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The Kottab system

How we make sure every lesson, with every teacher, meets the same standard.

The learning path

Used in our children's Quranic Arabic programme, from first contact with a word to teaching it to others.

  1. 01

    Discover

    The child meets a word in the ayah and guesses its meaning from context.

  2. 02

    Understand

    The root is revealed, and the child sees it across other words.

  3. 03

    Master

    Practice through reading, games and short sentences.

  4. 04

    Live the Qur'an

    One action at home that connects the meaning to daily life.

  5. 05

    Become the Teacher

    The child explains the word to a parent or sibling.

The lesson observation card

Supervisors observe lessons and score them on four axes, each with written criteria.

Observation card · sample

Three levels per axis

Structure

Structure

Clear warm-up, review, new learning, practice and closing within the time.

Pedagogy & relationship

Pedagogy & relationship

Warmth, encouragement, pacing and the child's talk time.

Scientific accuracy

Scientific accuracy

Correct recitation, Tajweed and meaning, with errors corrected kindly.

Language for non-Arabic speakers

Language for non-Arabic speakers

Simple English, visuals and checks for understanding.

The three-part parent report

Written by the teacher, reviewed by a supervisor, and short enough to read in a minute.

Progress report

Amina, 7

Reading Foundations · Cycle 3 · 4 weeks

  1. 01Today's win

    Amina read the whole of Surah Al-Ikhlas from the mushaf without help, with correct harakat on every word.

  2. 02Where we're still working

    She still confuses ح and ه when they appear in the middle of a word. We'll spend five minutes on this at the start of each lesson.

  3. 03One thing to do at home

    Ask her to read Al-Ikhlas aloud to you once before bed, and point to each ح as she says it.

The Kottab team

Our teachers · Sample parent report

Meaning before memorisation

A child who understands what they recite remembers it longer and prays with more presence. We teach the meaning of key words alongside every new portion, at a level suited to the child's age.

Safeguarding & conduct

  • Every teacher completes a safeguarding interview and signs our code of conduct.
  • Lessons take place only on the agreed platform, with a parent able to join at any time.
  • Teachers never contact children directly outside lesson times.
  • Concerns are escalated to a named safeguarding lead within 24 hours.

Start with one free lesson.

Thirty minutes, a written placement result, and no obligation to continue.