Whether imminent or recent: Congratulations on the birth of your child!
These are hugely exciting times, and we wish you the very best for the weeks and months ahead!Parents and the early years are crucial
Although at Herne Hill School it is our mission (and passion!) to shape young children’s futures, we are well aware that it is you, the parents, who will by far play the greatest role in determining your child’s long-term happiness and health.
Multiple research studies from around the world also tell us that there is no period of greater importance than the forthcoming months and early years; for example, consider this Economics Nobel Prize winning U.S. research on the return of investment into human development phases.
The fundamental reason underlying this pivotal importance of your child’s early years is the exceedingly rapid development of their brain during this time, when all foundational skills and values are laid.
Therefore, whenever it will inevitably become difficult in the coming months to find time for your child, rest assured that every extra minute you manage to give unconditional love, care, nurture, stimuli and engagement will be so worthwhile in the long run.
From 2+ years attendance at a high-quality Early Childhood Education setting also becomes key
As you are your child’s first and most important educators, we are committed to working closely with you when the time arrives for your child to attend a Kindergarten and early years setting.
For their continued optimal development following the early nurturing period at home, it is best when children can attend from two years old a high-quality setting which works closely with parents, embracing and enduring their love and care whilst integrating educational learning.
Indeed, research has proven that this is most effective for advancing all of the brain’s complementary and mutually supportive domains of development. From that age, and ideally not earlier, children benefit enormously from building their social, emotional and executive function (EF) skills in such an environment. It is statistically not relevant whether this attendance is full-time or part-time.
Find out more
To learn more about the EF skills, we recommend browsing Harvard University’s “Center on the developing child” website, including watching their introductory EF video and exploring their activities guide for enhancing and practicing EF skills with children of various ages, including 0-2 years old.
We also encourage you to watch our video explaining further the science which underpins our approach and indeed the rest of our website, where you will find further helpful pointers on how to optimise your child’s development in the coming years.
Finally, you may also enjoy browsing through the tips and resources by Alice Sharp, a renowned Early Years expert with whom we have worked repeatedly at Herne Hill School.
Register now to increase your chances of a place
With time undoubtedly flying by in the coming months, it won’t be long before you will need to consider which nursery setting best suits your family’s circumstances.
To get a feel for our approach and provision at Herne Hill School, we recommend visiting soon, perhaps at our spring 2025 open morning. Registering early is also crucial as the date of registration is a critical factor in prioritising offers in our admissions procedures.
We look forward to meeting you soon and wish you the very best in the meantime!
