As both a parent and a teacher, I want the same things for my children as I believe all parents want for their children: for them to be safe, happy, supported, appropriately challenged and successful in whatever their interests and ambitions may be.
Great teachers put children at the heart of all their decisions, and they know that the relationship between home and school is a crucial one. When both parents and teachers work together in a supportive and harmonious manner, it can be fantastic for all involved, and ultimately children benefit, thrive and flourish.
Parents should have a clear understanding of what is learnt at school and how they can offer support from home
It's true that children spend a lot of their time at school, but it’s also true that they spend even more time at home with their families. Effective, open communication is what both schools and families need if they are to fully support children in their academic, personal, emotional and social development.
This communication differs, develops and grows depending on the age of a child – it can be the sharing and reading of stories at home, the practising of times tables, the sourcing of resources for a science investigation or help with finding a relaxing space at home to study in peace and quiet.
If this is all done with patience, warmth and good humour, children feel secure and valued, and this helps them bounce into school with a smile and a sense of excitement knowing they have the confidence for the day that lies ahead.
Teachers and parents should complement each other, and the trust developed should be reciprocal. It's fair that parents should have both a clear understanding of what is learnt at school and how they can offer support from home. There is much value in understanding the journey that a child is on, without surprises.
Some parents may naturally want to help more than others, and here, too, communication is key. All children are individuals and each family is unique, and so if both schools and parents know what they want, the appropriate support can be provided and, subsequently, fantastic progress can be made.
The celebrating of success is key to developing self-esteem and confidence, and great teachers know that finding out what children are good at outside of the school day – whether that be music, art or sports – and supporting that success with a kind word in school builds highly effective and long-lasting relationships.
Parents want to know that their children are in safe hands with teachers who care about them, know them, and recognise and acknowledge their skills, interests and achievements. It's important that news from home related to a child, whatever that may be, is shared and understood by all.
Balance is crucial in developing and sustaining productive home-school relationships, and there is much value in encouraging resilience, being courageous and asking children to do their best. Parents showing support for school advice, whether that be by limiting time spent on gadgets and gaming, supporting home learning, being a role model in actions and words, and demonstrating the value and importance of education, is always appreciated by a school.
Ultimately there is no one-size-fits-all approach and great teachers know this, taking the time to build relationships. Open and transparent communication, trust and good humour go a long way in making sure that home and school complement each other in bringing out the very best for all children.
Simon Jodrell is the principal at Dubai British School in Emirates Hills
The Saga Continues
Wu-Tang Clan
(36 Chambers / Entertainment One)
What went into the film
25 visual effects (VFX) studios
2,150 VFX shots in a film with 2,500 shots
1,000 VFX artists
3,000 technicians
10 Concept artists, 25 3D designers
New sound technology, named 4D SRL
MATCH INFO
Manchester United 2
(Martial 30', McTominay 90 6')
Manchester City 0
Explainer: Tanween Design Programme
Non-profit arts studio Tashkeel launched this annual initiative with the intention of supporting budding designers in the UAE. This year, three talents were chosen from hundreds of applicants to be a part of the sixth creative development programme. These are architect Abdulla Al Mulla, interior designer Lana El Samman and graphic designer Yara Habib.
The trio have been guided by experts from the industry over the course of nine months, as they developed their own products that merge their unique styles with traditional elements of Emirati design. This includes laboratory sessions, experimental and collaborative practice, investigation of new business models and evaluation.
It is led by British contemporary design project specialist Helen Voce and mentor Kevin Badni, and offers participants access to experts from across the world, including the likes of UK designer Gareth Neal and multidisciplinary designer and entrepreneur, Sheikh Salem Al Qassimi.
The final pieces are being revealed in a worldwide limited-edition release on the first day of Downtown Designs at Dubai Design Week 2019. Tashkeel will be at stand E31 at the exhibition.
Lisa Ball-Lechgar, deputy director of Tashkeel, said: “The diversity and calibre of the applicants this year … is reflective of the dynamic change that the UAE art and design industry is witnessing, with young creators resolute in making their bold design ideas a reality.”
INDIA SQUAD
Rohit Sharma (captain), Shikhar Dhawan (vice-captain), KL Rahul, Suresh Raina, Manish Pandey, Dinesh Karthik (wicketkeeper), Deepak Hooda, Washington Sundar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Axar Patel, Vijay Shankar, Shardul Thakur, Jaydev Unadkat, Mohammad Siraj and Rishabh Pant (wicketkeeper)
'The Woman in the House Across the Street from the Girl in the Window'
Director:Michael Lehmann
Stars:Kristen Bell
Rating: 1/5
Who was Alfred Nobel?
The Nobel Prize was created by wealthy Swedish chemist and entrepreneur Alfred Nobel.
- In his will he dictated that the bulk of his estate should be used to fund "prizes to those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind".
- Nobel is best known as the inventor of dynamite, but also wrote poetry and drama and could speak Russian, French, English and German by the age of 17. The five original prize categories reflect the interests closest to his heart.
- Nobel died in 1896 but it took until 1901, following a legal battle over his will, before the first prizes were awarded.
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
MATCH INFO
Manchester City 3 (Silva 8' &15, Foden 33')
Birmginahm City 0
Man of the match Bernado Silva (Manchester City)
Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
