Most young parents always seem to be too concerned about their child’s education. Why not? A strong foundation would prepare their little ones for future learning and higher studies. It is therefore imperative to find a renowned primary school that can prepare their child for competitive entrance exams to independent secondary schools and state grammar schools.

If you are a resident of the UK, there are two choices available in preparatory or primary schools- state schools or government funded schools that provide education free of charge, and private or independent schools that charge a fee for providing education. While both state primary schools and private primary schools offer a full programme of studies based on the National Curriculum, a private primary or preparatory school provides many more additional facilities and learning opportunities which would go a long way in shaping your child’s future. Some of the reasons why you should choose an independent or private primary school over a state school are as follows:

1. Private primary schools are known to provide more individual teaching when compared to state schools.
2. A private school has better pupil-teacher ratios, usually at around 9:1.
3. A private school usually offers longer teaching hours and homework.
4. A private preparatory school gives special emphasis on extra curricular activities and organised sports.
5. A private school gives more importance to traditional academic subjects such as maths, classics and modern languages than that prescribed by the National Curriculum.

There are more than 2,500 independent or private schools in the UK. Gone are the days when only the elite sent their children to private schools. The benefits provided by any well-known private primary school now compel every couple to choose a private preparatory school for their child.

A private primary school provides education to children in their Foundation Stage (2-5 years of age) and the Main School (5 – 11 years of age). To ensure safety of your children, they get all their staff checked by the Criminal Records Bureau. A good private primary school ensures that every child engages in a wide range of activities during the Foundation Stage to grow, develop and learn rapidly. Every child is provided with numerous experiences to help him/her understand the world around better. Children are given enough space to move around, work on the floor and on tabletops in indoor as well as outdoor classrooms. Many private primary schools also offer extra subjects like piano lessons and QCA approved computer modules at an extra cost.

Most good private primary schools hire specialist subject teachers for children in their main school to teach French, swimming, games, and computers. In addition to classroom sessions, children are also taken on educational visits and trips. These schools also request some parents to pay a visit and talk about their work or special interests. All these are arranged with just one objective: help children learn better, communicate with others effectively, and think creatively.

It has been observed that different children have different learning requirements or difficulties at various times. A good private primary school always adopts an emphatic approach to help the child. In many cases, the school advises for a child’s assessment by an educational psychologist to identify his learning difficulties, if any. This would help both the parents and the school to offer a little more guidance and support to the child.