CHERYL LOUISE LOMAX, BA (HONS), MSC
I have had a keen interest in the learning and development of babies, Children and young students, since 2008. My relentless research into educational approaches and resources was largely fuelled by the needs and development of my own children – who have been a constant reminder of how individual a child can be.
Our first-born is an extremely confident social-butterfly, with an aptitude for learning that demands a challenging schedule, and still she will stay up late reading several books simultaneously. Our son is an over-thinker, with worries and anxieties, and yet he is extremely imaginative and naturally agile, whilst possessing a bold personality to keep us all on our toes! Both children excel academically; however, they learn in quite different ways.
Our daughter began her early years in a Montessori setting, and, after a recommendation from MENSA, we ensured that she gained a full-time place in a local primary school with a reputable gifted-and-talented programme. However, as a family, we chose to deregister her in 2015, (age 6yrs), because home educating proposed a more flexible curriculum suited to her interests and abilities. Whilst our summer-born son did attend the same Montessori setting, he never really settled there. And, after the success of home educating his older sister, we never registered him at a school. Home education suits our son even more than it does our daughter, who would enjoy certain aspects of a school setting, but prefers the freedom of being home-schooled.
As a family, we only ever envisaged home educating throughout the primary years; therefore, I prepared our daughter for entrance exams at reputable grammar and independent schools. She repeatedly passed exams, assessments and induction days – receiving offers of a place at the private junior and high schools, as well as at a very selective grammar school. However, having begun to embrace online distance-learning options from the age of 10; instead, she chose to enrol on online courses in Maths, English, Geography, Physics and Business Studies – facilitated at home by myself – thus, allowing her to space out IGCSE exams, taking a couple each year from age 11.
Core Learning Support exists because of the interest that other parents have shown in our home educating journey and, moreover, the influx of requests for tips and advice in how to support their own children in their home learning, outside of school hours.
Throughout the past decade, I have empowered parents of children from birth to 21 years – mentoring the oldest of my students throughout university degrees. I have supported parents and their children in the run up to entrance exams, and, subsequently, I have delighted in hearing of their successes.
Undoubtedly, I specialise in the familiarisation of England’s 11+ entrance exams for grammar schools: including Cognitive Ability Tests (also known as ‘CAT4’ or ‘GL’), and ‘Durham (CEM)’ selective testing. Additionally, I am knowledgeable in the preparation for bespoke independent school assessments, as well as the SATs in the primary schools in England, (Year 2, KS1 and Year 6, KS2). My areas of expertise include: Verbal, Non-Verbal, Spatial and Numerical Reasoning; Literacy and Numeracy; as well as Comprehension and Exam Technique.I believe in parent empowerment, so that parents feel that they can confidently support their own child at home, with appropriate resources and an individualised learning plan.