Alima - Bright Minds Club - 11+ Tuition

If writing still feels like the weak spot in your child’s 11+ preparation, you’re not alone…and the good news is, there’s still time to make a real difference.

The Easter holidays are the perfect moment to slow things down and focus on how writing actually works - without school pressure or last-minute panic.

That’s exactly why I’ve cleared some space in my diary and created my Easter 11+ Creative Writing Club.

Across 4 focused live sessions, children will:
✔ Learn how to plan & write stories confidently
✔ Build strong characters and settings
✔ Use ambitious vocabulary naturally
✔ Understand tension, structure, and editing

This isn’t about cramming. It’s about giving children the tools they need to feel in control of their writing.

📅 Mon 30 Mar – Thurs 2 Apr 2026
⌛ 10:00 – 11:00 am daily (Live Online)
💻 Includes 4 x 1 hour live sessions
💻 Includes 4 weeks of replays

The sign-up link is in my bio - be quick though as spaces are limited!

1️⃣ Has the student read the brief carefully? If so, have they used included the features and considered the STRUCTURE of that particular writing style eg a letter, recount, news report etc. If it’s a story - is there a clear beginning, build-up/problem, ending? Is there a plan? Are there clear paragraphs?

2️⃣ Have they included the appropriate tone and language for that writing task. Is it formal/informal? Should it be written in first/third person?

3️⃣ If asked to continue a story, have they weaved in clues and details from the text that they were given? Small details are still effective!

4️⃣ What literary devices have they included in their writing? Figurative language, description, show not tell etc.

5️⃣ Have they varied their sentence starters and used a variety of sentence types: simple, compound, complex etc. Sentences that start with ‘The…’. are easy to spot!

6️⃣ Is punctuation used correctly? Is there evidence of high-level punctuation eg brackets, semi-colons, colons, dashes etc. (If using inverted commas for speech, don’t over-use them!)

7️⃣ Is there evidence of high-level vocabulary? This could be weaved in through description and figurative language.

8️⃣ Did they finish their writing on time? Planning will help with this!

9️⃣ Presentation. Is handwriting legible/cursive? Have they proof-read their writing? Marks are awarded for neat handwriting! Cross those ‘t’s and dot those ‘i’s!

1️⃣0️⃣ Have they used careful spelling and grammar? These do get considered in writing tasks. It sounds obvious, but sentences must make sense, even under time pressure! Read your writing back and scan your writing for these errors!

If your child is sitting their writing exams soon, please do share these tips.

If you’d like some writing support, send me a message! 💛

Best of luck!

For more writing tips, follow Alima - Bright Minds Club - 11+ Tuition

Andddd breathe!

Congratulations to my amazing 11+ students and all other year 6s who took entrance exams in autumn. This is the time of year I get to celebrate wins with families.
For me it’s never been about helping children get into the most competitive schools, my job is to help children get into the “right” school for them.

My job isn’t just about getting children through a set of exams; I get to build and nurture strong relationships with families, instilling motivation and confidence in children, whilst they navigate what can be a very overwhelming time.

Thank you to the families who have trusted me with their child/children’s education. I’m glad that I was a part of the ride and was able to support!

🥳 Over the last few weeks, I have loved sharing the joy and excitement with parents, as they celebrate their children’s results and school offers.

I used to always tell my class at school when I was feeling emotional and proud, that I had something in my eye (while they’d roll their eyes 🙄 lol). I may have something in my eye again…

Well done everyone!

If you have a child preparing for the 11+/entrance exams and would like some advice, get in touch.
My year 5 group is full but I have opened doors to my new 11+ Vocab Booster Club!

Alima

Happy half-term!

Ps. My 11+ Vocab Booster Club will run on Monday 16th at 9am! After that, I’ll be following my own advice and taking a break so that I can fill my cup again!

How will you practise self-love this half-term?