Berkshire


<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/04/Borders_image08_school-gates-1000x1000.jpg" alt="Brockhurst School borders at the gates" class="wp-image-51802" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/04/Borders_image08_school-gates-1000x1000.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/04/Borders_image08_school-gates-800x800.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/04/Borders_image08_school-gates-400x400.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/04/Borders_image08_school-gates-768x768.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/04/Borders_image08_school-gates-525x525.jpg 525w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/04/Borders_image08_school-gates-500x500.jpg 500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/04/Borders_image08_school-gates-1100x1100.jpg 1100w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/04/Borders_image08_school-gates.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-modern-boarding">Modern boarding </h2>



<p>Boarding today is fun, flexible and homely.&nbsp;Boarding is a wonderful opportunity to be with friends, enjoy a host of fun extracurricular activities and to develop confidence and independence.&nbsp;For parents, the choice runs from occasional sleep overs to full boarding, tailored to the needs of family life.&nbsp;We create a warm environment with two to eight children sharing a room. There&#8217;s a dedicated team of matrons and staff on hand to take care of pupils’ needs, including transport to and from airports, if required.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">When to start boarding</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/04/Brockhurst_Borders_image05_cooking-1000x1000.jpg" alt="Brockhurst pupils enjpying a cooking lesson" class="wp-image-51808" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/04/Brockhurst_Borders_image05_cooking-1000x1000.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/04/Brockhurst_Borders_image05_cooking-800x800.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/04/Brockhurst_Borders_image05_cooking-400x400.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/04/Brockhurst_Borders_image05_cooking-768x768.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/04/Brockhurst_Borders_image05_cooking-525x525.jpg 525w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/04/Brockhurst_Borders_image05_cooking-500x500.jpg 500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/04/Brockhurst_Borders_image05_cooking-1100x1100.jpg 1100w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/04/Brockhurst_Borders_image05_cooking.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Children can start boarding from the age of eight, which is helpful for parents who need this option early, but really it’s down to the child and there is no ideal age to start.&nbsp;Quite a few of our children do some flexi-boarding in their last year even though they may be going on to a day senior school.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">How to prepare your child</h2>



<p>If your child has had the odd sleepover with friends, that’s a great introduction to flexi-boarding and building up from this to occasional or full boarding can make for an easy transition.&nbsp;For most children, it’s an exciting opportunity to be with their friends and a bit of an adventure.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Boosting confidence and independence </h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/04/Brockhurst_Borders_image03_common-room-1000x1000.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-51805" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/04/Brockhurst_Borders_image03_common-room-1000x1000.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/04/Brockhurst_Borders_image03_common-room-800x800.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/04/Brockhurst_Borders_image03_common-room-400x400.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/04/Brockhurst_Borders_image03_common-room-768x768.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/04/Brockhurst_Borders_image03_common-room-525x525.jpg 525w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/04/Brockhurst_Borders_image03_common-room-500x500.jpg 500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/04/Brockhurst_Borders_image03_common-room-1100x1100.jpg 1100w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/04/Brockhurst_Borders_image03_common-room.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Boarding is great for developing a child’s confidence and sense of independence.&nbsp;It&#8217;s very rare, for example, for a child who has experienced some boarding to find the transition of living away at university difficult.&nbsp;It’s also a wonderful opportunity to take part in extra activities.&nbsp;For parents, it allows you to provide a safe and fun environment for your child when the need arises.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Choosing the right school</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/04/Brockhurst_Borders_image04_sailing-1000x1000.jpg" alt="Brockhurst School pupils learning to sail" class="wp-image-51803" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/04/Brockhurst_Borders_image04_sailing-1000x1000.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/04/Brockhurst_Borders_image04_sailing-800x800.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/04/Brockhurst_Borders_image04_sailing-400x400.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/04/Brockhurst_Borders_image04_sailing-768x768.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/04/Brockhurst_Borders_image04_sailing-525x525.jpg 525w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/04/Brockhurst_Borders_image04_sailing-500x500.jpg 500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/04/Brockhurst_Borders_image04_sailing-1100x1100.jpg 1100w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/04/Brockhurst_Borders_image04_sailing.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Look at the team around the child and the children you meet and then go with your instinct.&nbsp;Rolls Royce facilities and ensuite bathrooms count for nothing if the environment isn’t warm and the staff aren’t 100% committed to the children and running a busy programme.</p>



<p>A good question to ask is what the children are doing in the evenings, and at weekends, if the school runs full boarding, how many are present?&nbsp;There should be an exciting and varied programme of activities on offer every day and it will tell you much about the commitment of the staff.&nbsp;A second question is to establish what access pupils have to mobile devices in the boarding environment.&nbsp;Ours are strictly controlled and only available for phoning home at a set time.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Dealing with homesickness</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/04/Brockhurst_Borders_image06_sport-1000x1000.jpg" alt="Brockhurst boarding pupils playing sport" class="wp-image-51804" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/04/Brockhurst_Borders_image06_sport-1000x1000.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/04/Brockhurst_Borders_image06_sport-800x800.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/04/Brockhurst_Borders_image06_sport-400x400.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/04/Brockhurst_Borders_image06_sport-768x768.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/04/Brockhurst_Borders_image06_sport-525x525.jpg 525w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/04/Brockhurst_Borders_image06_sport-500x500.jpg 500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/04/Brockhurst_Borders_image06_sport-1100x1100.jpg 1100w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/04/Brockhurst_Borders_image06_sport.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Encouraging pupils to get involved in the activities programme will help them settle in but what is absolutely key is having staff who genuinely care about their young charges and who take the time to really listen.&nbsp;Engaging with parents and agreeing on a strategy to support their child is important too. </p>



<p>There are some children who find being away from home difficult.&nbsp;However, with excellent pastoral support and a homely environment, coupled with being busy, the vast majority of children will settle remarkably quickly. It’s essential to have a strong partnership between school and parents.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The fun factor </h2>



<p>We keep the children busy and active with lots of interesting things to do, which is fun for both children and staff alike.&nbsp;We have more than 80 activities on offer during the week so there is always something to look forward to every day. </p>



<p><em>Read the&nbsp;<a href="https://berkshire.muddystilettos.co.uk/kids/school-reviews/brockhurst-marlston-house-hermitage-berkshire/">Muddy review of Brockhurst &amp; Marlston House</a>. Next&nbsp;<a href="https://www.brockmarl.org.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Open Day is 13 May</a>.</em></p>


Thinking about boarding for your child? Read this first

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