under seven years old should be kept away from the news and the bonds within the family be elevated, that the home is a positive, safe and healthy environment in which to be nurtured and grow. For children between the ages of eight and twelve years, their maturity and temperament should be considered. Parents, teachers and tutors should be available to answer questions. Teenagers should be allowed to express themselves about what they watch on the news and read from websites or social media. Check in with them about where they are getting their news and that they are developing their own points of view as part of their development.

Creative Learning and Discussion

Parents should make time to check in and speak to their children about what they know and what they don’t know. Covid is still dominating the news, and with 24 hour news cycles, it is important for children to receive serious and balanced information, filtering out the hysteria and sometimes apocalyptic nature of the headlines. That doesn’t mean there isn’t room for creativity in how you discuss current events with your children. You can create fun verbal reasoning questions to engage them, watch news-comedy sketches and try mock debates. That said, it’s important to emphasise the positive for news to be more palatable, reminding them that there is hope and goodness in the world.

We should all want children to grow into mature, balanced, well-informed young people. Generation Z and the generation coming quickly behind them are particularly interested in global energy and environmental crises, and their future impact. Be interested in the things they are interested in and bring in current affairs where relevant and appropriate. Discussion and debate, nurturing respect and their different points of view as well as learning from history are important aspects of their educational development.

Developing Information Literacy

In this age of information-overload and the risks of misinformation and fake news on social media, parents should seek out trusted news channels, podcasts and publications, and trusted news authorities. Look out too for publications which partner with public-facing, trusted organisations and recommended by schools, such as The Week Junior and First News. These magazines are experienced in communicating current affairs especially for a young readership. This will not only encourage children to become informed, but also develop their literacy, critical thinking and curiosity. These publications also help parents, teachers and tutors engage with children. They help to explain world events in an appropriate manner, and help families and educators develop trust and rapport with children, for them to grow into well-rounded, educated young people. Together these will help support your child’s learning.

Resiliency

Out of lockdown and armed with vaccinations, we look to the future with some level of optimism. It has also brought to the forefront for a lot of people the skills likely needed in the future, to be more ready and resilient to tackle whatever challenges that lie ahead. Parents are particularly conscious of this for their children’s future and what the education system is doing to equip their children to succeed in life.

Future Skills and Creative Thinking Skills

The World Economic Forum predicts that we will need to re-skill more than one billion people by 2030. So what skills will employers be looking for? How can children, and adults, become valuable resources for firms and society as a whole? There will be high demand for those qualified; workers not willing to adapt and not with the right skills are at risk of being left behind. The following future skills have been identified by the WEF:

• Awareness of Data and Artificial Intelligence, for analysts, scientists, engineers and marketers
• Blockchain, such as crypto-currency
• Healthcare and nursing, in response to an ageing population
• Emotional Intelligence, for action and decision-making; increasing one’s cultural quotient, interpersonal skills, one’s response to diversity and having cultural intelligence
• Creativity, for management and leadership, complex problem-solving, multi-disciplinary thinking and cognitive flexibility
• Resilience and stress-tolerance
• Critical thinking
• Commitment to active learning and learning strategies, embracing change and having a growth mindset, picking up new skills on the job via online learning platforms and from consultants
• Leadership and social influence

Many, if not all, of these skills are already being demonstrated in the world of work and what employers are looking for. It is clear some of these skills can be learnt through subjects studied at school and university, with talent for these skills developed through extra-curricular activities.

Private Tutoring and Online Tutoring

Tutors can engage students in developing their resilience and growth mindset as part of the educator-pupil dynamic. It is linking those skills with the relevant subjects that is key. Students and workers should be identifying their strengths now. This will enable them to be great assets for the future and adapt to the challenges of tomorrow.

At Think Tutors our academic mentors, private tutors, and educational directors provide exceptional expertise in these areas with a length track-record of industry-leading excellence. Get in touch to find out how we can help your child to excel at everything from their early years and GCSEs to A Levels, university and beyond.