Category: Maidstone Learning Centre
After Parents’ Evening: Turning Teacher Feedback into a Practical Home Plan
Parents’ evening has finished. You may have heard reassuring feedback, identified a concern or received several suggestions in a very short conversation. The important question is: what happens next? Feedback is only useful when it becomes a realistic action. Families do not need an overwhelming new timetable. They need clarity about the most important priority […]
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Preparing for Parents’ Evening: The Questions That Lead to Useful Answers
Parents’ evening appointments can pass very quickly. A short conversation must cover attainment, progress, effort, confidence, behaviour and next steps—often in only a few minutes. Without preparation, parents may leave having heard that their child is “fine” but still not understand what that means. As schools begin their autumn progress conversations and parents’ evenings, use […]
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Is Your Child Really Settling In? Six Early Signs They May Need Support
By the fourth week of September, the excitement of new uniform and fresh stationery has usually faded. Children have experienced the pace of their new year group, completed homework and begun to understand their teacher’s expectations. This is when parents may start seeing the difference between ordinary adjustment and a difficulty that deserves closer attention. […]
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The Kent Test Is Over: What Should Families Do Next?
The Kent Test is finished. For many children and parents, this brings a mixture of relief, pride, tiredness and uncertainty. After a long preparation period, families often feel that they should be doing something: checking answers, discussing possible scores or planning for every possible outcome. In reality, the most useful first step is to pause. […]
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Kent Test Week: How Parents Can Protect Confidence and Reduce Exam Anxiety
Kent Test week has arrived. Children attending Kent primary schools sit the test on Thursday 10 September 2026, while children who do not attend a Kent primary school sit it over the weekend of 12 and 13 September. After months of preparation, it can be tempting to use every final minute for one more paper, […]
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A Strong Start to the New School Year: Helping Your Child Settle and Succeed
September brings a fresh start. Children return to school with new uniforms, new stationery and, in many cases, a new classroom, teacher or school. Some will walk through the gates full of excitement. Others may feel nervous, uncertain or overwhelmed. Both reactions are completely normal. The beginning of the school year involves more than returning […]
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Summer Learning: Keeping Skills Sharp During the Holidays
Summer holidays are a time to relax, recharge, and enjoy family time but they’re also a perfect opportunity to keep learning ticking over without the pressure of school. At Maidstone Learning Centre, we believe that small, fun activities during the holidays can help children return to school feeling confident and ready to learn. Here’s how […]
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Encouraging a Love for Reading at Home
Helping Children Fall in Love with Stories (Not Just School Books) Some children can’t wait to dive into a book. Others… not so much. And that’s okay; loving reading is something that can be encouraged, built, and nurtured over time. At Maidstone Learning Centre, we believe reading should be joyful, imaginative, and personal not just […]
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Making Maths Fun: Creative Activities to Try at Home
Turning “I Hate Maths” into “This Is Kinda Fun…” Maths can be one of the most polarising subjects for children, they either love the challenge, or they dread it. For many, it’s not about ability. It’s about confidence, fear of mistakes, or simply not seeing how numbers fit into everyday life. At Maidstone Learning Centre, […]
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Looking For a Kent Grammar School? 7 Things You Must Know About the New School-Specific Entrance Tests
Happy resumption! We are pleased to provide this essential administrative update regarding grammar school entrance exams Kent families must navigate for the upcoming academic year. 1. The Central Kent Test (PESE) remains the primary gateway The Kent Test (Procedure for Entry to Secondary Education) is the standardised assessment used by the majority of the 32 […]
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