How can we help children make up for lost education?
The past year has been especially hard on children of all ages. From having less family time and feeling isolated without friends to spending minimal time in school, there is a lot they have had to miss out on.
Home-schooling and virtual lessons have been the reality for the majority during the pandemic, however, there are worries about the amount of education children have missed out on by not being able to go into school every day and benefit from face-to-face teaching.
If you are looking to ensure your children are making up for any lost education, below we have suggested some ways you can help that cause.
Summer Schools
Summer schools are one of the most useful tools at a parent’s disposal this year. The Government recently announced a £200m reserve allocated to English secondary schools to help fund summer schools for those children that need them the most.
As well as the grant specifically for secondary school summer programmes, the Government has also announced a £200m reserve that will be allocated to 1-1 and small group tutoring programmes for children from nursery age to college age.
These summer school programmes will offer a chance for students who are behind to get face-to-face teaching during the summer break and help them onto the front foot before the new school year starts in September.
Online Learning
After a year of online learning, the vast amount of resource online is too much to overlook and, for a child that is able to self-teach or is looking for more specific help (for example, just needs assistance in one subject) then looking to online learning could be the answer.
Understanding how your child learns is the best way to find the right online learning resources. Would it help if the lessons were part of a game? Maybe they’d respond well to watching a YouTube video? Perhaps podcasts are more their speed? Try a range of online resources to see which ones click and then go from there.
READ MORE: How the BBC is helping children learn from home
Home Tutoring
Home tutoring can be a wonderful tool for a parent who wants to help but isn’t sure where to start. Allowing a child to learn in their home and in a space that they are comfortable, with a trained professional who will be able to offer strong support, can be the key for many families.
Just like any household staff you might bring in, a home tutor will be knowledgeable about the role and be able to adapt to fit your family’s needs. They’ll be able to assess your child’s learning style and create a lesson plan that’ll fit them, offering 1-to-1 guidance and support. For a child who might feel more anxious or reserved to ask questions in a group setting, this can be a real investment.
Emotional Support
The past year has been hard on everyone and unfortunately, our younger generations were no different. All of the stress of the past year has taken a toll on everyone in different ways, whether it’s dealing with feelings of isolation, grief, lifestyle upheaval, self-educating or a mixture of these things.
A happy child is in a better position to learn and as such, one place to look when trying to help your child catch up on education is to ensure they have the emotional support they need. We can often rely on our little ones to put a smile on our faces on bad days but not realise that they might be experiencing the stress of the pandemic more than we realise. By making sure they have the emotional support they need we can make sure that they are prepared to learn new information and give their all to each task.
How can we help children make up for lost education?
Enrolment in a summer school programme
Utilising online learning resources
Hiring a home tutor
Offer emotional support
The important thing to remember is that everybody is in the same boat and you won’t be the only parent who is concerned about what the past year might mean for your child’s education. But, with the use of some of the suggestions here you can help not only ease your worries but help your child feel more confident that they aren’t at a disadvantage moving forward.
For more news, as well as tips and advice, be sure to visit our news page.